Giving a name to your dog is always a great idea, but what are the best names for dogs? That answer will depend on the characteristics that you’re looking for in an ideal name, but these are some of our favorite names that can fit virtually any pedigree.
Many dog breeds have unique and exciting roots, and there’s no better way to give your pup one of their own than by giving them a name from their ancestral line. Ultimately it’s all about finding a name you like as much as your pup!
How do you get started? Take a look at this list of some great ideas to kickstart your search.
This list features some of the best dog names for puppies, both male and female.
Airedale Terrier Names
Airedales are a hound-like breed originally bred to hunt foxes and otters. Among their many talents, they also excel as service dogs, police canines, and family companions. Because of this, the Airedale terrier is one of the most popular breeds in the United States. Find How fast can a dog run.
- Bentley
- Toby
- Chad
- Coco
- AJ
- Maximus
- Rocky
- Jake
- Trapper
- Hawkeye
- Jack
- Brody
- Bear
- Amos
- Tucker
- Blitzen
- Blue
- Finn
- Cooper
- Bailey
- Otto
- Boomer
- Sam
- Grommit
- Fritz
- Shamus
- Klaus
- Emmet
- Huck
- Biscuit
- Scout
- Oliver
- Bubba
- Dante
- Duke
- Shadow
- Alex
- Rebel
- Comet
- Bandit
- Sarge
- Owen
- Hank
- Pepper
- Wrigley
- Ace
- Butch
- Lucky
- Axel
- Gunner
- Diesel
- Delgado
- Evan
- Max
- Ricky
- Buddy
- CJ
- Moose
- Dodge
- Dexter
- Charlie
- Angus
- Spencer
- Otis
- Cody
Basset Hound Names
The Basset Hound is one of nine scenthound breeds that date back to medieval France. They are well known for their long ears and short legs, which give them their signature wincing appearance.
- Daisy.
- Lucy.
- Charlie.
- Bella.
- Cooper.
- Beau.
- Buddy.
- Luna.
Beagle Names
The Beagle is the quintessential working dog, with more than 140 years of history as a hunting companion. Originally bred to accompany hunters, they are also used to flush out foxes and rabbits.
- Rocky
- Dixie
- Lexi
- Chloe
- Ruby
- Ellie
- Snoopy
- Lola
- Riley
- Oliver
- Abby
- Boomer
- Marley
- Baxter
- Pepper
- Annie
- Leo
- Coco
- Oscar
- Kobe
- George
- Finley
Bichon Frisé Names
The Bichon Frisé is one of the smallest breeds in the world, with a delicate yet cuddly appearance. They are also very social creatures that don’t do well if left alone for too long. they need special hair care,
- Buffy
- Cherie
- Chloe
- Coco
- Fifi
- Bailey
- Bonnie
- Brandy
- Lucy
- Nova
- Pippa
- Shelby
- Twiggy
- Zoey
Bloodhound Names
Bloodhounds are known for being great trackers and have been used to hunt almost every large animal on the planet. Their thick, muscular bodies also make them great retrievers.
- Abel
- Arthur
- Artemis
- Alice
- Avalon
- Garrick
- Herbert
- Hoovie
- Idol
- Iris
- Jackson
- Bopp
- Baker
- Boosey
- Buxton
Border Collie Names
Border Collies are one of only three dog breeds that have never been put to work in any utilitarian way, and are more often used as family companions or working farm dogs. They were originally bred by Scotsmen in the Scottish borders, and provide outstanding herding skills for their owners.
- Lucy
- Max
- Charlie
- Sadie
- Finn
- Piper
- Pepper
- Lola
- Sophie
- Daisy
- Milo
- Buddy
- Jasper
- Nala
- Oliver
- Chloe
- Rocky
Cairn Terrier Names
Cairn terriers are very active dogs that are known for their excellent herding skills. They make great companions for farmers and ranchers because their sense of smell is so keen they can sniff out buried bones or other valuable objects long after they’ve fallen into the ground.
- Annie
- Maddy
- Poco
- Rina
- Lucky
- Minnie
- Chloe
- Cuddles
- Bonsai
- Rapunzel
- Romy
- Rosetta
- Abby
- Kiko
- Cole
- Lucy
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Names
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is one of the most popular breeds in the world. Originating in Britain in the early 1600s, it’s been known as a companion, dressage horse, and a great family pet.
- Cooper
- Lucy
- Ruby
- Daisy
- Bentley
- Winston
- Leo
- Rocky
- Riley
- Gracie
- Sophie
- Henry
- Zoe
- Ollie
- Tucker
- Chloe
- Lady
- Buddy
Chow Chow Names
The Chow Chow is one of the oldest breeds of dogs and was developed mostly by Chinese shepherds who collected their pups from the wild. Their powerful ears and jaws helped them stand guard for many years over their native dog families.
- Max
- Roxy
- Koda
- LucyStella
- Luna
- Nala
- Simba
- Leo
- Oliver
- Bear
- Honey
- Lexi
- Teddy
- Lola
Collie Names
Collies are known for being energetic yet devoted family companions, although they also enjoy a good romp on a long walk or ride around town. Collies underwent an incredible amount of selective breeding in their history, which has resulted in hundreds of different colors and patterns.
- Pip
- Prince
- Shep
- Sly
- Chase
- Crook
- Cutter
- Dash
- Flash
- Fly
- Gyp
- Jet
- Laddie
Coton de Tulear Names
The Coton de Tulear was developed by the French colonial administrators as a dog that could be used to herd cattle, but it’s also seen use as the world’s only hypoallergenic breed.
| Blizzard | Crystal | Powder |
| Cotton | Eggshell | Snowy |
| Cotie | Frosty | Snowball |
Dachshund Names
The Dachshund is one of the oldest breeds still used for herding, and they also make excellent companions. Despite their well-known short legs, they’re very stable on their feet when walking on hard surfaces. This is due to their webbed paws.
- Zip
- Chip
- Pippin
- Dash
- Arlo
- Fig
English Springer Spaniel Names
The English Springer Spaniel was developed in England as a family dog, and it’s known for its intelligence, athleticism, and good nature. ESS dogs were used extensively for rescue work during both World Wars.
- Bailey
- Buddy
- Buster
- Chester
- Finn
- Ginger
- Gracie
- Gunner
- Molly
- Monty
- Moose
- Murphy
- Olive
- Sam
- Sammy
- Scout
- Stanley
- Stella
- Teddy
Golden Retriever Names
The Golden Retriever is one of the most popular breeds in the world, and they are used as police dogs for their effectiveness at searching for bombs and drugs. They’re also one of the most athletic dogs and love to play fetch or Frisbee even when indoors.
- Charlie
- Cooper
- Bailey
- Bella
- Daisy
- Winnie
- Sandy
- Ruby
- Rosy
- Lilly
- Sophie
- Jack
- Milo
- Oakley
- Winston
- Hank
- Lucky
Great Dane Names
Great Danes are considered the largest dog breed in the world, although this is a misleading title. The breed is known for being very affectionate and gentle, despite their large size. They were originally bred to be used as a war dog by German forces in World War I. Find Best Dog Food for Great Danes.
- Lucy
- Max
- Charlie
- Sadie
- Finn
- Piper
- Pepper
- Lola
- Sophie
- Daisy
- Milo
- Buddy
- Jasper
- Nala
- Oliver
- Chloe
- Rocky
Great Pyrenees Names
The Great Pyrenees is one of two breeds developed as livestock guardian dogs for use on farms during the Middle Ages. Their breed history dates back to thousands of years ago when they were first used in Spain and France to protect herds from wolves and bears.
- Shadow
- Stella
- Skye
- Sugar
- Thor
- Apollo
- Angel
- Aspen
- Bear
- Jasmine
Irish Setter Names
The Irish Setter was the first dog breed developed by the Irish people, and it’s still used as a hunting dog in some parts of Europe. They’re known for being very intelligent, loyal, and alert dogs. This is due to their well-developed sense of hearing.
Big Red
Gael
Celt
Cullen
Lucky
Leprechaun
Rainbow
Dublin
Ireland
Kieran
Aidan
Troy
Chihuahua Names:
Chihuahua dogs are the smallest breed of dog and originate from Mexico. They were first bred by the Chihuahua Indians who wanted a companion that would fit in their small handbags. The breed was brought to Europe after world war two when returning soldiers wanted them for pets. find best food for chihuahua.
- Bella.
- Coco.
- Lola.
- Daisy.
- Peanut.
- Luna.
- Chloe.
- Lucy.
Komondor Names
The Komondor was originally bred in Hungary to be a watchdog. They’ve been used as sheep and livestock herding dogs for centuries before they were imported into Australia in 1840s.
- Holly
- Riley
- Princess
- Candy
- Lola
- Samson
- Cinders
- Buster
- Brandy
- Daisy
- Lady
- Lola
- Gaius
- Baby
- Oscar
- Sammy
- Charlie
- Gizmo
- Precious
- Murphy
- Pluto
Lapdog Names
The original name for today’s American Pit Bull Terrier is the “Olde English Bulldogge”, which has nothing to do with the popular modern breed name. They’re known for being loyal and affectionate animals that will fight to the death to defend their territory or owners.
- Tiny.
- Little.
- Peewee.
- Squirt.
- Baby.
- Peanut.
- Bitty.
- Shorty.
Leonberger Names
The Leonberger is one of two breeds developed in Germany during the 18th century as a Giant Scenthound. They were specifically developed to be good-natured, loving companions but they are still used today in tracking and search-and-rescue work.
- Candy.
- Abby.
- Scout.
- Felix.
- Pepper.
- Chaos.
- Samson.
- Katie.
Newfoundland Names
Newfoundlands were originally bred by English settlers on the island of Newfoundland, which is where they get their name. They were specifically created to work in the harsh waters near Newfoundland and Labrador. Their current popularity among dog owners comes from their reputation as being exceptionally friendly animals.
- Henry
- Hugo
- Kodiak
- Leo
- Moose
- Newton
- Ollie
- Sampson
- Sailor
Pomeranian Names
Pomeranians are one of the oldest breeds in the world, dating back to when they were first used as a hunting dog for birds by German hunters. They are now most popular among households with children.
- Bear.
- Chewbacca.
- Cotton.
- Ewok.
- Fluffy.
- Fozzie.
- Furball.
- Fuzzy.
Poodles and golden doodles
Poodles are excellent companions that are not only known for their intelligence but also their athletic abilities. Because they tend to get along well with other animals, they’re often used as guide and service dogs by the deaf and blind communities.
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- Daisy
- Bailey
- Zoe
- Sophie
- Buddy
- Lily
- Cooper
- Milo
- Bentley
- Lola
- Molly
- Louie
- Maggie
- Gracie
- Roxy
- Riley
- Oreo
- Chewy
- Ellie
- Mia
- Stella
- Sammy
Saint Bernard Names
Saint Bernards were originally bred in the Swiss Alps to be mountain rescue dogs. They’re now most popular as family pets for their friendly and affectionate nature.
- Meatball
- Moses
- Mozart
- Neptune
- Octane
- Patton
- Pharaoh
- Roscoe
- Sarge
- Seatton
- Mercy
- Phoenix
- Precious
- Princess
- Rousey
- Sadie
- Sasha
- Sheba
- Snowflake
Saluki Names
Salukis are yet another breed that was developed in Iraq around the late 19th century. They originated as a sprint dog that was specifically bred to be used by nomadic tribes. Because of their high intelligence and athletic ability, they are often used today as hunting dogs and show dogs.
- Tasha
- Zoe
- Penny
- Sadie
- Ruby
- Sam
- Casey
- Misty
- Rogue
- Bobby
- Vicki
- Reba
Samoyed Names
Samoyeds were originally bred by Russian herders to be working dogs that could pull sleds through harsh conditions for extended periods of time. They tend to be very affectionate animals who get along well with other animals, especially if they’ve been properly socialized with them from an early age.
Dolly
Felicity
Beau
Pepper
Ashia
Halo
Kibru
Nadia
Zita
Arnan
Sparky
Lucky
Mickey
Archie
Aegis
Boon
Foster
Haven
Nimbus
Zane
Labrador Retriever Names
Originating in Newfoundland, Labrador retrievers were bred by Canadian trappers and fishermen for tracking game on land and water. They’re a very affectionate dog breed who love to cuddle up with their owners and make great therapy dogs.
- Shamus
- Klaus
- Emmet
- Huck
- Biscuit
- Scout
- Oliver
- Bubba
- Dante
- Duke
- Shadow
- Alex
- Rebel
- Comet
- Bandit
- Sarge
- Owen
- Hank
- Pepper
- Wrigley
- Ace
- Butch
