If you've picked out your puppy, purchased your pet supplies and puppy-proofed your home, then the only thing left to do is name your furry friend. You could go with something classic, like Max or Daisy, or you could try something funny, like Chewbarka or Bark Twain. Truthfully, it doesn't matter what you name your puppy so long as the name means something to you. Scroll down to find the most popular puppy names.
Part One: How to Choose a Puppy Name
What Are The Most Popular Puppy Names?
PuppySpot is the nation's largest and most trusted service for connecting dog lovers with responsible breeders. At the end of each year we dig into our databases to see which puppy names were the most popular, and we're always surprised by what we find. Here are 20 of the most popular puppy names.
- Luna
- Bella
- Charlie
- Cooper
- Lucy
- Daisy
- Max
- Rosie
- Teddy
- Molly
- Winnie
- Bandit
- Bentley
- Koda
- Sadie
- Bella
- Daisy
- Copper
- Loki
- Rufus
How Do I Choose A Name For My Puppy?
Choosing a name for your puppy is a special occasion, you never know when inspiration will strike with the perfect name. On the other hand, it may take some time to come up with a name that captures your puppy's unique personality in a single word. If you're having trouble finding the perfect name for your new puppy, we suggest following these tips for choosing the best name for your puppy.
Stick With Words That End in Vowels
Have you ever wondered why most dog names end in a vowel? It's because dogs can distinguish frequency ranges at a much higher level than humans and are, therefore, more likely to respond to a name like Bailey over Bart
Choose Names With One or Two Syllable
Long, complicated names with more than two syllables are harder to say and more difficult for your puppy to distinguish from other words. One and two syllable names are also easier to repeat, which is especially useful during training.
Stay Away from Names that are Negative or Offensive
When naming your puppy, it's always a good idea to avoid names with negative or offensive connotations. Think about it. Do you really want to be the person at the dog park calling out a name that is clearly offensive? No, you don't. When it comes to puppy names, it's best to keep them PG.
Avoid Names That Sound Like Commands
Names like Kit, Jay and Pop can easily be confused for commands like Sit, Stay and Stop. Therefore, it's best to avoid names that sound too similar to commands or words that you repeat over and over.
Choose Names That Don't Sound Like Your Other Pets
In homes with more than one pet, it's best to choose a name that doesn't sound like the name of your other pets. You don't want to confuse your pets by choosing names that are too similar to one another, like Max and Rex.
Use the "Nickname Test"
We've seen it all before. Regardless of the name you choose for your puppy, it will inevitably be shortened to a nickname. Save yourself the trouble of renaming your puppy and perform the nickname test before you decide on a name. The nickname test is easy. Simply think of all the different ways you can/will say your dog's name. If they are easy to say over and over; don't sound like your other pets names and don't offend anyone's sensibilities, then you may have found the perfect name.
Consider Your Puppy's Personality
The most important tip for naming your new puppy is to consider its personality. What names come to mind when you look at your new puppy? We say trust your gut and go with the name that suits their unique self-best.
Choose a Name and Stick With It
From learning its name to potty training, consistency is the best way to teach your puppy everything. Whichever name you choose, the best thing to do is stick with it. If you must change your dog's name, try to change it to something that doesn't sound too dissimilar from it's previous name. A dog that was named Sven is more likely to answer to a name like Ben than it is Cooper.
Do Dogs Respond Better to Certain Names?
Yes. Dogs learn and respond to certain sounds better than others. Longer words with more than one syllable can be confusing for some dogs. Dogs are also surprisingly sensitive and intuitive, which is why you want to avoid names that sound like a joke. Your dog can tell when you're making fun of him/her.
Part Two: Where to Find Puppy Names?
Many new puppy owners find inspiration from their new puppy's anime in their favorite books, films, and TV series. Others scan the pages of history and mythology for powerful, classic names that never go out of style. Wherever you find inspiration, just be sure that you choose a name that you would feel comfortable shouting aloud at the dog park. Stick with names that you would be comfortable saying in front of your grandmother.
Puppy Names Inspired by Myth
- Apollo (Greek)
- Ares (Greek)
- Zeus (Greek)
- Juno (Rome)
- Pluto (Rome)
- Fionn (Irish)
- Balor (Irish)
- Bres (Irish)
- Erin (Irish)
- Ogma (Irish)
- Lugh (Irish)
- Crom (Irish)
- Macha (Irish)
- Fand (Iriish)
- Boann (Irish)
- Brigid (Irish)
- Agni (Hindu)
- Soma (Hindu)
- Asura (Hindu)
- Amun (Egyptian)
Puppy Names Inspired by History
- Louie (Louis XIII)
- Marilyn (Marilyn Monroe)
- Nelson (Nelson Mandela)
- Elizabeth (Queen Elizabeth II)
- Ali (Muhammad Ali)
- Darwin (Charles Darwin)
- Presley (Elvis Prelsy)
- Victoria (Queen Victoria)
- Einstein (Albert Einstein)
- Francis (Pope Francis)
- Da Vinci (Leonardo Da Vinci)
- Van Gogh (Vincent Van Gogh)
- Roosevelt (Theodore and/or Franklin Roosevelt)
- Elinor (Elinor Roosevelt)
- Rosa (Rosa Parks)
- Lyndon (Lyndon B Johnson)
- Ludwig (Ludwig Beethoven)
- Oprah (Oprah Winfrey)
- Orwell (George Orwell)
- Eva (Eva Peron)
Puppy Names Inspired by Literature
- Arwen - Lord of the Rings
- Atticus - To Kill a Mockingbird
- Beatrice - Much Ado About Nothing
- Bond - James Bond
- Daisy - The Great Gatsby
- Dodger - Oliver Twist
- Falstaff - Henry IV
- Fern - Charlotte's Web
- Gandalf - Lord of the Rings
- Gatsby - The Great Gatsby
- Ginny - Harry Potter
- Gretel - Hansel & Gretel
- Gulliver - Gulliver's Travels
- Laska - Anna Karenina
- Nana - Peter Pan
- Max - How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- Toto - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
- Scout - To Kill a Mockingbird
- Matilda - Matilda
- Milo - Catch-22
Puppy Names Inspired by Cinema
- Gollum - Lord of the Rings
- Gandalf - Lord of the Rings
- Aragorn - Lord of the Rings
- Odie - Garfield
- Zero - The Nightmare Before Christmas
- Tarzan - Tarzan
- Ace - Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
- Max - Mad Max
- Rocky - Rocky
- Dude - The Big Lebowski
- Bluto - Animal House
- Spicoli - Fast Times and Ridgemont High
- Scarlett - Gone With the Wind
- Jabba the Mutt - Star Wars
- Kane - Citizen Kane
- Chance - Homeward Bound
- Morpheus - The Matrix
- Neo - The Matrix
- Marv - Sin City
- Stitch - Lilo & Stitch
Puppy Names Inspired by Food
- Butterscotch
- Apple
- Caramel
- Basil
- Cinnamon
- Bagel
- Coconut
- Bean(s)
- Cupcake
- Biscuit
- Fondue
- Butter(s)
- Fudge
- Dumpling
- Huckleberry
- Falafel
- Jelly
- Macaron
- Lemon
- Marshmallow
Puppy Names Inspired by Space and Astronomy
- Luna
- Marsha
- Nebula
- Phoebe
- Stella
- Selene
- Solstice
- Sora
- Ursa
- Scorpio
- Draco
- Cassiopeia
- Cygnus
- Lyra
- Sirius
- Comet
- Atlas
- Archer
- Aries
- Blaze
Puppy Names Inspired by Disney
- Nala - Lion King
- Penny - The Rescuers
- Perdita - 101 Dalmatians
- Pocahontas - Pocahontas
- Rapunzel - Tangled
- Snow White - Snow White
- Tiana - The Princess and the Frog
- Tinker Bell - Peter Pan
- Wendy - Peter Pan
- Aladdin - Aladdin
- Arthur - The Sword and the Stone
- Basil - The Great Mouse Detective
- Beast - The Beauty and the Beast
- Berlioz - The Aristocats
- Bert - Mary Poppins
- Bolt - Bolt
- Buzz - Toy Story
- Charming - Cinderella
- Hercules - Hercules
- Winnie - Winnie the Pooh
Part Three: What are the Most Popular Puppy Names?
Quarantine-Inspired Dog Names for Pandemic Puppies
When the COVID-19 outbreak sent everyone in doors, millions of people discovered they finally have enough time to dedicate to raising a new puppy. The demand for puppies is so large that reputable breeders can hardly keep up.
Quarantine may be tough, but puppies make everything better. Read on for fun and hilarious puppy names inspired by this crazy year.
- Rona
- Covie
- TeePee
- Vaxx
- Clorox
- Fauci
- Charmin
- Sourdough
- Flour
- Grubhub
- TikTok
- Zoom
- Facetime
- Bingey
- Hulu
- Tiger King
- Quarantina
- Corona
- Pandemonia
- Kobe
What are the Most Popular Girl Dog Names?
From cute and delicate to prim and proper, there are a lot of great names for female puppies out there this year. Tough and sporty names like Zoe, Piper and Quinn were very popular last year, but this year we're seeing a return to more classic names like Abby, Ruby and Sadie. Here are the 50 most popular female puppy names.
- Emma
- Gigi
- Ginger
- Grace
- Gracie
- Hannah
- Harley
- Hazel
- Heidi
- Holly
- Honey
- Izzy
- Jasmine
- Josie
- Katie
- Kona
- Lacey
- Lady
- Layla
- Lexi
What are The Most Popular Boy Dog Names?
From names like Max and Charlie to names like Alpha and Zero, there is no shortage of male dog names out to choose from, but these are the 50 most popular boy dog names.
- Cash
- Champ
- Chance
- Charlie
- Chase
- Chester
- Chico
- Coco
- Cody
- Cooper
- Copper
- Dexter
- Diesel
- Duke
- Elvis
- Finn
- Frankie
- George
- Gizmo
- Bubba
What Are Some Unique Dog Names?
We scoured our databases for some of the most unique dog names and came up with some really clever ones. From the obscure and random to the weird and painfully funny, here are the most unique dog names.
- Alfred von Wigglebottom
- Andy War-howl
- Artoo Dogtoo
- Bob Scratch-It
- Betty Twiglet
- Boba Fetch
- Buzz Pawldrin
- Captain Fluffy
- Captain Merrylegs
- Captain Sniffer
- Count Droolsbury
- Deputy Dawg
- Django Unleashed
- Doc McDoggins
- Doggy Howlser M.D.
- Dumbledog
- Fur-dinand
- Hairy Pawter
- Hashtag
- Hotrod Woofington
What Are The Cutest Puppy Names?
The answer to this question depends on what you consider cute. Here are 50 of the cutest puppy names we've found.
- Muttley Crue
- Otto Von Longdog
- Ozzy Pawsborne
- Prince of Barkness
- Princess Pork Chop
- Professor Wagglesworth
- Pup Tart
- Putt Putt
- Queen of Barkness
- Santa Paws
- Sergeant Barkowitz
- Sherlock Bones
- Sir Barks-a-Lot
- Sir Waggington
- Sniffy Longdroppings
- Spark Pug
- Waltzing Muttilda
- Woofgang Amadeus
- Calamity Jane
- Captain Chaos
Celebrity Dog Names
From Adam Sandler to Zoey Deschanel, you'll find all of your favorite celebrity puppy names listed below.
- Adam Sandler - Matzoball and Meatball - Bulldogs
- Anne Hathaway - Esmerelda - Labrador
- Aubrey Hepburn - Mr. Famous - Yorkie
- Blake Lively - Penny - Maltese-Toy Poodle
- Charlize Theron - Tucker - mixed breed
- Christina Ricci - Sheriff - Miniature Pinscher
- Debra Messing - Henry - mixed breed
- Demi Moore - Vida - Chihuahua
- Drew Barrymore - Flossie - Chow Chow-Labrador mix
- Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson - Brutus - French Bulldog
- Eva Longoria - Jinxy and Oprah - Maltese and Pug
- Gwen Stefani - Winston - Pomeranian
- Hilary Duff - Lola - Chihuahua
- Hugh Jackman - Mocha - French Bulldog
- Jake Gyllenhaal - Atticus - German Shepherd
- Jennifer Aniston - Norman - Corgi
- Jennifer Love Hewitt - Mona - Boxer
- Jessica Alba - Sid - Pug
- Jessica Biel - Tina - Pit Bull
- Jessica Simpson - Daisy - Maltese-Toy Poodle
- Jim Carrey - George - Great Dane
- Justin Bieber - Sammy - Papillon
- Matthew McConaughey - Foxy - Australian Cattle Dog
- Orlando Bloom - Sidi - Saluki mix
- Ryan Reynolds - Baxter - Labrador mix
- Sandra Bullock - Poppy and Ruby - Chihuahuas
- Selma Blair - Wink - Jack Russell mix
- Tori Spelling - Mimi LaRue - Pug
- Will Smith - Indo - Rottweiler
- Zoey Deschanel - Dot and Zelda - mixed breeds
Famous Dog Names
From famous hero dogs to the stalwart companions of historical figures, here are the most popular famous dog names from history and the real world.
- Toto, the Cairn Terrier
- Rin Tin Tin, the German Shepherd
- Lassie, the Rough Collie
- Trakr, the German Shepherd
- Bobbie the Wonder Dog, Collie-Shepherd Mix
- Balto, the Siberian Husky
- Nemo, the German Shepherd
- Jofi, the Chow Chow
- Lex, the German Shepherd
- Sinbad, the Lovable Mutt
Funniest Puppy Names of All Time
Out of all of the puppy names we've seen over the years, these are the ones that made us laugh out loud.
- Alfred von Wigglebottom
- Barkley
- Captain Sniffer
- Count Droolsbury
- Deputy Dawg
- Doodle
- Lucky Goodsniffer
- Miss Furbulous
- Mister Fluffers
- Professor Wagglesworth
- Putt-putt
- Scooter
- Sergeant Barkowitz
- Sir Barks-a-Lot
- Sir Waggington
- Bark Twain
- Chewbarka
- Doc McDoggins
- Droolius Caesar
- Franz Fur-dinand
Most Popular Human Puppy Names
They say you're not supposed to give puppies human names but, honestly, watching a 2 week old puppy named Jerry scamper around your home is pretty darn funny. Here are the most popular human puppy names.
- Hortense
- Howard
- Vern
- Albert
- Amos
- Arthur
- Artie
- Irma
- Irving
- Joan
- Loretta
- Marvin
- Murray
- Myrtle
- Norma
- Norman
- Pearl
- Rhoda
- Seymour
- Thelma
How to Help Your Puppy Learn Its Name
We hope this extensive list of the most popular puppy names was helpful and made it easy to find the perfect name for your puppy. Now that you've chosen a name, it's time to ensure your puppy learns it.
Thankfully, this step-by-step guide will show you how to teach your puppy his or her name, as well as the best ways to use their name for the best results during training.
Tell Us Your Favorite Puppy Names
Do you have a funny puppy name from this year that we missed? We want to know your favorite puppy names. Contact PuppySpot today and let us know your favorites puppy names from this year.