63 Dog Names We Love, With Meanings for Every Boy and Girl

Naming a dog is one of those decisions that feels small right up until you are standing in the kitchen with a nameless puppy, saying words out loud like a crazy person. My husband and I picked Ravi’s name out of a baby name book three days before we met him, and it fit so perfectly that I now believe some dogs simply arrive pre-named.

Scooby Boy, on the other hand, named himself. He came to us as a foster with a different name entirely, ignored it completely, and answered on the first try to the silliest option on our list. So much for careful planning.

Below are sixty three names I genuinely love, sorted into boys and girls, each with a quick note on where it comes from and the kind of dog it tends to suit. If you want help with the actual choosing part, my guide on picking a name your dog will actually respond to pairs well with this list.

First, the Boys

We will start with the boys. Some of these are classics for a reason, and a few are the kind of name that makes strangers smile at the dog park.

Ravi

I am biased, but hear me out. Ravi means sun in Sanskrit, and it suits a dog with a warm, steady presence. Ours has been the calm center of our house since the day he arrived.

Bear

For the big, shaggy, lumbering types, there has never been a better name. It works even harder as a joke on a ten pound dog. Either way, everyone remembers it.

Milo

An old Germanic name that likely comes from a word for mild or merciful. It has a friendly, boyish sound that fits puppies and never stops fitting.

Duke

Nobility for your couch potato. Duke comes from the Latin dux, meaning leader, and it has been a classic American dog name for generations. Best worn by dogs who take themselves a little too seriously.

Finn

From the Irish Fionn, meaning fair or white. It carries a bit of folklore too, since Fionn mac Cumhaill was a legendary hunter and warrior. Great for light coated adventurers.

Leo

Latin for lion, short enough to call across any field. It suits golden dogs especially, though a bold little terrier can carry it just as well.

Ollie

A softened form of Oliver, which traces back to the olive tree, an old symbol of peace. Ollie is the name of a dog who has never once been in a bad mood.

Bruno

From the Germanic word for brown, which makes it the most honest name on this list for a chocolate Lab. It sounds sturdy and a little old world.

Ziggy

Short, zippy, and impossible to say without smiling. It came into fashion through music culture and fits dogs with more energy than sense.

Moose

The go to name for gentle giants who do not know their own size. Fair warning, you will be explaining at the vet that Moose is, in fact, a dog.

Banjo

A name with a twang. It suits scruffy, cheerful dogs who look like they belong on a porch somewhere. Bonus points if their bark has some music in it.

Ranger

For the hikers, the sniffers, and the self appointed yard patrol officers. It has a working dog seriousness that active breeds wear well.

Otis

An old German name meaning wealthy, though it now mostly means soulful. Otis is a dog who sighs deeply and appreciates a good nap in the sun.

Wally

Short for Wallace, but really it is just a wonderfully goofy sound. Wally is the dog who runs into the glass door and pretends he meant to.

Jasper

A gemstone name with Persian roots meaning bringer of treasure. It has a gentlemanly ring that suits polite, curious dogs.

Rufus

Latin for red haired, which makes it perfect for any dog with rust in the coat. It also just sounds like a dog name, and has since Roman times, literally.

Gus

Short for Augustus, meaning great or venerable, which is very funny attached to a snoring bulldog. Gus is a name that arrives middle aged and comfortable.

Archie

From Archibald, meaning genuinely bold. Royals and sitcoms have kept it in circulation, and it suits scrappy little dogs with big opinions.

Boone

From a French word meaning good, with a frontier feel to it. Boone belongs to a loyal dog who would absolutely follow you across a river.

Chester

An old English place name that has become shorthand for lovable and slightly rumpled. Chester is the dog who greets you like you have been gone a year.

Hank

A nickname for Henry, meaning ruler of the home, which any Hank owner will confirm is accurate. It is impossible to say sternly, which is a problem.

Koda

Often traced to a Sioux word meaning friend or ally. It became popular for huskies and other northern breeds, and the meaning could not fit dogs better.

Murphy

An Irish surname meaning sea warrior. In practice, Murphy is the name of a dog who knocks things over with his tail and is forgiven instantly.

Remy

From the French Rémi, linked to an old word for oarsman. It sounds a little fancy and a little mischievous, which is a great combination in a dog.

Tucker

An old English occupational name, but for dogs it mostly means tuckered out. Fitting, since every Tucker I have met plays hard and sleeps harder.

Waffles

No ancient meaning here, just pure joy. Food names work because they are warm, familiar, and fun to call out. Waffles is a dog who has never met a stranger.

Cooper

Another occupational name, originally for barrel makers. It has topped dog name charts for years because it is friendly, crisp, and easy to call.

Diesel

For the tanks. Diesel suits broad shouldered, motor always running dogs, and it sounds exactly like what it describes.

Percy

Short for Percival, a knight of the Round Table. It is a dignified name that becomes comedy gold on a dog who is scared of the vacuum. I would know something about that.

Scout

Borrowed from To Kill a Mockingbird and beloved ever since. It fits curious dogs who walk ten feet ahead and report back constantly.

Rocco

An Italian name with Germanic roots meaning rest, which is ironic, because every Rocco is a wrecking ball. It has swagger for days.

Alfie

A warm little nickname for Alfred, meaning wise counselor. Alfie is the dog who sits beside you when you are sad, which is its own kind of wisdom.

Now, the Girls

Now for the girls. There is a softness to a lot of these, but do not be fooled, half of them belong to the most stubborn dogs I have ever met.

Luna

Latin for moon, and the most popular girl dog name in America for years running. It is soft to say, easy to call, and somehow fits every size of dog.

Daisy

A flower name that comes from the Old English for day’s eye, since daisies open with the sun. Daisy is a happy name for a happy dog, end of story.

Willow

Named for the tree, graceful and a little dreamy. It suits gentle, leggy dogs who move like they are underwater in the best way.

Hazel

A tree, a color, and a grandmother’s name all at once. Hazel fits warm eyed dogs and has an old fashioned sweetness that never gets old.

Ruby

A gemstone name from the Latin for red. It has sparkle and sass, and it belongs to dogs who know exactly how cute they are.

Stella

Latin for star. It is bright and a little dramatic, which is convenient, because every Stella I know insists on being the main character.

Pepper

For the spicy ones. Pepper suits speckled coats and big personalities, especially the small dogs who run the whole household.

Olive

From the olive tree, a symbol of peace, though Olive the dog is usually the one starting the zoomies. It is impossibly charming on a small dark dog.

Maple

Sweet, warm, and a little bit country. Maple fits red and golden coats beautifully, and it smells like pancakes, which dogs would appreciate if they could.

Rosie

From Rose, obviously, but softer and sunnier. Rosie is the dog who leans against your legs while you make coffee.

Birdie

An old term of endearment with a golf joke built in. Birdie suits small, cheerful dogs who hop more than they walk.

Clover

A lucky charm of a name. It has meadow energy, and it fits sweet natured dogs who would absolutely eat the clover in question.

Ivy

Short, elegant, and evergreen. Ivy climbs, and so will the dog, usually onto furniture you said was off limits.

Goldie

The honest choice for a golden coat. It is warm and unpretentious, and it has a little old Hollywood in it too.

Honey

A name and an endearment in one, which means your dog will always sound loved when you call her. Fits sweet dogs with amber coats especially.

Lucy

From the Latin lux, meaning light. Lucy has been a beloved dog name for decades because it is friendly, familiar, and quick off the tongue.

Millie

Short for Mildred or Camilla, meaning gentle strength. Millie is the dog who is patient with toddlers and firm with squirrels.

Nala

Made famous by The Lion King, and often said to mean gift in Swahili. It suits confident, athletic dogs with a regal streak.

Penny

Bright as a new coin. Penny is a warm, modest name that fits copper colored dogs and any dog who is small but valuable.

Piper

One who plays the pipes, which is fitting for talkative breeds. Piper is the dog who has something to say about the mail carrier.

Poppy

A bright red flower and a name that pops when you say it. Poppy suits joyful, bouncy dogs who greet every morning like a holiday.

Sadie

A nickname for Sarah, meaning princess. Sadie has a sweet Southern porch feel and belongs to dogs with soulful eyes.

Tilly

Short for Matilda, meaning strength in battle, hilariously attached to a dog who flops over for belly rubs on sight. That contrast is the whole charm.

Winnie

From Winifred, meaning blessed peacemaking, with a certain bear lending it extra warmth. Winnie is a comfort of a name for a comfort of a dog.

Cleo

Short for Cleopatra, meaning glory of the father. Cleo is for dogs with presence, the ones who enter a room and wait to be noticed.

Dot

Tiny, vintage, and perfect. Dot suits small dogs and any dog with one good spot. You cannot say it without smiling.

Elsie

A cozy form of Elizabeth. Elsie has a milk and cookies warmth to it, ideal for gentle family dogs.

Fern

A quiet green name for a quiet soul. Fern suits shy, sweet dogs who bloom once they trust you.

Gracie

From grace, and usually bestowed ironically on the clumsiest dog in the house. That is tradition at this point, and I support it.

Bea

Short for Beatrice, meaning she who brings happiness. Which is the entire job description of a dog, so honestly, it might be the most accurate name on this list.

Juno

The Roman queen of the gods, and a first cousin of our cat Juniper’s name, which is why I could not resist including it. Juno suits bold girls who rule their households with a velvet paw.

Whatever you land on, say it out loud a few times, try it in your happiest voice and your most exasperated one, and make sure everyone in the house can live with it. The dog will grow into it either way. They always do.