Dog Care
Dog Names: 120 Ideas for Boys, Girls and Puppies
The best dog names are names you enjoy saying and can connect to your own dog. Start with a style—gentle, playful, outdoorsy or unexpected—then choose three favourites from the 120 ideas below. You do not need to decide the first moment you meet a puppy.
This is a browsable name list. If you want suggestions generated for you instead, try our Dog & Cat Name Generator. For colour-specific lists, see black dog names.
Boy dog names and male puppy names
For boy puppy names, compare a familiar human name with a softer nickname. Archie or Otis might suit a relaxed style; Hugo or Dexter gives a different sound. These are suggestions, not a ranked list of popular dog names.
- Archie
- Arthur
- Beau
- Benji
- Brody
- Bruno
- Chester
- Cooper
- Dexter
- Felix
- Finn
- Freddie
- Harvey
- Hugo
- Jasper
- Leo
- Louie
- Milo
- Otis
- Teddy
Girl dog names and female puppy names
If you are looking for names for a female dog, begin with a sound you like. Try the full name and its likely everyday version: Mabel and Mabs, for example. Keep the name you actually want to use.
- Ada
- Alma
- Annie
- Bella
- Bonnie
- Chloe
- Cleo
- Daisy
- Elsie
- Flora
- Gracie
- Heidi
- Ivy
- Juno
- Lola
- Mabel
- Maisie
- Nell
- Olive
- Ruby
Unique dog names with a story
These unusual and interesting names for dogs take inspiration from landscapes, plants and storytelling. Here, “unique” means less conventional editorial ideas; we cannot know whether another pet has the same name. Cedar could remind you of a favourite trail, while Fable could mark the beginning of a shared story.
- Aster
- Bramble
- Cedar
- Clover
- Dune
- Ember
- Fable
- Fern
- Harbour
- Indigo
- Juniper
- Kestrel
- Linden
- Meadow
- Moss
- Orchard
- Pebble
- Reed
- Sable
- Tansy
Cute dog names for small dogs and big puppies
Cute puppy names do not have to describe size. Waffle can suit a giant youngster as well as a tiny companion. Choose a food-inspired name because you like the word; a name is not advice to feed that food.
- Bean
- Biscuit
- Boba
- Bubble
- Button
- Cookie
- Crumpet
- Dumpling
- Fig
- Gizmo
- Jelly
- Mochi
- Muffin
- Noodle
- Nugget
- Peanut
- Pickle
- Pip
- Pudding
- Waffle
Funny dog names for a playful shortlist
Funny dog names work best when the joke stays kind and enjoyable. Ask whether you would still be happy using it during a vet visit or introducing your dog to a neighbour. There is no need to choose a joke about appearance or behaviour.
- Banjo
- Boots
- Bookmark
- Captain
- Cheddar
- Disco
- Doodle
- Gravy
- Hobnob
- Inspector
- Kazoo
- Mailbox
- Mittens
- Professor
- Ravioli
- Scooter
- Socks
- Teaspoon
- Toaster
- Wiggles
Unisex dog names inspired by places and adventures
If your family enjoys the outdoors, these names can point to a place you love. They also offer options beyond traditional male dog names or girl dog names. A quiet dog can be Summit; a lively one can be Haven.
- Aspen
- Brook
- Canyon
- Delta
- Everest
- Finch
- Glen
- Haven
- Journey
- Kodiak
- Lake
- Maple
- North
- Ocean
- Peak
- River
- Scout
- Shore
- Summit
- Vale
How to choose between good dog names
- Write down five names without ranking them.
- Read each in an ordinary sentence: “This is our dog, …”
- Check how it sounds beside the names already used at home.
- Ask everyone to choose two favourites independently.
- Keep a final shortlist of three and note the reason behind each.
A sample shortlist could be “Otis—warm and familiar; Cedar—our favourite walk; Waffle—makes us smile.” That is an example, not a test of which name a dog will learn fastest.
Keep the story behind the name
Write who suggested the winning name, the date you chose it and the nickname that appeared later. Your Pet Memory includes an interactive HTML memory experience and a separate printable PDF with photo and story spaces. It is optional; a simple note works too. Start with your puppy’s first-year milestones if you are collecting early memories.
Dog name questions
What are the best male puppy names?
There is no universal best. Choose a name your household likes and can use consistently; compare the boy dog names above with the unisex ideas.
Where can I find unique girl dog names?
Try the nature and story section: Aster, Fable, Linden and Tansy are starting points. Pick an association that matters to you rather than assuming any name is unused.
Should I choose a famous dog name?
You can, but a personal connection may make the choice easier. Write down why you like a character’s name before deciding whether it suits your own pet.
Name lists are original editorial suggestions, not a popularity survey or a promise that a name is unique worldwide. Names can suit pets of any sex. Word associations describe our inspiration, not verified name etymologies.
Photo by Nicolás Pinilla on Unsplash.
