Dog Name Generator

Still need some guidance as you choose a fitting name for your faithful puppy companion? No problem—we’re here to help. Take a look at these tips and see if you can use them (and our generator) to find the right dog name.

Match the name to your dog’s personality! What’s your dog like? Are they curious—always sniffing at new things and exploring every area they’re introduced to? Are they playful and eager to run around whenever they get the chance? Are they sleepy, sassy, or snuggly? Whatever your dog’s personality is like, you can use that as inspiration for their name.

You can also do this with your dog’s appearance, choosing a name that’s inspired by their most noticeable characteristics.

For example, you might name a playful and chaotic dog “Bizzy,” “Dash,” or “Peppy.” Similarly, you might name a dark-haired dog “Shadow” or “Ash.”

Come up with a play on your dog’s breed. If you know your dog’s breed, you can make a reference to it—either obvious or obscure—in the name you give them. You never know: your dog’s breed (or the country or region it originates from) might inspire a lovely name for your pooch!

For example, you might choose an Irish-themed name for an Irish setter or Irish terrier pup, such as “Molly,” “Nola,” or “Lucky.”

Similarly, if you have a French bulldog or a Coton de Tuléar pup (a breed originating in Madagascar, but the name is in French), you might give your dog a French-sounding name, like “Chanel” or “Henri.”

Look for inspiration in the things you love. Naming your dog after something you really love will give their name more significance! So scour your favorite books, movies, games, TV shows, musicals, songs, and other aspects of pop culture for names that’ll fit your dog perfectly.

For example—are you a fan of Queen? Name your pup “Freddie” (after Freddie Mercury). Do you love music of all kinds? Pick a name like “Melody” or “Major.”

Are you a huge Disney movie fan? Choose a name like “Pluto” or “Minnie.”

Do you love Greek history and mythology? Choose a name related to the ancient Greek gods, like “Nyx” or “Nike.”

Whatever your passion, lean into it and find a name for your dog you’ll adore!

Shorter is better. Dogs most often respond to shorter names—ideally one or two syllables long. There’s nothing wrong with choosing a longer “formal” name for your dog, but try to have a shorter nickname you can use more regularly around them!

For example, if you name your dog “Belladonna,” you could call them “Bella” for short. Or, if you pick the name “Maximus,” you could call your pup “Max.”

Consider a name ending in a vowel.
Dog names ending in a vowel are very common—and for good reason, since dogs tend to respond better to names that end in an uplifting vowel (rather than a consonant). When brainstorming dog names, you might want to pick contenders with a vowel at the end, like “Charlie,” “Rocky,” or “Milo.” As a reminder, vowels include A, E, I, O, U, and Y!

Steer clear of command words and confusing sounds. When you pick a name that sounds too much like common command words, your dog might get confused while they’re being trained. For example, a name like “Britt” might sound too much like the command “Sit”—or a name like “Ciel” might sound a lot like the command “Heel.” Take any command words you might use into consideration before picking a name!

And, of course, it’s also wise to avoid any names that might sound embarrassing or offensive. You don’t want to call out your dog’s name in public and feel uncomfortable about it, after all.

Pick something distinct from any other pets. Finally, remember to consider any other pets (or family members) in the household. Try not to pick a name that’s super similar to anyone else’s! For example, you might not want to name one dog “Pepper” if another is named “Piper.”

And, if you ever need help narrowing down your list of dog names, let your dog be the decider. Try calling your dog by each name and see if there’s one they respond to more. Sometimes, your dog may have a more solid opinion on the matter than you!