Best Boy And Girl Dog Names

By Theresa Miller • August 30, 2024

Theresa is a tenured PuppySpot employee and breed expert. She is currently the manager of our Profile Approval department and interacts with our breeders daily. Theresa has been involved in the pet industry for over 20 years and has hands-on experience with many dog breeds. Theresa is also the proud pet parent of Marta, a German Shepherd Dog who is a trained service dog, a miniature Labradoodle named Eleanor, and her tuxedo cat Bonnie!

When welcoming a new puppy home, one of the first things to consider is selecting a name. While picking the perfect name for your puppy is always a fun time it can also have its challenges. It is easy to feel the pressure of getting their fur-ever name just right. Sometimes the perfect name will come to you when you first meet them. Other times, you might want to get a feel for the puppy’s personality or play around with different names before settling on one.

You might also run into a situation where not every family member is on board with the name or prefers something else. While this could potentially cause sometimes tension, the best thing to do is to take a step back. Give it a day for everyone to consider the choices or come up with a new list of names. You can also get your puppy involved and have them pick their name. Try setting up two bowls of food or treats at the end of the room with a name on each and see which one your puppy picks first. The important thing is to remember that this is supposed to be fun, and with a little time, we’re sure you’ll find a name that everyone in the family will agree on.

Another thing to consider when naming your new puppy is the name of any pets you currently have in the house. It is recommended to avoid using names that are too similar. Having names like Ollie and Molly might sound cute together but they will sound identical to your pets and can cause some confusion. However, you can always have a bit of fun naming your dogs after famous or fictional couples, like Bonnie and Clyde, or Bella and Edward. If you like naming your dogs after food pairings, why not try Waffles and Pancakes, or maybe Bacon?

Ultimately, it is up to you as a pet parent to pick a name that feels right and is not too complex for your puppy to learn. It can take your puppy a few days to learn their name, so don’t be alarmed if they don’t respond to it on day one. Whatever name you choose in the end, just remember this is the name your dog will respond to for the rest of their life and the name you will use when introducing them to new people.

If you’ve been sniffing around for name ins-paw-ration, then we have some howling good news for you. We have done some digging and retrieved a list of paw-pular dog names!

Are you a pet parent who likes to be on trend? Then here is a list of the Top 10 most popular boy and girl dog names in the United States.

Popular Boy Names

Max
Charlie
Buddy
Milo
Bailey
Cooper
Rocky
Teddy
Bear
Toby

Popular Girl Names

Luna
Bella
Daisy
Coco
Lucy
Molly
Lola
Sadie
Chloe
Maggie

Punny Dog Names

Some pet parents like to be a little creative or “punny” with their dog’s name. While it might seem daunting to come up with something clever, it is pretty easy. All you need to do is take the name of a favorite celebrity or fictional character, then replace part of the name with a canine term like paw, bark, woof, pup, bones, or chew. Here are our favorite punny dog names.

Beowoof
Hairy Pawter
Indiana Bones
Jimmy Chew
Mary Puppins
Sandy Paws
Sherlock Bones
Woofgang
Boba Fetch
Salvador Dogi

Royal Dog Names

Want your dog to feel like royalty? Here are some throne-worthy names for your consideration.

King or Kingston
Queen or Queenie
Prince
Princess
Duke
Duchess
Lady
Knight
Caesar
Pharaoh

Small Dog Names

Looking for a cute name that fits your puppy’s small stature? Well, we got you covered. However, don’t be afraid to try some big-dog names for your pint-sized pup. Remember, little dogs might lack size, but they are big on personality!

Peanut
Baby
Minnie
Teddy
Button
Muffin
Gizmo
Cricket
Boo
Pip

Big Dog Names

A big dog deserves a big, strong name! It’s not uncommon to see a lot of big dogs named after mythological figures, famous rulers of the past, or even military ranks.

Hercules
Apollo
Athena
Bruno
Tyson
Zeus
Freya
Cleopatra/Cleo
Sasha
Nova

Fictional Character Names

Fictional characters, whether from your favorite movie, cartoon, or book are always a popular choice. It's truly no surprise why many people name their dogs after favorite characters who have touched their hearts.

Chewbacca (Chewie)
Loki
Daenerys
Thor
Barbie
Sirius
Simba
Arya
Snoopy
Arwen

Food Names

Got a puppy that is so doggone cute that you wish you could give them a little nibble? Maybe your new addition shares your passion for food? Here are some edible names we are serving up.