What do I name my dog?
I don't know about you, but I find the process of choosing a dog name to be a little daunting. It's difficult enough to come up with a few names on the spur of the moment, but finding one that sounds nice and suits your dog's personality? That can be difficult.
What's my little secret? I look to name lists for inspiration when I need to come up with dog name ideas. I make a list of all the names I like and then move on to the difficult part: deciding on one that everyone in the family likes. I can't help you come up with a name that everyone will like, but I can give you lots of dog name suggestions to get you started.
How to Name Your Dog
Select a name that you adore. Because you'll be using it frequently, you should like the sound.
Choose a name with one to two syllables. Longer names are more difficult for your dog to grasp and more difficult for you to repeat.
For a few days, try out the new name and observe how your dog reacts.
Choose a name that does not sound like a command you intend to teach your dog. It would be perplexing to teach “Fletch” to fetch or to teach “Shae” to remain.
Don't give your dog a name that is likely to offend or disgrace people. Potential racial or cultural slurs, general insults, vulgar slang words, and anything containing a swear word are all prohibited. Do you really want to nickname your dog "Poophead" in front of the entire neighbourhood? If you name your dog "Fartface," what would your veterinarian call him?
Unless you want to utilise a simpler call name like "Sir Fluffy," avoid choosing a complex name like Sir Fluffy Von Wagglestein.
If an adult dog already knows his or her name, don't change it. If you must alter the name, go with something close in sound. "Bailey" can be spelled "Hailey" or "Kaylee," while "Charlie" can be either "Harley" or "Farley."
Dog Naming Tips and Considerations
You may want to avoid the most popular dog names unless you have a strong attachment to one. You'll meet other dogs with your dog's name, which might cause some confusion at the dog park or at the veterinarian's office. Some of the most popular dog names are Bella, Bailey, Max, Molly, Buddy, and Lucy. This will undoubtedly evolve over time, so conduct some study before deciding on a name.
Some individuals prefer to name their dogs after renowned duos or trios like "Abbott and Costello" or "Moe, Larry, and Curly." Others use expressions such as "sugar and spice" or "peanut butter and jelly." While these are lovely and humorous, you should think about how you appreciate each name individually. It's possible that the two dogs will not always be together.
If you want to give your dog a name that is also the name of a human family member or acquaintance, you should first get that person's opinion. Uncle Herbert may find it amusing if you want to name your Basset Hound after him, while Cousin Annabelle may be insulted if you name your Maltese after her.
Things to keep in mind:
Choose a Good Dog Name That Ends With a Vowel
When you call for your dog, names with vowels take on a different tone. This is significant because dogs are considerably better at distinguishing frequency ranges than we are. “It's extremely simple to catch their attention with a vowel name,” adds Ellis, who named her dog Rossi. Buddy, Ziggy, Josie, and Taco, of course, all work.
Stick With Two Syllables
According to Ellis, long names should be avoided. “You typically wind up shortening it anyhow with those,” she explains. So, where do you find the sweet spot? Names with two syllables. According to Ellis, repeating the name a few times is an excellent method to test it. “If you can say it again and over and over again, that's the name,” Ellis adds. People have called their dogs Puppuccino, which is adorable at first, but after five times they don't want to pronounce it.”
Avoid Creative Names With Negative Connotations
Giving your cute Corg the sarcastic name "Cujo" may seem amusing, but it's a horrible idea. “Not everyone is going to want to pet a Cujo dog or dog-sit a Cujo dog,” Ellis adds.
Don’t Pick a Clever One That Might Get Confused With Commands
Think about the orders you'll be giving your dog on a regular basis. Does it have a name that is too close to yours? Choose a different name unless you want a lot of hassles afterwards. It's possible that Bo is confused for the word "no." And, according to Ellis, Ray might be misconstrued for 'Stay.' “Those are actions I frequently request from the dogs I teach, and I don't want them to believe I'm shouting ‘No' at them when all I want is for them to come over and pay attention to me.”
Choose A Name That’s Unlike Your Other Pets
If you have more than one dog, make sure their names are unique, advises Ellis. “They shouldn't be so near to each other that the dogs get mixed up.” In other words, Bert and Bluebell are fine, but Spot and Scott aren't.
Perform The “Nickname Test”
You will give your dog a moniker if you acquire one. Ziggy transforms into Ziggymans, Zig, Zigster, Mr. Zig, and a thousand more variations. If you select a name, especially one that is lengthier, try coming up with a lot of nicknames to see if there are any that are easy to pronounce, sound like their full names, and are cute. Otherwise, you risk confusing your dog, according to Ellis.
Think Of Your Dog’s Personality
Bulldogs are called ‘Butterball' and little poodles are called ‘Tater Tot' (because to the texture of their fur!) (reasoning: duh) But, beyond appearances, personality is a big factor in deciding what to name your dog. For example, Ellis named her dog Rossi after Valentino Rossi, a motorcycle racer. “My dog is insane, and she runs around like a lunatic all day. So that's right for him.”
Choose a Name And Stick With It
If you adopt a dog from a shelter, they will most likely come with a name that you will want to alter. However, there are limitations. You shouldn't change your mind after you've decided on a name. “You should have a name for them during the first two months. It won't be the end of the world if you make one or two modifications, but you must positively reinforce it as soon as you make a new one.”
top 10 trendy names for male dogs:
Sawyer — A fitting name for a mischievous or adventurous dog.
Jack — A solid, popular name.
Hudson — Here’s a name gaining popularity with human babies, but seems suitable for a hound.
Finn — Perfect for one of the Irish breeds.
Emerson — A fitting name for a dog of noble stature.
Bear — Good choice for the large canine; comical choice for the toy breeds.
Puppy — Colombo-esque, but it’s the name Zac Efron gave his Australian Shepherd.
Max — Another trendy name for human babies. Any dog would be comfortable with it.
Kai — It’s hip and means “ocean” in Hawaiian.
Cooper — Another solid name. Mini Cooper might be a good choice for toy breed.
top 10 trendy names for female dogs:
Elsa — It grows on you.
Bella — It was the most popular female puppy name last year.
Stella — Try shouting the name like Marlon Brando in “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
Quinn — A bit masculine, but some female dogs act like tomboys.
Sophie — Reserved for the cutest puppies.
Ivy — Yes, somewhat like Beyoncé’s kid, Blue Ivy.
Charlie — A fitting name for your little angel.
Aurora — The Roman goddess of dawn. An appropriate name for a female dog who gets you out of bed before the alarm clock does.
Avery — The name has a British ring to it.
Lila — A fitting name for a fluffy pet.
10 Most Popular Dog Names for Males
#1 Charlie
#2 Max
#3 Buddy
#4 Milo
#5 Archie
#6 Ollie
#7 Oscar
#8 Teddy
#9 Leo
#10 Alfie
10 Most Popular Dog Names for Females
#1 Bella
#2 Luna
#3 Coco
#4 Ruby
#5 Molly
#6 Frankie
#7 Daisy
#8 Rosie
#9 Lucy
#10 Lola
100 Top Dog Names
#1 Bella
#2 Charlie
#3 Luna
#4 Coco
#5 Max
#6 Ruby
#7 Molly
#8 Buddy
#9 Milo
#10 Archie
#11 Frankie
#12 Daisy
#13 Rosie
#14 Ollie
#15 Lucy
#16 Lola
#17 Minnie
#18 Oscar
#19 Teddy
#20 Leo
#21 Bailey
#22 Nala
#23 Millie
#24 Alfie
#25 Poppy
#26 Bear
#27 Rocky
#28 Toby
#29 Roxy
#30 Pepper
#31 Mia
#32 Lily
#33 Willow
#34 Jack
#35 Lulu
#36 Tilly
#37 Ziggy
#38 Bonnie
#39 Harry
#40 Hugo
#41 George
#42 Maggie
#43 Marley
#44 Missy
#45 Cooper
#46 Harley
#47 Simba
#48 Loki
#49 Jasper
#50 Winston
#51 Benji
#52 Billy
#53 Louie
#54 Monty
#55 Lilly
#56 Penny
#57 Chloe
#58 Shadow
#59 Zeus
#60 Murphy
#61 Honey
#62 Henry
#63 Cookie
#64 Cleo
#65 Lexi
#66 Bruno
#67 Gus
#68 Charlie
#69 Ellie
#70 Stella
#71 Winnie
#72 Duke
#73 Diesel
#74 Pippa
#75 Dexter
#76 Rusty
#77 Koda
#78 Sasha
#79 Zoe
#80 Bruce
#81 Billie
#82 Milly
#83 Oreo
#84 Harvey
#85 Baxter
#86 Scout
#87 Louis
#88 Jessie
#89 Evie
#90 Banjo
#91 Ralph
#92 Lucky
#93 Ella
#94 Arlo
#95 Dusty
#96 Rex
#97 Holly
#98 Barney
#99 Jax
#100 Sam