How To Name Your Dog
We know you love your dog and want to give it the perfect name. You want a name that suits you as well as your dog because you’ll be saying it for the next 10+ years. If you’re drawing a blank, we have some ideas that may spark your creativity, plus a little extra help for naming a small dog.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
Use sharp, short, and snappy names with distinctive consonants that are easy for your dog to recognize and distinguish from other words and commands.
Change your new puppy's given name if you don’t like it.
Don’t:
Use names that rhyme with commands, e.g., “Pit” and “sit.”
Name your dog something you’d be embarrassed to speak aloud in public, including offensive or profane words.
Change older dogs' names because they are too used to them.
Consider: Personality
Have you ever met a dog with a name that suited them just right? Most likely, the owner got to know their pup well before choosing a name. Get acquainted with your pet, what are their traits? Do they bark at thunder? Are they protective of your little one? Do they have an interesting quirk or habit? There are so many adjectives and common nouns at your disposal. Some common nouns can be used to describe the personality of your pet more impressively than an overused adjective. But unique words in both categories are equally cool.
Warning! Just like people, dogs' personalities can change over time, making them outgrow their names.
Descriptives Name Ideas
Adjectives:
Sunny
Frisky
Merry
Ace
Bold
Rogue
Noble
Dandy
Common nouns:
Mirage
King
Warrior
Diva
Chief
Pixie
Rascal
Tempest
Consider: Looks
If your dog is black, you wouldn’t name him Blizzard, except for comedic purposes. When choosing a name, you’ll want to take into account the size, coat color/pattern, fur type, and any other distinctive features like bug-out eyes. If you want to draw attention to any of your dog's features, name it something related to that feature. For example, if your dog has the prettiest golden brown fur, you might name it something like Caramel, or Bronzy. Adjectives and common nouns come in handy for describing appearance as well.
Warning! Your pup may change significantly in color and size, making their given name irrelevant.
Appearance Based Name Ideas:
Azure
Indigo
Charcoal
Speckle
Porky
Shrimp
Munchkin
Piddly
Whopper
Goliath
Consider: Ancestry
Find out where your dog's breed originated. Maybe you and your pet share a common ancestor. Whatever the case, and wherever the place, choose a name with its roots in that country. Whether it’s a word from the language, a food they eat, a historical figure or place, or a popular dog name there. A Border Collie could be named Scott in recognition of its land of origin, Scotland. You could get very creative, naming your pup after a native food, or tradition. You could also pick any country, culture, or language you are fond of and borrow a word from that– there are no rules!
Anything You Love
A classic formula for picking your puppy’s name is calling it something you already love. Your favorite food, word, color, celebrity, flower, place, person– the list goes on. Pick something you love and call your dog by it. Boom, two things you love now share the same name! Love a certain movie? Use a character's name. Love folklore and mythology? Choose a God/Goddess or mythical creature.
Warning! Be careful if you name your dog after someone you know. They might be offended, or it may be someone who you no longer want to be reminded of.
Popular Name Examples:
Juno
Kai
Kismet
Kiwi
Latte
Maple
Maverick
Merlin
Nugget
Olive
Onyx
Orion
Pecan
Pepper
Phoenix
Pippin
Pluto
Poppy
Raven
Reef
River
Rocket
Rosie
Sable
Sage
Sahara
Scout
Simba
Titan
Tulip
Apollo
Atlas
Aurora
Basil
Biscuit
Blossom
Blue
Caesar
Cedar
Cheerio
Chili
Cinnamon
Clover
Comet
Coral
Cosmo
Dakota
Denali
Diesel
Domino
Everest
Fable
Finn
Gatsby
Gizmo
Hercules
Honey
Huckleberry
Indigo
Jasper
Tips For Naming A Small Dog
When naming a small dog, you might want to consider using names that highlight their tiny size for comedic purposes or playfully exaggerate their big personality. It might be funny to choose adjectives that describe what’s big about them, such as “Mighty” or “Boss,” that contrast with their size. What does your dog remind you of? Look around at other small things that remind you of your dog, like “Peanut,” “Button,” or “Sprout.” Remember to choose a name for your small dog that suits its size but that is easy to call out and matches its personality.
At the end of the day, you are the one that has to live with and use the name, so pick one you like. Be as creative or unoriginal as you want; there are no laws. The naming process should be fun and leave you with an appreciation for your dog's name, either because of how long it took to find it, the cleverness of it, or how well it fits. There’s no end of names or words. What's stopping you from making up a name for that matter?
Check out the names of our new puppies if you need more inspiration. We think they’re pretty cute!
