Always Essential DogsDid Your Dog's Name Make The List Of The 100 Most Popular Female & Male Dog Names?
Choosing a name for your dog requires a little inspiration and plenty of thought. After all, this is a name that you’ll be saying every day for years to come. Like baby names, dog names trend in popularity. It’s unlikely you’re meeting a lot of toddlers named Ethel today, and similarly, you probably don’t meet too many dogs named Lassie anymore.
Trending Dog Names
Just like baby names, dog names rise and fall in popularity. The number of dogs named after “Frozen” characters rose 900 percent the year after the movie came out, for example, so for a while, you probably met more than one “Olaf” at doggie daycare. Names from movies and books like “Twilight” and “Game of Thrones” have maintained popularity over time, and the Disney universe of characters has helped inspire names like “Loki,” “Thor,” “Simba” and “Kylo.”
Food and drink are favorite themes, too. You might meet a “Whiskey,” “Porter” or “Oreo” on your daily walks. And at least 20 percent of dogs have human names like “Max” or “Charlie.” Sports figures are a perennial favorite (the year Derek Jeter retired from the New York Yankees, “Jeter” was in the top 10 dog names) and so are sports and outdoor activity-inspired names like “Ruger” or “Blaze.” If you’re looking for a less common name, try our list of unique dog names. Nature-themed dog names continue to be popular, with themes like “Daisy” or “Willow.” Food- and drink-themed names are also a favorite, with girl dog names like “Ginger,” “Honey” and “Cookie” making the list.
If you’re lucky, you’ll meet your dog, get to know him a bit, and come up with an inspired choice.
How to Choose a Dog’s Name
It’s not all just in a name. A female puppy’s name is an important part of her training and socialization. Take some advice from experts in the field:
Choose a name with one or two syllables. These are easiest to say and short enough to keep your dog’s attention.
Consider a name with hard consonants, which may be easier for dogs to hear than sibilant sounds, like “Gracie” or “Bailey.”
Try not to choose a name that sounds similar to a command. Avoid names like “Kit,” which sounds like “sit,” or “Poe,” which sounds like “no.”
When a dog hears her name, it’s a signal that whatever is coming next is meant for her. So use her name frequently in a positive context so she doesn’t associate it with punishment or anything negative or scary.
Don’t name a dog something that sounds a lot like the name of another family member. If your daughter is “Annie” and the dog is “Franny,” the dog (or your daughter) may be confused and not know when to respond.
Top 100 Male Dog Names
MAX
KOBE
OSCAR
COOPER
OAKLEY
MAC
CHARLIE
REX
RUDY
TEDDY
BAILEY
CHIP
BEAR
CASH
WALTER
MILO
JASPER
BLAZE
BENTLEY
BOOZZY
OLLIE
BOOM
ERODIN
BUDDY
LUCKY
AXEL
ROCKY
RUGER
BRUCE
LEO
BEAU
ODIE
ZEUS
BAXTER
ARLO
DUKE
OREO
ECHO
FINN
GUNNER
TANK
APOLLO
HENRY
ROMEO
MURPHY
SIMBA
PORTER
DIESEL
GEORGE
HARLEY
TOBY
COCO
OTIS
LOUIE
ROCKET
ROCCO
TUCKER
ZIGGY
REMI
JAX
PRINCE
WHISKEY
ACE
SHADOW
SAM
JACK
RILEY
BUSTER
KODA
COPPER
BUBBA
WINSTON
LUKE
JAKE
OLIVER
MARLEY
BENNY
GUS
ZEKE
BOWIE
LOKI
LEVI
DOZER
MOOSE
BENJI
RUSTY
ARCHIE
RANGER
JOEY
BANDIT
REMY
KYLO
SCOUT
DEXTER
RYDER
THOR
GIZMO
TYSON
BRUNO
CHASE
SAMSON
KING
CODY
RAMBO
BLUE
SARGE
HARRY
ATLAS
CHESTER
GUCCI
THEO
MAVERICK
MILES
JACKSON
LINCOLN
WATSON
HANK
WALLY
PEANUT
TITAN
