230 Unique Dog Names for Your One-of-a-Kind Pup
Updated: Jun. 21, 2023
You can do better than Fido, Rover and Fluffy. The creative dog names on this list lead the pack.
Your dog is your bestie, your trusted sidekick and a beloved member of your family, so naturally you want to choose a name that matches your pup’s heart and soul. But picking the perfect moniker can be tricky. Sure, you could go with Max or Luna, a couple of the most popular dog names in recent years, but you don’t necessarily want to call out “Max” at the dog park and have five dogs running your way. What you really want are dog names that stand out from all the other pet names in the pack.
So where do you start when choosing the best names? You can draw inspiration from your dog’s personality, the color or size of your dog, your favorite TV show or even baby names. Even then, it might be tricky to narrow the choices. After all, your pup will have this name forever! Lucky for you, we have the best girl dog names, boy dog names and funny dog names to get your creative wheels turning. Keep reading to find truly unique dog names for your one-of-a-kind pups.
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What should you consider when naming a dog?
You might already have a few favorites or even dozens of dog names you’re thinking about, but there are a few things to keep in mind if you want your pup to perk up its ears and pay attention when you call its name. For starters, good dog names are short and easy for you to say.
“Keep the name to one or two syllables. When you are going to train commands, you want to be able to say the dog’s name and the command immediately after,” advises professional dog trainer and behaviorist Sally Grottini of JustAnswer Pets. Try saying a mouthful like Cinnibon’s Bedrock Bombshell, one of the unique dog names from the Westminster Dog Show, and your pup will probably get distracted and miss the command entirely.
Now, that’s not to say you can’t give your dog a longer, “official” moniker. Just choose a shorter “call” name (think: Cinni) for everyday use.
The best dog names are truly unique, at least within your family. So avoid dog names that rhyme with other pets or people in your house. “Shasta and Sasha can confuse the dog as to who the owner wants when they call the name or are giving commands,” says Grottini.
Keep reading for more naming tips, plus dog names that will be paws-itively unique for your pup.
Unique girl dog names
It’s easy to see why a beautiful name like Luna is the most popular dog name (and, for that matter, one of the top girl cat names too). Still, you may want to go beyond the favorites and pick dog names that perfectly express the personality of your furry friends. These unique girl dog names will showcase your sweet gal’s delightful temperament. But if you decide to go with a human name, be sure you know a little history about the famous folks who shared it. “You surely won’t want to be saying an inappropriate name in public when out walking your dog,” says Grottini.
- Alessia
- Annika
- Baronessa
- Belka
- Cinnie
- Cordella
- Davinna
- Daxi
- Gillian
- Ginessa
- Joie
- Kiko
- Lottie
- Mabel
- Mischa
- Nicola
- Nives
- Olina
- Prunella
- Pupsi
- Quinn
- Reika
- Rosamund
- Sachi
- Tupsi
- Upsi
- Velicity
- Zuzu
Unique boy dog names
We often think of girl dogs as sweet and cuddly and male dogs as territorial and protective, but the differences between male and female dogs aren’t necessarily related to gender at all. Unique boy dog names can reflect the softer or stronger side of your pup. Take your pick!
- Ainsley
- Aki
- Brayan
- Caradoc
- Cayden
- Dart
- Drax
- Eros
- Flannery
- Frex
- George
- Gibbs
- Hibiki
- Hutch
- Jabari
- Jiro
- Kito
- Lemgo
- Miko
- Mungo
- Orville
- Pumuckel
- Rafe
- Royston
- Schnatto
- Tibur
- Urig
- Xeko
Unique dog names for big breeds
While giant dog breeds may be intimidating, these pups are just big softies. Picking dog names to match the size of your four-legged friends is a good option, but be sure the names you select are clear enough. A moniker like Bear captures your dog’s size and cuddly personality, but it also sounds like the command word here, which can confuse a dog, Grottini says. If you want to stick with the name Bear—or any name that sounds similar to a command word you’re trying to teach—simply add an additional name to it. Try Sky Bear or Teddy Bear for unique dog names.
- Acadia
- Alaska
- Apollo
- Atlas
- Banshee
- Bigfoot
- Brutus
- Buggie
- Caesar
- Canyon
- Cargo
- Everest
- Giant
- Glacier
- Gogmagog
- Goliath
- Horatio
- Kahuna
- Kong
- Magnum
- Monster
- Moose
- Moxie
- Ooki
- Shebear
- Spartacus
- Tank
- Thumper
- Tita
- Voltron
- Yukon
- Yeti
- Zeus
Unique dog names for small breeds
Toy-size breeds deserve fun and funny dog names too! They may be tiny, but they sure have big personalities, which you can easily reveal with the right name. One of these should do the trick for your BFF. (Or poke fun at your pup’s petite size by giving it one of the big-breed dog names above instead.)
- Atom
- Birdy
- Bitty
- Cashew
- Cricket
- Demi
- Dumpling
- Eggroll
- Fifi
- Gumdrop
- Jelly Bean
- Jib
- Little
- Midge
- Mimi
- Moe
- Piccolo
- Pint
- Ravioli
- Ruby
- Shrimp
- Sprite
- Sunny
- Thimble
- Trifle
- Weazle
- Wink
- Yammy
- Zippo
Unique hipster dog names
Your canine best friend may not be a hipster (though he can certainly appreciate a good puppy bow tie), but that doesn’t mean you should stray from some great hipster-inspired dog names. Like the human hipsters who wear them, they evoke images of independent thinking, a departure from the mainstream and alternative expression. If your dog is just too cool for dog obedience school, you’ll want to give them one of these hipster dog names.
- Admiral
- Beta
- Bitsy
- Cabernet
- Clover
- Coco
- Ghost
- Gidget
- Gracie
- Gus
- Hawthorn
- Hazel
- Indy
- Jersey
- Jinx
- Kenzi
- Klaus
- Milo
- Mopsey
- Octavia
- Onyx
- Pim
- Prince
- Rafa
- Rosalie
- Silas
- Sugar
- Teddy
- Tiberius
- Trixie
- Vesper
- Willa
- Winter
- Wyatt
- Yoshi
- Zeke
- Ziggy
- Zoe
Unique strong dog names
Even if your pup isn’t exactly a guard dog, you may want a name that shows off just how tough your doggo is. Good dog names for strong dogs prove to everyone that tough boy and girl doggies can be cute too.
- Ajax
- Beamer
- Bongo
- Bullet
- Cairo
- Captain
- Chaos
- Commander
- Dallas
- Dash
- Dracula
- Flash
- Gizmo
- Laser
- Ranger
- Rex
- Saber
- Shadow
- Vader
- Warlock
Unique dog names from movies and TV
Parents have long looked to Hollywood when naming their kids, and why should it be any different for your fur babies? There’s no shortage of inspiration for dog names on-screen, from your favorite dog movies to your go-to TV shows. A character may embody your dog’s personality so much that a name immediately comes to mind, but if none of these contenders fit your pup to perfection, pick a name (or a punny take on one) that’ll make you and your family smile. And if you have kids, don’t overlook these Disney dog names.
- Astro
- Baxter
- Boba Fetch
- Casabarka
- Charles B. Barkin
- Chewbarka
- Corgi Longstocking
- Deputy Dog
- Dog Draper
- Dogzilla
- Dug
- Fonzie
- Hawkeye
- Hooch
- Howl Jackman
- Lady Whistledown
- Little Rascal
- Marmaduke
- McBarkin
- McDiggin
- Paws of Fury
- Petey
- Puppin
- Muggles
- Scandal
- Scarlett O’Terrier
- Stewie
- Ted Lhasa Apso
- Winn-Dixie
- Wishbone
Unique black-and-white dog names
Black-and-white dogs have the most adorable patterns. There are the distinctive spots of the dalmatian, the bandit faces of the lightning-fast border collie and the tuxedo-wearing flat-faced pups like the Boston terrier. Use your dog’s bicolor coat to exemplify its cuteness. You have a lot of options, and if all else fails, you can fall back on classics like Spot.
- Bandit
- Birch
- Blaze
- Blot
- Chess
- Chevron
- Domino
- Dot
- Freckles
- Inky
- Macaroon
- Marble
- Moo
- Newsy
- Orca
- Oreo
- Patch
- Spot
- Sprinkles
- Storm
- Swirl
- Tux
- Yin-Yang
- Zebra
Source:
- Sally Grottini, professional dog trainer and behaviorist with JustAnswer Pets
