Choosing border collie names is not the easiest task.
There are so many great border collie names you could pick out for your new pup’s “forever” name.
If you have arrived here because you are searching for the best border collie names for your new pup, you are in the right place.
Read on for a carefully curated selection of the best male and best female border collie names in so many intriguing categories.
From traditional names to famous names, and funny names to unique border collie names.
Border Collie Names: Traditional
Just like the border collie breed itself, many border collie names and meanings stem from a long and honorable tradition of herding and shepherding dogs.
In fact, before the dog breed we now call the “border collie” even existed in the 19th century, these dogs were simply called “shepherd’s dogs.”
Often a farmer or rancher would have several working border collie dogs to help out with the livestock.
The dogs would be given traditional identifying names based on the specific areas of the land where they worked.
So each dog would then have a common name based on the local climate, land or water features, or farm or township names.
You will also notice that all traditional border collie names, whether of Welsh, Irish, Scottish or English origin, are simple, short names of one or two syllables.
This is what is required by the International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS). No “fancy” names are permitted for dog registration.
Traditional Border Collie Names: Male
- Sly
- Hemp
- Bute
- Tweed
- Jed
- Yarrow
- Glen
- Gyp
- Clyde
- Tyne
- Rye
- Highwood
- Chester
- Long Tree
- Cap
- Ben
- Quest
- Luke
- Cody
- Bob
- Pete
- Cap
- Joe
- RoyDuff
- Grig
- Dundee
- Jesse
- Keith
- Lex
You can find even more great male border collie names here.
Traditional Female Border Collie: Names
- Jen
- Meg
- Moss
- Bess
- Ruby
- Jess
- Nell
- Wren
- Fan
- Annie
- Mist
- Daisy
- Rose
- Sioux
- Corrie
- Ana
- Barra
- Ginger
- Ash
- Belle
- Echo
- Dera
- Gilly
- Jenna
- Kelsy
- Rissa
- Raven
- Peg
- Quinn
- Molly
You can find even more great female border collie names here.
Border Collie Names: Welsh
These Welsh border collie names are all derived from places, people or traditional names from the Welsh culture.
- Ceana
- Bryn
- Angus
- Bran
- Ceri
- Blythe
- Dera
- Elfen
- Taran
- Snell
- Rynn
- Morwyn
- Llyn
- Kane
- Dylan
- Huw
- Eira
- Gareth
- Jestin
- Rhan
- Penn
- Rhys
- Wynn
- Teg
- Bach
- Alwyn
- Dyl
- Ewan
- Cai
- Aled
Border Collie Names: Scottish
These Scottish border collie names hail from the country itself—names of places, mythical figures, legends, landscape features and traditional names.
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- Annan
- Forsa
- Cowie
- Conic
- Fyne
- Fife
- Bute
- Jura
- Kelp
- Ling
- Mar
- Luc
- Cora
- Moray
- Laggan
- Kerrie
- Cam
- Dove
- Scotia
- Aran
- Skye
- Fina
- Aed
- Baird
- Shona
- Blaire
- Cailin
- Daw
- Elsie
- Fia
Border Collie names Irish
These Irish border collie names are as steeped in Irish history and mythology as you can get—perfect for your border collie pup.
- Sionna
- Biddy
- Annan
- Banya
- Eirenn
- Grig
- Hoy
- Biddy
- Maeve
- Fiona
- Tulla
- Zeal
- Fay
- Gala
- Ling
- Mag
- Rona
- Saoirse
- Melys
- Raq
- Tay
- Zest
- Sula
- Rhum
- Sass
- Merri
- Luce
- Kyla
- Io
- Hett
English Border Collie: Names
These are some of the most popular English border collie names from past decades and today.
- Charlie
- Teddy
- Max
- Alfie
- Buddy
- Bella
- Lola
- Poppy
- Luna
- Daisy
- Bailey
- Lad
- Meg
- Moc
- Spot
- Pero
- Dai
- Willy
- Sherlock
- Watson
- Tigger
- Misty
- Oscar
- Rosie
- Tilly
- Barney
- Holly
- Coco
- Toby
- Monty
You can find even more traditional and unusual border collie names here.
Cute Border Collie: Names
While cute border collie names don’t necessarily crop up in the traditional pedigree registration rolls, your new pup is undoubtedly cute and these good female border collie names and male border collie names might just be the perfect fit.
- Merle
- Pluto
- Banjo
- Uke
- Abby
- Bear
- Mando
- Han
- Turtle
- Sweetie
- Skipper
- Tortie
- Sprint
- Chai
- Scruffy
- Chewie
- Angel
- Mena
- Boost
- Aerie
- Papi
- Kimi
- Flora
- Ken
- Cookie
- Pearl
- Comet
- Wim
- Gus
- Wiggle
You can find even more cute border collie names here.
Good Border Collie Names for Coat Color
Finding the perfect red border collie names, blue merle border collie names and chocolate border collie names isn’t as hard as it may sound once you realize just how many colors and patterns this dog breed can showcase.
According to the American Kennel Club, black, blue, blue merle, brindle, gold, lilac, red, red merle, sable, sable merle, saddleback sable, white and black, white and blue, white and blue merle, white and red, white and red merle, white ticked, seal, slate, white and gold, white and sable, and white and seal are all possible colors for a border collie.
Red Border Collie Names
- Carnie (short for Carnelian)
- Red
- Sienna
- Kamala
- Scarlett
- Mag (short for Magenta)
- Auburn
- Amber
- Brick
- Copper
- Redmond
- Apple
- Rowan
- Crimson
- Flame
- Redhot
- Berry
- Sparkler
- Cardi (short for Cardinal)
- Rosa
- Cherry
- Rusty
- Plum
- Rooster
- Bean
- Rudd
- Pepper
- Chili
- Mars
- Candy
Blue Merle Border Collie: Names
- Sea
- Indigo
- Blue
- Egypt
- Cyan
- Navy
- Persia
- Violet
- Sapphire
- Cobalt
- Maya
- Iris
- Ceru (for Cerulean)
- Azure
- Denim
- Ao
- Steel
- Peri (for Periwinkle)
- Saturn
- Star
- Marian
- Ice
- Powder
- Topaz
- Teal
- Royal
- Azure
- Tiff (for Tiffany)
- Turk (for Turkish)
- Sky
Chocolate Border Collie: Names
- Buff
- Cocoa
- Nutmeg
- Chestnut
- Shadow
- Honey
- Smoke
- Dusky
- Tawny
- Hawk
- Bark
- Umber
- Russ (for Russet)
- Sandy
- Woody
- Peru
- Clove
- Mocha
- Coyote
- Coffee
- Torti (for Tortilla)
- Tan
- Bole
- Seal
- Fawn
- Lion
- Beaver
- Rufus
- Isa (for Isabelline)
- Bay
Classic Border Collie: Names
These classic best border collie names are keepers down through the generations.
Some of these classic top border collie names evoke the most famous herding, guarding, working sheepdogs in modern history.
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While others are record holders at jumping, skating, balancing, and some very cool but undog-like skills (rolling down car windows, anyone?).
- Nanna
- Lassie
- Chips
- Fly
- Bullet
- Dulux
- Willow
- Susan
- Shaggy
- Nemo
- Rin Tin Tin
- Bobbie
- Sass
- Rex
- Stella
- Luath
- Chaser
- Striker
- Jumpy
- Sweet Pea
- Blitz
- Bee
- Old Hemp
- Wiston Cap
- Maudie
- Hindhope Jed
- Captain
- Rico
- Shep
- Jean
Cool Border Collie: Names
These cool border collie names might just capture your pup’s personality perfectly.
- Pudsey
- Blanco
- Midnight
- Bingo
- Coal
- Tag
- Blue
- Bobbie
- Gus
- Farley
- Earl
- Flash
- Streak
- Boom
- Chips
- Dawg
- Chica
- Dewey
- Hubble
- Kong
- Happy
- Louie
- Gibson
- Jif
- Dusty
- Jip
- Lily
- Jodi
- Mac
- Mooch
You can find even more cool dog names here.
Popular Border Collie: Names
Try on these popular border collie names for size. Some even belong to genuine celebs (human and canine).
- Ben (David Lee Roth)
- Mike (ditto)
- Momo (Instagram star)
- Tuck (James Dean)
- Berkeley
- Piper
- Marcy
- Kayle
- Jake
- Patch
- Felix
- Harvey
- Sammi
- Rio
- Ralphy
- Oreo
- Lupo
- Utah
- Ace
- Bonnie
- Mike
- Chance
- Digby
- Frank
- Lee
- Sadie
- Jerry
- Chloe
- Kelso
- Hero
You can find even more popular border collie names here.
References and Further Reading:
Ahrnsen, R., 2015, “10 Famous Herding Dogs,” Guild of Shepherds and Collies,” 2015
AKC, “Border Collie Dog Breed Information,” American Kennel Club
Campbell, A., 2017, “The Most Popular Dog Names in Wales Revealed,” The Daily Post
Huddleston, T., “Prefix and Suffix Names,” International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS)
O’Hearn, H., “Famous Border Collies – Fly & Rex,” Border Collie Fan Club
Presberg, C., “BC Names,” Border Collie Museum
Sedghi, A., 2014, “From Poppy to Sherlock: The UK’s Most Popular Pet Names,” The Guardian
Emma says
Thank for your help I think I will name her Amber
Max says
Love them!!!!