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377 Best Male Dog Names – Ideas For Brilliant Boy Dogs!

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labrador and male puppy

You’ll find awesome male dog names collections on this page, together with inspiration for coming up with original and beautiful boy dog names that no other male dog has! We’ll show you how to create a shortlist of your own boy puppy ideas, and help you to come up with the best male dog name for your new friend.

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Choosing a short new puppy name, of one or two syllables at most, will help you to train your new pet. A name that doesn’t sound like another common word will keep your baby dog more responsive and social too. Giving you a better bond. And your dog is more likely to quickly recognise their name if you use harsh consonants or elongated vowel sounds too, which set the word apart from others you might say around them.

Our collections range from the most popular to the most unusual male dog names. Choosing themed names is hard and we can help you with that too! We’ve got our names lists into categories. And even included an alphabetical names lists.

The Best Male Dog Names

Let’s start by checking out the most popular names boys can have – ones that are trending right now. And then move on to searching for some more original dog name ideas.

20 Popular Names For Male Dogs

Here are some of the top boy dog names that are enduringly popular… You’ll notice that two syllable names are often the most popular boy dog names, as they are easy for your dog to understand. As well as simple to say!

MaxBear
DukeCooper
MiloFinn
MurphyBuddy
DexterBuster
HarleyBailey
BentleyOllie
OscarSimba
BenTeddy
CaseyJack

That’s just the start! We have hundreds more male dog names waiting for you. Those popular dog names above, are lovely, timeless names, and you may end up settling on one of them. But there are some great ways to come up with more original boy dog names. The first step is to get creative and capture a ‘pool’ of ideas. For best results spread those ideas out over a large sheet of paper, or a whiteboard, or you could pin notes onto a corkboard.

If you use a whiteboard, remember to take a photo of the contents with your smartphone, just in case someone comes along and wipes out all your hard work! Once you have your paper or noticeboard ready and a pen to hand, it’s time to start finding inspiration for boy dog names unique to you and your family.

TOP TIP: You’ll be more creative if you start with a clear surface – remove all your old notes first!

You’ll notice that many of the above are also names for dogs male human baby boys share too. Here are some more boy names for dogs that you might want to add to your ‘ideas’ pool

The Best Boy Dog Names

MickyGeorge
BillyJed
CodyGary
TaylorToby
VinnieWilson
SamsonCary
ConnorFinn

If you like the idea of using a person’s name for your dog, now is the time to start writing down your favorite pet names – don’t make a list, just jot them down randomly on a big sheet of paper. Here’s why.

Brainstorming Pet Names

Lists of dog names for males are a great way to get inspiration, and we have a big A-Z for you below, but when you are gathering your initial pool of ideas, I think you’ll find it helpful to use a more random brainstorming technique. With lists, the items in the middle tend to get passed over. Especially if the list is a long one. Brainstorming means finding a theme and jotting down ideas around that theme. And it’s a technique that’s thought to work because it’s how our brains work too, with ideas branching off a central theme. Here’s an example of brainstorming dog boy names using the theme ‘vehicles’

male dog names from vehicles

Cars, trucks, and motorcycles often have interesting masculine names. I bet you can think of lots more vehicle names that would also make cool male dog names. Notice how this kind of mind map view give all the names an equal chance of getting your attention. You can then put your favorites onto you final shortlist. Here’s an example of some names created around the theme of strength and power

Strong Male Dog Names

Names that emphasize strength are popular with large dog breeds. But they can be fun as ironic names for smaller, slimmer built dogs too. Or for owners that never miss leg day!

  • Arnold
  • Brute
  • Blaze
  • Rocket
  • Clark (Superman)
  • Gaston
  • Wolf
  • Hagrid
  • Herc (Hercules)
  • Dozer
  • Odin
  • Hulk
  • Ajax
  • Jordon
  • Mufasa
  • Shaq
  • Stallone
  • Tank
  • Tarzan
  • T-Rex
  • Wolverine

Old Man Names For Dogs

It can be fun to take a trip back in time to find names for a new generation of puppies. Human names for dogs tend to be taken from bygone days. Names go in fashions that change every 50 to 100 years, and going back in time can get you some unusual ideas. First world war names like George and Thomas are now popular again, but names from WW2 are near enough and far enough, in time to be unusual. You can use older relatives for inspiration, or think of older characters in books or on TV – think ‘Bert and Ernie’ from Sesame Street. Here are a few more:

  • Herbert
  • Albert
  • Ronald
  • Roger
  • Leonard
  • Ernest
  • John
  • Frederick
  • Kenneth
  • Robert

Dominant Dog Names

Does your pup rule the roost? Although Alpha theory is well and truly done with these days, giving your manly dog a masculine name undeniably still has a certain appeal.

  • Captain
  • Boss
  • Commander
  • Admiral
  • Chief
  • President
  • Head
  • Director
  • Principal
  • Govenor

Finding Uncommon Boy Dog Names

Stay in creative mode for a while yet. The best dog names male or female, are often the most original. Finding original dog names for male dogs is very rewarding but you need a decent sized pool of names from which to make your final shortlist. So you’ll probably create several mindmaps, around several different themes A great place to store these name collections is on your phone. Just take a picture of each one for safekeeping. You’ll notice some superhero themes creeping into that list above! Sometimes one theme leads to another so don’t be afraid to grab another sheet of paper or take a photo of your whiteboard, rub it out, and start over with the new theme.

TOP TIP: Don’t try to make a decision straight away, assemble a collection of 30-50 rare dog names that you like the sound of. Let the ideas roll in! This stage is all about creativity, not about finding the perfect name. Here are some examples of themes you could use to find different dog names for boy dogs.

  • Boating
  • Music
  • Literature
  • Food
  • Basketball
  • Nature
  • Famous Painters

We’ll expand on some of these below, and also give you some classic names based around attributes your dog may have such as size, color, and personality types. Okay, let’s take a closer look at the ‘boating’ theme

Male Dog Names With A Boating Theme

If fishing or boating is your thing, then one of these nautical names might appeal. Some are not uncommon, and some are very usual. But they all have a nice ‘ring’ to them.

  • Skipper
  • Sailor
  • Captain
  • Bosun
  • Anchor
  • Drift
  • Minnow
  • Ledger
  • Jig
  • Fender
  • Tiller

Boy Dog Names With A Music Theme

Whether you are into heavy metal, rap, or classical music, there is bound to be a theme that’s personal to you. You can can use that theme to brainstorm ideas for male dog names. You don’t need to be contrained by the number of musicians you can think of, you can use musical terms, and the instruments they play too! Here are some ideas:

  • Snoop
  • Clapton
  • Lennon
  • Axl
  • Bowie
  • Hendrix
  • Bonno

Or you could go back a bit further in time with these!

  • Presley
  • Sinatra
  • Gershwin
  • Bing
  • Armstrong
  • Basie
  • Django

You could expand on these themes or jot down some more theme ideas of your own. The more collections you make, the more likely you are to find the perfect name for your puppy. Here are some more traditional name collections now, for you to browse. Keep a pen handy to jot down any that especially appeal to you. We’ll start with male names for big dogs.

Creating Unique Dog Names

There are an almost infinite number of themes you could use to brainstorm name ideas. From food, to films, from sporting stars to holiday destinations. The more personal the theme is to you and your life, the more likely you are to find a truly unique name for your dog. Things that trigger great memories are good. Your favorite locations, near and far. The only limit is your imagination. Attributes of your dog can be great themes. Their size and color for example.

Here are some creative male dog names based on size themes. You don’t have to give a big dog a big dogs name of course, it can be humorous to do a reverse and call your Chihuahua ‘Tank’.

Big male dog names

  • Andre (the Giant)
  • Aragog (Harry Potter series)
  • Beethoven
  • Big Red
  • Brawny
  • Eifel
  • Hogan
  • Johnny (Bravo)
  • Mighty Joe
  • Monty (short for ‘Montezuma’)
  • Sequoia (‘Coy’ for short)
  • Shrek
  • Sully
  • Vulcan
  • Zeus

You or your family members may find it helpful to have your boy dog names with meanings noted alongside them. So don’t forget to do this if you find a name that you think might have a special meaning for you.

Small male dog names

On the opposite end of the spectrum, if your small-breed male puppy is destined to remain cutely compact, then cute boy dog names might reflect his uber-adorable small size. These short names are popular with toy breeds, but again big breeds with tiny names are pretty adorable too. We like the following cute male dog names perfect for Yorkies, Chihuahuas, and other tiny dogs, or dogs that are tiny at heart.

  • Cheerio
  • Chipper
  • Jerry (Tom and Jerry)
  • Jiminy
  • Cricket
  • Little Bear
  • Pee Wee
  • Simon
  • Peanut
  • Pebble
  • Squirt
  • Button
  • Stitch
  • Pickle
  • Stuart (Little)
  • Tot
  • Theodore (‘Theo’ for short)
  • Thimble
  • Tiny Tim
  • Tweety

Fancy Dog Names

What could be fancier than naming your little boy after someone royal? These king names for dogs will have you bowing down to your pooch before you can say Henry the VIII! They also make nice classically English names for dogs too.

  • Egbert
  • Alfred
  • Edward
  • Edmund
  • Edgar
  • Harold
  • William
  • Stephen
  • Richard
  • John
  • James
  • Charles
  • Oliver
  • George

If you haven’t collected 30 to 50 male dog names yet, you’ll find an A-Z with hundreds of dog names at the end of this article. But maybe you are ready to make your shortlist now? Let’s look at some great ways to do that!

Making A Shortlist of Male Dog Names

If you have several theme boards, get each family member pick their two favorite names from each board, and write them down on a scrap of paper. Picking your final dogs name boy or girl, is really hard! So with kids you’ll need to be both patient and persistent (setting a time limit can help here). When everyone has made their selection, the pieces of paper can all be folded and placed in a jar. Pick ten out (take turns) and pin those ten up in the kitchen for a few days before making your final choice

Male Dog Name Picking Game

Another great way to narrow down your shortlist is to pin all your name choices onto a notice board, with each name on a separate note. Each day, each family member gets to remove one name – the name they like the least – from the shortlist. Until there are only three left. Leave those three names up there on the board for a few days more, and if you still can’t agree then fold them up and put them into a box, and get a friend to pick out the winner.

dog names on a pin board

Funny boy dog names

If humor is your thing, then choosing a funny name for your pooch could be the perfect option! For example, you could give them a size swap name like we looked at earlier. Or name your pooch after an especially funny fictional character or TV show! Here are some funny male dog names that are sure to raise a few giggles:

  • Acorn
  • Barky McBarkstein
  • Bugs (Bunny)
  • Captain Underpants (‘Captain’ for short)
  • Cat-Dog
  • Daffy (Duck)
  • Dwight
  • Ernie
  • Godzilla
  • Herman
  • Jaws
  • Peanut
  • Sheldon (Cooper)
  • Stewie
  • Woody (Toy Story)
Best dog names boy

Another fun way to name is through your pup’s good looks!

Handsome dog names male dogs will love

Puppy names, boy are there a lot of them! Is your little man devilishly handsome and charming? Is he the star of the show wherever he goes? If so, then naming him after his good looks could be fun! After all, such a feast for the eyes shouldn’t go unnoticed! You might name your handsome pooch after a famously good-looking fictional character, or perhaps a dreamy male celebrity. Here are some puppy names male dogs will suit royally! They will find perfectly complement your little prince:

  • Beau
  • Bond (James Bond)
  • Clint (Eastwood)
  • Dapper Dan (‘Dan’ for short)
  • Edward (Cullen, Twilight trilogy)
  • Eric (prince, The Little Mermaid)
  • Fabio
  • Finnick (Odair – The Hunger Games trilogy)
  • Han (Solo, Star Wars)
  • Mr. Darcy
  • Prince Charming
  • Rico Sauvé (‘Ricky’ for short)
  • Smith
  • Viggo (Mortensen)
  • Zooko

And of course, your little boy is a big cutie…

Cute boy dog names

Cute boy puppy names don’t have to be sickeningly sweet or overly girly to get their point across. In fact, cute dog names for boys can simply be uber cute human names for two-legged boys! After all, who doesn’t love a crazy adorable puppy with an equally adorable name?

Best Male Dog Names
  • Bubs
  • Cubby
  • Dobby
  • Elliott
  • Finley
  • Happy
  • Minion
  • Piglet
  • Pipsqueak
  • Pokey
  • Pooh Bear
  • Puffball
  • Puppers
  • Screech
  • Todd

You can find more original cute dog names male pups will love by building personalized word collections around small things in your home. Cute guy names don’t have to be names in the traditional sense – think ‘crayon’, ‘peg’ and ‘pocket’. One or two syllables is usually best.

Teddy Bear dog names

Is your new pupster a bit of a teddy? Dogs like Pomeranians or certain Poodle mixes are often classified as teddy bear dogs due to their fluffball status. These good boy names for plushy style dogs are pup perfection.

  • Fluffball
  • Fluffers
  • Pom Pom
  • Tufty
  • Fleecy
  • Plushy
  • Squishy
  • Softy
  • Deep Pile
  • Shaggy

Cool dog names

Your puppy will be the coolest dog at the park if you give him a handle that reflects a cool person, or an awesome thing! Cool dog names male pups will really suit include:

  • Beckham
  • Damon
  • Doc
  • Garth
  • Harley
  • Hawkeye
  • Tonto
  • Lucias
  • Luigi
  • Malfoy
  • Mario
  • Parker
  • Jeeves
  • Rip
  • Salvatore (‘Sal’ for short)
  • Shades
  • Stefan
  • Wyatt

What can be cooler than the unusual?

More Unique boy dog names

Unique male dog names are a lovely way to emphasize your pup’s extra special-ness! Like people, animals are unique individuals with their own quirks and things that make them so lovable! So, why not name your pup something that will make him stand out in a crowd? Unique or unusual names for boy dogs can be inspired by the names of famous landmarks or even cities, countries, or states. Here are a few truly unique boy puppy names:

  • Austin
  • Bora
  • Bristol
  • Dallas
  • Diego
  • Ford
  • Fuse
  • Indy
  • Juneau
  • Leland
  • Nash
  • Nile
  • Peru
  • Sioux
  • Teton

Have you got enough names now for your ‘creative pool’? If not it’s time to scroll on down for a massive A-Z of dog names followed by an awesome list of pet names of our readers very own dogs. Some of those are quite unique! You’ll find more are added regularly in the comments sections too. Don’t forget to add yours when you have made up your mind. And good luck with your new puppy!

A to Z Male Dog Names

Good male dog names are easy to pronounce, and don’t sound like any commands you might want them to learn later. Traditional human names are a nice way to find something that flows easily off the tongue. And so are classic names for male dogs, like Hooch, Rex, or Buddy, choices that have been popular for dogs for years. Scroll down to get your ultimate A – Z, or click on the links below to jump straight to your favorite letters. We’ve tried to include a range of names in each group, with something for everyone!

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

You’ll find even more ideas for that letter by clicking the long link below each list.

A

  • Ace
  • Acorn
  • Adam
  • Ajax
  • Alex
  • Alfie
  • Alpha
  • Andre
  • Aragog
  • Archie
  • Arnie
  • Arnold
  • Arthur
  • Austin

Awesome! It’s the male dog names that start with A! Check out our full list of dog names that start with A

B

  • Bailey
  • Barky
  • Basil
  • Beau
  • Beethoven
  • Ben
  • Bertie
  • Billy
  • Bruno
  • Brutus
  • Bubs
  • Bugs

Brilliant! Here are some good boy dog names that start with B!Check out our full list of pet dog names that start with B

C

  • Captain
  • Casey
  • Casper
  • Chalk
  • Chance
  • Chase
  • Chaz
  • Chester
  • Chip
  • Clark
  • Clint
  • Cody
  • Cooper

Crikey! It’s time for the male dog names that start with C! Check out our full list of animal names that start with C.

D

  • Dale
  • Dandy
  • Danny
  • Dargo
  • Dash
  • Dave
  • Deke
  • Derek
  • Dexter
  • Dill
  • Drogo
  • Duke
  • Dylan

Delightful! There are some great puppy names boy dogs could rock that start with D! Check out our full list of good names that start with D

E

  • Earl
  • Echo
  • Eddie
  • Elon
  • Elvis
  • Enzo
  • Eric
  • Ernie
  • Errol
  • Euan
  • Evan

Excellent! It’s the male puppy names that start with E! Check out our full list of nice dog names that start with E

F

  • Fabian
  • Fabrice
  • Falcon
  • Falstaff
  • Fang
  • Fenda
  • Filch
  • Finn
  • Flynn
  • Frank
  • Freddie
  • Frodo

Fabulous! Some male puppy names that start with F! Check out our full list of male dog names that start with F

G

  • Gabe
  • Galaxy
  • Garry
  • Gerry
  • Ghost
  • Gibson
  • Gill
  • Glenn
  • Gonzo
  • Grit
  • Gunner
  • Gunter

Great! Now it’s the male puppy names that start with G! Check out our full list of boy names that start with G

H

  • Hamish
  • Han
  • Harley
  • Harry
  • Hashtag
  • Haze
  • Hector
  • Henry
  • Hero
  • Hill
  • Homer
  • Hooch

Hurrah! These cool boy dog names start with H! Check out our full list of cute male dog names that start with H

I

  • Ice
  • Icon
  • Iggy
  • Imp
  • Inca
  • Indie
  • Indigo
  • Inky
  • Itchy
  • Ivan
  • Ivor

Impressive! These male puppy names start with I! The letter I list contains some of the more unusual names. How many other great names beginning with I can you think of?

J

  • Jabba
  • Jago
  • Jason
  • Jasper
  • Jazz
  • Jerry
  • Jethro
  • Jigsaw
  • Jingles
  • Jinx
  • Johnny

Just what we wanted! Male dog names that start with J! Check out our full list of puppy names that start with J

K

  • Karl
  • Kenny
  • Kent
  • Kermit
  • King
  • Kipling
  • Kit
  • Knight
  • Knotts
  • Knox
  • Knuckles
  • Kurt

Killer male puppy names that start with K! Check out our full list of guy dog names that start with K

L

  • Laurie
  • Lancelot
  • Len
  • Lennon
  • Leo
  • Lincoln
  • Linus
  • Louie
  • Lucas
  • Lucky
  • Luke

Lovely! It’s the male puppy names that start with L! Check out our full list of powerful dog names that start with L

M

  • Marlon
  • Mars
  • Matt
  • Maverick
  • Max
  • Meatloaf
  • Micah
  • Micky
  • Mike
  • Mischief
  • Morris
  • Muppet

Magnificent male puppy names that start with M! Check out our full list of adorable boy dog names that start with M

N

  • Nando
  • Nano
  • Napoleon
  • Nacho
  • Nash
  • Nathan
  • Nautilus
  • Nelson
  • Nemo
  • Nick
  • Niles
  • North

Nothing beats a male puppy name that starts with N! Check out our full list of great dog names that start with N

O

  • Oakley
  • Oats
  • Obi
  • Odin
  • Oliver
  • Omar
  • Onyx
  • Orville
  • Orwell
  • Oscar
  • Otter
  • Owen

Outstanding! It’s the names for male dogs that start with O! Check out our full list of cute pet names that start with O

P

  • Pacino
  • Paddy
  • Parker
  • Pavlov
  • Peanut
  • Penn
  • Percy
  • Pickle
  • Pinch
  • Pluto
  • Poacher
  • Presley

Perfect male dog names starting with P! Check out our full list of awesome animal names that start with P

Q

  • Quarz
  • Quasimodo
  • Quatro
  • Quibble
  • Quill
  • Quin
  • Quincy
  • Quip
  • Quixie
  • Quiz

Quality! These male puppy names that start with Q! Which is your favorite so far? Don’t forget you can add your own ideas and suggestions in the comments box below.

R

  • Race
  • Rags
  • Raisin
  • Rambo
  • Raymond
  • Rebel
  • Rex
  • Rico
  • Robby
  • Robin
  • Rocco
  • Rocky
  • Ronnie

Remarkable male dog names that start with R! Check out our full list of guys names that start with R

S

  • Sal
  • Sam
  • Scottie
  • Scout
  • Scrabble
  • Sergeant
  • Sherlock
  • Socrates
  • Soldier
  • Snoopy
  • Spinner
  • Stan
  • Steve

Superb! These male puppy names start with S! Check out our full list of boy names that start with S

T

  • Tacco
  • Tan
  • Tarzan
  • Teddy
  • Tenyson
  • Theo
  • Thor
  • Tiller
  • Tracker
  • Trojan
  • Troy
  • Trumpet

Terrific male dog names that start with T! Check out our full list of male names that start with T

U

  • Uber
  • Ukele
  • Ulrich
  • Ultrasonic
  • Ulysses
  • Unicorn
  • Usk
  • Ustinov
  • Utah
  • Utopia

Unbelievable! We’ve got to the male puppy names that start with U! Still not found the right one for your pup? Read on!

V

  • Vagabond
  • Valentine
  • Vandal
  • Vanish
  • Velvet
  • Victor
  • Vince
  • Vinnie
  • Virgil
  • Vodka
  • Vulcan

Victory! We’ve found the male puppy names that start with V! Let’s look at some more great names next!

W

  • Wag
  • Wally
  • Warrior
  • Watson
  • Webley
  • Wick
  • Wilbur
  • Wilf
  • William
  • Wilson
  • Winston

Wonderful male dog names that start with W! Check out some names that start with W

X

  • Xanadu
  • Xander
  • Xango
  • Xavier
  • Xax
  • Xerxes
  • Xox

How eXciting! These male puppy names that start with X. These names are great for a unique pup!

Y

  • Yani
  • Yarrow
  • Yeats
  • Yeller
  • Yenko
  • Yeti
  • Yogi
  • Yogurt

Yes! It’s the male dog names that start with Y! Can you think of any more great names starting with Y?

Z

  • Zorro
  • Zack
  • Zappo
  • Zeiss
  • Ziggy
  • Zippy
  • Zork
  • Zorro
  • Zulu

Zippy! Here are some great male puppy names that start with Z! Check out our full list of dog names starting with Z. TIP: It’s a good idea for boy puppy names to be relatively short and its best to avoid a name that sounds like another pet or family member’s name.

Famous Male Dogs

Dog names male characters use on the tv or in film can be popular choices for puppies too. Most of these also make lovely traditionally American dog names too. 

   
  • Beethoven
  • Marley (and Me)
  • Rex (the Runt)
  • Peanut
  • Brian
  • Snoopy (Peanuts)
  • Scooby Doo
  • Bolt
  • Hooch (Turner and…)
  • Garrick
  • Duke (Secret Life of Pets)
  • Max (Secret Life of Pets)

Names by Color

Another great way to name your little boy is by the shine to his coat! 

White boy dog names could be themed around their ghostly nature, or super clean sheen. Dogs with spots or stripes could be named after the animals they share an image with. The options are endless!

Male Dog Names by Category

The nice thing about naming a male puppy is that you can find inspiration in just about anything. Including simple everyday items in your home, and the wider world outdoors. Scroll down for some off the wall, and classic, ways to name your pup.

Best dog names male puppy

There’s More!

Don’t forget, you can also find inspiration for unique names for dogs (male or female) in everyday objects. Try brainstorming household items, hobbies, and crafts for very unusual names, such as

  • Caddy
  • Basket
  • Stitches
  • Tea-leaf

You can add a twist with a different spelling. As in Sox instead of socks.

More very popular male dog names

Not everyone wants to have an unusual dog. Boy names for dogs that are popular are often common because they are so appealing :

  • Fido
  • Lassie
  • Marley
  • Otis
  • Pongo
  • Scooby
  • Skip
  • Spot
  • Teddy
  • Tucker
  • Wishbone

What’s my dog’s name?

There really are a lot of wonderful names to choose from that will complement your perfect little boy puppy. Here are some really great boy dog names, unique in that they came from our amazing readers. We add to these at regular intervals so don’t forget to add yours!

  • Alex
  • Artemis
  • Atticus
  • Axel
  • Bandit
  • Barkley
  • Beauregard
  • Benson
  • Bentley
  • Blaster
  • Blue
  • Bolt
  • Boris
  • Buzz
  • Chaos
  • Chester
  • Colby
  • Colt
  • Corby
  • Dakota
  • Deeks
  • Digby
  • Doby
  • Elliot
  • Elwood
  • Everest
  • Fargo
  • Fletcher
  • Forest
  • Geyser
  • Gus
  • Hank
  • Hashbrown
  • Howie
  • Hugo
  • Levi
  • Logan
  • Jeter
  • Kaiser
  • Kane
  • Kelpie
  • Kodak
  • Lars
  • Leo
  • LeRoy
  • Malachi
  • Major
  • Marrone
  • Maurice
  • Michi
  • Moose
  • Murphy
  • Newton
  • Nougat
  • Otis
  • Parka
  • Pilot
  • Pomroy
  • Popcorn
  • Rayzr
  • Reece
  • Reef
  • Ringo
  • Rooster
  • Ruger
  • Smokey
  • Spud
  • Tank
  • Tino
  • Torro
  • Tucker
  • Tyson
  • Wade
  • Waggles
  • Wyatt
  • Zarley

Most popular male dog names

The International Dog Name survey illustrates just how trends in names for dogs, male or female, change over time. And shows us the names that are hot right now!

Top 100 male dog names

The favorites this year are:

BaileyCharlie
MaxBuddy
CooperJack
Toby Bear
ScoutTeddy
TuckerDexter
FinnRiley
HarleyHenry
OscarBrodie
MurphyMarley
MiloBlue
BrunoLeo
MontySam
LokiAlfie
BameyHarry
JasperOzzy
RockyAngus
DukeGus
OllieShadow
ArchieJake
ZeusRufus
BruceBuster
WinstonBaxter
GingerJackson
RemingtonBeau
ChesterDiesel
HunterKoda
StanleyThor
BenOakley
RugerSimba
BentleyCasey
GeorgeRanger
DixieHank
HarveyJax
JunoMoose
RubenBertie
GunnerLogan
NovaOreo
RudyTank
WoodyArlo
BillyCody
OliverRocco
SparkyAce
BanditBarley
BenjiCopper
HugoLouie
MerlinOtis
ReggieRemi
Rusty Wagner
ArthurBobby

Best male dog names

The name that you give your dog will follow him around for a lifetime. So finding something that suits you both is important. But whatever you settle on in the end, that will be your dog’s name. And love it or hate it, the rest of the world will quickly just come to associate it with him. So choose something that works for you, and enjoy building that amazing bond with your new furry friend.

Still Can’t Decide?

Can’t quite settle on the right name yet? Then check out our other awesome puppy names articles in our main dog name library! You might also like these adorable Cocker Spaniel names!

And once you have made up your mind, don’t forget to tell us your favorite dog’s name in the comments box below. 

Comments

  2. Ellen Corbman says

    We live in a very Remote area it was late at night and heard a puppy crying at the front door. We ask neighbors he they new who he belonged to but no luck. We are keeping him because we have two dogs and he already is part of our family. I think he is a chocolate lab but I need a good name for him. Can you help.

    Reply

  3. Nina says

    I have 2 mini schnauzer. Named my girl Strudel Applebottom and my boy Fritter Applejax. Tried to go with something German that wasn’t a traditional name. Everyone loves their names. Fits their personalities perfectly. They are super sweet.

    Reply

  6. Cindy says

    I have a Shih Tzu named Leo (as commented earlier). His best friend is my fiance’s Chihuahua, 1 yrs old rescued from a dirty, old, drunk in the park, and he named him C’mere (as in come here).
    My best human friends has brother and sister 9 yrs old Cocker Spaniels named Mercedes and Benz.

    Reply

  7. Cindy says

    My daughter gave me a Shih Tzu as a companion dog for Christmas 2 years ago. He was to be a gift to her boyfriends nephew from her mom. He was one of 3 from a litter. But one mom said No. Having moved into my first apt alone in over 30 yrs, my daughter felt I’d be happier with a friend. So they brought him to LA from Vegas. He was lethargic and had the squirts. Found out he had Parvo. My best friend and I looked up Shih Tzu’s and found their name means Little Lion. They thought he was born in late July, my daughter and I are both Leo’s. I told him if he was gonna beat Parvo, he had to pull out his inner lion. So I named him Leo. He did!! He was 4.4 lbs when I took him in and he weighed 3.3 when I got him back. Leo is now 3, healthy, and weighs 17.7 lbs! Best friend I’ve ever had!!

    Reply

    • Denise says

      Cindy i loved you and Leo’s happy ending! 🤍
      It made my heart happy! Thank you for being such a special lady and taking care of little lion / leo. Ya’ll made my day.:*)
      🤍🤍

      Reply

  8. Delia miyake says

    We r getting a new puppy! He is a hound mix. He is tan with white paws and a white streak on his chest. Any suggestions? (No human names or super common names like Fido and bailey.)

    Reply

    • Delia miyake says

      They found him, his litter mates, and his mom chained up at someone’s front yard. Apparently, the guy who owned them was selling the puppies and the mom for 5 bucks apiece 🙁 a neighbor saw this and told the guy that he had to give her the puppies and the mom, or else she was going to call the cops. Luckily, her best friend owns an animal shelter and so her best friend took them in. They were pretty skinny, and the mom was in terrible condition. Fortunately, they found homes for everyone, even the mom!

      Reply

  10. Holly says

    Our Blue Heelers were found in a sinkhole where “some” people throw their trash!! Vet said they were approx. 1o weeks old. They were scared to death of people (& not easy to catch)! They were full of ticks & fleas & obviously had been abused even at such a young age. They are 2 1/2 now & coming along fine. They are VERY SMART! (and FAST)! Learned to ring a cowbell to go outside when they were puppies. They are brother & sister with similar markings. The boy is Bailey & the girl is Matilda (“Waltzing Matilda,” like the pub song).

    Reply

  11. Tannis Cryderman says

    My tiny toy poodle is named Apollo and everyone loves it. He really suits it. All 3 pounds of him are tough!

    Reply

  12. Marissa says

    We recently had to put down our chocolate lab. His name was Wonka, named after Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Just thought I’d share, I loved the name and thought it was very unique.

    Reply

    • Denise says

      So sorry for your huge loss Marissa.😪 Wonka will be by your side again one day.
      That was a very unique and very sweet name.🤎

      Reply

  16. RITA KNIGHT says

    My BABY NAME WAS MCQUEEN EASTWOOD KNIGHT, AFTER KING OF COOL STEVE MCQUEEN, HE WAS A WONDERFUL LITTLE FELLOW.MISS YOU MY DEAR BUDDY.

    Reply

  19. Mary L Deterding says

    I had a bernese/border collie/rottweiler named N’Domika (nuh-dom-ika) and a goat who thought she was a dog, named Yarra. Australian shepherd named Tyessa. Just bought a aussie/heeler border to name…..?

    Reply

  21. Judith says

    Growing up, my grandmother had a black poodle. She named him Pierre. I always thought it was a great name, of which I did not see mentioned once on this site, for a French poodle.

    Reply

    • Marc says

      I think thats a great name, my white standard who passed was Barcelona.
      My new red standard puppy is Maurice

      Reply

      • Janice says

        We had 2 red standard poodles. Chablis & Shiraz. Lost the later one to heart disease at 12 1/2. Great dogs! Now have a phantom marked standard- named him Phantom! On the way to North Carolina to Family Affaair Standard Poodles to get another one. Searching for his name! Maybe Legacy?

        Reply

  23. Steven Gates says

    We have a yellow Labrador Retriever. Her given name the breeder gave her was Princess. On our way home we decided that since she was born on Halloween, she will been known as Pumpkin! When the kids come around for trick or treating, she knows it’s her special day and answers the door in her pumpkin outfit!

    Reply

  25. Karen says

    I had a tea cup yorki for 17 yrs we named Tobie. I loved him dearly. He passed in July and I will be getting another little male yorkie in a week. Trouble finding a name. We have a black German Shepard named Issa. Thanks

    Reply

    • Barbara Williams says

      My daughter lost her Yorkie a few months ago. So sad. She is getting another one in 5 weeks. I am getting her brother! We are so excited. I’m thinking about Archie for my little Yorkie male.

      Reply

    • Delores says

      We just lost our yorkie Daisy Mae. We are getting a baby yorkie in 6-8 weeks We like Beethoven. He will be about 5/6 lbs

      Reply

  26. Fallstar says

    My grandparents are coming down to get a dog soon. We can’t find a name. It is a male and he is a beige colored dog. Any recomendations?

    Reply

      • Christie says

        Wait until the personality of the dog comes out, and it will be easy to find the perfect name.

        Reply

        • BARB says

          YOU ARE SO RIGHT. I GOT A MIN PIN MIX 6 YRS AGO AND COULD NOT FIND THE NAME.. HE JUMPED STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN AND MY SISTER SAID KANGAROO….SO ROOROO HE BECAME!! <3

          Reply

        • Kit says

          I agree w/this wholeheartedly. We named our new Bullypit mix Eidolon due to being all white when he was just a baby, and he was Eidol/idle…lol
          We should have waited and called him Lil Nicky. His red rimmed eyes and ornerynes had him dubbed this. Adam Sandlers movie?
          Anyway, Eidolon means phantom, and he was so idle while a baby, it fit perfectly.
          Things changed tho as he grew!
          😉
          Eidol is still his name and it’s very unique. We also have two Brindles; Ozzi-O`Boy & my Reecey girl.
          I was normal three dogs ago.🤣
          🐕🐕
          🐕🏃🏼‍♀️

          Reply

    • Malisha Rivera says

      Banjo
      Jinx
      Gunner
      Diesel
      Axel
      Bandit
      Rippley
      Milo
      Maximo
      Logan
      Levi
      Sherlock
      Winston
      Sebastian
      Cujo
      Kaine
      Bruno
      Loki
      Thor
      Rebel
      Romeo
      Rambo
      Remington
      Winchester
      Ringo
      Brinkley
      Tank
      Tanner
      Jagger
      Kobe
      Montana
      Duncan
      Waffles
      Geronimo
      Django
      Jarvis
      Cracker
      Stitch
      Poncho
      Paco
      Taco
      Cocoa
      Malibu
      Dusty
      Draconia
      Marmaduke
      Marmalade
      Karma
      Taz

      Reply

  27. taylor says

    hi so i’m getting a almost white looking golden retriever and i already have a golden named ruby , is there any names you guys like that will match with ruby ?

    Reply

  31. Sherri says

    I just got a Shorkie and named him Gus. I am getting a Black & White Havanese in a couple weeks. Any ideas on a good name. I was thinking about Otis, Howie, Ace or Axle. My daughter wants me name him Hank and son likes Moose. Help!!

    Reply

  32. Miranda says

    I am getting a lab/german shepherd/ and great pyrenees mix next week, and I am stuck at a name for him. Any suggestions?

    Reply

  33. Deborah Francis says

    Our baby was adopted when he was 6 weeks old at our local shelter. His mom was surrendered while pregnant. He had 3 other siblings. We picked him out because of his personality. As soon as we looked at him his tail started going in a circle. We adopted him and named him Waggles Lee. He will be 8 years old on February 2nd. He has brought so much joy and happiness to our lives. We can’t imagine life without our Waggles!!!!

    Reply

    • Andrea says

      Hi,I have 4 puppies(3 weeks old) from my pretty girl Rosie a yorkshire terrier,I am so confused choosing the names for 3 girls and one boy,any suggestions?thanks

      Reply

  37. Jordan Huber says

    I’m getting a new dachound, Chihuahua, Boarder Collie, Pitbull and boxer mix puppy in February. What should I name him? He is white and Brown.

    Reply

  38. Barry Piper says

    We had large black labs, first one was named “Rambo” then we had Sam, short for samson,
    then we had “Boaz” means swiftness or strength.
    Everybody liked that one, and it was easier than we thought to call him.

    but the thing was when we looked at the puppies, we had about 20 names and called them out individually and when I called out for Boaz our pup came running over, and the wife said I guess we have a Boaz. its best to let them come to a name they like then they will always come to you when you call.

    Reply

  39. Barry K Piper says

    We just lost our large American Lab his name was BOAZ it was a great name nobody forgot it.
    it means ” swiftness / Strength

    Reply

  40. Cherlyn Tanner says

    I have a miniature Bull Terrier (brindle/white) with heart shape on nose and his name is LYNUS. Didn’t see that name on list.

    Reply

  41. Terri says

    My Daughter had 2 puppies and named them: Bob & Marlee

    Our Teacup poodle was named: Sadie
    We called her Sadiebaby

    Reply

  42. ZAUDTKE FAM says

    I am getting a coco colored dog what should i name him????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

    Reply

    • nicole Ray says

      I just got a solid tan colored jack Russell. Thinking of quite a few off this list: tonto being my fave so far. I had a great pyr named moosifer that i called moose! So funny! A friend’s moose was moosolini. I like moose. Just bad luck to rename af dog. Go for moose!

      Reply

  45. Judy Rodriguez says

    I am getting a male white and grey spot miniature poodle he has been eating all the time looking for a good name

    Reply

  46. Wendy Molloy says

    I am getting a brown pit with a white spot on his nose. He’s only 2 days old. Thinking of naming him Kodak. Any other suggestions?

    Reply

  47. Rhonda says

    I am getting a male Pomeranian puppy. He is cream color and tiny.
    I am trying to find a suitable name but nothing has really stuck.
    Any ideas??

    Reply

  49. Zoanri du Toit says

    Hi…I’m getting a new male miniature pincher puppy and I can’t decide on a name. Any ideas.

    Reply

  50. Abhi says

    Any ideas on a name for Lilac smooth coat color Chihuahua boy puppy.
    I had few short listed:

    BLUE
    LOKI
    CHARLIE
    COLT
    ALFIE

    Reply

  53. April Worton says

    Hi I’m getting a new Bicheno fries puppy the last Bicheno I had was with us for 16 years his name was tedd-e-bear
    I’m looking for a new original name male dog help please

    Reply

  54. altana says

    Need a name for my boxer. Dark brindle but white covering front. Was thinking a human name. We were going to name him Cooper but not sure anymore.

    Reply

  55. aislyn gates says

    Hello,
    I’m getting a golden retriever puppy! We don’t know the gender or what it looks like because it hasn’t even been born. Would you leave some comments, pls?

    Reply

  58. Rosie says

    Anyone know any good names for a male black and white border collie? I’m stuck choosing from Bailey, Harley, Ace or Monty!
    Any suggestions?

    Reply

  59. Rosie says

    Anyone know any good names for a male black and white border collie? I’m stuck choosing from Bailey, Harley, Ace or Monty!
    Any suggestions?

    Reply

  60. Liz says

    Yellow Lab female – Savannah “Van or Vanna” for short
    Schipperke male – Tucker “Tucky Bin Ladin” for short (he was a terror at times)
    Chihuahua female – Daisy
    Shiba Inu female – Reba

    Reply

    • Paul MacDonald says

      Got my yellow lab February of 2002 and named her liberty had her 14 years 10 months getting a mini Australia shepherd in 3 weeks

      Reply

  62. NovaStar says

    I couldn’t find i good name. i am making a story with wolves and I have a black male wolf anyone know any good male black wolf names?

    Reply

  64. Jen K says

    I have a brand new puppy and just can not decide a name, he light brown with black on his ears and snout, and faded black on the bottom half of his back and tail. His mom is a mix of some type of terrier and his dad is a lhasa apso. Please help!!

    Reply

  65. Carrie says

    We just got a 10 wk old Parti-Yorkie. He’s a tea-cup size and can’t agree on a name. We’re big Ohio State fans and immediately wanted something related to OSU. We started calling him Archie, but it just doesn’t seem to fit and for the life of me, I can never remember it when I’m talking to him. We have Gia Louise or Little Face (chorkie) and Shan (Black lab). Shan was already named when we got her, it’s short for Chantilly Lace.

    Hubby wants to name our new puppy Buddy or Bacon but I’m not a fan of either name.

    Help!

    Reply

  69. Sharon says

    We just rescued a MALE Golden Retriever pup (1.5 years old) from a Taiwan puppy mill. The first year of his life was spent in a cage and void of everything a puppy should have. He is very small and very afraid of all strange sounds and items but very sweet and cute as can be! I would like to emphasize his growing courage, or possibly his Scottish heritage, but would appreciate any cute name. Y’all have come up with some great ones for other requests. Our previous Goldens have been Misty, Maverick, and Tucker. He’s a dark golden color. I’ve had lots of thoughts but I’m very indecisive. — Connery, Bairn, Logan, Berkeley (Barkley is cute but he hasn’t made a sound since we got him!), Fletcher, Barclay, Gavin, Coby, Graham, Higgins, Tavis, Corkin, Drake, Dax, Jax, Corbin, Becks, Jax, Indy, Dylan. HELP PLEASE!

    Reply

    • Walt says

      You may want to go with a temporary name. Then if he starts to become more active and playful, give him a permanent name to match this new personality. That means he’s warming up to you. But for now what stands out to me and probably a few other people is Dylan.

      Reply

    • K. D. says

      Drake is good. Our dog is named Bodhi & it’s perfect for that part of the world. He is an animal testing survivor that we rescued????

      Reply

    • Patrick M says

      Thank you for deciding on a rescue and not encouraging more unwanted dogs by buying from a breeder. Far too many dogs are put down (killed) every year.

      Reply

    • Jen says

      Our Daschund’s were Oscar was for “oscar myer weener” and the the other was Sonny, we also had a Toto and Sparky in the family that were also Daschund ?

      Reply

  77. Debbie Lyn Martin says

    I’m getting a black lab puppy
    I’m naming him after my favorite fishing place.

    “Bishop”

    I’m Excited, I had one for 14 yrs he passed this past June. Still heartbroken, but I’m ready for another best friend.

    Reply

  78. Lillian juliette Katz says

    Blk Lab male-Jax
    Choc Lab female-Dorey
    Hemmingway Orange cat female – Butters
    Blk Cat male – Coby
    Grey Cat male runt of litter, smart- Doc
    Blk & Wht female kittie died 6 mos – Binx on Friday 9-7 -18
    Looking for a name for a 2 lb male kitty loves to climb very loving & cuddly, blk & wht was found in a Ford but I dont like that name. Thinking Ziggiy, Taz HELP !!!

    Reply

  79. Suzan says

    We are getting a Male Cavachon in just a few days. He is a very active dog but super cute. My husband wants to name him Rocket. I’m just not sure. He apparently melts in your arms when you pick him up to hold him. Gotta love that!

    We would love suggestions…

    Reply

  81. Macy Murray Redmond says

    Hi I just got a boy Australian kelpy and have no idea what to name him he’s quite playful but protective help !

    Reply

  82. Robin Moore says

    just got a boy puppy, his mother is a black lab/border collie mix and his dad is a Siberian husky – he looks like a little tan bear – can’t decide on a name – any ideas?

    Reply

  86. Ana says

    Hello
    Need help with a name for our new American Bulldog. He is white with 1 brown ear. Looking for a cute name that signifies guardian/protector.
    Thank you in advanced.

    Reply

  87. Lucia says

    We just adopted our second dog. He is a 3 months old mix. His face looks like a San Bernard and body is all white. He looks he’ll be big. Long leg and paws. My daughter loves Bruno we like Drago and keep debating. Beethoven also good but might be too long. Help !! 🙂

    Reply

  90. Amber says

    We just got a 7 month old Bassett mix. We cannot decide on a name!
    He looks almost 100% Bassett, but his head is just a tad too square and his muzzle is shorter. He’s definitely got the eyes and ears of a Bassett hound! His coat is rust and white.
    Help ?

    Reply

  93. Mushi says

    KoKo Pupp for a female Lavender fleece color Labradoodle, Molly Popp for a female Golden Retriever.

    Reply

  94. zootuber says

    i want forest-ish names for my basenji/lab that is male and is brown, orange, and white with a curly tail

    Reply

  95. Donna Fisher says

    I had a friend of mine she had her dog named Asia I love that name it was a Great Dane

    Reply

  98. Tiana says

    I just adopted what looks like a rat terrier but different ears, I don’t know what his breed is. Anyways, He is really skittish because he was abused, He is currently 5 years old and 1 month. I was planning on naming him Victor but it doesn’t suit him, any ideas?
    ps: He’s all black except for the lower part of his chest and stomach, which are white.

    Reply

  100. Delshina says

    I will have a German sherper soon and i want a name which is appart…
    Do you have suggestion?
    I was thinking of Stitch.

    Reply

  102. Isabella says

    I have a 2y/o border collie x german shepherd, she closely resembles a miniature cow & her name’s Daisy. Then there’s my beautiful Lola, an 11 and nearly 12 year-old rottweiler girl!

    Reply

  103. Jillian says

    I got Roscoe (Miniature Pinscher Jack Russell Terrier mix), Lark (Blue Heeler Corgi mix, Sassy (Redbone Coonhound English Bulldog mix), and Kaiser (Miniature Pinscher Chihuahua mix)

    Reply

  104. Brian says

    My little girl is Tillie, my fat ol Man is snoopie adopted him at 2 yrs old kept his name and my newest 2 lb baby boy is Juno …

    Reply

  105. Marsha says

    I have a tiny chihuahua and his name is Meky……like Mickey Mouse but different spelling.

    Reply

  107. Evelyn Summer says

    We got a German Shepard poodle mix(a shepadoodle) and named him Bosco. Should’ve named him Bear or Moose, he’s huge!! And fluffy. Don’t forget the fluffiness.

    Reply

  108. Heidi says

    Ok. Here it goes! ALL my fur kids names, starting with my 3 lb. Chihuahua named Penelope! Then there’s Jersey Jo, Clyde, Bonnie Bell, Junior, Dylan, Ringo, Twilight, Macaroni, Polar, Jett, Bailey, Pipper and Ivory! Whheewww….say that 3 times real fast!

    Reply

  113. Kym says

    I have just received a border Collie x Mini Poodle, he is so same cute, love at first site, he is a brown and white Bordoodle, ant suggestions Guys and Gale

    Reply

    • Seline says

      Got a 3mnt old boy pug love cookie . But for a boy i dont no wat to do iv had a buddy a tyson an betsy . Id liked to call him spartacus but a pug mite not suit ? any1 and gud unsual names i like marley king otis snoop help!!! just cant decide indecisive i am

      Reply

  116. Tera says

    I have 3 pom’s named Yuki loki and rusty I had 4 but my little girl recently passed away 🙁 her name was tyiki mikk im doing a trial run with 2 puppies that are a mix of a collie hanging tree and MC nab they are cute but I don’t know what to call them we are thinking striker and Duke but not sure

    Reply

    • Breanna says

      I’m liking the names Tucker,Oscar,bubby,Teddy,Rex,idk…there cute I’m just getting a new dog still looking for names though sadly….😥

      Reply

  120. What is my dog says

    I named my dog (no clue on his breed, he’s a mix of something or other) Steely Dan. Music references are the best pet names.

    Reply

    • Mandy says

      Wow that’s what we need are blue heeler. He passed away a few months ago. We have another dog we named Bodie. It is short for a bodhisattva.

      Reply

  123. mary says

    We have three dogs and just added a forth! Ripper our staffy, maisie (Shih Tzu), Pollyanna (Lhasa). Just added a black great Dane puppy and I want to name him Anakin from star wars . Has to start with an A. Any suggestions?

    Reply

  125. Arabella says

    I have three dogs and we are gonna get another we need a boy name! Are dogs are jasmine Frankie=male and bruce

    Reply

    • Ann Wlad says

      I remember meeting a dog once that only had three legs… his name was Tripod. Best name ever…

      Reply

    • Seline says

      I had a buddy hes was the best he was my buddy he was plasied and great around children iv a tattoo of it im after getting a 3mnt old pug male im stuck for a name something diffrent then common names iv a tyson witch dosnt suit him my daughter named him hes was very soft he is a staff so we thought it wld suit but now hes 2 and hes also more of a buddy . But my lil man pugsley im callin him to family coz i cant decide i like king or marley or otis or snoop coz its cute an so is he plz if uv any names id love to here bk as i only got him 2day . X tnks is coco a girls name it is isnt it.?

      Reply

      • Tiana says

        I’ll do my best to decode what you said.
        Coco can go both ways, however, I think you should name him Barley, its an uncommon name but it fits for pugs.

        Toodles~

        Reply

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