Choosing a great dog name

Naming your dog can be a challenge but it’s important to remain sensible about the whole process. Names can alter peoples’ perception of your dog so it’s important you choose a name appropriate to the image you want to invoke. If you want a favourable reception, then a name like “Rambo” may not be in your dog’s best interest. However, if the objective of the name is to instill fear in the surrounding populace then go right ahead, but it might be time to seriously consider a change of neighbourhood.

You’re going to be using the name of your dog a lot so it’s important you take your time in choosing something suitable. You don’t have to name them right away as soon as you get them home. Leave it for a while as you get to know the animal, and let its personality shine through after they have had enough time to settle into their new surroundings. As you go through your list of options something will eventually stand out as the perfect moniker for your new dog. To get your list started here are a few ideas for inspiration:

Famous people are a good place to start for your shortlist of options. Add the names of famous people, past and present, who inspire you such as Edison, Einstein, DaVinci, or Napoleon. Take your pick from movie stars and singers such as Ginger or Jackson, or cartoon characters like Snoopy and Charlie Brown.  Even food can provide you with inspiration, and it will have a lot do with your dog’s personality and the colour of their coat with names such as Hotdog, Peaches, and Nutmeg springing to mind as great examples.  

You will be most likely be calling out to your dog where other people can hear so a name that is not embarrassing or cruel is a must. As you are going to be using the name often, short and simple is also the most sensible choice over something that may be overly long, or hard to pronounce.

Also, stay away from names that are similar to other names in the household (such as Mike and Spike) to avoid confusion should your dog think it is being called when it’s not. Dogs who are constantly ignored when they think they are being called will eventually stop responding to that name altogether.

Most training commands are one syllable words, e.g. sit and stand, so two syllables at a maximum should be used for your dog’s name. This will make it easier for her to distinguish between her name or a spoken command. You should also consider a name that starts with a hard or stop consonant as this will also make it simpler for them to distinguish when they are being spoken to.

And finally, while it may be tempting, if you regularly take your dog out to where there lots of other dogs, you may want to avoid the names on the current top 10 lists for dogs. You don’t want 4 other dogs getting confused every time you need your dog’s attention or your dog to go to other people calling their dog.

Popular Dog names

Popular Male Dog Names:                         Popular Female Dog Names: