Finding the perfect name for your new four-legged friend can be tricky business. Ideally, a dog name should say a little something about both the doggo and dog owner. It also needs to pass the cringe test - only you can know if you can keep a straight face calling out for Senior Twinklebum at the dog park. Good for you, if you can manage that!
What are the latest popular trends in dog names, and where do they come from? We have gathered info about the most popular names from last year, and predictions for what will be the top dog names in 2021.
Girl dog names: 10 most popular female dog names
Bella
Not just a character in Twilight, this name means beautiful. A perfect name for an English Cocker Spaniel.
Poppy
This name comes from the red flower of remembrance. Great for a Border Collie - that’s one clever dog!
Lola
This is a cheerful name despite its origin (it’s short for ‘Dolores’, which means ‘sorrows’). It would suit a friendly dog such as a Golden Retriever.
Luna
Meaning ‘moon,’ this name suits a stately, yet friendly, dog such as the White Shepherd.
Molly
Molly is an Irish nickname for the Virgin Mary, meaning ‘star of the sea.’ It’s a perfect name for an Irish Water Spaniel.
Daisy
This delicate little flower, the ‘day’s eye’, would work as a name for a sweet and low-maintenance dog like the Boston Terrier.
Ruby
Ruby reflects love, loyalty, and good luck, which works for a Pug, who resembles a lucky symbol in Chinese mythology.
Coco
A brown Labrador Retriever would be a suitable candidate for name that means chocolate, or a Poodle of a similar colour coud pay homage to the great Coco Chanel!
Rosie
A beautiful flower name for a pretty English Springer Spaniel.
Millie
Coming from Millicent, Camila, or Amelia, this name means quiet strength, independence, and determination, and fits a Bernese Mountain Dog’s character to a tee!
Popular boy dog names: 10 most popular male dog names
Alfie
A short form of Alfred or Alfonse, this name has the same origins as ‘elf’, and means ‘wise cousel.’ A fitting name for a chihuahua, we think.
Max
Max, Maximillian, or Maxwell, all ‘great’ names for a Great Dane.
Charlie
The nickname for Charles, coming from the German ‘karloz’, meaning ‘free man.’ It would work well for a free-spirited West-Highland White Terrier.
Teddy
From Edward, this means ‘wealthy guardian.’ A giant fluff ball like the Tibetan Mastiff would prove a cuddly protector worthy of such a name.
Buddy
A beagle would be a prime candidate for such a friendly dog name.
Milo
Possibly from German, meaning mild or calm. This name would work for a placid Greyhound.
Oscar
Meaning ‘friend of deer,’ this is quite a stately name for an Irish Deerhound.
Bailey
Coming from ‘Bailiff,’ this name suggests a dog that knows how to do this right thing, like an Australian Shepherd.
Archie
Not just a royal baby, this name means ‘brave.’ Great for a German Shepherd.
Barney
A snuggly Old English Sheepdog would fit the bill for a dog name that means ‘son of comfort.’
Top 10 of the most popular dog names in 2020
Charlie
Made popular by Charlie’s Angels, this dog name would work for a male or female Shetland Sheepdog.
Loki
A Jack Russell terrier has the cheeky chops to live up to a name worthy of the trickster God of Norse mythology (and Marvel comics).
Harley
From Harley Quinn in the DC Comics film Birds of Prey, this is the ideal name for a Harlequin Dane.
Elsa
A name from Frozen 2 would be perfect for a snow dog like the Great Pyrenees.
Bella
The Twilight legacy lives on, and a dog owner on team Edward might find Bella would be a fitting name for a Sarloos Wolfdog.
Luke
A Staffordshire Bull Terrier would be a solid option for this name from The Rise of Skywalker.
Simba
A Leonberger has the noble mane to live up to this name from the Lion King.
Lady - Tramp
A lovely name for an American Cocker Spaniel, like the one in Lady and the Tramp.
Millie
Millie Bobby Brown from Stranger Things made this name popular. It would be a sweet name for a Yorkshire Terrier.
Maggie
Dame Maggie Smith from Downton Abbey would be a stately namesake for a Kelpie.
What are the 10 most common dog names of all time?
There are so many cool dog names, some of them are unique, some famous and it can be hard to pick the best dog name for your pooch. If you are looking for ideas for naming a male dog or female dog, check out this list of the 10 most common dog names of all time.
| Female dog names | Male dog names |
|---|---|
| Bella | Max |
| Molly | Charlie |
| Lily | Milo |
| Zoe | Jack |
| Daisy | Buddy |
| Poppy | Rocky |
| Luna | Duke |
| Nala | Cooper |
| Annie | Bear |
| Lucy | Archie |
What is the #1 dog name in the UK?
It might come as a surprise but dog names like Fido, Rover or Lassie aren't the most popular dog names of all time. Stanley Coren PhD., DSc, FRSC did a research to find out what was the number 1 dog name used by English speakers. For a female dog the most popular dog name is Molly and for a male dog it is Max.
How to pick unique and cute dog names?
Sometimes you just need to look into the loving eyes of your pup for them to give you their name, and sometimes you might need a little help. Don’t despair - there’s plenty of inspiration to help you find the perfect name. Here are a few tips to help you choose your dog's name:
- Choose a name ending with a vowel
- Try choosing a name with two syllables
- Don't pick a name that sounds like a command, your dog could get confused
- Think of your dog's personality
- If you have other pets, make sure their names are similar
- Once you've picked a name, stick with it
What is a good name for a boy dog?
There are thousands of male dog names to choose from. You can pick a classic name such as Max, Jack, Rover or a famous carton name like Pluto, Stitch, Simba. When picking a name for your male puppy, it's important to think about his personality. For example, if you have an energetic pup, why not call him Speedy or Flash? And on the contrary if your dog is quiet, calm and slightly lazy, why not call him Oscar or Charlie?
When choosing a good name for a male dog or puppy, keep these tips in mind:
- Choose a male dog name with one or two syllables
- If you choose a long male dog name, think of his nickname as you will probably use it more than once
- Choose a name which has high pitched tones, this will help to get your dog's attention
- Choose a name you won't be embarrassed to shout in the park
What to name a girl puppy?
So you've just got a new female puppy but are wondering what name would suit her best? Well first of all, congratulations and second of all, finding a girl's name for your puppy isn't going to be too hard. You will have plenty of names to choose from. Think of your female dog's personality and also try to choose a name with one to two syllables, which ends with a vowel and with a high pitch tone so that you will be able to catch your dog's attention.
You can choose a classic female name like Bella, Lily, Zoe or a more glamorous name like Princess, Chanel, Ruby. If you love cartoons why not take inspiration from Disney characters? Such as Anna, Mulan, Minnie.
Find out more about some great dog names in the posts below:
- Cartoon inspired dog names
- Disney dog names
- French dog names
- German dog names
- Irish dog names
- Italian dog names
- Japanese dog names
- Latin dog names
- Most famous dog names of 2020
- Scottish dog names
- Spanish dog names
- Tibetan dog names
- Welsh dog names
