How well do you know about the legendary dogs that have touched people’s hearts?
From a Great Dane with the munchies and a German Shepherd from the golden age of Hollywood, to a heroic Husky and an artistic Afghan Hound, some dogs are just so memorable, their names belong in the hall of fame!
Here’s some famous male and female dog names from art, history, and culture, who have become iconic among their breeds!
25 Famous dog names
Beethoven
This huge St Bernard was an icon of the comedy movie series of the same name in the 80s and 90s.
Bullseye
Bill’s Sykes was very attached to his Bull Terrier in Dickens’ Oliver Twist, and the movie adaptations
Cujo
Another St Bernard - this time the subject of Steven King’s psychological horror novel and film adaptation.
Digby
Old English Sheepdogs are pretty big, but a chance event in the children’s comedy film made Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World!
Fang
Hagrid’s beloved Boarhound (Great Dane) companion in the Harry Potter series, who accompanied him on many adventures.
Fido
Abraham Lincoln’s loyal mongrel Fido used to wait outside the barber’s for his master, and carry his parcels home for him.
Gromit
This animated Beagle went on a mission to the moon in Wallace and Gromit.
Hachiko
This legendary Akita waited for over nine years at Shibuya station in Tokyo following his owner’s death.
Hooch
A crime-fighting Dogue de Bordeaux was Tom Hanks’ co-star in the 1989 film Turner & Hooch.
Lady
Lady the Cocker Spaniel was the female romantic lead of Disney’s Lady and the Tramp
Laika
Laika the legend was the first animal to orbit Earth. The Soviet space dog was probably a mix of Husky, Samoyed, and Terrier.
Lassie
Lassie was a Collie who won the hearts of children and adults alike in the book and film Lassie Come Home, and subsequent TV series.
Nipper
Nipper was the Jack Russell Terrier made famous by modelling with a gramophone for HMV back in 1895.
Old Yeller
Fred Gipson chose a Blackmouth Cur to pull our heartstrings in his novel, which was made into a Disney film in 1957.
Prissy
Prissy was an elegant Afghan Hound in Disney’s 1961 film One Hundred and One Dalmations.
Rin Tin Tin
After being rescued from a World War I battlefield, Rin Tin Tin became the most famous German Shepherd star of early Hollwood movies.
Santa’s Little Helper
This wide-eyed Greyhound is the famous pet of The Simpsons.
Scoobie-Doo
Scoobie-Doo is the animated Great Dane famous for foiling dastardly criminals with the help of his funky gang.
Sirius Black (aka Padfoot, aka Snuffles)
One of the heroes of the Harry Potter books and films, Sirius shares his name with the brightest star in the night sky.
Snoopy
Possibly the most famous animated Beagle of them all!
Spike
Spike is a popular dog name. There were Spikes in Snoopy and Rugrats, and the Bulldog in Tom and Jerry was, of course, a Spike!
Spot
Where’s Spot? In the hearts and memories of anyone who read the peek-a-boo book as a child - that’s where!
Togo
Togo the heroic Husky famously helped save the town of Nome, Alaska from a diphtheria epidemic.
Toto
Toto the Cairn Terrier was joined Dorothy on her famous adventure to find The Wizard of Oz!
Wellard
This Belgian Tervuren found fame in the popular UK soap opera Eastenders.
Looking for inspiration? Take a look at these other ideas for great dog names:
- 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
- Popular dog names for 2020
- Scottish dog names
- Spanish dog names
- Tibetan dog names
- Welsh dog names
