If you’ve just adopted a new puppy or adult dog – or you’re about to – there’s no doubt that you’ll be wondering what name to give them. Do you want a strong name, or a unique name? What breed have you decided on – or is it a mixed breed? Is it a large dog, or a small lap dog?
Remember, it can take a few days for a puppy to get used to a new name so try to use it as often as you can during this period, particularly during training sessions. Be consistent and don’t abbreviate it to a nickname until they are responding well.
If you are struggling to decide, you might find the following ideas will inspire you!
We asked the team behind ADAPTIL to let us know the names of their dogs and here are some of the most popular ones:
Duke is the most popular name for a male dog, and is a Latin name which means “Leader of the Herd; high-ranking nobleman.”
We’re guessing that these dogs get their names from their beautiful brown coats.
This name is of Russian origin, meaning ‘Warrior’. Famous human Igors include Igor Stravinsky (the Russian composer) and Igor Sikorsky (the Russian/American designer of the first successful helicopter).
In Greek, Otis means ‘keen of hearing’ and is also a boy’s name of German origin meaning ‘wealthy’. It is a popular name in pop culture (Otis Redding) and is the name of the adventurous pug from the film Milo and Otis.
The name Rio is of Spanish origin meaning ‘river’. Two of the most famous humans called Rio are Rio Ferdinand, the professional footballer, and the singer, Rio Santana.
Chico is a nickname for ‘little boy’ in Spanish so probably lends itself well to dogs that are small in stature but not necessarily small in character! It’s one of the most popular dog names in Mexico.
This is an affectionate name meaning ‘cute’ It is a gender neutral name and, according to Small Dog Owner, in 2021 it ranked 78 in the top 100 most popular male dog names.
From the Greek ‘God is Good’, this is frequently shortened to Toby. Tobey Maguire is most famous for playing the title character in the Spider Man trilogy.
Stemming from the Latin word for ‘lion’, Leo is one of the most popular names for a male dog. It is a shortened name from Leon or Leopold meaning ‘brave’ or ‘lion hearted’.
Meaning ‘All-wise’, dogs called Elvis are associated with friendship and companionship. It’s a good choice of name for dogs of all sizes. Nick Jonas named his beautiful Golden Retriever Elvis, after his music idols Elvis Presley and Elvis Costello.
Luna is very popular when it comes to names for female dogs! It comes from the Latin luna, meaning “moon” and she was also the Roman goddess of the moon. The association with night time makes Luna an excellent name for a girl dog, especially if they have a black coat.
‘Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl’ is from the song Copacabana by Barry Manilow – but it’s also a carefree name for a dog that's affectionate and loves being with people. Dogs with this name are often described as devoted and eager to please. The name is a diminutive of Dolores, it’s Spanish and means ‘sorrows’ – perhaps an apt name for the Boxer breed, who can look sorrowful, despite having a heart of gold!
A great name for a dog that has a creamy, chocolatey colour coat. The name Truffle is usually given to small breed dogs.
This is a Greek name that means ‘glory’ and is a great name for a large breed, female dog. Dogs who suit this name can might be strong willed - just like The most famous Cleo, of course; Cleopatra the last Pharaoh of Egypt.
Cacau has its origins in Latin and it is used largely in the Portuguese language. Cacau is a pet form of Claudia in humans but this cute name might also have been inspired by the spice ‘cacao’ which is most commonly used to make chocolate – the roasted seeds of the cacao are also used to spice drinks and dishes. Perhaps dogs called Cacau were named because they are sweet – and spicy!
Lolita is a diminutive of ‘Lola’, which is derived from ‘Dolores’ meaning ‘full of sorrows’. Lolita was popularised by the novel of the same name, written by Vladimir Nabokov in 1955.
The meaning of Lilith is ‘Ghost; storm goddess’. Lilith is derived from the Akkadian word lilitu meaning “of the night”.
Meaning ‘the messenger of God’, the name Angela is often shortened to ‘Angie’ and as this ends in a vowel sound, is easy for dogs to recognize when called.
As you would expect, this exotic dog’s name means ‘love’. It is of Spanish origin but also frequently used in France and Italy and “That’s Amore” was a major hit for Dean Martin in 1953!
This lovely name is frequently used in Sweden and means ‘Swedish Lake’. The name was invented by Astrid Lindgren, a Swedish author of children's books, who used it in her fairy tale Ronja, the Robber's Daughter. It means ‘God’s Joyful Song’.
Remember, it can take a few days for a puppy to learn its name, so use it every time you interact with them, particularly during training sessions. Save nicknames for later to avoid confusion.
Happy naming!