This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to yourself.
Recently, we adopted a lab/shepherd puppy.
The first thing we needed to do was to choose a good name for him.
When we made the trip to the shelter, we had intended to adopt a female, so we had a list names for girl puppies.
However, when choosing a puppy, things don’t always go as planned. The only male of the litter stole our hearts. We all agreed he was the perfect puppy for us. All we had to do was pick a perfect name.
Here are some of the things we considered that might also help you when naming your dog…
Your Dog’s Name Matters
Since our grandsons went with us to pick him up, we allowed them to help us decide on a name for our new dog.
On the drive home, we discussed the new puppy’s name.
The boys were excited and suggested silly names.
I explained to them that the puppy would have to be called by whatever name we chose for him for the rest of his life. The boys then decided we needed a good male name for our canine friend.
Tips For Choosing Your Dog’s Name
Don’t be in a hurry to name your puppy.
Watch the things he does, his demeanor and look for prominent markings and colors.
For instance, a black dog with a white tip on his tail might be called, Tippy. A white blaze on a dog’s face could bring the name Blaze to mind. A charcoal dog could be named Smokey.
A dog’s personality can also help you choose a name. If he is constantly into mischief, you might consider calling him Scamp. If he is fast as lightning, you might want to call him Arrow, Bullet, Flash or Streak. If he is slow, call him Turtle or Slowpoke.
Another way to choose a name is on the basis of size. To be different, a small dog could be named Goliath and a large dog could be called Tiny.
You can also name your puppy something that has special meaning to you. For example:
- Do you like classical music? If so, name him Bach, Beethoven or Mozart.
- If you collect Native American artifacts, good names would be Apache, Cheyenne or Comanche.
- Maybe you went to a special place for a holiday or for your honeymoon… if so, naming your dog Alaska, Colorado or London would be fun!
If you still can’t decide what to name your puppy, check out dog names online. Both male dog names and female dog names are listed.
Simple, Unique Dog Names Are Best
Keep your puppy’s name simple — never more than 3 syllables. And never name your dog to rhyme with something negative, such as “No.” This only confuses the puppy and will make his training difficult.
We named our Alaskan Malamute Mikalak (Mick-a-lack) but our grandsons were young and it became Meeko because they couldn’t say Mikalak. This is another thing you should take into consideration. If there are young kids in the house, name the dog something that they will be able to say clearly.
Whatever you do, try to avoid naming your puppy one of the top 10 dog names. This can be a problem if you call your dog and 4 other dogs in your neighborhood come running. Try to find a unique name for your dog.
We ended up calling our little lab/shepherd Dakota. Not really for any special reason, but because we all liked it. It fits him perfectly.
A List Of The Most Popular Dog Names
Each year, the list of most popular dog names changes ever so slightly.
For example, Max and Molly always tend to hover around the top.
Here’s a list of the current most popular pet names.
Here are the remaining Top 10 Dog Names…
According to Petrix:
- The most popular dog name in North America is Sam (or Sammie, Samantha) — which means “listener”.
- The second most popular is Max (or Maxie, Maxwell, Maxine) — which means “the greatest”.
- Third is Lady, followed by Bear, Maggie, Buddy, Tasha, Chelsea (or Chelsie), Holly and Shasta.
- Other very popular names are Brandy, Ginger and Taffy.
| Most Popular Dog Names By Sex | |
|---|---|
| Male Dog Names | Female Dog Names |
| Max | Molly |
| Buddy | Maggie |
| Jake | Daisy |
| Rocky | Lucy |
| Bailey | Sadie |
| Buster | Ginger |
| Cody | Chloe |
| Charlie | Bailey |
| Bear | Sophie |
| Jack | Zoe |
| Source: Veterinary Pet Insurance | |
| Most Popular Dog Names In General | |
|---|---|
| Buddy | |
| Max | |
| Daisy | |
| Jack | |
| Lucy | |
| Molly | |
| Charlie | |
| Sadie | |
| Jake | |
| Lucky | |
| Source: Petfinder | |
More Resources For Finding A Fun Dog Name
- Unique Dog Names
- Pet Name Search Engine
- Thousands Of Unique Ways To Name Your Dog
- Dog Names And More
- All Our Best Tips For Naming Your Puppy
I love writing about almost anything, especially my life experiences. Other favorite things to write are how-tos, household hints, nature and fishing articles, among others.
