Sometimes when you get a new puppy, it can be difficult to choose the right dog name. While some people focus on looking for unique monikers for their pets, others prefer traditional choices. If you're a fan of the tried and true, you just might find your new dog's name on this list.
Traditional Descriptive Puppy Names
Many dog owners like to choose descriptive names for their dogs. Favorite puppy names that describe a physical characteristic of the puppy are the perfect choice for many people. Some of these describing names are:
- Spot
- Socks
- Patch
- Blackie
- Brownie
- Coffee
- Cocoa
- Cinnamon
- Pepper
- Ginger
- Bandit (especially if there is a patch over one eye)
- Red
- Fluffy
- Freckles
- Scruffy
- Goldie
- Rusty
- Tiny
Classic Names That Show Personality
Other people like to name their puppies after some personality trait. These names tend to grow along with your dog and work well. Usually, a dog's personality traits won't change much over time.
Some of the most popular names are:
- Lady
- King
- Prince
- Princess
- Cuddles
- Nibbles
- Wag
- Joker
- Joy
- Scooter
- Sparky
- Speedy
- Scamp
- Shadow
Classic Dog Names From Famous Movies
Some new dog owners like to use famous names for their dogs based on characters, both human and dog, in classic movies.
- Asta (from The Thin Man)
- Beethoven (from Beethoven and its sequels)
- Chance (from Homeward Bound)
- Fly (from Babe)
- Hooch (from Turner & Hooch)
- Lassie (from Lassie Come Home)
- Lester (from Halloween)
- Otis (from Milo & Otis)
- Petey (from The Little Rascals)
- Rin Tin Tin (from the series of Rin Tin Tin movies)
- Rusty (from The Adventures of Rusty)
- Shadow (from Homeward Bound)
- Shiloh (from Shiloh: A Dog's Story)
- Skip (from My Dog Skip)
- Old Yeller (from Old Yeller)
- Wilby (from The Shaggy Dog)
Classic Dog Names From Famous Actors and Actresses
Movie actors and actresses from some of our greatest films can make great names for dogs and demonstrate your film history knowledge as well.
- Audrey (Hepburn)
- Ava (Gardner)
- Bardot (Brigitte)
- Basil (Rathbone)
- Bette (Davis)
- Brando (Marlon)
- Cagney (James)
- Chaplin (Charlie)
- Clark (Gable)
- Cooper (Gary)
- Dean (James)
- Elizabeth (Taylor)
- Greta or Garbo
- Harlow (Jean)
- Hedy (Lamarr)
- Humphrey (Bogart)
- Ingrid (Bergman)
- Judy (Garland)
- Laurence (Olivier)
- Lucille (Ball)
- Mae (West)
- Marilyn (Monroe)
- Marlene (Dietrich)
- Rita (Hayworth)
- Sophia (Loren)
- Vivien (Leigh)
- Wayne (John)
Classic Dog Names From Literature
If you love to read, some names from classic books can provide a wealth of inspiration for puppy names.
- Argos (from The Odyssey)
- Atticus (from To Kill a Mockingbird)
- Buck (from Call of the Wild)
- Clifford (from Clifford the Big Red Dog)
- Dorian (from The Picture of Dorian Gray)
- Eliza (from Pygmalion and My Fair Lady)
- Falstaff (from the Shakespeare plays)
- Frodo (from the Lord of the Rings)
- Gandalf (from The Lord of the Rings)
- Gatsby (from the Great Gatsby)
- Hamlet (from the Shakespeare play)
- Huckleberry (from Huckleberry Finn)
- Moby (from Moby Dick)
- Moll (from Moll Flanders)
- Nana (from Peter Pan)
- Rhett (from Gone with the Wind)
- Scarlett (from Gone with the Wind)
- Sherlock (Holmes)
- Toto (from The Wizard of Oz)
- Winn-Dixie (from Because of Winn-Dixie)
- Winnie (from Winnie the Pooh)
Classic Dog Names From Cartoons
There's plenty of dog characters from classic cartoons for inspiration. You can also choose a classic cartoon name based on non-canine characters.
- Bambi (from the Walt Disney film)
- Bart (from the Simpsons)
- Betty Boop (from the series of cartoons)
- Blue (from Blue's Clues)
- Bluto (from Popeye)
- Boo Boo (from the Yogi Bear Show)
- Bugs (Bunny)
- Casper (The Friendly Ghost)
- Elmer (Fudd)
- Felix (the Cat)
- Goofy (from the Walt Disney films)
- Homer (from the Simpsons)
- Magoo (from Mr. Magoo)
- Marmaduke (from the cartoon)
- Odie (from Garfield)
- Olive (from Popeye)
- Pluto (from the Disney movies)
- Popeye (from the cartoon)
- Sandy (from Little Orphan Annie)
- Scoobert AKA Scooby Doo (from the Scooby-Doo series
- Shaggy (from the Scooby Doo series)
- Sylvester (the Cat)
- Yogi (Bear)
- Wile (Coyote)
Old-Fashioned Dog Names
If you're a traditionalist at heart and also want an easy name to remember and for others to understand, choose a puppy name that's familiar from years of use.
- Champ
- Duke
- Fido
- Fluffy
- Lucky
- Rex
- Rover
- Queenie/Queen
- Scout
- Teddy
Popular Dog Names
Popular names for dogs change from season to season and from year to year; here are several popular options you may want to consider.
- Bailey
- Bella
- Buster
- Buddy
- Charlie
- Chloe
- Cody
- Daisy
- Jack
- Jake
- Lola
- Lucy
- Maggie
- Max
- Molly
- Rocky
- Sadie
- Sally
- Sophie
- Toby
Choosing Your Favorite
While your favorite puppy name may be one on the popular list, it may also be something that is absolutely unique to your puppy. You should name your dog something that you like and will continue to like, no matter what the rest of society is naming their dogs. Part of the fun of owning a puppy is getting to know it and choosing a name that fits the individual personality of the puppy. If you want to name your puppy after your favorite uncle, you should do so.
Once you have named your new puppy, give it a chance to get used to its name. Use the name often and reward your dog when he comes to you. Don't change the name in a week or two because this can be very confusing to the dog.
Finding the perfect name for your puppy is the beginning of a lifetime friendship. Consider these tips for naming your dog just as suggestions. After all, you should name your dog something that you like.
