Choosing a dog name is a long commitment: you will say that word dozens of times a day, at the park, at the vet, at 6 a.m. in your sleepy voice. Here are 80 ideas by style, and at the end, the test that prevents regret.
Cute
Bean, Biscuit, Buttons, Coco, Cookie, Daisy, Honey, Luna, Maple, Mochi, Nala, Noodle, Peanut, Pebbles, Pumpkin, Rosie, Teddy, Waffles, Willow, Ziggy.
Funny
Bacon, Bark Twain, Chewbarka, Kevin, Meatball, Nacho, Pickles, Sir Barksalot, Steve, Taco, Tater Tot, Waffle House, Winston Furchill.
Classics that never miss
Bella, Buddy, Charlie, Daisy, Duke, Jack, Lassie, Lucy, Max, Molly, Rex, Toby.
Nordic (perfect for huskies)
Alaska, Aurora, Balto, Freya, Kodiak, Loki, Nanook, Odin, Sky, Storm, Yukon, Zero.
Inspired by stories
Beethoven, Bolt, Marley, Pluto, Scooby, Snoopy... and Pigúiça, the husky from the Dogavios book, who has already named a few readers' puppies!
The 3-second test
Before deciding, ask three questions:
- Does it shout well? Go to the window and shout the name three times. «Sir Barksalot» loses its charm by the third shout.
- Does it clash with a command? A name that sounds like «sit», «no» or «stay» sabotages training. «Kit» and «sit» are too close for comfort.
- Can your child say it? If there are kids at home, they will call the dog most. A name they cannot pronounce becomes a different name within a week.
Golden tip
Dogs learn best with 2-syllable names with a strong vowel (Luna, Thor, Max). If your pick is long, choose the official nickname along with it: Winston Furchill on paper, Winnie at the park. 🐾
