194 Popular Girl Dog Names for Your Furry Best Friend

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Rover, the world’s largest pet-sitter platform , produces an annual report detailing the most popular dog names of the year. While in the early days of the pandemic, COVID-inspired names like Rona and Fauci topped the list, a changing climate has them trending downward, replaced by more modern characters like Fezco and Rue. That’s right—similar to what we call our kids , dog names follow notable trends. And while it never hurts to go with the crowd, it’s also worth looking into more unique picks for your new pup. If you’re welcoming a four-legged female into the mix, then be sure to check out the list below. We’ve tracked down the best girl dog names around.

READ THIS NEXT: 165 Popular Boy Dog Names for Your Next Pet .

194 of the Most Popular Female Dog Names

Don’t worry, the perfect girl dog name is out there. Go through the list below to find the right pick for your furry new family member—and be sure to read until the end. We’ve provided a few extra insights into dogs along with some tips for naming them.

Cute Female Dog Names

Shutterstock / Natalia Fedosova

1. Bailey
2. Bella
3. Cali
4. Charlie
5. Daisy
6. Dixie
7. Harley
8. Hazel
9. Izzy
10. Kyna
11. Lady
12. Layla
13. Lexie
14. Lily
15. Lola
16. Lucy
17. Lulu
18. Luna
19. Maggie
20. Maya
21. Mirabel
22. Molly
23. Riley
24. Roxy
25. Sadie
26. Sasha
27. Stella
28. Zoe

Funny Girl Dog Names

Shutterstock / Master1305

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1. Baby
2. Bea Arfur
3. Bo
4. Bossy
5. Chew-barka
6. Chubby
7. Cinderella
8. Cleopatra
9. Fifi
10. Foxy
11. Kate Bush
12. Kitty
13. Madame
14. Mary Puppins
15. Mister
16. Mommy
17. Moose
18. Niblets
19. Pesada
20. Piglet
21. Princess
22. Puddin’
23. Pup Tart
24. Spicey
25. Suga
26. Sweetie
27. Vanderpup
28. Virginia Woof
29. Zippy

Food-Inspired Dog Names

Shutterstock / Alexey Androsov

1. Apricot
2. Basil
3. Blueberry
4. Brandy
5. Butterscotch
6. Champagne
7. Chia
8. Cinnamon
9. Clementine
10. Coco
11. Cookie
12. Cupcake
13. Daiquiri
14. Ginger
15. Godiva
16. Honey
17. Kahlua
18. Kewpie
19. Kimchi
20. Mango
21. Maple
22. Mimosa
23. Mochi
24. Olive
25. Peaches
26. Pepper
27. Poppy
28. Rosé
29. Sashimi
30. Sorbet
31. Taco Bella

Unique Female Dog Names (With Meaning)

Shutterstock / Javier Brosch

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1. Akira—bright, clear, or ideal.
2. Athena—Goddess of wisdom.
3. Brontë—thunder.
4. Cassini—small welling.
5. Fiona—fair.
6. Freya—Goddess of love.
7. Isadora—gift of Isis.
8. Jubilee—ram’s horn.
9. Kona—lady.
10. Lilibet—God is my oath.
11. Mia—darling.
12. Nala—water in the desert.
13. Nori—peaceful.
14. Nova—new.
15. Odessa—wrathful.
16. Pia—pious or reverent.
17. Prim—first or demure.
18. Rio—river.
19. Sakari—sweet.
20. Tala—wolf.
21. Thea—goddess.
22. Una—lamb.
23. Willow—willow tree.
24. Winnie—fair and pure.
25. Yuki—happiness.
26. Zuzu—sweet.

Hipster Names for Your Girl Dog

Shutterstock / Alina Kruk

1. Alanis
2. Barbie
3. Bessie
4. Betty
5. Blue
6. Buffy
7. Cha Cha
8. Charlie
9. Chica
10. Dahlia
11. Delilah
12. Dolly
13. Fancy
14. Fanny
15. Fran
16. Georgia
17. Gigi
18. Harper
19. Jackie O
20. Janis
21. Mary
22. Misha
23. Morticia
24. Pepsi
25. Phoebe
26. Quinn
27. Sable
28. Zara

Girl Dog Names Taken From Your Favorite Characters

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Shutterstock / ArtMediaWorx

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1. Arwen ( The Lord of the Rings )
2. Arya ( Game of Thrones )
3. Beth ( Yellowstone )
4. Daphne ( Look Who’s Talking Now )
5. Daria ( Daria )
6. Eleven ( Stranger Things )
7. Faye ( Euphoria )
8. Geralt ( The Witcher )
9. Ginny ( Harry Potter )
10. Helly ( Severance )
11. Hermione ( Harry Potter )
12. Isabella ( Encanto )
13. Katniss ( The Hunger Games )
14. Kayce ( Yellowstone )
15. Khaleesi ( Game of Thrones )
16. Laena ( House of the Dragon )
17. Lolita ( Lolita )
18. Lucia ( The White Lotus )
19. Maddy ( Euphoria )
20. Max ( Stranger Things )
21. Mirabel ( Encanto )
22. Nana ( Peter Pan )
23. Rhaenyra ( House of Dragon )
24. Rue ( Euphoria )
25. Scout ( To Kill a Mockingbird )
26. Shuri ( Black Panther )
27. Tanya ( The White Lotus )

Popular Girl Dog Names From Pop Culture

Shutterstock / WilleeCole Photography

1. Adele ( Adele Laurie Blue Adkins )
2. Bebe ( Bebe Rexha )
3. Betty ( Betty Davis )
4. Bramble ( Queen Elizabeth II’s corgi)
5. Cardi ( Cardi B )
6. Chanel ( Coco Chanel )
7. Demi ( Demi Lovato )
8. Donna ( Donna Summer )
9. Dua ( Dua Lipa )
10. Elizabeth (Queen Elizabeth II)
11. Gaga ( Lady Gaga )
12. Grande ( Ariana Grande )
13. Gucci ( Guccio Gucci )
14. Holly (Queen’s corgi)
15. Ivana ( Ivana Trump )
16. Jepsen ( Carly Rae Jepsen )
17. Julia ( Julia Roberts )
18. Laurel (Queen’s corgi)
19. Megan ( Megan Thee Stallion )
20. Olivia ( Olivia Newton-John )
21. Prada ( Mario Prada )
22. Rose (Queen’s corgi)
23. Sia ( Sia Kate Isobelle Furler )
24. Swift ( Taylor Swift )
25. Taylor (Taylor Swift)

Do Dogs Know Their Names?

While in the wild, dogs communicate largely through smells and vocalizations, their domesticated counterparts have learned to do so through commands.

As they settle into their new surroundings, dogs will eventually begin responding to their names. Whether that means trotting over to you when beckoned or tilting their head from across the room, it depends on the dog. Other signs that a new puppy recognizes the name her pet parents have decided on include:

• Wagging tail
• Perked ears
• Barking
• Staring
• Looking alert
• Tail up

Of course, responding to her name and knowing her name are two different things, and science has yet to make it clear where on that spectrum your new dog falls.

Dogs respond to hundreds of words, from “come,” “stop,” “no,” and, to be sure, their names. Some suspect that even more significant than the actual command is the tone it’s delivered in. So, if your dog responds playfully to your calls, it could just be because you said it in a playful tone.

It’s also important to note that your new pet is trained to respond in certain ways to specific commands. “Here” means come, “no” means stop, and “sit” means well, sit.

But their name? Well, that one isn’t usually tethered to a specific action. They just know that when you call them, they should respond. What that looks like probably depends on a few other factors.

How to Choose a Dog’s Name

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What you decide to name your dog largely depends on what you like and what you think sounds good. That said, there are a few more things to keep in mind. Below, you’ll find a few tips to help you choose the best name for your new pup.

Don’t Make It Too Complicated

Long names can be tempting. Think about it—they’re distinct, they’re bold , and you’ll rarely run into someone whose pet is named the same. But there is a downside, and it revolves around how much your dog can really process.

A long name runs the risk of failing to hold your dog’s attention. While short, sharp names demand immediate reactions, a longer pick can get lost in the mix. Stick to something short, easy to pronounce, and something that won’t attract eyes at the dog park.

Stay Away From Similar Sounds

Complexity isn’t the only thing you have to worry about when it comes to confusing your dog. You should probably also cross names that sound too similar to other everyday utterances off the list.

Unfortunately, that category covers more ground than you might think. While the name Bo sounds like a perfectly reasonable pick, it also sounds a lot like “no,” a phrase you’ll probably be saying a lot in the days following your new puppy’s arrival.

The same goes for names that have already been claimed within the household. So, if your daughter’s name is Hailey, maybe stay away from Bailey; if your wife’s name is Carly, then Charlie is likely a no-go. You get the idea.

Take Some Time to Get to Know Your Dog’s Personality

Just like their male counterparts, female dogs boast unpredictable, individualized personalities. While it’s understandable for a dog owner to decide on a name before picking up their new pet, it might pay off to wait until they get a better sense of the pup’s personality.

Of course, you don’t want to take too long. The name is important to the training process, which should probably start sooner rather than later—especially if she’s still a puppy. But don’t worry if you think you made a mistake, you can always change it . You’ll just have to spend some time helping her adjust.

Wrapping Up

165 Popular Boy Dog Names for Your New Furry Family Member

Shutterstock / Yuliya Evstratenko

READ THIS NEXT: 194 Popular Girl Dog Names for Your Furry New Best Friend .

What’s So Significant About a Dog’s Name?

Not only can your dog’s name communicate information about its personality, but it also operates as an important training tool.

Dogs usually hear their names prior to a command. The more familiar they become with their name, the faster they’ll pick up cues surrounding what’s coming next.

Though they may not know that they exist as “Fido” or “Max,” they certainly know how to respond when those names are called. And recent research shows that once they get a feel for things, they really hold on tight to that information.

A 2019 study published in Animal Cognition shows that dogs are able to differentiate their names from other sounds, even in a distracting environment, which is great news regarding their capabilities. The only downside to these findings is that they pretty much confirm if your dog seems to be ignoring you, he probably is.

165 Good Boy Dog Name Options

Don’t worry, the perfect boy dog name is out there. Check out the list below for some ideas for the new pup. We’ve incorporated the most recent trends into our list, so all options are up-to-date and in style.

Popular Male Dog Names

Shutterstock / Lopolo

1. Ace
2. Bailey
3. Bandit
4. Bear
5. Beau
6. Benji
7. Bentley
8. Blue
9. Bodhi
10. Buddy
11. Champ
12. Charlie
13. Cooper
14. Duke
15. Eli
16. Elias
17. Felix
18. Finn
19. Gunnar
20. Issac
21. Jack
22. Jake
23. Jasper
24. Jax
25. Koda
26. Leo
27. Lucky
28. Maverick
29. Max
30. Milo
31. Murphy
32. Oakley
33. Oliver
34. Ollie
35. Oscar
36. Remi
37. Rocky
38. Scout
39. Teddy
40. Tucker

Funny Boy Dog Names

Shutterstock / Master1305

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.

1. Chuck Norris
2. Elvis Pugsley
3. Grandma
4. Groucho Barks
5. Hot Wheels
6. Jenga
7. Kitty
8. Lego
9. Little Bow Wow
10. Mac Daddy
11. Mouse
12. Pee Wee
13. Pikachu
14. Pupzilla
15. Snoop Dog
16. Snots
17. Tic Tac
18. Tootie
19. Toto
20. White Claw
21. Zipper

Old Man Names For Your Pup

Shutterstock / Julie Vader

1. Archie
2. Chester
3. Clarence
4. Dexter
5. Frank
6. Gus
7. Hank
8. Henry
9. Louie
10. Norman
11. Otis
12. Rufus
13. Terry
14. Waldo
15. Walter
16. Wayne
17. Winston

Dog Names From Your Favorite TV Shows and Movies

Shutterstock / Gorlov Alexander

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1. Albie ( The White Lotus )
2. Atticus ( To Kill a Mockingbird )
3. Boo ( Monster’s Inc. )
4. Bruno ( Encanto )
5. Chance ( Homeward Bound )
6. Chewie ( Star Wars )
7. Draco ( Harry Potter )
8. Forrest ( Forrest Gump )
9. John ( Yellowstone )
10. Jules ( Pulp Fiction )
11. Lemon ( 30 Rock )
12. Marty ( Back to the Future )
13. Neo ( The Matrix )
14. Neville ( Harry Potter )
15. Obi ( Star Wars )
16. Rambo ( Rambo )
17. Remy ( Ratatouille )
18. Rip ( Yellowstone )
19. Shadow ( Homeward Bound )
20. Simba ( The Lion King )
21. Teeter ( Yellowstone )
22. Urkel ( Family Matters )
23. Vader ( Star Wars )
24. Vito ( The Godfather )
25. Yeller ( Old Yeller )
26. Yeti ( Abominable )
27. Yoshi ( Super Mario )

Dog Names That Honor Your Favorite Pop Culture Figures

Shutterstock / Masarik

1. Bieber ( Justin Bieber )
2. Einstein ( Albert Einstein )
3. Elvis ( Elvis Presley )
4. Freddie ( Freddie Mercury )
5. Gio ( Giovanni Reyna )
6. Gucci ( Guccio Gucci )
7. Hendrix ( Jimi Hendrix )
8. Klay ( Kaelin Clay )
9. Kobe ( Kobe Bryant )
10. Lamb ( CeeDee Lamb )
11. Marx ( Karl Marx )
12. Robin ( Robin Williams )
13. Sandler ( Adam Sandler )
14. Shakes ( William Shakespeare )
15. Shohei ( Shohei Ohtani )
16. Sigmund ( Sigmund Freud )
17. Steph ( Steph Curry )
18. Weston ( Weston McKennie )

Unique Male Dog Names To Make Them Look Tough

Shutterstock / Viorel Sima

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1. Apollo
2. Axel
3. Blaze
4. Bear
5. Boomer
6. Boone
7. Bubba
8. Diesel
9. Duke
10. Harley
11. Loki
12. Moose
13. Odin
14. Ranger
15. Rex
16. Sarge
17. Sawyer
18. Tank
19. Thor
20. Titan
21. Yukon
22. Zander
23. Zeal
24. Zeus

Food-Inspired Boy Dog Names

Shutterstock / Katrina Brown

1. Biscuit
2. Chip
3. Cookie
4. Crunch Wrap
5. Macaroni
6. McGriddle
7. Meatloaf
8. Mochi
9. Nacho
10. Nugget
11. Oyster
12. Peanut
13. Pepper
14. Queso
15. Ravioli
16. Spritz
17. Tater Tot
18. Won Ton

Tips for Naming Your Dog

Finding the perfect name for your male puppy isn’t easy. While the decision largely revolves around what you like and what your dog responds to, there are a few other factors to keep in mind.

Keep It Short and Snappy

Most experts suggest limiting dog names to one or two syllables, something easy enough for the dog to process. Try to think of names that contain hard consonants, too. These sounds are easier for the dog to distinguish from surrounding noises.

Keep It Practical

While there’s no harm in getting creative with your dog’s name, keep this in mind: A big part of socializing your dog means spending time together outside of the house.

With that, it’s probably best to avoid any name that might attract eyes at the dog park. Maybe stay away from the silly stuff. Definitely avoid inappropriate names, and cross the hard-to-pronounce options off the list as well.

Really Think About What Human Names You Might Want to Use

It’s tempting to give your new pet a human name, but it’s important to know which ones to rule out. It’s always nice to provide people you love with a namesake, but if there’s any possibility of it stirring up emotions, the gesture just isn’t worth it.

You should also think about what names are already floating around your household. Try to avoid naming the new pup anything that sounds too similar to someone else’s. If you’ve got a Kerry living at home, Terry might not be a great choice. You get the idea.

Don’t Let It Resemble Other Common Commands

It’s not just other names that can stir up some confusion, either. Anything that sounds too close to a common command should also be avoided. While “Beau” sounds like a perfectly reasonable pick, it might be a little too close to “No” to make it worth it.

Get to Know The Dog’s Personality

Of course, it’s impossible to know what your dog is like before meeting them. And most new pet parents will have already picked out their pup’s name before bringing them home. But, if you can, it might be worth holding out, at least until you can get a better sense of what he’s like. Try narrowing down your list to your top two or three picks. After a few days, you’ll be able to know which one is the right fit.

Don’t Stress About It Too Much

To be clear, it’s important to pick out a name and stick to it— especially if you’ve already invested in all those embroidered accessories. Your dog’s name will also get rolled up into the training process, an undertaking that’s definitely better to begin sooner rather than later.

Still, sometimes situations occur where you simply need to make a change (it’s not ideal, but it does happen). In these instances, you just need to put in the work and maintain the patience needed to get them used to whatever comes next.

Wrapping Up