Charlotte Foster
Finding a suitable dog name is an important task. After all, the new family member will be your faithful companion for many years to come. But, which names suit one – my dog? Should it be something special? Or do you prefer something familiar? With the following tips and examples, you have an initial decision-making aid at hand.
Why is a dog’s name so important?
Like humans, your dog needs a name so that when you call it, it knows you mean it. For example, if he is walking in a meadow with several other dogs, you will attract his attention if you speak to him directly. If he then looks at you, adds the respective command, for example: “Finn, here!” This way you make sure that your four-legged friend refers to the call and reacts accordingly.
Dog names are also helpful in training. If your four-legged friend associates something positive with this word from the start, such as your attention, a game, or going for a walk, he is automatically awake and receptive when he hears his name. For him, it is the signal: “Attention! Something is about to happen!”
What do the dog names mean at the breeder?
If you bought your puppy from a breeder, it already has a name. This breeder’s name is made up of the first name and the respective kennel name. The kennel name is basically the surname of the dog.
When assigning the first name, the first letter usually indicates to which litter the breeder belongs a puppy. The first litter will be named with the letter ‘A’, the second will be named with ‘B’, and so on.
Maybe you like the chosen first name of the breeder so much that you can keep it straight away. If not, you’ll need to come up with your own dog name.
How do I recognize a good dog name?
The choice of name is important because your dog will carry it in good health for many years. The best way to narrow down the wide range of possibilities is to first select variants that your four-legged friend can easily get along with.
This includes names that
- are at most one or two syllables,
- contain the vowels “a” and “o”,
- end in an “i” or “y”
- sound pleasantly soft
- not resemble a command to avoid confusing your dog.
Dogs orientate themselves by the sound of the words and not by the meaning. Therefore, look for suggestions that are easy to pronounce. This will help your puppy learn its name quickly.
How do I find a suitable dog name?
Once you have sorted all dog names according to these criteria, it is now a matter of choosing your personal favorites. There are no limits to your imagination. You can find inspiration for choosing a name at:
- Your favorite films and series
- Portals with baby names
- well-known personalities
- Fairy tales and legends
Other possibilities offer sonorous place names such as Paris, Bronx, or Reno. Plant names (lily, flora, iris…) can also be very original.
It is also important that the name is appropriate to the type and size of your dog. Dog names for small dogs such as Piccolo, Fips, or Bambino quickly cause ridicule when worn by an adult St. Bernard or a Great Dane. The same applies to a small dog – here a name like Hector, Zeus, or Wotan is out of place.
Why are meaningful dog names so popular?
If you are looking for special names for dogs, it is exciting to read through the meaning of given names. In this way, the character or special features of your housemate can be aptly described. Such dog names are often unusual and attractive at the same time.
Some examples:
- Ramon = “the protector”; for a guard dog
- Fiona = “the white”; for a white female
- Pan = “shepherd”; for herding dogs such as Collies or Australian Shepherds
Which dog names are suitable for female dogs?
If your new addition to the family is a female dog, you might find something suitable among these trendy suggestions:
- Kira
- Amy
- Bella
- Luna
- Emma
- Lucy
- Ronja
- Paula
- Well
- Lady
What Dog Names Are Ideal For Male Dogs?
When it comes to “boy” dog names, these variations are popular:
- Sam
- Buddy
- Jack
- Baloo
- Chico
- Ben
- Lucky
- Spike
- Bobby
- Aiko
Take your time searching and make a list of your top 10 dog names. If you can’t decide, wait until you see your four-legged friend live for the first time. Then it is usually quite clear which dog name fits and which does not.