Dog names can be hard to pick. Every dog deserves a great name, and every pet parent tries to pick the best name for their boy dog. The choice of dog names is bewildering, but we have some good ways to narrow that choice down. We’ll help you collect boy dog names that mean something special to you, and if you want a truly original dog name, we’ll show you how to find that too.
The collections of dog names below are designed for pet parents with boy dogs on board. From food to films, sporting stars to holiday destinations we’ll show you how to use the things you love to inspire you. The perfect boy dog name could be here on this page, or resting in your imagination! Let’s go find it!
Dog Names – Collections And Inspiration
- Brainstorming your own creative ideas
- Classic male dog names
- Names that show strength
- Dog names with a boating theme
- Dog names with a musical twist
- Dog names big and small!
- Unique topics and inspiration
- A to Z of names for male puppies
How To Brainstorm Dog Names
Lists of dog names for males are a great way to get inspiration, and we have a big A-Z for you below, but when you are gathering your initial pool of ideas, I think you’ll find it helpful to use a more random brainstorming technique. With lists, the items in the middle tend to get passed over. Especially if the list is a long one. Brainstorming means finding a theme and jotting down ideas around that theme. And it’s a technique that’s thought to work because it’s how our brains work too, with ideas branching off a central theme. Here’s an example of brainstorming dog boy names using the theme ‘vehicles’
Cars, trucks, and motorcycles often have interesting masculine names. I bet you can think of lots more vehicle names that would also make cool male dog names. Notice how this kind of mind map view give all the names an equal chance of getting your attention. You can then put your favorites onto you final shortlist. Here’s an example of some names created around the theme of strength and power. You could even use the first letter of your dog’s breed as inspiration!
Different Methods For Choosing Dog Names
For more original boy dog names, the first step is to get creative and capture a ‘pool’ of ideas. For best results spread those ideas out over a large sheet of paper, or a whiteboard, or you could pin notes onto a corkboard.
If you use a whiteboard, remember to take a photo of the contents with your smartphone, just in case someone comes along and wipes out all your hard work! Once you have your paper or noticeboard ready and a pen to hand, it’s time to start finding inspiration for boy dog names unique to you and your family.
TOP TIP: You’ll be more creative if you start with a clear surface – remove all your old notes first!
If you have several theme boards, get each family member pick their two favorite names from each board, and write them down on a scrap of paper. Picking your final dogs name boy or girl, is really hard! So with kids you’ll need to be both patient and persistent (setting a time limit can help here). When everyone has made their selection, the pieces of paper can all be folded and placed in a jar. Pick ten out (take turns) and pin those ten up in the kitchen for a few days before making your final choice
Popular Names For Male Dogs
Here are some of the top boy dog names that are enduringly popular… You’ll notice that two syllable names are often the most popular boy dog names, as they are easy for your dog to understand. As well as simple to say!
- Max
- Bear
- Duke
- Cooper
- Milo
- Finn
- Murphy
- Buddy
- Dexter
- Harley
- Buster
- Bailey
- Bentley
- Ollie
- Oscar
- Simba
- Ben
- Teddy
- Casey
- Jack
- Micky
- George
- Billy
- Jed
- Cody
- Taylor
- Toby
- Vinnie
- Wilson
- Samson
- Conor
Strong Male Dog Names
Names that emphasize strength are popular with large dog breeds. But they can be fun as ironic names for smaller, slimmer built dogs too. Or for owners that never miss leg day!
- Arnold
- Brute
- Blaze
- Rocket
- Clark (Superman)
- Gaston
- Wolf
- Hagrid
- Herc (Hercules)
- Dozer
- Odin
- Hulk
- Ajax
- Jordon
- Mufasa
- Shaq
- Stallone
- Tank
- Tarzan
- T-Rex
- Wolverine
Old Man Names For Dogs
It can be fun to take a trip back in time to find names for a new generation of puppies. Human names for dogs tend to be taken from bygone days. Names go in fashions that change every 50 to 100 years, and going back in time can get you some unusual ideas. First world war names like George and Thomas are now popular again, but names from WW2 are near enough and far enough, in time to be unusual. You can use older relatives for inspiration, or think of older characters in books or on TV – think ‘Bert and Ernie’ from Sesame Street.
- Herbert
- Albert
- Ronald
- Roger
- Leonard
- Ernest
- John
- Frederick
- Kenneth
- Robert
Dominant Dog Names
Does your pup rule the roost? Although Alpha theory is well and truly done with these days, giving your manly dog a masculine name undeniably still has a certain appeal.
- Captain
- Boss
- Commander
- Admiral
- Chief
- President
- Head
- Director
- Principal
- Govenor
Finding Uncommon Boy Dog Names
Stay in creative mode for a while yet. So you’ll probably create several mindmaps, around several different themes A great place to store these name collections is on your phone. Just take a picture of each one for safekeeping. You’ll notice some superhero themes creeping into that list above! Sometimes one theme leads to another so don’t be afraid to grab another sheet of paper or take a photo of your whiteboard, rub it out, and start over with the new theme.
TOP TIP: Don’t try to make a decision straight away, assemble a collection of 30-50 rare dog names that you like the sound of. Let the ideas roll in! This stage is all about creativity, not about finding the perfect name. Here are some examples of themes you could use to find different dog names for boy dogs.
- Boating
- Music
- Literature
- Food
- Basketball
- Nature
- Famous Painters
Boating Themes
If fishing or boating is your thing, then one of these nautical names might appeal. Some are not uncommon, and some are very usual. But they all have a nice ‘ring’ to them.
- Skipper
- Sailor
- Captain
- Bosun
- Anchor
- Drift
- Minnow
- Ledger
- Jig
- Fender
- Tiller
Magnificently Musical Ideas
Whether you are into heavy metal, rap, or classical music, there is bound to be a theme that’s personal to you. You can can use that theme to brainstorm ideas for male dog names. You don’t need to be contrained by the number of musicians you can think of, you can use musical terms, and the instruments they play too! Here are some ideas:
- Snoop
- Clapton
- Lennon
- Axl
- Bowie
- Hendrix
- Bonno
Or you could go back a bit further in time with these!
- Presley
- Sinatra
- Gershwin
- Bing
- Armstrong
- Basie
- Django
You could expand on these themes or jot down some more theme ideas of your own. The more collections you make, the more likely you are to find the perfect name for your puppy. Here are some more traditional name collections now, for you to browse. Keep a pen handy to jot down any that especially appeal to you. We’ll start with male names for big dogs.
Creating Unique Dog Names
Attributes of your dog can be great themes. Their size and color for example. Here are some creative male dog names based on size themes. You don’t have to give a big dog a big dogs name of course, it can be humorous to do a reverse and call your Chihuahua ‘Tank’.
Names For Big Dogs
- Andre (the Giant)
- Aragog (Harry Potter series)
- Beethoven
- Big Red
- Brawny
- Eifel
- Hogan
- Johnny (Bravo)
- Mighty Joe
- Monty (short for ‘Montezuma’)
- Sequoia (‘Coy’ for short)
- Shrek
- Sully
- Vulcan
- Zeus
You or your family members may find it helpful to have your boy dog names with meanings noted alongside them. So don’t forget to do this if you find a name that you think might have a special meaning for you.
Ideas For Small Dogs
On the opposite end of the spectrum, if your small-breed male puppy is destined to remain cutely compact, then cute boy dog names might reflect his uber-adorable small size. These short names are popular with toy breeds, but again big breeds with tiny names are pretty adorable too. We like the following cute male dog names perfect for Yorkies, Chihuahuas, Shih Tzu and other tiny dogs, or dogs that are tiny at heart.
- Cheerio
- Chipper
- Jerry (Tom and Jerry)
- Jiminy
- Cricket
- Little Bear
- Pee Wee
- Simon
- Peanut
- Pebble
- Squirt
- Button
- Stitch
- Pickle
- Stuart (Little)
- Tot
- Theodore (‘Theo’ for short)
- Thimble
- Tiny Tim
- Tweety
Fancy Dog Names
What could be fancier than naming your little boy after someone royal? These king names for dogs will have you bowing down to your pooch before you can say Henry the VIII! They also make nice classically English names for dogs too.
- Egbert
- Alfred
- Edward
- Edmund
- Edgar
- Harold
- William
- Stephen
- Richard
- John
- James
- Charles
- Oliver
- George
Funny boy dog names
If humor is your thing, then choosing a funny name for your pooch could be the perfect option! For example, you could give them a size swap name like we looked at earlier. Or name your pooch after an especially funny fictional character or TV show! Here are some funny male dog names that are sure to raise a few giggles:
(paid link)
- Acorn
- Barky McBarkstein
- Bugs (Bunny)
- Captain Underpants (‘Captain’ for short)
- Cat-Dog
- Daffy (Duck)
- Dwight
- Ernie
- Godzilla
- Herman
- Jaws
- Peanut
- Sheldon (Cooper)
- Stewie
- Woody (Toy Story)
Handsome dog names male dogs will love
Puppy names, boy are there a lot of them! Is your little man devilishly handsome and charming? Is he the star of the show wherever he goes? If so, then naming him after his good looks could be fun! After all, such a feast for the eyes shouldn’t go unnoticed! You might name your handsome pooch after a famously good-looking fictional character, or perhaps a dreamy male celebrity. Here are some puppy names male dogs will suit royally! They will find perfectly complement your little prince:
- Beau
- Bond (James Bond)
- Clint (Eastwood)
- Dapper Dan (‘Dan’ for short)
- Edward (Cullen, Twilight trilogy)
- Eric (prince, The Little Mermaid)
- Fabio
- Finnick (Odair – The Hunger Games trilogy)
- Han (Solo, Star Wars)
- Mr. Darcy
- Prince Charming
- Rico Sauvé (‘Ricky’ for short)
- Smith
- Viggo (Mortensen)
- Zooko
Cute boy dog names
Cute boy puppy names don’t have to be sickeningly sweet or overly girly to get their point across. In fact, cute dog names for boys can simply be uber cute human names for two-legged boys! After all, who doesn’t love a crazy adorable puppy with an equally adorable name?
- Bubs
- Cubby
- Dobby
- Elliott
- Finley
- Happy
- Minion
- Piglet
- Pipsqueak
- Pokey
- Pooh Bear
- Puffball
- Puppers
- Screech
- Todd
Teddy Bear dog names
Is your new pupster a bit of a teddy? Dogs like Pomeranians or certain Poodle mixes are often classified as teddy bear dogs due to their fluffball status. These good boy names for plushy style dogs are pup perfection.
- Fluffball
- Fluffers
- Pom Pom
- Tufty
- Fleecy
- Plushy
- Squishy
- Softy
- Deep Pile
- Shaggy
Cool dog names
Your puppy will be the coolest dog at the park if you give him a handle that reflects a cool person, or an awesome thing! Cool dog names male pups will really suit include:
- Beckham
- Damon
- Doc
- Garth
- Harley
- Hawkeye
- Tonto
- Lucias
- Luigi
- Malfoy
- Mario
- Parker
- Jeeves
- Rip
- Salvatore (‘Sal’ for short)
- Shades
- Stefan
- Wyatt
A to Z Male Dog Names
Good male dog names are easy to pronounce, and don’t sound like any commands you might want them to learn later. Traditional human names are a nice way to find something that flows easily off the tongue. And so are classic names for male dogs, like Hooch, Rex, or Buddy, choices that have been popular for dogs for years. Scroll down to get your ultimate A – Z, or click on the links below to jump straight to your favorite letters. We’ve tried to include a range of names in each group, with something for everyone!
A
- Acorn
- Adam
- Ace
- Ajax
- Alex
- Alfie
- Alpha
- Andre
- Aragog
- Archie
- Arnie
B
- Bailey
- Barky
- Basil
- Beau
- Beethoven
- Ben
- Bertie
- Billy
- Bruno
- Brutus
- Bubs
- Bugs
C
- Captain
- Casey
- Casper
- Chalk
- Chance
- Chase
- Chaz
- Chester
- Chip
- Clark
- Clint
- Cody
- Cooper
D
- Dale
- Dandy
- Danny
- Dargo
- Dash
- Dave
- Deke
- Derek
- Dexter
- Dill
- Drogo
- Duke
- Dylan
E
- Earl
- Echo
- Eddie
- Elon
- Elvis
- Enzo
- Eric
- Ernie
- Errol
- Euan
- Evan
F
- Fabian
- Fabrice
- Falcon
- Falstaff
- Fang
- Fenda
- Filch
- Finn
- Flynn
- Frank
- Freddie
- Frodo
G
- Gabe
- Galaxy
- Garry
- Gerry
- Ghost
- Gibson
- Gill
- Glenn
- Gonzo
- Grit
- Gunner
- Gunter
H
- Hamish
- Han
- Harley
- Harry
- Hashtag
- Haze
- Hector
- Henry
- Hero
- Hill
- Homer
- Hooch
I
- Ice
- Icon
- Iggy
- Imp
- Inca
- Indie
- Indigo
- Inky
- Itchy
- Ivan
- Ivor
J
- Jabba
- Jago
- Jason
- Jasper
- Jazz
- Jerry
- Jethro
- Jigsaw
- Jingles
- Jinx
- Johnny
K
- Karl
- Kenny
- Kent
- Kermit
- King
- Kipling
- Kit
- Knight
- Knotts
- Knox
- Knuckles
- Kurt
L
- Laurie
- Lancelot
- Len
- Lennon
- Leo
- Lincoln
- Linus
- Louie
- Lucas
- Lucky
- Luke
M
- Marlon
- Mars
- Matt
- Maverick
- Max
- Meatloaf
- Micah
- Micky
- Mike
- Mischief
- Morris
- Muppet
N
- Nando
- Nano
- Napoleon
- Nacho
- Nash
- Nathan
- Nautilus
- Nelson
- Nemo
- Nick
- Niles
- North
O
- Oakley
- Oats
- Obi
- Odin
- Oliver
- Omar
- Onyx
- Orville
- Orwell
- Oscar
- Otter
- Owen
P
- Pacino
- Paddy
- Parker
- Pavlov
- Peanut
- Penn
- Percy
- Pickle
- Pinch
- Pluto
- Poacher
- Presley
Q
- Quarz
- Quasimodo
- Quatro
- Quibble
- Quill
- Quin
- Quincy
- Quip
- Quixie
- Quiz
R
- Race
- Rags
- Raisin
- Rambo
- Raymond
- Rebel
- Rex
- Rico
- Robby
- Robin
- Rocco
- Rocky
- Ronnie
S
- Sal
- Sam
- Scottie
- Scout
- Scrabble
- Sergeant
- Sherlock
- Socrates
- Soldier
- Snoopy
- Spinner
- Stan
- Steve
T
- Tacco
- Tan
- Tarzan
- Teddy
- Tenyson
- Theo
- Thor
- Tiller
- Tracker
- Trojan
- Troy
- Trumpet
U
- Uber
- Ukele
- Ulrich
- Ultrasonic
- Ulysses
- Unicorn
- Usk
- Ustinov
- Utah
- Utopia
V
- Vagabond
- Valentine
- Vandal
- Vanish
- Velvet
- Victor
- Vince
- Vinnie
- Virgil
- Vodka
- Vulcan
W
- Wag
- Wally
- Warrior
- Watson
- Webley
- Wick
- Wilbur
- Wilf
- William
- Wilson
- Winston
X
- Xanadu
- Xander
- Xango
- Xavier
- Xax
- Xerxes
- Xox
Y
- Yani
- Yarrow
- Yeats
- Yeller
- Yenko
- Yeti
- Yogi
- Yogurt
Z
- Zorro
- Zack
- Zappo
- Zeiss
- Ziggy
- Zippy
- Zork
- Zorro
- Zulu
