Captivating and Creative Names for Male Dogs

The best boy dog names have that feel good factor. But it can be challenging to come up with original ideas for your new puppy. And to get your family members to agree!  

Why not get everyone in  your household to write their favorite names down on a piece of paper, and stick it to your refrigerator.

Each day, you can take it in turns to strike out the least popular puppy name. You will quickly narrow your shortlist down to a boy dog name you all adore!

Good guy dog names don’t have to be traditionally masculine. We’ll show you how to find inspiration for awesome and unique male dog names in some unlikely places. 

There’s something in our themed name lists for everyone. Got your pen and paper ready? Let’s choose the perfect male puppy name for your new friend.

yellow labrador boy

Top Male Dog Names

These are the boy animal names that are trending right now and include some great American boy names too!

  • Max (greatest)
  • Bear
  • Toby (God is good)
  • Lucky
  • Cooper (barrel maker)
  • Teddy
  • Loki (God of mischief)
  • Rocky
  • Finn (fair)
  • Wagner (wagon driver)
  • Bruno (brown)
  • Buddy (friend)
  • Duke (leader)
  • Zeus (God of sky)
  • Jasper (treasurer)
  • Ziggy
  • Milo (soldier)
  • Ollie
  • Bailey (steward)
  • Jack (god is gracious)
  • Oscar (champion warrior)
  • Gizmo
  • Thor (god of thunder)
  • Ozzy
  • Harley
  • Winston (joyful stone)
  • Ace (leader)
  • Murphy (warrior of the sea)
  • Blu
  • Blue
  • Arlo (fortified hill)
  • Brody (protector)
  • Leo (lion)
  • Henry (house ruler)
  • Tank
  • Griffin (mythical beast)
  • Buster (tough guy)
  • Comet
  • Bruiser
  • Bruce (woods)
  • Cash
  • Baxter (baker)
  • Cosmo
  • Diesel
  • Banjo
  • Gunner
  • Jax

The right dog name for your gorgeous boy puppy is out there. Names are so much more than a way to get your boy dog to come when you call. Dog names establish identities, and help your dog to find a special place in your family.

Staying on Trend

Do you like to capture the zeitgeist , or would you prefer your puppy name to have stood the test of time? These dog names for boys have topped male pet names lists for years:

  • Max
  • Charlie
  • Cooper
  • Jack
  • Rocky
  • Bear
  • Duke
  • Toby
  • Tucker
  • Jake
  • Oliver
  • Teddy
  • Harley
  • Riley
  • Cody
  • Lucky

Boy’s Names for Dogs

Your perfect dog name could come from a classic boys’ names . 

There’s a trend towards giving our dogs human names.  It’s a logical progression from thinking of your pet as part of your family. 

You are saying that in your heart, your dog has the same status as other people. So here are more names for boy dogs that are human names too: 

  • Thomas (twin)
  • Caleb (bold, brave)
  • Lucas (bringer of light)
  • Jackson (son of Jack)
  • Wyatt (brave warrior)
  • Gabriel (God is my strength)
  • Carter
  • Asher (happy)
  • Dylan (son of the sea)
  • Cliff
  • Ron (mountain of strength)
  • Monty

Uncommon Boy Names for Male Dogs

Your hobbies and your interests can provide a flash of inspiration, or check this off-the-wall list to find creative boy dog names for your new puppy.

  • Turner (woodworker)
  • Cedric (kindly)
  • Seamus (supplanter)
  • Gilbert (bright promise)
  • Harris (son of Harry)
  • Lyle (the island)
  • Reuben (behold a son)
  • Heath
  • Alistair (defender of the people)
  • Douglas (black river)

We had some nice human male dog names in our Dog Name Survey, too. Here were some of our favorites:

  • Keanu (cool breeze)
  • Benedict (blessed)
  • Jonah (dove)
  • Clive (slope)
  • Victor (winner)

No One Else Like Your Dog

These one of a kind dog names won’t be found anywhere else on your street!

  • Zyron
  • Hurricane
  • Odin
  • Corvus
  • Inchyra
  • Stirling
  • Lulworth
  • Hobbs
  • Auster
  • Fisher
  • Moss
  • Ash

Place Names for Male Dogs

One way to find cute boy puppy names is to pick a theme you like and see where it leads you. I’ve come up with this list by thinking of American places and landmarks:

  • Smoky
  • Rio
  • Elias
  • Sanford
  • Huron
  • Tahoe
  • Kennedy
  • Rockefeller
  • Bryce
  • Cimarron (This could be reckless, since cimarrón is Spanish for “wild” or “untamed”!)
  • Cartwright
  • Zoar (Cartwright and Zoar are both small settlements in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada)

Cute Boy Dog Names

Will your dog be the baby of the family even when he’s fully grown? Here are some cute boy dog names for your eternally adorable puppy.

  • Angel
  • Beau
  • Prince
  • Babe
  • Jesse
  • Bodhi
  • Blue
  • Zebedee
  • Neo (Neo means both “new” in Greek and “gift” in Tswana – how perfect?)
  • Fuzz
  • Cupid

Cool Dog Names Male Dogs Will Love

Is your dog going to be a legend in his own time? Obviously what’s cool is a matter of taste and perception, and I’m not saying that I’m an authority on what definitely is cool. But I might be.

  • Ace
  • Maverick
  • Ryker
  • Bix
  • Frank
  • Cash
  • Toro
  • Bogart
  • Dylan
  • Jet
  • Orion
  • Loki

There were some seriously ice cold names in our Dog Name Survey, as well. Try these on for size:

  • Astro
  • Yeti
  • Nitro
  • Bohdi
  • Cowboy
  • Knight

Cute Dog Names for Boys

There seems to be a trend at the moment for naming animals after other animals. Have you read the A Cat Called Mouse story books, and Rhino the hamster in the Disney film Bolt? Whether you rate it or hate it, here are some more suggestions that might work for your new male dog:

  • Wolf
  • Tiger
  • Raven
  • Bear
  • Lynx
  • Puma
  • Fox
  • Sparrow
  • Buffalo (or just Buff!)
  • Gopher

Who’s A Good Boy!

Do you have a hunch that your dog will be a loyal, reliable and upstanding member of the canine community? Honor his noble side with one of these good male pet names:

  • Noah
  • Lincoln
  • Theodore
  • Sam
  • Joe
  • Captain
  • Norman
  • Benjamin
  • Seth
  • George
  • Pops

Unusual Male Dog Names

An unusual name will help your pup stand out in the park, and be a great ice-breaker when you’re doing that all-important socializing:

  • Beckett
  • Bayer
  • Darwin
  • Huxley
  • Logan
  • Falstaff
  • Womble
  • Sunny
  • Tanner

Here are some great male dog names that only came up once in our names survey.

  • Farmer
  • Mojo
  • Bullseye
  • Cheeto
  • Bungee
  • Biggie
  • Rocket

Size Matters

Was your pup the biggest in the litter? Or are you renaming a rescue dog who’s already head and shoulders above his friends? These names all call great size to mind:

  • Titus
  • Groot (as well as a Marvel hero, groot is the Dutch word for “large” although the Dutch pronunciation is tricky! )
  • Hercules
  • Jupiter
  • Montaro (Japanese name meaning “big boy”)
  • Orson (Latin name meaning “bear”)
  • Odin
  • Berg (berg means “mountain” in several Germanic languages)
  • Tan
  • Redwood
  • Everest
  • Elbrus (Mount Elbrus is the tallest mountain in Russia and Europe)

That’s just a taster of course! We have three hundred and fifty more big dog name ideas just waiting for you!

Your Little Puppy

Is your puppy more mini than max? 

These boy dog names celebrate the smaller end of the scale. After all, the best things come in little parcels. 

  • Pebble
  • Bean
  • Peagreen (from The Borrowers)
  • Frodo (from The Lord of the Rings)
  • Atom
  • Kerwin (Gaelic name meaning ‘little black one’)
  • Beetle
  • Nugget
  • Acorn

Inspired by Greatness

Some dogs are born great, and others have greatness thrust upon them. Recognize their nobility with one of these strong male dog names:

Male Dog Names
  • William (I can hardly paraphrase his words without including Shakespeare’s name!)
  • Armstrong
  • Endeavor
  • Sirius
  • Nelson
  • Majesty
  • Augustus
  • Maximus
  • Hero
  • Arkin
  • Zeus

Dog Names From Nature

  • Storm
  • Willow
  • Tarragon
  • Rocky
  • River
  • Buck
  • Pebble
  • Ranger
  • Bramble
  • Bracken
  • Star

Naming Your Dog After A Celebrity?

Some of our favorite famous dogs and male dog characters include:

The Labrador Handbook by Pippa Mattinson(paid link)
  • Marley (From Marley and Me, Marley was a yellow Labrador Retriever)
  • Brian (From Family Guy, Brian Griffin is a white Labrador Retriever)
  • Vincent (the Labrador Retriever in the TV series Lost)
  • Pal (Did you know that Lassie was almost invariably played by male dogs, because they were a better scale next to children? Pal was the first)
  • Ghost
  • Grey Wind
  • Shaggydog (Ghost, Grey Wind and Shaggydog are direwolves in Game of Thrones)
  • Zuma (A chocolate Labrador, and grossly underused member of kids’ favorite, PAW Patrol)
  • Bolt (Of the eponymous Disney film)

Our Dog Name Survey through up some other famous names, too. Although these weren’t originally used on dogs….

  • Chewbacca
  • Yoda
  • Wicket
  • Bagheera
  • Baloo
  • Starsky

Alphabetical Boy Dog Names

A quick scan of the alphabet can help you to find the name of your dreams. Retro male names and popular modern names for boys both have their benefits. You want to choose one that is short and easy to say. Remember, good names don’t sound like your dog’s commands.

A.

  • Alfie (wise)
  • Archie (brave)
  • Albie (noble)
  • Arthur (bear)
  • Atlas (enduring)
  • Austin (majestic)
  • Alyus (noble)
  • Allan (handsome)
  • Axel (father of peace)
  • Anton (priceless)
  • Anders (manly)
  • Adam (earth)

B.

  • Bernie (strong)
  • Boris (battle)
  • Brad (broad)
  • Barney (defender)
  • Brandon (prince)
  • Benny (blessed)
  • Bryn (hill)
  • Bobby (bright)
  • Byron (barn)
  • Bentley (meadow)

C.

  • Charlie (free man)
  • Chester (camp of soldiers)
  • Casper (treasurer)
  • Clyde (friedly)
  • Callum (dove)
  • Chad (protector)
  • Carlo (free man)
  • Colt (young horse)
  • Clayton (settler on clay soil)
  • Claude (lame)

D.

  • Derek(gifted ruler)
  • Dave (beloved)
  • Danny (god is my judge)
  • Donny (mighty)
  • Dexter (right handed)
  • Declan (man of prayer)
  • Damian (subdue)
  • Dom (lord)
  • Drake (dragon)
  • Dustin (Thor’s stone)
  • Dante (enduring)

E.

  • Ezra (helper)
  • Ellias (lord is my god)
  • Elliot (lord is my god)
  • Every (all)
  • Emmett (universal)
  • Eamon (wealthy protector)
  • Euan (born of the yew)
  • Evan (god is good)
  • Ethan (strong)
  • Eric (ruler)
  • Elon (oak tree)
  • Edgar (spear)

F.

  • Freddy (ruler)
  • Faron (handsome servant)
  • Flint (hard stone)
  • Finn (fair)
  • Flynn (red haired)
  • Forde (river crossing)
  • Fanon (scarf)
  • Forrest (of the woods)
  • Finnick (marshland farm)
  • Farley (fern clearing)
  • Frankie (free)

G.

  • Garrick (kingly spear)
  • Greg (vigilant)
  • Gil (joyful)
  • Griff (prince)
  • Garret (strong spear)
  • Gabe (hero of god)
  • Greyson (son of steward)
  • George (farmer)
  • Gordon (great hill)
  • Gildroy (son of a red-head)
  • Gerald (spear ruler)
  • Guy (guide)

H.

  • Harry (home ruler)
  • Henry (home ruler)
  • Hank (home ruler)
  • Hovis (strength of man)
  • Hamish (supplanter)
  • Higgins (viking)
  • Howie (noble watchman)
  • Horace (timekeeper)
  • Hugh (soul)
  • Hudson (son of Hudd)
  • Herb (army)

I.

  • Izak (laughter)
  • Idris (lord)
  • Idriz (to learn)
  • Ian (god is gracious)
  • Io (princess)
  • Ivan (god is gracious)
  • Irwin (boar friend)
  • Isco (pioneer)

J.

  • Jules (youthful)
  • Jerry (spear)
  • Jordon (descend)
  • Jed (beloved of god)
  • Junior (younger)
  • Jake (supplanter)
  • Jeb (beloved friend)
  • Jimmy (supplanter)
  • Jeff (pledge)
  • Jarod (descent)
  • Justin (righteous)

K.

  • Kerry (dark)
  • Kamil (perfect)
  • Kaden (battle)
  • Kevin (handsome)
  • Keith (woodland)
  • Kane (warrior)
  • Kit (pure)
  • Kyle (narrow)
  • Karl (free man)
  • Kory (hollow)

L.

  • Leroy (king)
  • Lemmie (belonging to god)
  • Lenon (lover)
  • Lawrence (laurel)
  • Larry (crowned with laurel)
  • Lee (pasture)
  • Les (holly garden)
  • Levi (joined)
  • Lincoln (lake or pool)
  • Lenny (brave as lion)
  • Lex (defender of men)

M.

  • Manny (god is with us)
  • Mickey (like god)
  • Morris (of the marsh)
  • Milton (town with a mill)
  • Matt (gift of god)
  • Mateo (gift of god)
  • Marshal (steward)
  • Marcus (warlike)
  • Miles (soldier)
  • Mica (who is like god)
  • Maddox (fortunate)

N.

  • Norris (northerner)
  • Norm (northerner)
  • Ned (wealthy guardian)
  • Nicky (victory)
  • Niels (victory)
  • Nate (gift of god)
  • Norbet (bright north)
  • Noah (rest)
  • Newt (small salamander)
  • Niles (champion)
  • November (month)
  • Nathan (gift from god)

O.

  • Otto (wealth)
  • Oakley (oak tree meadow)
  • Owen (noble)
  • Obie (servant of god)
  • Orion (heaven’s light)
  • Ozwell (reserved)
  • Oberon (royal bear)
  • Orson (bear cub)
  • Ovi (sheep)

P.

  • Petey (rock)
  • Prince (royalty)
  • Patrick (nobleman)
  • Predrag (very beloved)
  • Pauley (humble)
  • Patton (fighter’s town)
  • Paddy (nobleman)
  • Parker (park keeper)
  • Paxton (peaceful town)
  • Perry (pear tree)
  • Pat (nobleman)

Q.

  • Quentin (fifth)
  • Quirrell (spear)
  • Quince (applelike fruit)
  • Quin (counsel)
  • Quill (scribe)

R.

  • Robby (bright fame)
  • Rich (strong)
  • Reggie (king)
  • Ralph (wolf counsel)
  • Ricky (powerful)
  • Randell (wolf’s sheild)
  • Renn (reborn)
  • Ryker (ruler)
  • Rowan (red-head)
  • Riggs (from the ridge)
  • Roger (warrior)
  • Romeo (Roman)

S.

  • Sammy (god has heard)
  • Sandy (protector)
  • Seth (placed)
  • Simba (lion)
  • Sage (wisdom)
  • Scotty (from Scotland)
  • Stewie (steward)
  • Stevie (crown)
  • Silus (of the forest)
  • Sirius (burning)
  • Sherlock (fair)
  • Shaun (god is gracious)

T.

  • Teddy (gift from god)
  • Terry (power of the tribe)
  • Tanner (leather maker)
  • Timmy (god’s honor)
  • Tommy (twin)
  • Trevor (homestead)
  • Tate (cheerful)
  • Tristin (sorrowful)
  • Theo (gift from god)

U.

  • Ulrick (noble)
  • Uno (free)
  • Ulysses (wrathful)
  • Urwin (sea)
  • Uzziah (the lord is mighty)

V.

  • Vin (conquer)
  • Vinny (conquer)
  • Vincent (conquer)
  • Vernon (alder grove)
  • Vern (alder grove)
  • Vic (champion)
  • Vaughn (little)
  • Vito (life)

W.

  • Will (resolute protector)
  • Whisky (water of life)
  • Winchester (English town)
  • Wade (ford)
  • Wes (western meadow)
  • Wesley (western meadow)
  • Wilbur (brilliant)
  • Wilf (desiring peace)
  • Warde (guard)
  • Wendell (wanderer)

Z.

  • Zeke (god stengthens)
  • Zach (lord remembers)
  • Zeno (gift of zeus)
  • Zeo (fervent)
  • Zachary (lord remembers)
  • Zaden (divinity)

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217 Comments

  1. Hey, my name is Taylor and I want to get a puppy but I want it to grow up to be a small dog so I need some suggestions for a little boy dog and I need them fast, hellllp meeee pleaseeeee!!!!

  2. I need help naming our male silver lab puppy…. Looking for a shorter name 5 or less letters! Thanks!

  3. We just lost our sweet Murray Tucker. He was a rat terrier. We just got a new puppy (rat terrier), & we’re totally stumped on what to call him.

  4. Brodie is my dog name and he’s a shih tzu mixed with rat terrier. He look almost like Benji but smaller if you know who Benji is

  5. So I may be getting a male golden retriever service dog and here’s my current list: crouton, onion, cornbread, ravioli, tuna. And no I don’t love food that much, but cmon, cornbread is ingenious and I can call ravioli “ollie” for short. Onion and tuna don’t even need an explanation… they’re flawless.

  6. I might be getting a speckled Pit Bull Terrier. He’s about 65 pounds and is mainly white with little grey specks. If we adopt him we would need names quickly since he would come home that day. We thought of Blue and Ryder but we need more names

  7. My chokolate lab goes by the name Baloo – after the bear in The Junglebook. “The bare necessities of life”; fitting for a dog!

  8. We name our animals in themes. The chickens are all named from a Sci-Fi book series. Our domestic animals are named for Pirate stuff. There is Morgan, a beagle/large-spaniel mix, named after the highly successful pirate, Cpt. Henry Morgan (not the liquor). The cats have been Patch (eye patch) and Monkey. And the younger dog, a runt yellow lab (only 27lbs at five years old), is Scrimshaw, for the carving art form originated by sailors. Both dogs are rescues.

  9. we need help! we are a family of four and we are getting a male cane corso, no one agrees on a name and my kids just want the names they picked. Does anyone have suggestions????

  10. I have a male sprocker called ‘Bosley’ (seems it used to be a 1st name before it became a surname) + I used to have a cat called ‘Sweeney’

  11. I am bringing home two Lhasa Apso puppies next week. Brothers. Trying to find two equally awesome duo names and keep going back to Boondocks Saints twins, Murphy and Connor or another idea is going for great actors Brando and Bogie. Help!
    Any better suggestions?

  12. Help. Can’t decide. Got a male and female Bassets today. Named the girl Bella but can’t decide for the boy. Either Murphy, or Harley or open to suggestions.

  13. i named my new male Golden Doodle TuDog (pronounced 2dog). I think TuDog is a unique name and am glad I named him that. My sister-in-law keeps telling me that TuDog is a terrible name for the “poor thing”. Does anybody else have any thoughts on TuDog as a name?

  14. We are getting a new puppy – a male Labradoodle and are having a hard time choosing a name. Here are some that we are sort of stuck on, but need to narrow it down. Any suggestions?
    Roo
    River
    Ren
    Cooper
    Rogan
    Tucker
    Stitch

  15. My boy is called Kruzer, our adorable Cockapoo. He is a therapy dog and amazing ! My next dog will be called Ketch . We’re sailors and all have “k” names .

  16. SO I’M IN A DILEMMA….. we are getting a male miniature poodle tomorrow and we can’t agree on a name the top contenders are Frankie, Ollie, Finley, and Yogi what do y’all think ????? or do you have any better ideas ???I REALLY NEED HELP!!!!! xxx

    Also, can dogs eat fish?

  17. Me and my husband adopted a 1 year old black lab today. My husband likes the name Ace but I like Diesel. HELP!! Which do y’all think sounds more suitable for a lab????

  18. Having a hard time naming my new Border Terrier puppy. Right now he’s like 3 lbs. he will probably get to 22 lbs. We had 2 borders that crossed the Rainbow bridge. There names were Baxter and Bailey. We currently have a rescued Terrier named Eddie. We’re leaning towards Douglas, Dug but I also like Becker.

    1. I’ve got a 4 month old black lab named casper. The name’s adorable and fits him perfectly. He’s snuggled up next to me right now like the friendly little dork he is.

  19. We just put down our 13.5 yr. old miniature doxie. His name was Milo. We’re still in the grieving process, but plan on getting another miniature doxie next Spring/Summer 2018. My husband and I like the names Harley and Riley–Tucker is another good one. We’ll determine the name once we decide on a pup.

  20. We have a two year old male yellow lab named him Wilson. We had a previous male who I miss to this day, he was Boomer

  21. Our dogs so far – Max, a yellow lab – and Luke, black lab. We may get another yellow, and I like
    the name Bradley. Also, we had a black lab.called Winston