100+ Cool Names for Your Dog

No one gets how difficult naming your dog is until you’re staring down adoption papers. If you pick a name like “Max,” you risk having five different dogs that aren’t your pup sprinting to you at the dog park, while yours pretends not to hear you because you gave them a basic name. (Yes, they’ll judge you.) 

Your pet’s name not only shows off their personality, but also yours. You want something unique but not too many syllables (unless you’re fine with giving your dog a nickname). But mostly, you want something cool.

This is why we’ve carefully curated a comprehensive list of dog names that’ll impress all the other pet parents at your local dog-friendly bar. From beachy names like Ken to Charli, for the brattiest pooch at doggy daycare, we’ve got something for everyone. 

Cool male dog names

Whether you want an ironically macho name for your tiny Chihuahua or a dignified name associated with an English lord for your mix, we’ll help you get a head start with these cool boy-dog names.

• Alfie

• Bo

• Clyde

• Duke

• Hugo

• Jasper

• Milo

• Ronan

• Thor

• Winston

• Zane

Cool female dog names

We compiled a list of cool girl dog names that’ll give your pup that coveted single-name icon status. And don’t you worry, we did sneak a Twilight reference onto this list, so you can say “Bella, where the hell have you been, loca!?” when you pick them up from daycare.  

• Bella

• Chloe

• Ginger

• Ivy

• Kira

• Lola

• Pearl

• Remi

• Sadie

• Willow

• Zara

• Zoe

Cool gender-neutral dog names

We found plenty of cute unisex names that’ll suit every pup out there, whether they’re more of a chill, nature lover or a high-strung diva who needs all of the attention.

• Bear

• Billie/Billy

• Darcy

• Georgie

• Harley

• Indie

• Jessie

• Kai

• Lee

• Pip

• River

• Sam

• Taylor

Cool names for puppies

Half of the fun of bringing a little pup home is getting to pick out the most adorable name that’ll inspire them to keep that cute puppy energy well into old age. If you want to test out if the name is right for your puppy, we recommend shouting it in a high-pitched voice. 

• Ace

• Birdie

• BonBon

• Dot

• Josie

• Lily

• Maude

• Nessie

• Ollie

• Snoopy

• Travis

• Tucker

Cool celebrity dog names

You can take fan culture to a whole new level by naming your pup after your favorite famous person. From Meryl Streep, the actress with the most Oscar nominations, to the late great musician, Prince, there are plenty of fun ones to choose from.

• Bowie (David)

• Timothée (Chalamet)

• Charli (XCX)

• Cher

• Madonna

• Lenny (Kravitz)

• Prince

• Meryl (Streep)

• Roan (Chappell)

• Taylor (Swift)

• Zendaya

Cool beach names for dogs

If you live near a large body of water and know that your new pup will be spending time sprinting around in the sand and splashing in the shallows, then you might as well give them a beach name. We’ve got some classic options, like Sandy and Coral, but we also have some trendier options, like Barbie’s Ken, everyone’s favorite beach boy.

• Breezy

• Clam

• Coral

• Dune

• Flip Flop

• Frisbee

• Ken

• Kini (Bikini)

• Rocky

• Sunny

• Sandy

• Shades

• Seal

• Splash

• Wave

Cool dog names for big dogs

When your dog is essentially the size of a small horse, they need a name to match. Whether your pup believes they’re a small lap dog or is so big that no table is safe from their roving snout, we’ve got some fun names for you. 

• Atlas

• Beau

• Chunk

• Clifford

• Freya

• Goliath

• Hulk

• Marmaduke

• Nana (from Peter Pan)

• Rexy (T-Rex)

• Tiny

• Tank

• Tornado

Cool dog names for small dogs

If you have a pint-sized pup that can fit into your purse, then we’ve got a very demure and mindful list of names for you, below — which work even if your dog is neither of those things.

• Baby

• Bean

• Buzz

• Coco

• Chip

• Dot

• Nemo

• Peanut

• Pixie

• Po

• Roo

• Shorty

• Snoopy

• Walter

Cool dog names with meanings

For those who want their dog’s name to signify what they’re interested in and to have a special meaning, this list of names spans history, pop culture, and mythology.

• Athena (the Greek goddess of wisdom and war)

• Bonita (“pretty” in Spanish)

• Chewy (or Chewbacca, referring to the furry Wookie warrior from Star Wars)

• Faye (the Middle English term for “fairy”)

• Homer (referencing either the dad from The Simpsons or the author of The Odyssey)

• Iggy (a famously boisterous solo artist and frontman of The Stooges)

• Newton (as in Isaac Newton, the famed mathematician, scientist, and astrologer)

• Odin (God of war and death from Norse mythology)

• Otis (the pug from the 1986 classic The Adventures of Milo & Otis)

• Remy (the main character in Disney’s Ratatouille and a great name if your pup has a taste for finer foods)

• Pandora (the first human woman created in Greek mythology) 

• Sinbad (an adventurer and hero from Middle Eastern mythology)

What makes a dog name cool?

The concept of what is cool is entirely subjective. Some people aren’t going to get why you named your dog after Zendaya, and that’s okay. What matters most is that you like the name you’ve picked out for your dog, and that you chose one that fits their personality (as best you can, because some shelter dogs’ personalities don’t come out until they’re settled into their new home). Also keep in mind that if your dog comes to you with a name already, you can change it. 

References

100 Cool Baby Names to Make Your Little One a Trendsetter

The Mysterious Tranny Trend of Baby Names

Top 10 Baby Names of 2023