Dog name generator

How do you choose a good dog name?

The generator draws on 635 names, each with a checked meaning, and shuffles them for you. Narrow it down with these rules of thumb, most of them from the American Kennel Club:

1. Keep it to one or two syllables. Two-syllable names that end in a vowel sound, such as Daisy, Rocky, Bella, Teddy, let you vary your tone and carry well across a park.
2. Make it fit for life. A name like Tiny or Peanut is funny on a Great Dane puppy and less so on a 150 lb adult. Picture your dog at ten years old.
3. Say it out loud for a few days. The AKC suggests trying a name for a few days and watching how your dog reacts. If you keep reaching for a nickname, that may be the real name.
4. Teach it with the name game. Say the name in a happy voice, and when your dog looks at you, mark the moment and reward it.

Which dog names should you avoid?

• Names that sound like cues. The AKC gives Kit (sounds like "sit") and Joe or Moe (sound like "no") as examples. Run through the cues you use most, such as "stay" and "down", and drop any name that rhymes with one.
• Names close to people or pets at home. If your partner is Sam, skip Pam and Sammy.
• Names you would not want to call in public. You will shout it at the park, give it at the vet and write it on forms.
• Very long names, unless you are happy to shorten them. Most long names end up as a nickname anyway.

Dog name ideas by style

The first 14 names in each style, A to Z. The generator shuffles through all of them.

Want the story behind a name? Look it up in the dog name meaning finder, or get ideas matched to your dog's heritage with dog names by breed.

Short dog names

Short names are quick to say and hard to mishear, which helps in training and recall. These 198 names have four letters or fewer:

Abby, Ace, Aino, Aki, Amir, Ares, Ari, Ash, Asha, Axel, Aziz, Bao, Bean, Bear, Beau, Blue, Bo, Bob, Boet, Bolt, Bori, Boss, Bran, Bryn, Buck, Chai, Chui, Cleo, Coco, Dal, Dao, Dave, Dot, Dubu, Dug, Duke, Echo, Eden, Eira, Eli, Elsa, Erik, Erin, Ezra, Fado, Fah, Fala, Fang, Fern, Fido, Fifi, Finn, Fox, Frey, Fu, Gaia, Garm, Glen, Gus, Gwen, Hana, Hank, Hans, Haru, Hati, Hawk, Hera, Inti, Iris, Isis, Ivan, Ivy, Izzy, Jack, Jade, Jake, Jin, Juno, Kai, Kees, King, Kiwi, Koa, Kona, Kuma, Kumo, Kuro, Kurt, Lady, Lan, Leif, Leo, Levi, Lexi, Lily, Lobo, Loki, Lola, Long, Loup, Lua, Luba, Lucy, Lulu, Lumi, Luna, Lupa, Maci, Mali, Mars, Mate, Max, Maya, Mei, Mia, Miso, Momo, Moti, Nabi, Nala, Nalu, Nana, Nata, Nico, Nike, Nile, Noa, Noah, Noel, Noor, Nova, Nyx, Oak, Odie, Odin, Onyx, Oso, Otis, Otto, Paco, Pal, Pema, Pepe, Pim, Ra, Rain, Raja, Rani, Remy, Ren, Rex, Rhys, Rio, Roo, Rory, Roxy, Ruby, Ryu, Saga, Sage, Sam, Sir, Sisu, Sky, Skye, Sol, Sora, Spot, Star, Susi, Sven, Taco, Tama, Tank, Tara, Taro, Thea, Theo, Thor, Tiny, Toby, Tofu, Togo, Toto, Tsar, Tyr, Ulv, Vera, Volk, Wolf, Wren, Xing, Yeti, Yuki, Zeus, Ziva, Zoe, Zuri.