What to Name Your Puppy
When you’re trying to figure out what to name your dog, you want to give them the perfect name. But how do you choose a call name that isn’t overused, fits your vibe, and is short and sweet?
The list of the most popular dog names generally doesn’t change much from year to year, a little like the list of most popular dog breeds in America. But some names are trendier than others, though they might not make the list of most popular. Check out our AKC dog name app to learn more about the special method to naming your dog when registering with the American Kennel Club.
Cute and Unique Puppy Names
We’ve compiled a list of our top 150 puppy names, inspired by the dogs that have participated in AKC dog sports and events over the years. Hopefully these names spark an idea for your new puppy!
| Abby | Cash | Evie | Josie | Obie | Sophie |
| Ace | Catcher | Finn | Joy | Ollie | Spark |
| Addie | Chaos | Flash | Juno | Peach | Spencer |
| Adele | Chase | Frankie | Karma | Penny | Spirit |
| Annie | Chili | Frisco | Kenzi | Pepper | Spring |
| Apollo | CiCi | Gator | Kiva | Piper | Star |
| Aspen | Cody | Georgia | Kona | Prada | Storm |
| Bailey | Cole | Ginger | Kyra | Ranger | Strider |
| Beamer | Comet | Grace | Lacie | Raven | Summer |
| Bear | Cooper | Haley | Lark | Reggie | Tally |
| Belle | Cruise | Happy | Laser | Remington | Tango |
| Bella | Crush | Harley | Latte | Riley | Tank |
| Birdie | Daisy | Hattie | Levi | Ripley | Taylor |
| Bling | Dare | Hope | Lilly | Riot | Tease |
| Blue | Dash | Hunter | Linx | River | Tessa |
| Bogey | Dawson | Indy | Logan | Roxie | Token |
| Body | Dazzle | Jack | Lucy | Ruby | Tori |
| Boomer | Demi | Jamie | Luke | Rumor | Tripp |
| Bowen | Denali | Jax | Max | Salsa | Trooper |
| Breeze | Diva | Jazz | Mia | Scarlett | Tucker |
| Brie | Dixie | Jenna | Mojo | Scout | Tux |
| Brody | Echo | Jersey | Molly | Shadow | Whip |
| Buzz | Eli | Jet | Murphy | Shiloh | Wyatt |
| Callaway | Ellie | Jinx | Nike | Skye | Zeke |
| Casey | Emmy | JoJo | Nova | Slater | Zip |
Choosing a Trending Dog Name
Dog names are always trending, just like baby names. Whether you’re choosing a dog name for your boy or girl puppy, the trending names for your dog will change year over year as well.
Trending Boy Dog Names
- Travis (of football and pop-superstar relationship fame)
- Ken (of “Barbie” fame)
- Allen (also of “Barbie” fame)
- Loki (Disney universe of characters, and Norse mythology)
- Thor (Marvel universe, and also Norse mythology)
- Simba (Disney)
- Bruno (of “Encanto” fame)
- Rocket or Groot (of “Guardians of the Galaxy” fame)
Trending Girl Dog Names
- Elsa
- Bella (top girl dog name year after year)
- Stella
- Quinn
- Sophie
- Ivy (maybe your puppy is part of the Beyhive?)
- Charlie
- Aurora (Roman goddess of dawn; a good pick for a girl puppy who gets you out of bed before the alarm clock)
- Avery
- Lila
The Most Popular Dog Names of 2023
We’ve compiled the top 100+ most popular boy and girl dog names from American Kennel Club’s purebred registration and mixed-breed enrollment data for 2023 to help you make the best choice.
Top Boy Dog Names
These names top the list for male dogs in 2023. See the full list of boy dog names here.
- Max
- Charlie
- Cooper
- Teddy
- Milo
- Ollie
- Bear
- Rocky
- Finn
- Leo
Top Girl Dog Names
These names top the list for female dogs in 2023. See the full list of girl dog names here.
- Luna
- Bella
- Daisy
- Maggie
- Willow
- Lucy
- Bailey
- Rosie
- Sadie
- Lola
Things to Consider When Naming Your Dog
Names often reflect the character of your pet. Observe your dog for a few days and see if his personality suggests a name. Is he regal? Does she always want to be the center of attention? If so, how about “King” or “Star”?
Choose a Name That is Easy
Short, sweet and easily recognizable names work best in getting your dog to be responsive. Use a name that is one or two syllables, ending with a vowel, such as “Sadie” or “Rocky.”
Don’t choose a name that is too long or difficult to say. A name such as “Sir Barks A Lot” will only confuse your dog.
Avoid Names That Are Similar to Cues
Avoid names that sound like commands. Names like “Joe” sound like “no” when called, and a name like “Kit” may sound like “sit.” This can get confusing for your dog very quickly, so try to steer clear of names that have similar sounds to cues you’ll be using a lot.
Choose an Evergreen Name
Pick a name that will fit your dog regardless of their age. For example, a puppy named “Fuzzy” may not be a good fit after they grow into adulthood.
Test out the name you would like to give your dog for a day or two. Remember any name you give your dog will be a 10-to-15-year commitment for the life of the dog.
Don’t name your dog after a friend or family member without getting their prior permission. You never know who could be offended.
Practice Makes Perfect
After you chose a name for your dog make sure you use it often so they can learn it more quickly. Don’t raise your voice every time you call them, and try to use their names in positive, playful settings, such as when you feed them, play with them or pet them.
At AKC Marketplace, we can help you find your dream dog. You can find AKC-registerable puppies from responsible, passionate breeders, and we provide the tools you need for every step of the process. Visit marketplace.akc.org to start connecting with dog breeders in your area!
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