Unique dog names make you and your pup stand out from the crowd. Just like baby name trends in the celebrity world, giving your dogs names that are rare, unusual or even totally bizarre is on the rise.
Dare to be different and check out these unique male dog names 2022
- Caleb
- Lucas
- Evan
- Mack
- Monroe
- Fergus
- Moby
- Warwick
Good names for dogs don’t have to be inspired by your favorite movie, tv show, character or travel destination. They can be totally unique to you, your family and your new baby puppy.
Today we’ll share hundreds of unique dog names in themed names lists. Ideas that work as a cool moniker as well as an excellent recall command that’s easy for your companion to learn.
Two syllable words with soft vowels and hard constants are best, so we’ve focussed on these most of all. But don’t worry, there is an unusual curve ball or three as well!
Not all pups can be called Rex, Rover or even Harry Potter. Inspiration for unique dog names can sometimes be found in your new dog’s origins, characteristics or markings. Your own family interests, hobbies, favorite food, historical or fictional characters can also be a great source of original and unusual names. Looking at pop culture, your ancestry and places that mean something special to you, can also work well.
Contents
- Unique girl dog names for female puppies
- Unique boy dog names for male puppies
- Unusual dog names by coat color
- Cute unique puppy names
- Awesome and unique dog names
It’s nice to be a bit different! You’ll find lists of unique dog names in this article. But we’re also going to show you a really cool way of inventing your own unusual dog names. Names that no-one else will have thought of. And they get more creative and uncommon as we go. You’ll find food themes, history, nature, sport, literature and much more. Or just scroll on down to check out our original system for finding your own totally unique names.
Creating Unique Dog Names
To create some truly unique dog names, we’re going to come up with names using pictures in your head! It’s easier than you think. You’re going to need a pen and paper or whiteboard. Because we’re not typing a list, we’re brainstorming. You need to be free to write fast and randomly. That will help you think sideways and make you more creative!
Don’t worry, we’ll give you plenty of inspiration as we go, but it’s best if this process is unique to you. So go and grab that pen. We’ll start with something really simple. Let’s take a a food store. Picture the rows of shelves. Picture the inside of a shop and focus on one shelf. It could be cookies for example. Or candy. Immediately you have some potential names:
- Oreo
- Hershey
What is a Unique Dog Name?
A unique dog name is anything the is different to the usual. Let’s go and stand in a parking lot. Not a real one – this one’s in your head! Try picturing a parking lot with some really nice vehicles in. This could give you some unique boy dog names such as:
- Buick
- Cadillac
- Jeep
- Bentley
- Dodge
- Tesla
Now think of a painting – a rural scene – there may be forests, think:
- Cedar
- Birch
- Willow
Unique Dog Names Can Be Inspired By Travel
But those are pretty girl dog names, but also quite tame. Let’s travel somewhere exotic and look at their tree names:
- Socotra (the Dragon Tree from Yemen)
- Kauri (New Zealand)
- Areca (India)
- Yoshini (Japan)
One of the great things about names taken from nature is that they will often serve as unique girl dog names but work equally well for boys too! Okay, now we’re off to the beach:
- Pebble
- Pearl
- Ripple
- Coral
Look Around The Home To Find Unique Names
And now back home again. Let’s get more unusual! Look in your refrigerator. Are there any cute brand names in there? Or just fun food names.
- Ketchup
- Apple
- Mustard
- Zuccini
Now just open any household cupboard, or drawer. In my kitchen a garlic press gives me Crusher and a knife gives me Blade. Try changing one letter, or adding a Y on the end. Or both. So fork becomes Cork or Corky. Label becomes Mabel. And whisk becomes Whisky. Now head for your closet, look closely at the clothes inside. You’ll find inspiration in the detail there too.
- Button
- Sneaker
- Zipper, Zippy
- Cotton
- Boot
Check out your cosmetics or the beauty shelves at the mall too, you’ll find names like Dior, Dove, Spice, Evelyn and Layali.
Ideas For Unique Dog Names
Make a list of places to visit in your head and brainstorm names. Take an imaginary walk around your block, imagine back yards & buildings (Gravel, Slate), shops, or a park. Head off to an art gallery and look at some famous paintings. Then off to the countryside (Creek, River) or the open prairie or mountains. (Canyon, Rocky). Thinking about the weather in your chosen location will give you more names (Breeze, Storm).
TOP TIP: Don’t try to pick a name while you play this game. Brainstorm as many names as you can. Even if they don’t make sense to begin with – spread them randomly across a big sheet of paper, or a whiteboard, and some of them will start to jump out at you.
But hey, we don’t have to stay in the present day. History can give us some great names too. Most people just don’t go far enough back to dig up the really unusual.
Unique Dog Names From History
Try looking for a specific century – the 13th century brings up names like Ida and Isolda for girls, Warin and Edric for boys. Think about the clothes that medieval people wore and the food they ate including ancient herbs and spices.
- Angelic
- Betony
- Anise
- Fennel
- Taragon
TOP TIP: Focus on an object, time or place, and make a google search around that topic. Write down anything that’s unusual and pretty or thought provoking. When you are done, it’s time to choose!
Once you have a sheet of paper with 50 to 100 names you can start to make shortlist and pick the best unique dog name for your new friend.
The Best Unique Dog Names
Most of us consider dogs as an addition to our family. We take time to consider the name we’ll give them, and whether it will suit them. Dog names, unique or otherwise, are important to all new owners. So you’ll want to make sure you put the right amount of thought and time in before coming to a decision.
The best dog names are those that show your own taste and personality. While at the same time reflecting your dog’s character and attributes too. Ultimately, the best name for your dog is the one you’re happy with. And if a unique dog name appeals to you, then a unique dog name is what you need. If you still need more inspiration, here are some lists for you to consider!
Unusual Female Dog Names
Many people choose to give their pets human names, especially when it comes to dogs. This can make our bond and connection with them stronger. You’ll to be sure to stand out with any of these unique girl dog names!
- Moana
- Ophelia
- Pebble
- Saskia
- Cricket
- Tahiti
- Pearl
- Kendall
- Sappho
- Etta
- Avalon
When we’re looking at human names, we can draw a great deal from popular culture. Referencing a character from film or TV can be a great way to make a name both unique and recognizable. History is a great source of inspiration too; Sappho was one of the first known female writers. When it comes to unique names, female figures can give meaning and real depth. Continuing with human names, let’s look at some male dogs.
Uncommon Male Dog Names
If you choose to give your male dog a human name, you’ll want it to suit him and be individual. With so many male dog names already commonplace it can be hard to find something unique. As earlier, we can look to popular culture for ideas. This will give us some unique boy dog names that still feel familiar.
- Arlo
- Conan
- Damon
- Finn
- Fletcher
- Reese
- Wes
- Ainsley
- Bertram
- Hunter
- Parker
- Beauregard
- Xander
- Watson
Dogs are often called “mans best friend.” Sidekicks in film, TV and literature can give us great names. Sherlock Holmes’ right hand man James Watson is a cool example. Now, inspired by our lovely yellow labs, let’s look at some quirky options for yellow dogs.
Unique Yellow Dog Names
Yellow fur from cream to golden, calls to mind a whole host of images. Farmyards, blonde hair, cheese, egg yolks … and this is the kind of imagery that yields some truly unique names. Here’s our list of unique names for yellow labs!
- Harvest
- Sepia
- Ochre
- Straw
- Thor
- Shea
- Sedge
- Ziv
- Vanilla
- Prairie
- Moon
- Cheddar
- Lemon
- Barley
- Blondie
- Autumn
- Daffodil
Unique Dog Names for Brown Dogs
Chocolate colored dogs are usually photogenic. Their striking brown fur makes a basis for some excellent unique names. Chocolate dogs are often named after our favorite chocolate bars! There’s a lot of natural materials and foods we can use for name ideas in this section. These sort of things make excellent and memorable dog names. Here are some different ideas:
- Kodiak
- Mocha
- Chestnut
- Cinnamon
- Copper
- Mahogany
- Walnut
- Muddy
- Coffee
- Nutmeg
- Earth
- Manilla
- Raisin
- Sparrow
- Cacao
- Umber
Original Black Dog Names
Original Black Dog NamesBlack dogs are a fixture in homes the world over, they cut a sharp contrast with their surroundings. Unique names for dogs always work great when they play into such an obvious feature. Black dogs’ coloration remind us of the night, and a whole host of animals. Here is a list of suggestions for unique dog names for black dogs.
- Coal
- Onyx
- Ebony
- Emery
- Stealth
- Raven
- Ink
- Vantablack (vanta)
- Sable
- Obsidian
- Shadow
- Panther
- Ash
- Granite
- Cinder
- Eclipse
- Morticia
- Cerberus
- Liquorice
- Sirius
- Presley
Unique Dog Names for Red Dogs
Fox red Labradors are becoming more and more popular and there are some other wonderful red dog breeds. So, it’s becoming more necessary to stand out from the crowd with unique dog names. But I think many of us agree that their aesthetic is deserving of a category of their own. The fire and earth theme is pretty self explanatory with these orange dogs, and works really well! Here are some ideas for naming orange or red colored dogs.
- Amber
- Brick
- Sienna
- Inferno
- Crimson
- Ginger
- Scarlet
- Apricot
- Henna
- Sorrel
- Vixen
- Blaze
- Fox
- Phoenix
- Pumpkin
- Copper
Cute Dog Names
Chances are, you think your dog’s pretty cute. Most people probably agree! You might want to give your adorable pet an adorable name. There are plenty of options for unique dog names with a more cutsy feel.
Cool Dog Names
We’d all like to give our pets cool names. The kind of names that make people say ‘why didn’t I think of that’. A cool name will make showing your dog off to you friends even more fun. You’ll stand out regardless with a unique name. That being said, not all names are equal. Here are some ideas for ‘cool’ unique dog names.
- Bear
- Zeus
- Ocean
- Orion
- Sabre
- Neo
- Ajay
- Alba
- Dzuwa
- Spectre
- Knight
- Eastwood
- Jackal
- Wolfgang
- Shasta
Finding Your Own Unique Dog Names
To come up with more unique dog names it can help to make lists of names from different topics We’ve focused quite a bit on color based names here, but you can expand your search to include your own hobbies and interest. For example: if you are interested in fencing, you could call your dog Parry. If you are a dancer try Plie or Pirouet
- Like fishing? Try Ledger or Spinner. Into sailing? How about Spinnaker?
- Love to cook? Try Flambe or Omlet
Many of our ideas for unique dog names are taken from different aspects of the environment and you can take inspiration from your own surroundings. If the names you come up with don’t seem original enough, try browsing a thesaurus!
You can also look at interesting characters from your favorite novels, and at some of our more quirky celebrities, or sporting heros for ideas. For hundreds more unique and original ideas for naming your dog check out these articles
You’ll find additions from our readers in the comments. Hopefully they’ll make your dog-naming experience a little easier.
Remember, there are thousands of potential names for your dog. They don’t have to be conventional. By choosing something unique, you can express your own imagination through your dog’s name. Keep it original, and most importantly, have fun! If you need any more inspiration, take a look at some of our other dog names articles!
The Labrador Site Founder
Pippa Mattinson is the best selling author of The Happy Puppy Handbook, the Labrador Handbook, Choosing The Perfect Puppy, and Total Recall.
She is also the founder of the Gundog Trust and the Dogsnet Online Training Program
Pippa's online training courses were launched in 2019 and you can find the latest course dates on the Dogsnet website
A few names that may/may not be on these lists:
* Calypso “Callie”
* Halo
* Jacey/Jaycee/Jaycie
* Jalyn/Jalen/Jaylen/Jaylon
* Eden; Evie/Evee
* Winston
* Jax/Jaxon
* Jessalyn/Jesslyn/Jezzlyn
* Nixon
* Khalessi
Our English Mastiff’s name was Bishop. Great dog!
I love the name Nala for a girl Frenchie, OR Copper for a boy Golden Retriever. Both of these names suit them for their breeds, and their type of gender as well! 🙂
I like the name “Shay.”
It’s simply nice, soft and easy.
I think it’s a girl’s name; I’m going to check it out bc if it is unisex, I might call my new boy Yorky “Shay.”
I am getting female puppy cross Aussie Shepherd and Lab want to name her Tika my daughter doe not want me to name that.
Where does the name Tika come from?
A user from Texas, U.S. says the name Tika is of Native American origin and means “Shine”.
What is a Tika in Nepal?
Tika is one of the important auguring good luck items in the religious and cultural rituals of Nepal especially in Hindu families. People offer this power to honor gods and apply in return in their forehead as red dot after visiting temples. … The tika also symbolizes good luck, bravery, auspicious and many more.
Any opinion
my pup supposed to be a labradoodle but ended up 80% lab and 15% poodle. He is all Yellow except his right ear it’s dark Black. He weighs over 100 lbs. We settled on Mr. MaGoo, kids and moms love him and MaGoo loves back, I feel like the Good Humor Man!
My daughters were huge Harry Potter book fans. So we named our a new puppy, Snidget, which was the original golden snitch used in the game of Quidditch. We loved her name!
I have a puppy 10 weeks old I’m planning on naming it holly, what do you think? I got it near Christmas so I thought it would be fun!
Dulce! I think it’s a great name for a dog it means sweet/candy And mostly if it’s a newborn!.
I had a Chihuahua and his name was Bizzy
i had my dog for three years and she is so happy. 3 years ago they told us that they named her klitter but we wanted to shorten the name to klitt and that has been her name since
My Chihuahua is Mexican.so I named him s.a. that’s how I spell it. I hear (what’s up s.a.) when two (Mexicans) meet.
Go white boy
BAHAHAHAHHA
My dog is German so we named her kraut sprout short for saurkrout sprout. My mom hates it but I just die laughing everytime we get her groomed and they say her name over the loud speakers. Let’s just say it’s a hit at the vets office too.
Are you getting a new dog?
I am about to buy a shih tzu puppy that will be brown and white or black and white and the name i have thought is snickers…. Please tell me if you guys have other name suggestions..
I like the names Ozzy and Franklin for a dog beacuse they are the names of my two dogs i have now, and Jack was my old dog. Can you put those three on the list too please? They are all male doggies.
my dogs names are Dante,zeus,Hades
We got a dog when our son was 4. He was starting to learn to read. When we visited the breeder he was so excited. He was sitting on the floor and one of the puppies came over and sat in his lap. He looked up at me with the biggest smile and said “D for dog!” really fast, hence our puppy, the one that away in his lap was named Dfordog, shortened to Dfer. Dfer was his shadow and friend for 16 years.
Love this!!
I met a guy once that named his dog
D. O. G. pronounced it Deogi or Deogy . I have never heard that name before or since.
Star and Planet Names
Star
Celeste
Orion
Luna
Dawn
Aurora
Nova
Portia
My English bulldog cross Jack Russell is Wiggles. When I went to get her I told.my friend I didn’t know what I would.call her,she replied don’t worry she will name herself. When we got there they handed her to me and she was so excited she nearly wiggled.right out of my arms,hence she became Wiggles.She is almost 2 years and.she still lives up to her name
We took one look at the 3 month old adorable ball of yellow fur and went “Mario”! And so it was…. he’s 9.5 years old now….
My 2 labradors were Nero (cream lab) & Chaka (black lab) so we had a Roman emperor & a zulu chieftan.
I think you have quite an interest in history but nice names
We had a yellow male dog we named Gritz
I am impressed even i am speechless.
We had a catahoula hound,his fathers name was bullet so we named him son of bullet and called him S O B.
In that case remove Alba too. Gaelic for Scotland.
Apart from India and Africa, I liked all names. But this names for a dog sounds very low. I think you should remove them as they are the name of place where the this names are kept sacred. So it may gonna be embarrassing in front of people from respective nations.
My name is India… so why is it bad to name a dog india?
He didn’t say it was bad, he said he didn’t like them. Personal preference.
my rescued dog name is Teddy but I like Alma.it means apple in Turkish.maybe it will be my next dog name.
I can think of many unique male names but I can’t find the one I love for a female rott that I’m getting in a few days. I don’t want one that is long cuz they answer better to shorter names. I don’t want a sissy name either.
How about Nala?
I like your name Shay. If its a unisex name, I just might name my new Yorky boy puppy after you.
Cute names bruh I love ‘em PICK GOOD NAMES YA’LL. FROM A PERSON NAMED….Buckah John
Also p.s I KNOW MY NAME IS WEIRD OKAY! (Bu ck ah) like what a chicken says…buck buck bugark
i think Bean is such a cute name for a boy or girl dog and for a boy dog i love the name Simon
When I was a teenager my mother had a friend who had two dogs. One was a female black lab , her name was Easy. The other was a male dog , not sure what kind dog he was but when they were trying to name him the dog wouldn’t listen for nothing , till one day she said Damnit come here!!!! The dog came to her fast. So that became his name Damnit .
ridiculously cliche but my dogs are Jax and Chibs 😆 litter mates
Omg yes from sons of anarchy !!♡
We have a blood hound named Jimmy Dean and my brother’s pit is names Elby my favorite dog name has been dishes though, just some suggestions
My nine-year old chihuahua’s name is Tammy Tabita. She also responds to the names Poho, Chihua, Chiwi, and more. My sister wants a siberian husky for her birthday and we are looking for an original name for it. Please give us suggestions if you have. She likes star names.
Eclipse
I thought of Comet and Stella for star names… I also thought Aspen and Jasper are cute but those are tree names 0-0
How about Astra, I named a grey cat with a star on her forehead that
luna
my golden retriever’s name is Maya Girlfriend Babykins we call her Girlfriend
I have had my pit mix since she was 8 weeks old. She is smaller 53lbs and the most loveable pup ive ever encountered. I named her Sadiqaa (sah-day-ka). I am part Lebanese and in arabic sadiqaa means “my friend”. So when i call her “come here Sadiqaa” im really saying “come here my friend”. Its my own original idea and it’s a very meaningful thing to me.
I am persian and my grandmother name is Sadiqaa but we pronounce it Sediqe!
I have a tri-colored Chiweenie. I named him Tripp (triple – 3rd) also means traveler. I get comments on his name all the time. Unique and different.
We adopted an Akita (brindled) someone at the humane society caller her Ingrid, we tried on other names but the only one she noticed was Lady our beloved and sorely missed Lab/Boarder Collie. Her face looks like a bear I suggested Berri or bear for short but she answers to Ingrid so that our unusual dogs name.
We’ve just named our chocolate La pup, Chester!
tiny chihuahua puppy I just got and named him Gator
my daughter has a dog with bulldog and lab and she name him prince, i think this name is odd to be a boy dog
Very good names are given here, I just 😍it….
I’m fostering 3 puppy’s and we get to name then we chose penny for a girl,Scooter for a boy,and Dexter for another boy dog.I hope these Pitbull and Boxer mixed puppies love their names.
Yellow dog names:Sunflower,Canary,Sundance,Sunny,Amarillo.
This is an amazing site
Actually it’s John watson, not James Watson. James moriarty is the villian. 😉
I think all these dog names are cute I had a hard choosing one name out of all them!!
I’ve got two dogs one is a pressa x staffxpit named tarrick and staff x ridgback called jimmy G they are both great boys I trust them infaticaly
Emphatically
More unique dog names…our female Alaskan Malamute’s name was Cheekah (short for Checotah, an Alaskan tribe). Our Golden’s name was Bacchus (pronounced bock’-us, the roman god of wine). Our Duck Tolling Retrievers are Nash (male), adopted name was Dash. Didnt want to change it too much. We like Nashville. Nova is our female. Like the definition of a super nova.
My heart is broken , where can I get another black lab from 3/ 4 yr old ..
yes man you can