Ultimate Dog Names Resource: Index to All Dog and Puppy Names

By Janice Jones   | Last Updated 12-27-2023

Dog Names are as diverse as the dog breeds themselves, and they seem to go in and out of popularity.  There are so many possibilities that it can be a daunting task just coming up with the right name.

Can't decide what to name your new small breed puppy? We've done a little research and came up with a list of some popular dog names by breed.

This is what we found unique about Small breed puppy owners:  They chose names based on the following criteria:

  • The color of their hair
  • A favorite human name
  • A name based on the origin of the breed (i.e. Asian, European, Mexican, etc.)
  • A royal name
  • A famous animal name
  • A name that describes their personality or temperament
  • A location or place name
  • A famous god or goddess

Popular Dog Names

Agencies that collect dog names often report on the most popular dog names for a particular year.   Here is one list of the most popular dog names of 2022

Max (boy); Luna (girl)
Charlie (boy); Bella (girl)
Cooper (boy); Daisy (girl)
Milo (boy); Lucy (girl)
Buddy (boy); Lily (girl)
Rocky (boy); Zoe (girl)
Bear (boy); Lola (girl)
Teddy (boy); Sadie (girl)
Duke (boy); Bailey (girl)
Leo (boy); Stella (girl)

Not surprisingly, the top dog names have remained relatively steady for the last five years.  Here's another list similar to the one above from Rover.

Popular Boy Names

  • Max
  • Charlie
  • Cooper
  • Milo
  • Buddy
  • Rocky
  • Bear
  • Teddy
  • Duke
  • Leo

Popular Girl Names

  • Luna
  • Bella
  • Daisy
  • Lucy
  • Lily
  • Zoe
  • Lola
  • Sadie
  • Bailey
  • Stella

Did You Know...

Fido came from the Romans.  The name is derived from the latin word, Fidelis, which means loyal.

Small Dog Place Dog Names Survey

Small Dog Place is also collecting popular dog names and if you would like to help us, we'd love to know what your dog's name. Contact us if you want to add your dog's name to any of the hundreds of dog names on this site.  Don't forget to let us know which page you want your mention to appear.


unusual-dog-names-science.jpgUnusual Dog Names from Math and Science


Dog Names Based on Color

Dog Names Based on Nature

Names Based on Disney Characters

Halloween Dog Names

For all those puppies born on or around October 31st, this page is for you. 

But even if you don't have a Halloween Puppy, you might want to browse through our extensive list of creepy, scary, and ghoulish names. 

Find one based on a famous villain or one that depicts the holiday for what it is, this is a fun page and not to be missed.

Halloween Dog Names

Names Based on Gender

Dog Names Based on The Breed's Country of Origin

Dog Names by Country of Origin is a very popular way of choosing a puppy name, especially for a purebred dog. 

Sunset in Japanese with photo labeled Japanese Dog Names

Famous Dog Names

Who could imagine that there were so many famous dog names?  We found these names from a variety of sources including television and movies, children's books and literature, comics and cartoons, history, pop culture, and famous people's dogs such as the U.S. presidential dogs.

There is a lot of overlap among these categories. For example, a children's book is made into a movie then altered to create a television series.   When the name falls into more than one category, I only list it once.

Famous Dog Names

Rules for Naming Your Small Breed Dog

A small gold-colored Shih Tzu dog dressed in a summer green dress.Guidelines for naming your dog

Concentrate on the first syllable of the name.  This is the sound the dog will hear.  But, don't limit yourself to a one syllable name -- two or three syllable names can be great.

Choose a name that does not have the same first sound as another pet or person in the household.

For example, it would be very confusing to two pets in the same household named Alexander and Alexandra. It would be OK to name two pets Abby and Alexander.

Teach your dog his name by using it frequently. When training a dog to perform a new trick, it's always easy to say the dog's name first, then the command. "Zoey, Sit." 

Using your puppy's name in a happy tone and praising them when they respond will go a long way towards training. Once the dog knows his name, it is much easier to call out the name and then a command.

Choose a name that stands the test of time.  Trendy names are great, but remember most small dogs live 12 to 15 years.  What sounds great today will be out-of-date in 15 years.

Choose a name that you feel comfortable shouting in public, at the vet clinic, groomers, or dog park.  Don't pick a name that might cause embarrassment, could offend someone or worst of all, get you arrested!

About Janice (author and voice behind this site)

Having lived with dogs and cats most of her life, Janice served as a veterinary technician for ten years in Maryland and twelve years as a Shih Tzu dog breeder in Ohio.

Her education includes undergraduate degrees in Psychology with a minor in biology, Early Childhood Education, and Nursing, and a master's in Mental Health Counseling.

She is a lifelong learner, a dog lover, and passionate about the welfare of animals. Her favorite breed for over 50 years has been the Shih Tzu, but she has also lived with poodles, Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, beagles, English bulldogs, carin terriers, and a Cocker Spaniel.

When not writing, reading, and researching dog-related topics, she likes to spend time with her eight Shih Tzu dogs, husband, and family, as well as knitting and crocheting. She is also the voice behind Miracle Shih Tzu and Smart-Knit-Crocheting

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