By Janice Jones |Last Updated 10-04-2022
Does your new puppy need a clever black dog name? Sure, why not. Every puppy deserves the perfect name and many people will choose a name based on the color of the fur or hair.
There are many ways to choose a name for a small dog, but finding a name that reflects the color of his/her hair is a popular choice.
We have compiled a list of possible names for your black dog. Where does the inspiration come from for these black names?
Consider all the black objects found in nature, either in the form of animals, plants and minerals.
Any animals that have black fur, fins or feathers, were fair game and added to the list.
You’ll also find names borrowed for languages other than English which might be an idea choice if your heritage lends itself to a non English name.
You’ll find names from books, folklore, and the movies. Many people choose a name based on their favorite celebrity while others have a favorite character they remember from their childhood.
My favorites come from edible (or drinkable) sources, but those are few and far between because people just don’t eat many black things.
Some of the names may be appropriate for a girl and others for a boy, and some would be fine for either.
We’ll let you be the judge of that. Does your dog have black and white hair? Check out our black and white dog names for some more suggestions.
We want to make this the longest Black Dog Names List ever. If I have forgotten a few or many, please let me know and we'll add them to this page along with a note giving you credit for creativity. Contact me now.
Everyone is different. Some people thrive on finding the most creative unusual name that best describes their dog and will kick out many names before they find just the perfect one.
Others prefer the more familiar, common place names - the name that rolls of their tongue and may remind them of something in their past. Many people in this category prefer traditional girl or boy names.
Still others decide that a name should be totally unique so they create a name that has never been used before. Kids are amazing when it comes to coming up with new, unheard of names.
What's your style?
The short answer is yes and no and let me explain.
Most people will use terms such as sit, down, come and stay to teach basic commands.
They will combine the dog's name with the command, such as "Toby, Sit." It is best to choose a name that does sound too similar to a basic command such as "Doug Down" or "Bay, Stay"
There will be times when you need to call your dog in public whether it's at a dog park or from your back porch.
Choose something that is easy and comfortable to say. (Cooper, Leave it.). Avoid anything that might be embarrassing or offensive to anyone.
Most puppies pick up their name quickly if you use it frequently and enthusiastically.
But short is normally better for dog names. That doesn't mean you need to choose a one syllable name like Dot. Rather keep the syllables to a minimum of three or less.
For example, I personally love the name Borealis (Northern Lights) as a black dog name. It reminds me of a natural beauty that few get to experience.
But the word Borealis is four syllables and may be too long to use. You can shorten names and Borie might make a good name.
Ace - As in the Ace of Spades
Agate - A type of stone with various meanings depending on the culture from warding off evil to healing properties
Angus - Black Cow
Ash
Ashes
Asphalt - Black material used on roads
Aye Aye - A small mammal found on the island of Madagascar.
Batman - A favorite Superhero
Beans (Black Beans)
Bear (Black Bear)
Beetle (Black Beetle)
Black bean See above
Black Bear See above
Blackjack (Jack for short)
Blackberry - Tasty summer berry
Blackbird or Crow
(Black)Beauty
Black Mamba - See Mamba
Black Pearl
Black Rose
Blackie - Simple but descriptive
Bullet - Ammunition
Carbon - Black colored element
Charcoal or Coal (Cole) for short
Checkers - At least half of the playing pieces are Black
Cinder - What's left over after a fire
Clubs - Good name for someone who loves to play Cards
Coffee - Black coffee is indeed Black
Cola - Also, Coke, Pepsi or Soda can all describe a black dog
Cosmo - The heavens are black in space
Currant - Dried fruit that can be black or red
Dark Star - 1974 American science fiction comedy film
Demon - Usually considered very dark
Dice - Could work for a black and white dog
Domino - A good name for a predominantly black dog with a little white.
Dot - A good name for a black dog with a white spot
Ebony - Dark wood
Eclipse - The sun or moon goes black during an eclipse
Eightball - A black pool ball
Elvira - Queen of the Night
Ember - charred wood
Espresso - Very strong dark coffee
Gothic -
Graphite - pencil lead
Hershey - Could be used for a black or brown dog. Think Dark Chocolate
Hitchcock - Think dark fiction
Indigo - very dark pigment
Inkblot - That's assuming the ink is black
Inkwell - See above
Inky - See above
Jackal - medium size dog type mammal found in Africa
Jaguar - largest cat species in the Americans sometimes black in color
Knight - Black Knight
Kuro (Japanese - black)
Lava - Can harden into a black rock
Leopard - Large black cat
Licorice - Black type of candy
Magic - Think Black Magic
Magpie - Beautiful black and white bird
Mamba - Black Mamba are venomous snakes found in Africa
Merlin - Mythical sorcerer for King Arthur
Midnight - Dark part of the night
Morticia - The mother and wife of the Addams' Family
Noche - means night in Spanish.
Noir - French for Black
Nimbus - type of dark cloud
Ninja - Medieval Japanese Assassin
Obsidian - Dark black stone known for its metaphysical properties
Oboe - Dark colored woodwind instrument
Olive - (Black Olive) Good Girl's name
Onyx - Black stone
Opal - Black Opals are precious stones
Oreo - A good name for a black and white dog
Ozzie
Panda - A large black animal
Panther - Large black cat and another name for a cougar
Penguin - Black land and sea bird; Could be used for a black and White dog.
Pepper - Black pepper
Pepsi - or Coke, both dark black colored soda drinks
Phantom
Preto (Portuguese for black)
Puma - a large cat or another name for Cougar
Raven - Large Black Bird
Raisin - Dark dried fruit
Rocket
Rorschach - Remember the Rorschach ink blots from Psychology 101?
Shadow - Shadows are dark gray to black
Shady
Silhouette - The black outline of an object
Silky
Smoky
Spade - Black cards
Spot - Good for a black dog with a couple of white spots
Stallion - Black horse
Stella Luna - A black bat in the children's book by the same name
Stormy - Weather is usually very dark
Liz Garcia Perlines from Australind, Australia wrote
My little black dog is named Treacle (meaning black molasses).This is a great name for either a boy or a girl dog.
How clever!
In this case, Treacle is a Girl!
Tarmac - Runway at the airport
Tattoo - Some tattoos are black
Thunder
Twilight -
Vader - Darth Vader always portrayed with a black cloak
Velcro - Black Velcro makes a great name for a little black dog that won't leave your side.
Velvet
Voodoo
Vortex
Zorro
Ideas from Our Readers:
Ivy from Tennessee, USA Offered these ideas:
Ruger
Hatchie
Skunk (Good for a Black & White Dog)
Winchester
Timber
Cracker Jack
Storm
Jadyn from
Valparaiso, Indiana USA suggested the following great names for your black dog:
Poppy
Pepper
Penny
Jana
Jaja
Joni
Jojo
Barney
KoKo for Cocoa
Shadeaux - Sounds like "Shadow" but with a French twist
PJ for a peanut butter and jelly dog (brown and red)
Cole is short for Charcoal or coal
Sabian - For Sabian Holmes, a famous black man
Elvin - Famous black drummer Elvin Jones
Clarke - Famous black drummer Kenny Clarke
Prince
Winston
Brandon
Buddy
Baxter
J.W. Peterson from Cottage Grove, MN suggests the name, Brenna
I found this name has both Nordic and Celtic origin and has meanings ranging from Raven, Raven haired, Little Raven,Raven haired beauty, and even another meaning "little beacon on a hill" and even "little teardrop."
For an in depth explanation and historical perspective of the color black, check out this wikipedia article.
Need a formal name to place on your purebred dog’s registration paperwork?
Practically anything goes in this regard but must not exceed 50 characters including spaces if you are registering with the American Kennel Club. Otherwise, you will pay more for your name. Any name you choose will be subject to approval with AKC.
You do not need to choose two entirely separate names, one informal and one formal. You can start with one of the names below and add to it to come up with a unique dog name to register. For example, say you want to name your dog Thunder, a formable name for a tiny dog.
Your registered name could be Josie’s Passing Thunder Clouds.
Have a suggestion for a black dog name. Take a moment and add it to our ever growing list. Use the form below our list of black dog names to submit your ideas.
We will evaluate any name for appropriateness on this site and add accordingly. You are also welcome to add photos and a short story about your favorite black dog.
Have a great name or story to tell about your Black Dog? We’d love to hear it. Use the form below to tell the world about your favorite black dog.
There are many small breed dogs that are black. Do you have or have had a small black dog. We'd like to hear about your dog? What is your dog's name? What breed? What are some special characteristics about him or her that makes them unique? Does he do tricks? Do you have a great story about a black dog Please share it. Don't forget to upload some photos.
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
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Didn’t find the perfect name? Check out our other dog name pages for additional ideas to help you name your dog.
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