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Your Guide to Dog Names
from Mythology & Folklore

By Janice Jones | Last Updated January 22, 2020

There are many great dog name suggestions available across the internet, but it takes a little searching to find just the perfect name for your puppy.

If you have ever considered a mythical name, there are plenty to choose from.

Many of the dog names from mythology lend themselves nicely as a regal name for your dog. 

The list below does not begin to list all the gods from the ancient worlds. 

We’ve left out many as some are just too long to be practical as a name for a small dog. Some are difficult for English Speaking people to pronounce.

Some represent negative themes that we feel does not represent all the good traits that a dog can possess. 

You don't need to go back to the myths of the ancient world. Want to consider a name from American folklore?  There's a list at the end of this page, or go to names based on America folklore now.  We've also added some additional names originating in English folklore.

Is there a great name that we haven't added?  (I'm sure there is)  If you know of one or many, please feel free to contact me with your ideas.  I'll be sure to add your ideas along with a quick note giving you credit for your contribution.

Where Did the Term Mythology Originate?

Around 400 BC, the athenian philosopher, Plato coined the term, mythologia to describe stories that arose from writer's imaginations. Myths, in other words can be distinguished from facts. 

Plato understood the power that myths may have and wanted a way for his followers to understand the difference between factual accounts and imaginative accounts.

Dog Names from Mythology

Greek Gods and Goddess that Make Great Dog Names from Mythology

Of all the Greek Gods and Goddesses, most possessed very long names that do not lend themselves well to a small dog. 

Consider the name, Dionysus, the god of Wine. As dog names go, Dionysus contains four syllables may be be hard to use for a dog. Two possible substitutes might be Dio and Nysus.

Greek Gods 

If you're looking for dog names from mythology, the obvious place to begin is with the Greeks.  Here are a few names of greek gods for that new puppy.

Apollo, the son of Leto and Zeus, is a good dog name because it only contains three syllables.  Another son of Zeus, god of war, would make a great name for a feisty little puppy.  

Hades, the god of wealth because he possessed all the precious metals of the earth.

Hermes, a trickster, was clever and cunning.  I can think of a few clever puppies that fill the bill.

Poseidon was the god of the sea and protector of waters.  A water loving dog or a family that enjoys boating might find this name engaging.

Zeus is probably one of the most well know gods, father of Hercules among many more.  If you have a top dog, why not have a top god name? 

Janus, the god of beginnings, choices and doorways makes a clever name for that puppy that sits at the door waiting for his owner to return.

Hercules was deity of strength and power.  A clever way to use this larger than life name is to give it to a small dog such as a Chihuahua

Eros was the son of Aphrodite and considered to be the Greek god of love and attraction.  His Roman complement is Cupid; Any dog could have this name!

Attis:  Greek God of Vegetation

Uranus was the Greek god of the sky and the son of Gaea and also the husband.  They had many children who became the Titans. One of his children, Cronus eventually killed him via castration.

Greek Goddesses

In the ancient world, Greek goddesses were just as important as their male counterparts. The page, Dog Names from Mythology would never be complete without a discussion of great girl puppy names.

Tyche was the Greek goddess of fate and fortune and chance.  Many small dog owners will tell you that their fate took an upward turn, when they were fortunate to have the chance to be owned by a dog.

Hera was the queen of all the Olympian gods and considered to be the goddess of the family.  Chose this one for your female family dog. 

Athena, the goddess of wisdom, war and useful arts, was known for her dark hair and temper. Consider this name if you have a dark black or brown dog that has a job to do.

Nike, the goddess of victory is the perfect name for a high achieving dog.  No self respecting dog, however will want to be confused with a shoe.

Isis, the goddess of the rainbow and the messenger of the gods, makes a unique name for a dog who may be a bit yappier than most.  Consider his barks, the messages from the gods.

Demeter was an agricultural goddess and sister of Zeus.  Name your garden loving dog Demeter.

Artemis was a very busy goddess.  She was known as the goddess of the hunt, goddess of wild animals, wilderness, childbirth and virginity. Also, she was protector of young children and was known to bring and relieve disease in women. No wonder she was well respected.  Her dad was Zeus and her brother was Apollo

Aura was the Titan goddess of the breeze and the fresh cool air of morning.  She is considered one of the lesser deities.  Dogs that love the fresh morning breeze might enjoy having this name.

Eris was the Greek goddess of strife and discord, contention and rivalry. Her name is the equivalent of Latin Discordia, which may be where our word, discord originated. 

Seeing that she had a  disagreeable nature, you may not want to borrow her name  for a sweet little puppy. But, if and when the puppy gets into a nasty mood, you could always use it as a nickname.

More Dog Names from Mythology:  Greek Mythology

Not all dogs need god or goddess names, rather there are many different mythical creatures that will lend their name to your dog. Here are a few more options from Greek Mythology to help you choose among the many dog names from mythology.

Echo, a magical wood nymph had a beautiful voice and a good and loving heart. She was gentle and kind and her name would be perfect for a puppy with those qualities.

Pan was the grandson of Zeus and son of Hermes.  Born with strange characteristics, Zeus gave him the job of watching over shepherds and huntsmen.  What a perfect name for a little hunting or herding dog.

Pegasus, a flying horse, was the son of Poseidon.  If you have a little puppy that loves to run like the wind, an appropriate name for him might just be Pegasus.

Pandora, and the story of her secret box is well-known.  Zeus gave her this box as a wedding gift with the stern message to never open the box. 

Curiosity got the best of her and she opened it.  Out flew all the bad things in the world.  Even though she immediately shut the lid, it was too late.  Why not name that curious little girl of yours, Pandora? 

Castor was one of the twins twins that Zeus transformed into the constellation Gemini. Pollux was the other twin. Getting two male siblings from the same litter?  This duo might be perfect.   

Phoebe is a Titan and daughter of Uranus and mother of Apollo.  She is associated with intellect and prophecy.

Roman God and Goddess Names

Many Greek gods and goddesses have a Roman counterpart.  Jupiter is the Roman equivalent to Zeus.  Juno is the Roman Goddess similar to Hera. Pluto is the Roman equivalent to Hades.

Many of the Roman gods and goddesses have shorter names making them perfect as dog names from mythology.

Roman God Names for Dogs

The top six Roman gods were Jupiter, Neptune, Mars, Apollo, Vulcan and Mercury. Does that pantheon sound a bit celestial?  Any of these names would make a great suggestion for your god or goddess of the four legged variety.

Few people have not heard of the Roman god of love, Cupid. Cupid is the son of Venus (mother) and Mars(father).  Anyone in that family will be glad to share their name with your dog.

Jupiter was the king of the gods and god of the sky and rain. He was always considered the top god in the ancient Roman world.  Resemble any little puppy you know?

Mars was a very important Roman god and son of Jupiter and Juno and was considered to be the god of war.

Neptune was the Roman complement of the Greek good, Poseidon, the god of the sea.  Here's another great dog name from mythology for a water loving dog.

Vulcan was the god of fire forge and blacksmiths.  

Pluto is the Latinized form of the Greek name Ploutos, meaning ‘wealth’. In Roman mythology, Pluto was the god of the underworld. As you are beginning to see a pattern here, many Roman gods and goddesses are planets.  Pluto, of course, is the name of a famous Disney dog. 

Liber: Roman god of male fertility;  Will your dog be a stud? If so, why not give him a boost with a great name like Liber.

Need two names?  Here's some famous duets from which to choose.

Remus and Romulus the twin sons of Mars and Rhea and the two founders of Rome.

 Roman Goddess Names for Dogs

Never underestimate the power of a goddess name for your little girl or continue to scroll if you can't find that perfect name.

Diana, the goddess of the hunt was the daughter of Jupiter and his mistress, Latona.  Her brother was apollo.  While already a human name, if you want to use it as a dog name, be prepared to tell people your dog is still a goddess.

Two more common names can also be considered dog names from mythology. Fauna was the Roman goddess of animals and Flora was the goddess of flowers and spring.

Juno was the daughter of Saturn and goddess of marriage.  Similar to Hera in the Greek world, Juno was the protector of the people. Juno would be a great choice for a little watchdog.

Luna is a very common dog name which refers to the Roman goddess of the moon.  Sol is another possible dog name meaning goddess of the sun. Aurora was the goddess of the dawn and Terra was the goddess of the earth. Any one of these goddesses would gladly share their name with your new puppy.

Vesta was considered to be the Roman goddess of the hearth and sacred fire.  Choose this name if you have a dog that loves to stay home.

Nox was the Roman goddess of night.  This name would be good choice for a black dog

Ceres was the Goddess of Agriculture grain crops, fertility and motherly relationships. The Romans saw her as the counterpart of the Greek goddess Demeter which makes her a Roman equivalent of the Greek, Olympians.

There are so many goddesses of the ancient world, some greater and other lesser.  Here are a few more for your consideration.  Fama was the Roman goddess of fame. Lima was the Roman goddess of the threshold.

Victoria, a beautiful girl name was the Roman goddess of victory. Another good nature name, Pomona was the Roman goddess of fruit trees, gardens and orchards. If you want a peaceful household, name your little girl, Pax, the Roman goddess of peace.

More Dog Names from Mythology

There are so many names associated with mythology and to address all of those wonderful names for the purpose of finding a perfect dog name would make this page way too long. For that reason, I'm limiting the names to the Greek and Roman world for this article to help you find the best dog names from mythology.

Achilles was the Greek hero of the Trojan War and the greatest hero in Homer's Iliad.  He is familiar to most in the medical world because a tendon was named after him, Achilles Tendon. 

The general public will be familiar with Achilles Heel, a term that refers to one's weakness especially in people with strong constitutions.

Aeolus was a lesser Greek god who controlled the winds and was ruler of a floating island.  Homer writes about him in the Odyssey as a human he was later described as a god. I have often nicknamed my bulldog, Aeolus because of her proclivity for flatulence.

Atlas was a Titan god who was the leader of the Titans. He was defeated in a war against Zeus and was condemned to carry the heavens on his shoulders. Known for his endurance, he later became the god that taught people about astronomy.  Use this name for a male dog that unusual stamina.

Dog Names from American Folklore

Here are some names drawn from American Folklore.  Some of these names work very well for different breeds and most can be shortened to one syllable words. 

If you have a dog breed that originated in the United States, such as the Boston Terrier, American Hairless or the Alaskan Klee Kai, consider one of these names. 

Ethan Allen:  Hero of the American Revolution

Daniel Boone: Frontiersman:  Great for a dog who loves adventure

Paul Bunyan:  Lumberjack of legend:  Cute for a tiny dog with a big personality

Calamity Jane: Frontier character

John Chapman:  aka. Johnny Appleseed:  Does your dog love apple snacks?

Buffalo Bill Cody: Scout and showman:  There are plenty of dogs out that that want the spotlight, does your dog like to put on a show for you?

Davy Crockett: Frontiersman.  Is your dog looking for the next big escapade?

Mike Fink: Legendary frontiersman, marksman, fighter,  and teller of Tall Tales

John Henry:  Legendary strongman; you know your dog is strong when he always wins the tug-of-war game with you.

Jesse James: Outlaw; How about this name for a dog with a little bit of mischief in him.

Casey Jones: Locomotive engineer:  Do have a dog that prefers riding in a doggie stroller? 

Annie Oakley: Theatrical performer and superb marksman;  She was best known for performing in Buffalo Bills Wild West Show

Pecos Bill: Famous Cowboy

Betsy Ross: Seamstress; sewed the first American Flag

Uncle Sam: Term used to symbolize the United States

There are many ways to name a dog.  Dog Names from Mythology is just one suggestion, but there are plenty more on this site.  For more ideas, check out our other pages on dog names.

If you found Dog Names from Mythology helpful, check out our other dog names pages. Or go to the main dog name page and choose a category.

Dog Names from British Folklore

When one thinks about British folklore, the first thing that comes to mind is the many childhood stories that featured a fairy, elf, dwarf or dragon. Some of the traditional tales may not have names appropriate for a sweet little puppy, but here are a few that might make a great dog name.

Beowulf Epic poem in Old English. 

Brownie - a type of spirit that only comes out at night and does chores around the house in exchange for food or gifts.

Brutus of Troy (legendary founder of London) use either Brutus or Troy

Dragon - Large winged reptiles that could breathe fire.

Dwarf - a great name for a short dog

Elf - a supernatural figure with magical powers.  It is also a great dog name for a puppy born at Christmastime.

King Arthur (and the Knights of the Round Table)

Lady Godiva - rode naked on horseback, covered only in her long hair 

Robin Hood- a legendary English hero.

Pin for Future Reference

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Didn't find your perfect puppy name?  No worries, we have many different pages of names to spark your imagination.

Dog Names Based on Nature for anyone who is inspired by the beauty of nature.

Unusual Dog Names from Math and Science for that scientific thinking puppy parent.

Dog Names Based on Food for all you Foodies out there. But don't rule out a great dog name based on drinks.

References

Greek Gods and Goddesses

History Hit