Whether you are getting ready to bring home a puppy or you are bringing home a rescue dog, you are likely searching for a name that fits their personality and has some significance to you. When searching for pet names, it is fun and exciting to look to the past to find historical relevance and context for naming your new furry friend.
From the Renaissance era to royal names, finding the perfect name for your pet can be exciting yet challenging.
Here we have compiled a list of the best historic dog names for female and male dogs with historical context throughout the ages. From naming dogs after historical people to using the name of a famous dog in history, our comprehensive list will help you find the perfect name for your new pet.
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Dog Names After Historical Figures
When searching for historical puppy names, the first place to look is for notable people in history books. Dogs named after people are creative, and the name is immediately recognizable. We have separated dog names for historical figures into a few categories like politicians, scientists, authors, and troublemakers!
Political Figures
First, think of America’s founding fathers, former presidents, and global politicians. From Ancient Greek political thinkers to prime ministers, political names are fun to associate party politics or quirky scandals with you and your pet.
Consider names like:
- Ben
- Franklin
- Abe
- Lincoln
- Clinton
- Jefferson
- Nelson
- Khan
- T.J.
- Hamilton
Inventors and Other Geniuses
Second, think of famous scientists, philosophers, or researchers. These notable people changed the world as we know it, from discovering the importance of the cell to understanding the concept of gravity. Our list is certainly not comprehensive since there are so many great thinkers in our history, but hopefully this list can spark your creative mind.
Think about naming your puppy after a famous inventor like:
- Darwin
- Edison
- Copernicus
- Bacon
- Tesla
- Locke
- Hobbs
- Wilhelm
- Dewey
- Chomsky
Royalty
Then, consider royal names from the British, Spanish, or Portuguese crown. Kings, queens, and members of their courts ruled countries for hundreds of years, just like your new pet will rule the couch in its new home.
Royal names are fun and often have multiple meanings. Considering naming your pet one of these options:
- George
- Windsor
- Victoria
- Anne
- Jester
- Seymour
- Wales
- Edward
- Fergie
- Diana
Artists and Authors
Also, think of those notables that gained popularity via entertainment or the arts. From actors to writers to painters, the list of historically famous people who worked in the arts is almost endless. If you don’t see the author of your favorite book listed, don’t worry, it is likely still a great name for your new puppy!
- Byron
- Crockett
- Kerouac
- Monet
- Mozart
- Matisse
- Picasso
- Cooper
- Fenimore
- Blake
Troublemakers
Finally, consider those who are infamous! For a coy pup who might be keen to break the rules, finding similar historical troublemakers might be a fun fit for your pet’s name.
From the Old West to the roaring twenties, these infamous folks would be the perfect inspiration for your pet’s name:
- Escobar
- Bugsy
- Dillinger
- Doc Holliday
- Fawkes
- Godiva
- Che
- Hickok
- Bonnie
- Jack
Famous Dog Names in History
In addition to naming pets after historical people, you can also name pets after other historical dogs or animals. People have been taming, keeping, and giving pets names that reflect the period and the pet’s personality throughout history.
It’s fun to look through historical accounts and find out what notable people in history have named their pets. Below, we will list several of the most famous pet names, discussing pet names by gender.
Most Popular Historical Dog Names
- Balto helped fetch diphtheria medicine for people in Alaska during the 1920s.
- Sigmund Freud’s dog assistant was a Chow Chow named Jofi.
- Laika was the first animal to orbit Earth in the year 1957.
- Chips was the most highly-decorated dog in the second World War.
- In Switzerland, a dog named Barry saved more than forty people during the 1800s.
- Trakr the Search and Rescue German after the 9/11 attack in New York City. He was named one of the ten most heroic animals of all time by Time Magazine.
- In 1903, Bud Nelson was the very first canine to go across the whole United States by car.
Historical Dog Names: Male
- Beethoven
- Bingo
- Chance
- Clifford
- Comet
- Dogbert
- Dug
- Eddie
- Fang
- Gibson
Historical Dog Names: Female
- Astro
- Blue
- Ladadog
- Lady
- Lady Greyhound
- Lassie
- Nana
- Pickles
- Sandy
- Bellina
Popular Dog Names in the 1800s
Looking to a particular period in history is helpful when attempting to find the perfect name for your new puppy. In the 1800s, a few dog names surged in popularity. Newspapers and journalists logged several of the below names in journals that recorded the name and breed of various pets during the 19th century:
- Tippet
- Prince
- Fido
- Rags
- Teague
- Pippy
- Dash
- Jack
- Jip
- Sweetlips
- Albert
- Arnold
- Cyril
- Dante
- Ernie
- Ezra
- Fletcher
- Owen
- Ruben
- Arabelle
- Ariella
- Clara
- Lucinda
- Myrtle
- Rose
Evolution of Dog Names Through History
As human relationships with dogs have shifted, pet names have changed along with them. In the Middle Ages, most dogs were workers, and owning a dog was practical because people used the dog for hunting or guarding. During this period, owners focused pet names on the dog’s action or how the dog physically looked. For instance, Whitefoot or Holdfast might have been considered good pet names.
Then, in the 1600s, King Charles I popularly and publically began cultivating spaniels, which now share part of his name. During this period, animal names focused more on the pet’s personality than their work or appearance.
Shortly after that, in the 1800s, pets were first considered an integral part of the family, and advocates actively pursued rights for pets. More personified names began appearing, like Albert, Owen, and Clara.
In modern society, dogs are still an integral part of the family, with some people choosing to own dogs rather than have children. Names are often witty and expressive, blending a traditional human name and pet personality.
Tips for Naming Your Dog
Selecting a name that fits your new dog’s personality, your interests, and is recognizable is a delicate balance. First, make sure the name you select is not too long. While it is cute to name your dog Sir Wigglewaffle, it might be difficult for your pet to understand.
Second, dogs tend to respond better to sharp-sounding consonants, so names like Cooper, Kelly, or Peter are more ear-catching to your dogs than others. Additionally, if you have multiple animals, avoid naming them something similar to one another to alleviate any confusion.
Finally, choose a dog name that has a strong meaning. Our list of the best historical dog names can help with this dog naming tip!
Conclusion for the Best Historical Dog Names
We’ve found some great dog names based on historical figures, from explorers to authors to philosophers, for female and male dogs! Keep in mind that a shorter name, or nickname, for your dog can help your pet better understand commands and recognize their name.
Also, as you think about a name for your dog, try to ensure it does not sound like another command you might teach your dog. For example, “Nosotros” might not be a good name if you use the word “no” with your dog.
Finding the perfect name for your pet is easy after reviewing our comprehensive list, selecting your historical period, and seeing your pet’s personality. Whether you pick something that sounds positively regal or downright silly, your dog’s new name will surely be a great fit!
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Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
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