Looking for best dog names?

Adopting a dog is one of the most rewarding experiences in life, sure it comes with great responsibilities, perhaps the first of them – choosing from a list of best dog names for your forever buddy.

‘What’s in a name?’ quipped Shakespeare but if you see it from a dog’s perspective, it’s everything. A dog’s name isn’t just a name… it is what gets included one way or the other in your passwords or sign-offs in your greeting cards.

Picking a name for your dog is no easy task as it has to meet your dog’s personality (and yours too). Choose a name you love and she responds with that fond wag of a tail – every time that this string of alphabets rolls on your tongue you know that happiness is approaching in an instant! That sheer joy is what naming your doggo is all about.

Tips for choosing your dog’s name

1. Choose a Name That Ends With a Vowel – Dogs distinguish frequency ranges at a much higher level than we do. With a vowel name, it’s really easy to get their attention.
2. Dogs Prefer ‘Short’ Sounds so a short name suits them more. Also worth noting is that names eventually get trimmed, Kaalicharan becomes Kaali.
3. Try not to name your dog after controversial figures – what did the doggo do to deserve the infamy? So Hitler, Kim Jong, and Osama are outta contention.
4. Test out your favourite choices with your dog to see which one he prefers.

See: A picture speaks a thousand words

Best dog names

The rich sense of smells and sounds apart, the most gifted of our canine friends have a vocabulary of about 300 odd words. This set contains everything – toys, treats, trains and you. Yet there is a sound to which dogs’ ears are best attuned, that of their name.

Indian dog names for that adorable desi dog you’ve adopted

1. Nirvana (meaning: a transcendent state in which one is released from the cycle of death and rebirth.)
2. Karma (meaning: the result of one’s actions)
3. Mowgli or Baloo (Jungle Book, anyone?)
4. Amaya (meaning: innocent)
5. Falgun (meaning: spring season)
6. Yogi (for all those yoga practitioners)
7. Babu (Because why should only boyfriends have this moniker?)
8. Gabru (meaning: youthful)
9. Pihu (meaning: the sound of birds chirping)
10. Malang (meaning: nomad)
11. Sheru (meaning: affectionate slang for ‘lion’)
12. Batuk (meaning: Boy)
13. Chinnu (meaning: Spontaneous)
14. Gauri (meaning: white)

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan’s dog is named ‘Shanouk’ which means ‘Gentle warm breeze during a cold morning’.

Pet names in Tamil, one of the oldest spoken languages, have inspired many dog parents of late.

Dog names in Tamil (male)

Looking for dog names in Tamil for your boy? These Tamil male dog names carry strong, sweet meanings, from Vetri (victory) and Selvam (wealth) to Muthu (pearl). In Tamil script, favourites like முத்து (Muthu), வெற்றி (Vetri) and செல்வம் (Selvam) read beautifully too.

Aamod – Pleasure
Abheek – Fearless
Adhiraj – King
Anbu – Love
Azhagu – Beautiful
Chinna – Small
Etash – Luminous
Hrishi – Pleasure
Kairav – White lotus
Mani – A jewel
Munna – Sweet
Muthu – Pearl
Nani – Beauty
Nikash – Horizon
Raja – King
Selvam – Wealth
Shamak – Peacemaker
Surya – Sun
Vallabh – Beloved
Vetri – Victory
Vettri – Brave
Arasu – King
Cheran – Chera king
Ezhil – Beauty
Ezhilan – Handsome
Ilango – Young prince
Inban – Joy
Iniyan – Sweet one
Jeeva – Life
Kadal – Sea
Kannan – Dear one
Karuppan – The dark one
Kavin – Beauty
Kuttan – Little one
Maaran – Warrior
Malai – Mountain
Mazhai – Rain
Murugan – Lord Murugan
Nilan – Of the earth
Oviyan – Artist
Pandi – Of the Pandya land
Ponna – Gold
Semmal – Leader
Senthil – Lord Murugan
Tamizh – Tamil
Thendral – Gentle breeze
Vel – Spear
Velan – One with the spear
Vendan – King

Dog names in Tamil (female)

And for your girl, these Tamil female dog names are as pretty as they are meaningful, like Nila (moon), Kanaka (gold) and Divya (divine). In Tamil, நிலா (Nila), மலர் (Malar) and தாமரை (Thamarai) make lovely picks.

Alekhya – Painting
Amolika – Priceless
Amulya – Invaluable
Anjika – Blessed
Avani – Earth
Bhagya – Lucky
Deepa – Light
Deleena – Good looking
Divya – Divine
Ganika – Flower
Gaurika – Pretty young girl
Grishma – Warmth
Hemakshi – Golden eyes
Imai – Eyelash
Kanaka – Gold
Kashika – The shining one
Kimaya – Divine
Kutty – Small girl
Manasvi – Intelligent
Manika – Jewel
Nila – Moon
Nirvi – Bliss
Nitha – Loyal, grace
Romila – Heartfelt
Rupa – Beautiful
Sachi – Grace
Sathya – Truth
Tasha – Birth
Yamini – Light
Amirtha – Nectar
Amudha – Nectar
Arasi – Queen
Chitra – Bright
Deepam – Lamp
Ezhili – Beautiful one
Iniya – Sweet
Kalai – Art
Kani – Sweet fruit
Kanmani – Apple of the eye
Kavya – Poem
Kayal – Lovely-eyed
Kodai – Gift
Kuyil – Nightingale
Madhura – Sweet
Malar – Flower
Mottu – Flower bud
Mullai – Jasmine
Nilaa – Moonlight
Ponni – River Kaveri
Selvi – Wealthy lady
Senbagam – Champak flower
Thamarai – Lotus
Thendral – Gentle breeze
Vaani – Speech
Vidhya – Knowledge
Yazhini – Sweet as the lute

Popular pet names inspired by pop culture

1. Arya and Ghost (Game of Thrones)
2. Keanu (after Keanu Reeves – the nicest man in Hollywood)
3. GaGa (You guessed who)
4. Loki and Thor (The Avengers)
5. Rock (Wrestler turned actor The Rock)
6. Kim (Kardashian)
7. Mocha and Oreo (food inspired)
8. Snoopy (Peanuts)
9. Hobbes (Calvin and Hobbes)
10. Nairobi and Professor (Money Heist)

Popular Male Dog names

1. Boomer
2. Buddy
3. Caesar
4. Charlie
5. Cooper
6. Cody
7. Dino
8. Duke
9. Milo
10. Oscar
11. Goofy
12. Jack
13. Julius
14. Rusty
15. Max
16. Rocky
17. Murphy
18. Teddy
19. Pluto
20. Mickey
21. Marley
22. Toby
23. Luke
24. Mac

Popular female dog names

1. Apple
2. Ariana
3. Bailey
4. Celeste
5. Cookie
6. Coco
7. Daisy
8. Emmy
9. Gypsy
10. Grace
11. Olivia
12. Muffin
13. Pearl
14. Poppy
15. Rose
16. Tuna
17. Laika
18. Luna
19. Lily
20. Lucy
21. Lola
22. Violet

We hope you find inspiration to find the perfect name for your pet after reading through the above lists. It is just the beginning of one great adventure!

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Read next

• 12 amazing native Indian dog breeds
• Why the Indian Pariah makes a wonderful pet
• Ready to adopt? Start here

Can we guess your pet’s name without vowels?

Write in your pet’s name without any vowels and other people have to guess what it is.

e.g. If your pet’s name is Pixie… scribble P_x_ _

Let us know your cat or dog’s name (with missing vowels) in the comments below and we will try guessing it!

Know of other unique or funny pet names? Please suggest to us!

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