Congratulations! You’ve made the decision to bring home a brand new little pupper and now you are looking for the perfect boy name. Finding a name that is just right for your little fur ball is no small task. Whichever name you choose, it’ll be how you address your little pupper for years to come. It’s also how friends, neighbors, and strangers alike will greet your new furry friend.
Hands down choosing a name is one large responsibility. No worries, though. In this post you’ll discover exactly 1000 charming puppy names just waiting for a perfect match. From popular and funny to retro, creative, old fashioned, and beyond, you need look no further for a perfect male puppy name.
Before we dive into the names, let’s first talk about the naming process. That is, things to consider when choosing a name.
Things to Avoid When Choosing Dog Names for Boys
- Avoid choosing a name that rhymes with someone in your family. For example, if you have a sister named Emma, then don’t start calling your puppy Ezra. Puppies are smart and will soon learn their names. However, it’s hard for a furry canine to distinguish between words that rhyme. So to avoid doggy confusion, stay away from names which rhyme with household names and words.
- Avoid choosing a name that rhymes with a command. Similar to the previous point, avoid names that rhyme with commands such as sit, stay, fetch, and down. Because Bit rhymes with sit and Bay rhymes with stay, these are examples of what to avoid. This way your puppy won’t be confusing his name with common commands.
- Avoid choosing a name that is age sensitive. Sure, your puppy may be tiny and adorable on his first day home. However, unless you purchased a teeny tiny dog breed, your little boy puppy will soon be growing and maturing into a much larger canine buddy. For this reason, avoid calling your boy puppy names such as Tiny, Midget, and Bambi. While the name is fitting for small little puppies, it could get awkward once your puppy reaches adulthood.
Things to Consider When Choosing Dog Names for Boys
- Pick one or two syllable names. This isn’t a hard set rule. If from childhood you’ve been dreaming of naming a little puppy Alexander or Zephaniah, your puppy won’t hate you for it. Still, by choosing a one or two syllable name, it will be easier for your puppy to learn and remember his name. (Bonus: If you must choose a long and elaborate boy puppy name, you could always consider shortening it to a fun sounding nickname.)
- Choose a name with hard consonants. While vowels are certainly needed, look for a name that uses hard consonants. Again, it’ll simply be easier for your pooch to understand.
- Practice speaking the name. Practice calling the name from different corners of your home; try the backdoor, your living room, and from inside your bedroom. Is the name easy to pronounce? Do you enjoy how it sounds when you speak it? Practice speaking the name before making a final decision. This way you can be confident in how it sounds and feels on your tongue.
- Determine what matters most to you. Some folks have their name selected weeks before their puppy ever comes home. Others prefer to meet their puppy first before choosing a name. Wherever you fall between the two camps, decide what matters most to you. Do you prefer to choose a name first? Or do you prefer to find your perfect little pup and then choose a name based on your puppy’s personality? For example, if your puppy loves being the center of attention you might consider King as an ideal puppy name. Or if your puppy is fond of lots of affection, why not name him Cuddles or Kisses?
- Pick a name the whole family likes. No doubt this is easier said than done. To get started, compile a list of all your favorite boy names for dogs. Next, discuss the names with your family and remove your least favorite names. Do this several times until you are down to a single doggy name.
Look for Inspiration
To get your mind rolling on potential name options, consider revisiting your childhood years. Perhaps the name of your home street or favorite cartoon character would be a perfect match for your four legged friend. Alternatively you could name your pupper after a best friend, your favorite teacher, a classic book series (consider Peter Rabbit to the rescue!), or your very own hometown.
If travel is your thing, you could always name your little boy pup after a favorite destination. Perhaps it’s a place that holds special memories for you, a place you wish to visit, or a treasured vacation getaway.
Perhaps you are quick to notice appearance. If so, you might give your puppy a name based on his appearance. If he’s brown, what about calling him coffee, cocoa, brownie, or chocolate? Sporting a white coat instead? Then what about names like snowflake, snow white, and sugar? Plus, look for any special markings on your puppy. If only the paws are one color, perhaps Socks would be a fitting name. Be alert to any spots or color combinations that might further inspire a name.
While many folks are giving there puppies human names, this isn’t always the case. Non-human names can also make for stellar puppy titles. If you are a foodie, boy names include Ginger, Olive, Basil, Coco, and Maple. If you are a frequent traveler, consider giving your little pup a name after an international city. Sydney, Florence, Bali, Rio, and Cleveland are all solid puppy names. Or if you simply enjoy the outdoors, names like Lily, Clover, Daisy, and Spearmint may be your perfect match. Oh, and for the avid sports fan, you can seldom go wrong when naming your puppy after a favorite sports team.
Now that your mind is rolling, here are 1,000 puppy names for boys. Scroll slow, think big, and cheers to finding the perfect puppy name!
100 Popular Puppy Names for Boys
From hip and trendy to old time favorites, these names are where it’s at when you are looking to give your fur-ball a name that will stick.
- Ace
- Aero
- Alden
- Alford
- Alistar
- Andre
- Andy
- Arnold
- Axel
- Bailey
- Barkley
- Baron
- Barton
- Baxter
- Bear
- Bennett
- Benson
- Blake
- Bradley
- Brady
- Bronson
- Bruce
- Buddy
- Cadence
- Captain
- Carter
- Casper
- Cedric
- Champ
- Chase
- Chief
- Clark
- Clyde
- Colby
- Cosmo
- Damien
- Davis
- Dexter
- Diego
- Diesel
- Donovan
- Drew
- Duke
- Emmet
- Ernest
- Everett
- Felix
- Fido
- Forrest
- George
- Gizmo
- Griffin
- Harvey
- Hudson
- Ivan
- Jack
- Jackson
- Judge
- Kent
- King
- Kobe
- Lars
- Leo
- Liam
- Luther
- Marley
- Marco
- Mason
- Max
- Miles
- Oliver
- Oscar
- Otis
- Owen
- Pablos
- Piper
- Quincy
- Quinton
- Ralph
- Reese
- Rex
- Riley
- Rockwell
- Rufus
- Sarge
- Samson
- Scout
- Sebastian
- Sparky
- Spot
- Stuart
- Taco
- Tesla
- Tobias
- Victor
- Wade
- Wally
- Wilbur
- Wyatt
- Zane
100 Old Fashioned Male Puppy Names
Think old fashioned and say hello to the good old days. Here are 100 names that, regardless the year, simply refuse to retire.
- Abe
- Albert
- Alvin
- Archibald
- Archie
- Ashby
- Barton
- Benji
- Benny
- Bernard
- Bradford
- Braxton
- Brock
- Bronson
- Byron
- Cadence
- Carlton
- Carter
- Charlie
- Clark
- Colin
- Crawford
- Darius
- Davy
- Dixon
- Donnie
- Easton
- Edger
- Edison
- Edmund
- Edwin
- Eliot
- Elmer
- Emory
- Eugene
- Ezra
- Felix
- Fenton
- Floyd
- Foster
- Gilbert
- Graham
- Hamilton
- Harrison
- Henry
- Hilton
- Ike
- Irving
- Jacob
- John
- Kendrick
- Lance
- Lemuel
- Leo
- Leroy
- Lincoln
- Luther
- Malcolm
- Maverick
- Maximilian
- McKinley
- Milburn
- Milton
- Morton
- Murphy
- Napoleon
- Norris
- Orson
- Oscar
- Otto
- Park
- Parley
- Percival
- Philip
- Porter
- Quincy
- Ralph
- Randall
- Reed
- Reuben
- Robert
- Rudolph
- Rupert
- Saul
- Sheldon
- Sherman
- Silas
- Spot
- Stuart
- Teddy
- Thornton
- Tobias
- Toby
- Tyler
- Vernon
- Victor
- Walter
- Warren
- William
- Winston
100 Top Dog Names for Males
Undecided between old-time classics and beautifully modern? Following is a list of absolute top dog names as presented by AKC. So whether you are hoping for something original or a title that has been around the block, chances are high you’ll find a favorite here.
- Ace
- Apollo
- Bailey
- Bandit
- Baxter
- Bear
- Beau
- Benji
- Benny
- Bentley
- Blue
- Bo
- Boomer
- Brady
- Brody
- Bruno
- Brutus
- Bubba
- Buddy
- Buster
- Cash
- Champ
- Chance
- Charlie
- Chase
- Chester
- Chico
- Coco
- Cody
- Cooper
- Copper
- Dexter
- Diesel
- Duke
- Elvis
- Finn
- Frankie
- George
- Gizmo
- Gunner
- Gus
- Hank
- Harley
- Henry
- Hunter
- Jack
- Jackson
- Jake
- Jasper
- Jax
- Joey
- Kobe
- Leo
- Loki
- Louie
- Lucky
- Luke
- Mac
- Marley
- Max
- Mickey
- Milo
- Moose
- Murphy
- Oliver
- Ollie
- Oreo
- Oscar
- Otis
- Peanut
- Prince
- Rex
- Riley
- Rocco
- Rocky
- Romeo
- Roscoe
- Rudy
- Rufus
- Rusty
- Sam
- Sammy
- Samson
- Scooter
- Scout
- Shadow
- Simba
- Sparky
- Spike
- Tank
- Teddy
- Thor
- Toby
- Tucker
- Tyson
- Vader
- Winston
- Yoda
- Zeus
- Ziggy
100 Unique Male Puppy Names
Looking for a name that will stand out when you’re at the dog park? Following is a list of 100 unique male puppy names that not only sound charming but will also be easy for your pup to recognize.
- Ace
- Admiral
- Aero
- Aiden
- Aldo
- Alfred
- Altius
- Anders
- Apache
- Archer
- Armor
- Aslan
- Atikus
- Atlantis
- Axle
- Aztech
- Antonio
- Bach
- Barry
- Beau
- Blitz
- Bolt
- Bourbon
- Bruno
- Brute
- Benz
- Burton
- Carmel
- Cascade
- Chaplin
- Colt
- Damdon
- Draco
- Dirk
- Echo
- Einstein
- Emmett
- Ernest
- Everett
- Ford
- Fortress
- Flame
- Garber
- Grit
- Gunner
- Hancock
- Harrison
- Hartford
- Hawkeye
- Hummer
- Jasper
- Jax
- Jester
- Jake
- Jiffy
- Judge
- Kai
- Keaton
- Laddie
- Lancelot
- Malakai
- Maverick
- Merlin
- Moki
- Navajo
- Octavious
- Oliver
- Ollie
- Opus
- Ozzi
- Pandora
- Peyton
- Prince
- Quatro
- Reagan
- Ramzi
- Ranger
- Rocco
- Royce
- Salem
- Sudoku
- Timber
- Thomas
- Thor
- Tito
- Tornado
- Valentino
- Vertigo
- Victory
- Vince
- Wallace
- Wally
- Warner
- Wiley
- Winchester
- Wrangler
- Yale
- Ziggy
- Zing
- Zuzu
100 Travel Inspired Dog Names for Boys
Struck with wonder-lust? Then choose a dog who likes to explore and give him a name inspired straight from travel. Whether it’s a name after your favorite destination, an item you always have with you when on the go, or a mode of transportation, the options are many when choosing a puppy name inspired by travel. So go ahead and have fun browsing the following list to get your mind turning.
- Andes
- Aragon
- Arthur
- Asia
- Aspen
- Athens
- Atlas
- Barkley
- Belize
- Blazer
- Bolivia
- Bowen
- Brantley
- Bumper
- Camden
- Caption
- Carlton
- Carolina
- Chad
- Clayton
- Compass
- Conductor
- Constance
- Cruise
- Cyprus
- Czech
- Dakota
- Dash
- Diego
- Dijon
- Douglas
- Driver
- Duncan
- Dutch
- Easton
- Edward
- Everest
- Fez
- Flyer
- Fiji
- Franklin
- George
- Gruber
- Hamilton
- Hari
- Harper
- Hunter
- Israel
- Java
- Jericho
- Jersey
- Jordan
- Kasai
- Kent
- Kobe
- Lewis
- Lexington
- London
- Luna
- Mali
- Metro
- Miles
- Milford
- Mission
- Misty
- Montana
- Morocco
- Motor
- Ontario
- Paris
- Ranger
- Rambles
- Rider
- Rig
- Roads
- Rocky
- Roller
- Rome
- Romy
- Rover
- Rupa
- Sajo
- Sanford
- Scout
- Sierra
- Skipper
- Speedy
- Station
- Tahoe
- Tex
- Trip
- Trotter
- Tunnel
- Quest
- Waco
- Watson
- Wheeler
- Yeti
- Yukon
- Zulu
100 Male Puppy Names after Cities
Perhaps it is your favorite vacation place or a land brimming with happy childhood memories. Either way, why not name your puppy after that favorite destination city? From Paris to Atlanta to Bronx and beyond, here are 100 city names just waiting to be paired with charming little boy pups.
- Angelo
- Antigua
- Ash (think Ashville)
- Atlanta
- Athens
- Austin
- Barcelona
- Beijing
- Berlin
- Boston
- Brisbane
- Bronx
- Brooklyn
- Brussels
- Cairo
- Caramel
- Carson
- Camden
- Cancun
- Cincinnati
- Chandler
- Charleston
- Chicago
- Cody
- Columbus
- Dakar
- Dallas
- Dayton
- D.C.
- Denver
- Derby
- Diego
- Dubai
- Dublin
- Francisco
- Fresno
- Granada
- Halifax
- Houston
- Jackson (or Jack for short)
- Jakarta
- Jose
- Kiev
- Leon
- Lincoln
- Lisbon
- Logan
- London
- Los Angeles (or Angeles for short)
- Louis (think Louisville)
- Madrid
- Madison
- Manila
- Melbourne
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milan
- Mombasa
- Monaco
- Monroe
- Montreal
- Moscow
- Munich
- Nashville
- Newark
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Oslo
- Ottawa
- Paris
- Panama
- Perth
- Phoenix
- Portland
- Puebla
- Raleigh
- Rio
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- Seoul
- Stockton
- Sydney
- Tampa
- Tasmania
- Tijuana
- Tokyo
- Toledo
- Toronto
- Trenton
- Tulsa
- Vancouver
- Venice
- Vienna
- Washington
- Wichita
- Winnipeg
- Winston
- Wyatt
- York
- Zurich
100 Country Dog Names for Males
Got a chill dog who enjoys taking life in stride? Southern draw meets dapper pups in this list of 100 doggy names. Inspired by country music, locations, movies, characters, and good home town cooking, here are 100 country dog names for your dapper boy pup.
- Alabama
- Alton
- Angus
- Arlen
- Atkins
- Atlanta
- Augusta
- Austin
- Avery
- Bacon
- Bandit
- Banjo
- Barrett
- Barton
- BB
- Beau
- Bennet
- Benny
- Billy
- Biscuit
- Blake
- Blaze
- Bo Duke
- Booker
- Bourbon
- Boyd
- Branson
- Brock
- Bubba
- Bud
- Buddy
- Bullet
- Butch
- Butter
- Buck
- Carolina
- Carter
- Casey
- Cash (think Johnny Cash!)
- Chase
- Clayton
- Cole
- Colonel
- Colt
- Copper
- Cowboy
- Delta
- Dixie
- Dumplin
- Georgia
- Duke
- Eli
- Grady
- Grayson
- Graze
- Grits
- Grover
- Gumbo
- Gunner
- Hank
- Hardy
- Harper
- Houston
- Huckleberry
- Hunter
- Jack
- Jasper
- Jeb
- Jed
- Jefferson
- Jennings
- Jethro
- Johnny
- Kenny
- Knox
- Lee
- Louisiana
- Maverick
- McGraw
- Memphis
- Nashville
- Opry
- Paisley
- Parker
- Rogers
- Roper
- Rufus
- Sawyer
- Scout
- Tennessee
- Trace
- Trapper
- Twain
- Tulsa
- Underwood
- Vernon
- Vince
- Willie
- Wyatt
- Yeller
100 Nature Inspired Dog Names for Boys
If you and your pooch enjoy hikes through nature and outdoor adventures, this list is for you. These 100 names are inspired by either real things in nature or from outdoor gear. Now you can find the perfect match for your nature loving puppy.
- Alfalfa
- Aspen
- Aster
- Autumn
- Barley
- Basil
- Baxter
- Bean
- Berry
- Birch
- Blossom
- Boots
- Brook
- Buttercup
- Butternut
- Canyon
- Cascade
- Cedar
- Cherry
- Chili
- Cinnamon
- Clay
- Cliff
- Clover
- Cole
- Compass
- Copper
- Cricket
- Cypress
- Dusty
- Ebony
- Echo
- Fig
- Fjord
- Flint
- Forest
- Foxy
- Ginger
- Goji
- Grove
- Gypsy
- Huckleberry
- Jasper
- Jet
- Jordan
- Journey
- Jupiter
- Juniper
- Kai
- Kalani
- Kyle
- Lark
- Laurel
- Maple
- Mercury
- Midnight
- Nalgene
- North
- Nutmeg
- Oakley
- Opal
- Orion
- Pack
- Peanut
- Pepper
- Phoenix
- Pluto
- Poppy
- Pumpkin
- Reed
- Ridge
- Rio
- Rocky
- Shadow
- Skylar
- Smokey
- Springer
- Spruce
- Star
- Storm
- Stormy
- Summer
- Simmit
- Sunny
- Sweetpea
- Talus
- Tansy
- Thunder
- Timberline
- Topaz
- Trail
- Treck
- Venus
- Wasabi
- West
- Willow
- Wind
- Wool
- Zeva
- Zofie
100 One Syllable Male Puppy Names
Why only one syllable? They are short, easy to remember, and even easier to say. Here are 100 one syllable boy puppy names.
- Abe
- Ace
- Bach
- Badge
- Bart
- Bay
- Bear
- Beau
- Benz
- Bert
- Blaine
- Blake
- Blaze
- Bly
- Bo
- Bolt
- Boo
- Boss
- Brad
- Brock
- Bronx
- Bruce
- Bryce
- Bud
- Carl
- Champ
- Chance
- Charm
- Chase
- Chaz
- Chet
- Chief
- Chip
- Chuck
- Clark
- Clem
- Clint
- Clyde
- Craig
- Creed
- Cruise
- Dale
- Dash
- Dex
- Dirk
- Drew
- Dusk
- Fizz
- Ford
- Frank
- Fred
- Free
- Frost
- Gabe
- Geoff
- Graham
- Grant
- Greg
- Gus
- Hans
- Hoyt
- Huck
- Hulk
- Ian
- Jace
- Jax
- Jazz
- Jude
- Keith
- Kirk
- Klause
- Lars
- Lex
- Mac
- Moe
- Nash
- Neil
- Pax
- Puff
- Quinn
- Raj
- Reece
- Rex
- Scott
- Serge
- Sid
- Star
- Thane
- Thor
- Trey
- Troy
- Ty
- Tyke
- Vance
- Yule
- Zack
- Zane
- Zeb
- Zeke
- Zoe
50 Retro Puppy Names for Boys
The sixties are back! Old fashioned, unique, and perhaps a little bit classic, here are fifty boy puppy names straight out of the twentieth century. There’s Clyde and George and Jenkins and Zeke. Who knows but you might even find your great uncle’s name in this list of retro male names.
- Angus
- Alfred
- Archie
- Arthur
- Bailey
- Biff
- Carl
- Charles
- Chester
- Churchill
- Clark
- Clyde
- Duke
- Einstein
- Frank
- Gatsby
- George
- Gomer
- Hamlet
- Harold
- Henry
- Horace
- Izzy
- Jake
- Jesse
- Jenkins
- Lennon
- Lester
- Levi
- Lincoln
- Mel
- Milo
- Norman
- Owen
- Raymond
- Richard
- Samson
- Shane
- Silas
- Simon
- Sinatra
- Stewart
- Tarzan
- Tex
- Toby
- Ulysses
- Wilbur
- Wilson
- Winston
- Zeke
50 Funny Dog Names
Hands down here are fifty of the funniest puppy dog names. Inspired by puns, celebrities, favorite animals, and snacks for the foodies, get ready for a few grins while browsing this list.
- Bacon
- Bear
- Beaver
- Bison
- Bucky
- Burger
- Chocolate Chip
- Coyote
- Doe
- Dollar
- Doodle
- Deer
- Eggroll
- Elf
- Elmo
- Frog
- Gecko
- Goose
- Grizzly
- Horse
- Jackal
- Jellybean
- Kitty
- Lion
- Lynx
- Meatball
- Milkshake
- Nacho
- Noodles
- Salsa
- Sherlock Bones
- Pancakes
- Paw-casso
- Pee-wee
- Putt-putt
- Puppaccino
- Rabbit
- Reeses Puppycups
- Santa Paws
- Sprite
- Tater
- Tiger
- T-Rex
- Ukelele
- Waffles
- Winnie the Poodle
- Wolf
- Woodcock
- Woofer
- Yen
And that’s a wrap! All 1,000 puppy names from popular and adventurous to retro and old fashioned and everything in between. Write down your favorite names, discuss your favorites with the family, cross out your least favorite names, and ta-da! You’ve got a winning puppy name.
After you find the perfect name, go ahead and introduce your new little pupper in the comments below. We’d love to meet him!
As the Editor in Chief, Anna Lengacher helps dog lovers learn the ropes of finding, raising, and caring for their dogs so they can enjoy many happy memories together.