The ultimate puppy names list

At Trusted HQ, we’re not sure there’s anything quite as exciting as bringing home a new puppy. But when it comes to cute puppy names, there’s a lot of choice out there — and considering you’ll be shouting it out across the dog park, picking the perfect one is important.

Whether you want something traditional or a unique dog name that’ll have your puppy standing out from the pack (human names for dogs? We’re definitely here for it), our ultimate, perfect puppy names list has got you covered. 

Top 50 male puppy names

Boisterous and bold or refined and dignified – whatever impression you want to make, you're sure to find an option to suit your new addition in our list of boy puppy names.  

1. Ace
2. Archie
3. Bailey
4. Bear
5. Blue
6. Bodie
7. Bowie
8. Cash
9. Charlie
10. Chester
11. Cody
12. Cooper
13. Diesel
14. Duke
15. Dylan
16. Eli
17. Ezra
18. Finlay
19. Finn
20. Ghost
21. Harley
22. Hunter
23. Ice
24. Jackson
25. Jasper
26. Kobe
27. Leo
28. Loki
29. Lucas
30. Mac
31. Marley
32. Max
33. Milo
34. Moose
35. Murphy
36. Newton
37. Oakley
38. Ollie
39. Oscar
40. Otis
41. Porter
42. Riley
43. Rufus
44. Ryder
45. Sam
46. Shadow
47. Thor
48. Toto
49. Whiskey
50. Ziggy

Top 50 female puppy names

Whether you want to make pop culture references or keep it classic, our pick of the best girl puppy names has something for every new dog owner. Here's our list of dog names perfect for your female pooch.

1. Abby
2. Arya
3. Bailey
4. Bella
5. Bow
6. Cleo
7. Coco
8. Daisy
9. Dixie
10. Duchess
11. Effy
12. Ella
13. Fifi
14. Goldie
15. Gizzy
16. Harley
17. Ivy
18. Izzy
19. Jazz
20. Josie
21. Kaia
22. Karma
23. Lady
24. Lola
25. Lucy
26. Lulu
27. Maple
28. Misty
29. Molly
30. Nala
31. Olive
32. Oona
33. Penny
34. Piper 
35. Poppy
36. Queenie
37. Quinn
38. River
39. Rosie
40. Roxy 
41. Ruby
42. Shadow
43. Skye
44. Stella
45. Storm
46. Suri
47. Tilly
48. Una
49. Willow
50. Winnie

Top 50 unique (yet perfect) puppy names

Want to go for something a little different? Here are 25 out-of-the-box ultimate dog names each for male and female puppies. Some have even topped lists as the least used dog names, so you know you're unlikely to run into any others at the dog park.

Unique boy puppy names

1. Phantom
2. Skip
3. Bambam
4. Stryker
5. Rowan
6. Coffee
7. Trevor
8. Brinkley
9. Oslo
10. Porkchop
11. Ruckus
12. Sancho
13. Dennis
14. Marlo
15. Keanu
16. Ninja
17. Finnigan
18. Brooklyn
19. Coconut
20. Conan
21. Seymour
22. Dodge
23. Rookie
24. Chino
25. Midas

Unique girl puppy names

Here's a list of the ultimate dog names for your unique, female pup.

1. Chili
2. Valkyrie
3. Pickle
4. Momma
5. Cardi
6. Pancake
7. Tinker
8. Bellatrix
9. Latte
10. Melody
11. Indie
12. Leeloo
13. Juno
14. Henna
15. Pumpkin
16. Bagel
17. Lizzo
18. Taytay
19. Biscuit
20. Fifi
21. Mochi
22. Tansy
23. Summer
24. Queenie
25. Maisie

Top 25 cute puppy names

Your little ball of fluff deserves a name as adorable as they are. These unisex names all work, whether you're looking for cute girl puppy names or something for your bounding baby boy.

1. Fluffy
2. Muffin
3. Buddy
4. Marshmallow
5. Peewee
6. Shortie
7. Squidge
8. Beanie
9. Jellybean
10. Squirt
11. Squiggle
12. Bubbles
13. Snuggles
14. Smoochy
15. Candycane
16. Honey
17. Sweetie
18. Snickers
19. Angel
20. Dixie
21. Pepper
22. Riff-raff
23. Nugget
24. Cupcake
25. Boo

How to teach a puppy its name

Now that you've read our list of the perfect puppy names, and hopefully chosen one for your new arrival, it's time for the most important part – getting them to respond to it.

The best way to do this is with positive reinforcement – that is, associating the name with something nice like a soft and tasty dog treat. Find a nice quiet spot with no distractions, and wait until your pup isn't looking at you. Say their name in a cheerful voice and, when they look at you, let them know that's the right response by praising them and giving them a treat. Keep doing it throughout the day until they start to respond.

Level this up step by step: start by moving further away before calling their name, and then wait until they look at your face rather than in your general direction. Once they're really getting it, you can start to do it in places with distractions – like the local park. You can slowly phase out the treats – your pupper will be happy with the love and attention.

Need a pet sitter?

Whatever you name your puppy, you can ensure they get the best of care when you need to go away by signing up to TrustedHousesitters. If you need to leave while they're still young, you can find a sitter with the experience to continue their training.