Boy Dog Names That Start With H

  1. Howell
    • Origin:

      English variation of Hywel, an eminent Welsh king
    • Description:

      A familiar and usable last name turned first. Or you could look at it as a homophone of the verb howl, which gives it a wilder feel.
  2. Hanzo
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Description:

      Heard most frequently in 18th century Japan, Hanzo is a rarity in modern culture. Hattori Hanzo was a legendary samurai of the Sengoku Era. A modern day namesake might be Hanzo Shimada, from the video game Overwatch. Hanzo is one of many unique baby names from Asia and from the gaming world.
  3. Hades
    • Origin:

      Greek mythological name
    • Description:

      The name of the god of death and the underworld in Greek mythology is definitely a dark and daring choice. The Roman version Pluto is more associated with the used-to-be planet or Mickey Mouse's side-kick dog.
  4. Howie
    • Harmony
      • Origin:

        Word name
      • Meaning:

        "harmony"
      • Description:

        Hippie name with a sweet meaning. While theoretically gender-neutral, Harmony was given to nearly 1400 baby girls last year....and zero boys.
    • Harlem
      • Origin:

        Place-name
      • Meaning:

        "home on a forested dune"
      • Description:

        With Brooklyn, Trenton, and Camden on the rise, Harlem is one to watch out for. It has lingered down the lower end of the US Top 1000 since 2018 but has been trending upwards. It's already been picked by one celebrity, and it certainly has a stronger historical and cultural identity -- and it could work as an alternative to Harvey or Harley.
    • Hemingway
      • Origin:

        English place name
      • Description:

        No matter how much you love the novels of Papa H., don't saddle your son with this unwieldy appellation.
    • Hopper
      • Origin:

        English or Dutch
      • Meaning:

        "leaper, dancer; hop grower"
      • Description:

        Sean and Robin Wright Penn chose this name for their son to honor their friend Dennis Hopper; others might associate it with the painter Edward. Couldn't be more spirited.
    • Harbin
      • Origin:

        German
      • Meaning:

        "little bright warrior"
      • Description:

        A possible new entry in the Hayden-Corbin two-syllable boys' name club.
    • Haku
      • Origin:

        Japanese
      • Meaning:

        "white; chief; soul"
      • Description:

        Notably used for characters in Spirited Away and Naruto.
    • Hippolyte
      • Origin:

        French from Greek
      • Meaning:

        "releaser of horses"
      • Description:

        Hippolyte is the name of an Amazonian princess AND her son, both unfortunate mythical figures. The name Hippolyte, later borne by several saints, is a not an uncommon boys' name in France, but has barely set foot on American soil and is unlikely to do so. It was the middle name of famed French playwright Jean Giraudoux.
    • Hughes
      • Origin:

        English, Scottish, Irish surname
      • Meaning:

        "mind, intellect; son of Aodh"
      • Description:

        Part of the next generation of preppy H-beginning surnames. Once Harrison, Hudson, and Holden are no longer fresh, expect to hear more little boys being called Hughes, Hutch, and Henderson on the playground.
    • Hurley
      • Origin:

        Irish
      • Meaning:

        "sea tide"
      • Description:

        Hurley is a possibility as a unisex surname-name ending with the "lee" sound. It is perhaps most associated with British actress Elizabeth Hurley, and is much rarer than Harley, because the "ur" sound is currently out of fashion (and the word "hurl" may put some off).
    • Hartford
      • Origin:

        English surname
      • Meaning:

        "deer ford"
      • Description:

        British habitational surname that calls to mind the Connecticut capital
    • Hali
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "the sea"
      • Description:

        Like others in this vein, problematic due to the feminine Hailey connection.
    • Herrick
      • Origin:

        German
      • Meaning:

        "war ruler"
      • Description:

        When you like Eric, but wish it were longer; also the name of a great early English poet.
    • Harvest
      • Origin:

        English word name
      • Meaning:

        "the season for gathering in agricultural crops"
      • Description:

        Harvest has been occasionally used as a name since the eighteenth century, originally as evenly unisex, though it tips a bit in the girls' direction in the contemporary US. Given the rise of such popular baby names as Harper and August, plus new word names from Heaven to True, Harvest sounds more possible now than ever.
    • Heber
      • Origin:

        Hebrew
      • Meaning:

        "partner, togetherness"
      • Description:

        Biblical name -- he was an ancestor of Abraham's -- rarely used today but registered on the U.S. popularity list at the end of the 19th century. With the rise of other obscure Old Testament names, just might have a shot at revival.
    • Hammond
      • Origin:

        English from German
      • Meaning:

        "mountain home"
      • Description:

        A cross-cultural possibility, but a bit heavy and somber.
    • Hodge
      • Origin:

        Variation of Roger, German
      • Meaning:

        "famous warrior"
      • Description:

        Hodge is a medieval English nickname for Roger, which was brought to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Roger isn't ready for a comeback yet, but we'd love to see the resurgence of Hodge, which never was a common choice in the US.