Dog Names That Start With S

  1. Serge
    • Origin:

      French variation of ancient Roman family name Sergius
    • Meaning:

      "servant"
    • Description:

      Old saints' and popes' name that went to France in the 1920s with the Russian Ballets Russes; in its Russian form, Sergei, it retains an artistic, almost effete air.
  2. Seb
    • Origin:

      Egyptian
    • Meaning:

      "God of the earth"
    • Description:

      This name, more recognized as a short form of Sebastian, is perfectly usable a cool full name, and, in fact, ranks on the UK popularity list. Seb is getting lot of attention as the nickname name of the Ryan Gosling character in the hit film La La Land.
  3. Spike
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "a very large nail"
    • Description:

      Spike is part mid-century nickname-name, ala Buster or Buck, and part word name, with an all-over cool creative dude feel thanks to directors Spike Lee and Spike Jonze. Mike Myers named his son Spike. That's right: Spike and Mike. Spike qualifies as one of the distinctly American names.
  4. Sonnet
    • Origin:

      English from Italian
    • Meaning:

      "little song"
    • Description:

      Could there be a more poetic name than Sonnet? Actor Forest Whitaker was inspired to choose it for his daughter.
  5. Sandro
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Alessandro, Italian
    • Meaning:

      "defending men"
    • Description:

      Lengthy, romantic Alessandro gives us the friendly and casual nickname Sandro, which works just as well as an independent name. It’s a popular international name, having ranked in Italy, France, Portugal, and Switzerland in recent years.
  6. Starling
    • Origin:

      Bird name
    • Description:

      Unusual choice that was the original name of children's illustrator Tasha Tudor, but is an interesting elaboration of Star, taking it into avian territory.
  7. Sampson
    • Origin:

      Hebrew
    • Meaning:

      "sun"
    • Description:

      This name, once considered overly powerful due to the superhuman strength of the biblical figure, is now an option for parents in search of an unusual route to Sam. But you really don't need that p: Samson will do.
  8. Seymour
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "marshy land near the sea"
    • Description:

      Out playing shuffleboard at his condo and not expected back for several generations -- unless it morphs into a girls' name, a la Sydney.
  9. Solstice
    • Origin:

      English from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "when the sun stands still"
    • Description:

      Solstice graduated from word to official first name when author Lionel Shriver used it for a character in her novel Big Brother. But of course, there were people named Solstice before: 16 baby girls were given the name in the US in 2021 (and it is occasionally used for boys too).
  10. Suede
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "Swedish"
    • Description:

      In the nineties there was a "One Life to Live" soap opera character named Suede, but few fans picked up on it; might be more appealing to today's generation of parents.
  11. Saturn
    • Origin:

      Roman mythology name
    • Description:

      If you've rejected all the names on earth, you might move on to the sixth planet from the sun, also the Roman god of agriculture and plenty, and the origin of Saturday.
  12. Stiles
    • Origin:

      English surname
    • Meaning:

      "steep hill, steps"
    • Description:

      Stylish surname name which can also be spelled Styles, as in One Direction band member Harry.
  13. Sakura
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "cherry blossom"
    • Description:

      Lovely Japanese name that would certainly be appreciated in Europe and the U.S. It was rarely used in Japan until the 1990s, and draws its current popularity from the fact that it is deeply connected to Japanese traditional culture without sounding frumpy and old-fashioned.
  14. Shani
    • Origin:

      Indian mythological name; Hebrew, Swahili
    • Meaning:

      "scarlet, marvelous"
    • Description:

      It would be easy to dismiss this girlish name as invented fluff, but it has roots in several cultures with evocative meanings and references. Shani refers to the "scarlet thread" or theme of a story. Shani is also the name of a Hindu god and the Sanskrit word for the planet Saturn. And it's a Swahili name also found in other African cultures that means marvelous.
  15. Storm
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      The name of one of the most powerful Marvel superheroes — and the first major black female comic book heroine — is certainly a big one to live up to! Portrayed in the live-action X-Men movies first by Halle Berry and then by Alexandra Shipp, Storm is a mutant descended from a long line of African witch-priestesses, who can bend the weather and atmosphere to her will.
  16. Satine
    • Origin:

      French
    • Meaning:

      "smooth, shiny"
    • Description:

      Satine, the name of the Nicole Kidman character in Moulin Rouge,, is, by definition satiny smooth. Jacinda Barrett named her daughter Satine Anais.
  17. Sterling
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "of the highest quality"
    • Description:

      A name with some sterling qualities, most associated with the British currency and silver markets. Sterling is more commonly a male name or surname, but is occasionally used for girls as well.
  18. Sander
    • Origin:

      Dutch and Scandinavian, diminutive of Alexander
    • Meaning:

      "defending men"
    • Description:

      Sander is a more conventional form of Zander or Xander, heard frequently on its own in Europe. It is now a Top 20 name in Norway, and is also popular in Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands.
  19. Sansa
    • Origin:

      Sanskrit
    • Meaning:

      "praise, charm"
    • Description:

      Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin is a master namer, and this unusual choice from India is beginning to be heard in nurseries as well as on television. Sansa was perhaps slower to catch on than other names such as Arya and Khaleesi as Sansa Stark was in the first seasons of the show a weak and compromised character.
  20. Solstice
    • Origin:

      English from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "when the sun stands still"
    • Description:

      Solstice graduated from word to official first name when author Lionel Shriver used it for a character in her novel Big Brother. But of course, there were people named Solstice before: 16 baby girls were given the name in the US in 2021, and it was last on the charts for boys in 2018, when six baby boys got the name.