570+ Cool Dog Names

  1. Ocean
    • Origin:

      English, nature name
    • Description:

      Ocean is a nature name that comes right out and states its meaning and association. Full of power and depth, Ocean is one of the fastest-rising baby names for both girls and boys, making the US Top 1000 for both genders in 2021. Oceane, the version that's trendy in France, was used for only 11 baby girls in the US in the same year. Ocean-lovers who want to be less obvious can choose such subtler names that mean ocean as Jennifer or Marissa, but coming right out and using Ocean is a perfectly valid way to go.
  2. Zeus
    • Origin:

      Greek mythology name
    • Description:

      The supreme Olympian god represents a mighty image for a little fella to live up to, but more and more parents are beginning to consider it seriously. The Roman equivalent Jupiter has also come down to earth. And Zeus wasn't just the supreme god, he was also the god of the sky, thunder, lightning, and fate, among other weighty responsibilities.
  3. Ripley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "strip of clearing in the woods"
    • Description:

      The "Believe It or Not" jokes will get old fast, but this surname feels fun and on-trend for both girls and boys, reminiscent of Riley, Tripp, Bridger, and Oakley.
  4. Lyric
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "lyre"
    • Description:

      A musical name with Greek roots, appealing to parents who like such other names as Harmony, Melody, and Cadence.
  5. Smith
    • Origin:

      English occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "blacksmith"
    • Description:

      Even if it is the Number one surname in the U.S.--with more than 2.5 million bearers--we still think that Smith would make a cool first or middle name, whether or not it has family history.
  6. Ted
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Theodore or Edward
    • Meaning:

      "gift of god; rich guard"
    • Description:

      Like Ed, Eddie and Teddy, Ted is rarely used as an independent name – in the US, at least. In the UK, Eddie ranks just outside the Top 200, Teddy ranks just outside the Top 30, and Ted is a Top 200 pick.

      With Theodore rising, Ted may have new life among parents who don't want to use the short form Theo. And TV's Ted Lasso makes it a quintessential nice guy name.
  7. Jem
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of James or Jeremiah
    • Description:

      This name of the ten-year-old boy in the much loved and acclaimed modern classic To Kill a Mockingbird could find favor along with that of the character's sister, Scout.
  8. Sosie
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Susan
    • Description:

      Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon chose this unusual diminutive for their daughter.
  9. Kingston
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "king's town"
    • Description:

      Chosen for their first son by musical couple Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, this Jamaican place and elegant British surname also boasts the more regal yet user-friendly short form, King.
  10. Zeb
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Zebediah or Zebulon
    • Description:

      Short and to-the-point, it turns an ancient biblical name into a friendly cowboy.
  11. Ever
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Meaning:

      "always, eternally, constantly"
    • Description:

      A simple, unusual word name with an evocative meaning, Ever feels similar enough to Eva, Evelyn, and Everly that it shifts easily into name territory. Actor Robert Carradine was ahead of the trends when he named his now grown-up actress daughter Ever back in the 70s, while more recently, it was used by both Milla Jovovich and Owain Yeoman.
  12. Zeppelin
    • Origin:

      German word name from Slavic
    • Meaning:

      "zeppelin; flail"
    • Description:

      In a baby name landscape where word names and names that start with Z are infinitely cool, there are few options for parents who want to combine trends. Zeppelin is one of the best names at the intersection of these two styles, and it's rising alongside the likes of Zen, Zephyr, and Zenith.
  13. Harmony
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Meaning:

      "harmony"
    • Description:

      If Melody and Lyric are on your style sheet, the peaceful Harmony, popularized by Buffy the Vampire Slayer, should be too. Girls names starting with the "Har" sound like Harper, Harley, and Harlow have been trending in recent years. This musical choice fits right in, and it is no wonder that Harmony has been in the Top 200 since 2014.
  14. Henley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "high meadow"
    • Description:

      The name of a British town on the Thames that hosts a famous regatta. Henley is one of the English baby names soaring in popularity for both boys and girls in the US, but is now much more popular for girls. In the UK, however, it is almost unused for girls, with just 3 female babies named Henley as recently as 2014.
  15. Joss
    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Jocelin
    • Meaning:

      "the merry one"
    • Description:

      Joss hadn't been heard much in this country before the emergence of Joss (born Joseph) Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, et al; it would make a catchy middle name choice. Female British singer Joss Stone was born Jocelyn.
  16. Wylie
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "from Wylye"
    • Description:

      Wylie is a friendly, nonchalant rodeo name with an almost irresistible charm; parents may pick up on its pleasant similarity to the more popular, unisex Riley. Although more masculine, we see Wylie as working as well for boys and girls (Richard Anderson used it for his daughter in 1999). Wylie (or the interchangeable Wiley) can also be an original and authentic way to honor an ancestral William. We don't, however, recommend you spell the name the way Corey Parker did: Wylei. Why lay?
  17. Aziza
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "powerful and beloved"
    • Description:

      Aziza is a zippy palindromic choice that is the female variation of Aziz and is found in several Middle Eastern and African languages and cultures. All in all, an attractive and interesting option; a Turkish variation is Azize. In African mythology, the Azizi are a supernatural race of forest dwellers who give practical and spiritual advice.
  18. Georgie
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "farmer"
    • Description:

      A spunky boyish diminutive in the vein of Frankie, Billie and Charlie, but far less popular in the US. Georgie could be a nickname for Georgia, Georgette, Georgina or Georgiana – or just use it as it is, as over 90 sets of American parents did in 2021.
  19. Benno
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "bear"
    • Description:

      Benno is a cool name in its own right -- there was a tenth century Saint Benno -- though it is also used as a lively nickname for Benjamin. Saint Benno of Meissen is the patron saint of anglers and weavers and, strangely enough, alliteration.
  20. Huckleberry
    • Origin:

      Word name and literary name
    • Description:

      Everybody knows Huckleberry Finn, the Mark Twain character named, Twain said, for the 19th century slang term for "humble." A few modern parents have put it on a birth certificate, including "Man Vs. Wild" star Bear Grylls, who, like many parents, will call the boy the much more manageable Huck. It was also the name of a child on TV's West Wing,