Small Dog Names

  1. Miv
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Myfanwy, Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "my precious little one"
    • Description:

      If Liv can stand on it's own, why not Miv?
  2. Tiernan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "little lord"
    • Description:

      An old Irish surname cousin of Tierney that makes an unusual and appealing Irish gender switch.
  3. Pau
    • Origin:

      Catalan variant of Paul
    • Meaning:

      "small; peace"
    • Description:

      A very common name in Catalonia, in the northeast of Spain, in no small part because it translates as "peace" in the Catalan tongue. Alec and HIlaria Baldwin used it as one of the middle names for their son Eduardo.
  4. Minnow
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "small fish"
    • Description:

      This adorable fish name debuted on the baby name charts in 2020, inspired by a young girl character in the Netflix movie Love and Monsters. Minnow resembles well-established girl names Minnie, Willow, and Marlowe.
  5. Obama
    • Origin:

      Luo; Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "bending or leaning; little beach"
    • Description:

      The surname of the 44th US President has been been adopted as a first, for girls as well as boys, by admiring parents around the world. And the O beginning even makes it fashionable. Though Barack Obama's name derives from the Luo people of Kenya, Obama is also a Japanese place name and a surname that means "little beach."
  6. Renny
    • Origin:

      Anglicized variation of Irish Raithnait
    • Meaning:

      "little prosperous one"
    • Description:

      Used primarily for girls in Ireland, but sounds unisex to us.
  7. Mannix
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "a little monk"
    • Description:

      An X-ending surname less common than the Jolie-Pitt-inspired Maddox. Grandparents might still associate it with the old TV crime show.
  8. Idgie
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Imogen or Imogene, Celtic
    • Meaning:

      "maiden"
    • Description:

      This cutesy nickname is best known as that of Imogene Threadgoode in the movie Fried Green Tomatoes.
  9. Beacan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "tiny one"
    • Description:

      An attractive ancient Irish saint's name that conjures up a beacon of light, this Irish name for boys is well-used in Ireland but rarely heard in the US.
  10. Beanie
    • Origin:

      Invented nickname
    • Description:

      Up-and-coming actress Beanie Feldstein is attracting attention toward her unusual — but rather cute — nickname. She was born Elizabeth Greer Feldstein but nicknamed "Elizabeanie" by her childhood nanny. It was later simplified to Beanie by her older brothers.
  11. Amarissa
    • Origin:

      Combination name, Ama + issa
    • Meaning:

      "little lover"
    • Description:

      Amarissa is kind of cobbled together from two traditional elements: Ama, which means "love" or "lover" and is found in such more established names as Amabel and Amariah, and -issa, which is a common feminine suffix that functions as a diminutive. While Amarissa is pretty and frilly, it may frequently be misunderstood as Marissa, Melissa, and may ultimately be more trouble than it's worth.
  12. Kessie
    • Origin:

      African, Ashanti
    • Meaning:

      "chubby baby"
    • Description:

      Kessie is cute but slight.
  13. Paulo
    • Origin:

      Portuguese, Swedish, and Hawaiian variation of Paul
    • Description:

      Paulo suffers in comparison to the richer and more authentic-sounding Paolo.
  14. Panya
    • Origin:

      African, Swahili; or, Russian, diminutive of Stephania
    • Meaning:

      "mouse, tiny one; or, crowned one"
    • Description:

      Panya is a multicultural possibility with a sound that's pleasing to the English-speaking ear, though the Swahili translation, which might also be "rat," makes it less than savory as an African name.
  15. Garvan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "rough little one"
    • Description:

      Irish surname derived from the name Gairbhín, a diminutive of garbh, "rough". It's barely been used as a first name, but could be a similar-yet-different alternative to names like Nolan and Sullivan.
  16. Lunet
    • Origin:

      Welsh or French, Latin
    • Meaning:

      "idol, image; little moon"
    • Description:

      In Welsh, Lunet is a form of Luned or Eluned, a saint's name that also appears in Arthurian legend as a servant of the Lady of the Fountain who rescues the knight Owain.
  17. Prunella
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "small plum"
    • Description:

      Most ella names are hot, but this is one that won't catch fire because of the disagreeable connotations of prunes.
  18. Feeny
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "little raven"
    • Description:

      Feeny and its alternative spelling Feeney have several origins in Irish. They are anglicised forms of the surnames Ó Fiannaidhe (descendant of Fiannaidhe, meaning warrior), and Ó Fidhne (descendant of Fidhne, from the word for tree or wood). Feeny is also a place name in Northern Ireland, meaning "the woods. Although many Irish surnames are in style, like Keegan and Sullivan, this is one you've probably never met on a person before.
  19. Chico
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "boy"
    • Description:

      Friendly but flimsy.
  20. Edlyn
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "small, noble one"
    • Description:

      Feels like a hybrid. Better go for Edith or Evelyn.