250 Unique Dog Names

Call us biased, but we dog parents know a thing or two about unique dogs because obviously the dogs we call our own are the most unique of them all.

Let’s face it. Your dog is special. He has that special something that makes him stand out in a crowd. Whether it’s his coat color, personality, or size, you know your dog is one of a kind and you’ve known it from the moment you set eyes on him.

And even if you haven’t set eyes on him yet because you’re anticipating getting him but haven’t quite pulled the trigger, you already know that the pooch you pick is going to be special beyond belief. 

Here’s the thing. A dog as unique as your dog deserves a name that stands alone. In a world filled with dog name ideas, how on earth do you find a name that is as spectacular and distinctive as your four-legged star is?

That’s where I come in. I am crazy about all things one-of-a-kind, and as the proud dog mom of a totally one-of-a-kind dog, I’m here to help.

I’ve listed 250 of my favorite and totally unique dog names for that unique dog in your life. 

But before we get started, let’s talk a little bit about why picking the right name for your dog may be more important than you think, and how the unique name you choose for your pup will help the two of you bond for years to come. 

Picking The Right Name For Your Dog 

Picking a dog name you love helps you bond with your dog even quicker.

Naming your dog doesn’t need to be some overly thought out, stressful experience. In fact, it should be the opposite. 

Welcoming a new dog into your family is exciting, and naming your new furry family member should be just as fun. 

With that being said, there are a few things you may want to consider before you go off the deep end and decide to name your dog Helligan Sir Hounddog (or something unique like that). 

First and foremost, keep in mind that naming your dog is actually one of the very first steps you will take in bonding with him. 

The name you choose for him will most likely be his name for the rest of his life, so try and put some thought into the name or at least offer him a nickname that is easy to say over and over again, easy to pronounce, and isn’t offensive if you’re out in public. 

Because let’s face it, you don’t want to be at the dog park yelling for your dog Butt Sniffer the Third, right? 

Along with choosing a dog name you feel comfortable with repeating quite often, you should also keep in mind that some names are going to stick with your dog better than others. 

For instance, studies have found that names with three or more syllables or only one syllable are actually more difficult for your dog to grasp.

The sweet spot for dog naming appears to be in names with two syllables. That’s why names like Buddy, Charlie, Bailey, Rover, etc are super popular. 

Of course, that doesn’t mean that your dreams are dashed if you had your heart set on names like Finnegan or Max. It simply means you should remember to be extra patient with your pup while he works to figure out who he is. 

And now that all that is out of the way, let’s get to the fun stuff. 

Let’s talk about unique dog names for that unique dog of yours, beginning with unique dog names for female dogs!

25 Unique Dog Names For Female Dogs 

Unique sounding female names can be both strong and feminine. 

If your pooch is a lovely lass, you’re going to love these incredibly unique names for female dogs. These unique female dog names range from oddly traditional to totally out there, but all of them shine with a sense of feminine strength. 

Whether you’re into unique human names for female dogs or just unique female dog names in general, I’ve got you covered. 

Take a look!   

Hartley

Favor

Jewel

Sol

Willa

Luna

Amelia

Elm

Duchess

Coco

Fancy

Ezra 

Maisie

Mari

Java

Hazel

Genevieve

Puma 

Brinley

Clover

Una

Pinkie

Sloane

Nixie

Emmylou

25 Unique Dog Names For Male Dogs

We love these outlandish masculine dog names!

If your unique pooch is all male, (or even if he’s a she and you just like masculine sounding names for girls), then this is your list.

My favorite thing about this list is that these dog names are both mythical, strong, and completely different.

I highly doubt you’ll be hearing many of these unique male dog names at the dog park. 

Edwin

Asa

Harvey

Sol

Houdini

Felix

Ethan

Gulliver

Brian

Otis

Rodney

Norman 

Clox

Tolkien

Angelo

Theo

Abner

Paco 

Lionel

Sydney

Ridley

Calder

Pries

Rembrandt

Monet

25 Unique Unisex Dog Names

My favorite names are names that are unisex. 

For those of us who love names that keep people on their toes, here is a list of amazingly unique unisex dog names. 

These are great unique dog names for both male and female dogs, which is especially great if you want to have your dog’s spot all set up but aren’t sure yet if you’re welcoming a he or a she. 

Are you super eager to begin dog proofing your house? 

Are you looking to personalize that new dog leash or dog bed? Are you hoping to have your dog’s dog collar or dog tags engraved before you even pick your dog out? 

Don’t worry! This is the perfect list of unisex dog names for all that and then some. 

Bae

Alaska

Lex

Colby

Scout

Dakota

Gatsby

Brownie

Birch

Cupid

Cedar

Gizmo 

Lennon

Hayden

Marley

Jules

Finn

Kit 

Riley

Pepper

Angel

Rory

Babe

Skylar

Bandit

25 Unique Cool Dog Names

Your dog can stand out in an awesome way with these cool unique dog names!

If you are into unique dog names, then you’re clearly not a follower. You’re a leader, duh! 

I’ve always thought trend-setters were the coolest, so in honor of the badass inside of you (and your dog, of course) I’ve listed 25 of the coolest and most unique dog names I could think of. 

Help your dog can stand out in an awesome new way with these cool and unique dog names below. 

Leo

Apollo

River

Dexter

Harley

Ragner

Minx

Mac

Shade

Athos

Phoenix

Phantom 

Onyx

Flare

Piper

Ember

Nova

Jinx 

Jazz

Bounty

Gypsy

Mars

Blaze

Nicco

Pixel

25 Unique Cute Dog Names

We love these cute unique dog names for the cutest of cute pups. 

Yes, yes. All dogs are cute. But yours is the cutest, obviously. Oh, yes, and your dog is also the most unique. 

For that adorably different pooch of yours, I’ve listed 25 of my favorite cute and completely quirky dog names. 

What do you think?

Gigi

Goose

Frankie

Frodo

Dixie

Moe

Flower

Pepe

Dolce

Bluebell

Nala

Izzy 

Sugar

Mable

Winnie

Hershey

Bolt

Kiki 

Gulliver

Apple

Boots

Marshmallow

JoJo

Nacho

Moose

25 Unique Dog Names For Dog Pairs

What’s better than one dog? Two dogs! And if you’re getting two dogs (I’m jealous) you may be in the market for some unique dog names for pairs. 

I’ll admit that some of these unique dog names for pairs seem obvious, because famous pairs are, well, famous. But I’m also happy to report that in all my years of working with dogs and hanging out with doggy pairs, I have yet to come across any with these unique doggy pair names below. 

So take a gander. You may be surprised at what you fall in love with. 

Romeo & Juliet

Starsky & Hutch

Adam & Eve

Timon & Pumpba

Barbie & Ken

Moe & Curly 

Harry & Ron

French & Fry

Bonnie & Clyde

Tweety & Sylvester

PB & J

Guns & Roses 

Batman & Robin

Tom & Jerry 

Pooh & Piglet

Penn & Teller

Cassidy & Kid

Rum & Coke 

Bow & Arrow

Mario & Luigi 

Jekyll & Hyde

King & Queen

Phineas & Ferb

Tom & Huck

Sherlock & Watson

25 Unique Tough Dog Names

Tough dogs deserve tough names, but they also deserve unique names. And cute dogs may deserve tough names because, well, first impressions are important and you don’t want your Maltipoo to be a pushover at puppy kindergarten. 

That’s why I’ve listed 25 of the toughest, most badass sounding dog names that are still one of a kind, but totally scary. 

No one will be messing with your little tough-guy any time soon!

Cujo

Ninja

Bullet

Banshee

Arrow

Claw

Scar

Monster

Beast

Rogue

Maniac

Scrapper 

Demon

Zues

Mutant

Ajax

Ghost

Brick 

Scream

Lunatic

Troll

Knox

Zombie

Steel

Villain

25 Unique Dog Names For Small Dogs

We love these itty bitty names for itty bitty dogs.  

Okay, so if you don’t want to name your three-pound Chihuahua The Hulk (which is actually awesome, but okay), you’re in luck.

For the tiny dog in your life, or for the giant dog with a very sarcastic owner, I have 25 of the most adorably unique name choices. 

These are perfect for little dogs who want to stand out, or big dogs who want to get a laugh.

Dot

Button

Hobbit

Opie

Peanut

Teacup

Squirt

Cricket

Minnie

Thumbelina

Peewee

Pip 

Munchkin

Poco

Runt

Speck

Shorty

Tiny 

Bitty

Olive

Bean

Chicklet

French Fry

Mouse

Pebbles

25 Unique Dog Names For Big Dogs

Giant names and giant dogs go hand-in-hand!

If you’ve decided against naming your mastiff something sweet like Pebble, and would prefer to give him a super unique yet appropriately sized dog name, then you’ve come to the right list.

Below are some unique and giant dog names for your unique and giant dog! 

Mammoth

Castle

Clifford

Titan

Tank

Army

Hercules

Macho

Colossus

Crash

Jumbo

Truck 

Texas

The Hulk

Shamu

Avalanche

Whopper

Zeus 

Big Mac

Maverick

Giant

Chief

Everst

Mountain

Bruiser

25 Unique Dog Names For Black And White Dogs

Is your dog black and white? 

Is your unique dog black and white? This is one of my favorite color combos when it comes to pups, mostly because it’s so fun to come up with unique dog names for dogs that are black and white. 

If you have a dog who is vintage in color (see what I did there?) then you’re going to be head-over-heels for this list of one-of-a-kind dog names for dogs of two pigments. 

Oreo

Pongo

Salt n’ Pepper

Zebra

Dice

Sushi

Freckles

Swan

Domino

Tuxedo

Ying-Yang

Vintage 

Inkblot

Skunk

Kiss

Puzzel

Mickey Mouse

Piano 

Cow

Dice

Snoopy

Perdita

Penguin

Panda

Socks

How You Can Help Teach Your Dog His New Name Faster?

Regardless of what you are teaching, always use positive reinforcement. 

While I did touch on this briefly above, I do want to go a little more in depth about how you can help teach your dog his new name.

I want to start by saying that yes, even adult dogs can learn new names, so this is great news if you’ve recently adopted or gotten your hands on a rescue. 

Keep in mind that most dogs are able to figure out their names in as little as two weeks, with very young puppies sometimes taking longer. 

Regardless of your dog’s breed or age, most dog trainers agree that the best method you can use when teaching your dog anything new is the positive reinforcement method.

There are different ways to train a dog, but it’s easy to make training mistakes. This is just one of the reasons why the positive reinforcement method is my favorite way to train as it is not only fun for both you and your dog, but it’s also safe. 

The positive reinforcement method means using treats, praise, and patience as opposed to punishments and scoldings. 

Studies have repeatedly shown that dogs respond better and quicker to their owners using positive reinforcement methods during training and are more apt to shut down during aversive training methods. 

Why?

Because dogs naturally want to please us. When you keep this in mind, it helps to understand why your dog gets so excited when you talk to him in a high-pitched, happy voice! 

So, to better help your pup learn his new name, start with training treats and praise.  

Call your pup by his name, and when your dog makes eye contact with you praise him and give him a treat. If he ignores you, don’t scold him or tell him no. Just wait a few moments, say his name again, and be patient. 

I should also note that it’s especially important to forgo aversive training methods or punishment and scolding during name training because it’s very crucial that your dog associates his name with something positive.

If you are in the process of teaching your dog his new name but scold him with it, he could begin to associate his name with something bad.

This means that when you use his name later down the road, he will be less likely to respond to it in the way you want him to. 

Not only this, but teaching your dog his new name using positive reinforcement helps to build a strong and lasting bond between the two of you, as it teaches your dog that you are someone he can trust and love, and that you are there to protect him and not hurt or frighten him. 

So, did you pick a unique dog name out of our list of unique dog names above? We would love to know which name you fell for! 

Tell us your favorite unique dog’s name in the comment section below!