50 of the Most Popular Boy Dog Names
Updated: Dec. 02, 2022Planning to bring home a new boy puppy in the new few months? Here are some of the most popular boy dog names that have made the top of the list year after year.
49. Bo
Bo, the Portuguese Water Dog, is part of the former Obama White House duo along with Sunny. The name gained popularity while former President Barack Obama was in office.
48. Oscar
Oscar landed in the 48th position for the most popular male dog names.
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46. Jackson
Millennials are more likely to become pet parents before becoming human parents. According to Pet Business, seven out of ten millennials own a pet, and 56 percent are dog parents. Jackson topped the human baby name charts for many years in a row. Maybe this nudged the choice for Jackson for pups, too.
43. Harley
A dog with a little edge and a lot of attitude can rock this name—no matter their gender. In fact, if you’re looking for gender-neutral dog names, Harley is a good pick. Pet parents may be swayed to engrave Harley on the name tag if they’re fans of Harley-Davidson motorcycles or Harley Quinn, DC Comics supervillain.
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40. Bandit
A spot-on name for dogs that are smart, tough, and independent. The natural patch on one eye is a clever way to disguise himself—or at least he thinks it is. But we really know who stole the piece of chicken from the counter. This name fits an Australian Cattle dog or Bull Terrier.
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37. Jake
Strong. Independent. Loyal. Happy. Loveable. So many words to describe the 37th most popular, all-around-good-name for a good dog.
36. Ace
A nickname that is on the nose for any pet parent that deems their furbaby the “best” or “number one.”
35. Buster
Buster is a time-honored favorite, but recently, Buster, an English Springer Spaniel used his superior sniffing skill set to discover weapons during the Iraq war—saving thousands of lives. He’s since passed on, but Buster is a name of heroic proportions.
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34. Thor
Rovers says Fantasy flicks influenced pet names like Thor are on the rise this year. Lovers of Marvel comic heroes or maybe just of Chris Hemsworth, who played Thor, might engrave this name on their dog tag. And now that there’s a female Thor in the Marvel universe, consider this as an option for both girl and boy dog names.
31. Beau
You know your Beau—he’s the neighborhood charmer, getting the attention of human and furry females alike. He might be the strong, silent type—unless he’s a Husky breed.
30. Dexter
Sounds like a good name for a beefy and stocky dog with a tough attitude. Maybe pet parents watched Dexter, the Showtime series about a vigilante serial killer. Or could it be favored because Dexter is a popular hipster name?
29. Apollo
Dog lovers refer to the Great Dane as “The Apollo of Dogs in Size and Spirit.” And at least 30 inches at the shoulder and up to 175 pounds, Apollo is tailor-made for a big dog whose loving nature is as big as his heart, but it would be hysterically ironic to name a feisty Chihuahua Apollo.
28. Blue
Willie Nelson sang about a dog named Ole’ Blue, and there was the popular Nickelodeon show, Blue’s Clues with a (blue dog with blue spots) cartoon puppy that sniffs out clues to help his human host.
25. Gus
Rugged and folksy with a Wild West vibe, the origin is actually Scottish. It seems like it is well-suited for a good-ole bloodhound relaxing on the front porch after a day of trail running sniffing out evidence.
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22. Murphy
Murphy is about as Irish as you can get. And Rover says pet parents with Irish last names are about 14 percent more likely to give their dog an Irish name versus pet parents without Irish last names.
21. Finn
Finn, the character in the latest Star Wars franchise is a pretty cool dude. He started as a First Order stormtrooper but ditched them and joined the Resistance on a heroic mission.
19. Ollie
With its old-timey cool, Ollie is a retro name synonymous with character traits like sweet and goofy—as in Oliver “Ollie” Hardy of the famed Laurel and Hardy comic duo. If you’re looking to adopt a little cutie, check out these Italian dog breeds you’ll absolutely love.
16. Jax
League of Legends grandmaster of arms, Jax might have inspired the popularity of this name. In this video game, he is aloof and sarcastic, characteristics some pet parents may see in such breeds like the Basenji, Alaskan Malamute, or Shiba Inu who love their families but tend to be a little reserved, cool, and distant with strangers.
15. Zeus
Basically, any dog named after a supreme Greek god is going to command attention. It’s pretty awesome to be associated with the god of sky and thunder, no matter what your breed.
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13. Leo
This boy dog name is old-timey but projects a hip vibe. And if your dog was born between July 23 and August 22nd, Leo is his astrological sign.
12. Teddy
Some dogs look and feel as cuddly as a cherished teddy bear, so it’s totally believable to choose Teddy as a moniker for breeds like a curly and fluffy Golden Doodle or oh-so-fuzzy Chow Chow.
11. Oliver
Could it be Oliver is hugely popular because of Oliver, the photogenic Pit Bull? His story is inspirational—as a former shelter dog turned brand ambassador for Bzees shoes, he’s not only famous but famous for being super lovable. And that’s a good reputation to spread for misunderstood Pit Bulls.
10. Jack
That’s a fact, Jack! Yep, it’s just simply a dependable name for any stellar dog. Plus, there’s that popular Amazon series, Jack Ryan that everyone is binging on to serve as inspiration for the hero of a dog in your life.
7. Rocky
Philly pride is as thick as the beefsteak on a Philly cheesesteak sandwich. And dog names inspired by real (and fictional) famous locals are and fictional people are up 20 percent according to Rover.
6. Bear
If you have a big brown Labrador Retriever with a broad face—much like a brown bear—you might choose Bear for him. He looks like a bear and eats as much as one too.
5. Milo
A true classic for dogs who are eager to please but a little on the shy side. And maybe, just maybe a few pet parents were thinking of the Milo Ventimiglia of This Is Us fame when they were naming their own furbaby with dashing good looks. Milo also happens to be one of the trendiest dog names of 2022.
1. Max
Let’s get back to the basics. Max—it’s short but with oh-so-much substance. These three letters mean “greatest” and who doesn’t think their little boy is the greatest dog on the planet? Plus, it sounds super cool in the dog park and since it’s only three letters, it stands out nicely on a name tag or dog dish. No matter the name of the puppy, these before and after dog adoption photos are sure to melt your heart.
Sources:
- Rover
- Pet Business: “How Millennials Spend on Their Pets”
