Boy Dog Names That Start With R

Rori is a gender-flexible name that appears here as masculine, though it's also used for girls. With Gaelic origins, it's often considered a variation of Rory, derived from the Irish "Ruairí" or Scottish "Ruairidh" meaning "red king" or "famous ruler." The spelling with an 'i' ending gives it a softer quality than the traditional Rory. While historically more common for boys in Celtic traditions, contemporary usage has seen it grow as a feminine option as well. The name carries a playful, youthful energy while maintaining its connection to ancient Celtic heritage. Though not among the most popular names, its brevity, friendly sound, and cross-gender adaptability have attracted parents seeking something distinctive yet accessible with historical roots.

Romanticizes Rudolph and distances the name from the red-nosed reindeer. After remaining steadily in the US Top 500 for much of the twentieth century, Rodolfo has been slipping of late.

This strong name and its variations are well used in Israel.

Urdu form of the Arabic name Ridha.

An auspicious choice connected to dragons. English speakers will have difficulty pronouncing this name in Japanese — it's all one syllable, with barely any emphasis on the R sound.

With the fashion for all names Rom, this strong surname with ties to Old Master painter George has new possibilities. Obviously, it now has more political associations than artistic.

Any name that combines two big trends -- in this case, occupational and western names -- has potential.

Attractive if phonetically confusing; also pronounced exactly the same as the Renault car.

Confident Middle Eastern choice. Children will relate to the Rafiki form via the wise guru in Disney's "The Lion King."

An Arabic name borne by Ali al-Ridha, a 9th-century Shia imam.

Riqui is a masculine name that primarily functions as a diminutive or nickname for Ricardo, the Spanish and Portuguese equivalent of Richard, meaning 'powerful ruler' or 'strong leader.' Common in Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in sporting contexts, Riqui has a friendly, approachable quality while maintaining masculine attributes. Though less frequently used as a formal given name, some parents choose it for its modern, concise feel. The name has gained some visibility through Spanish football players who use Riqui as their professional name. Its short, distinctive sound makes it memorable, while its connection to Ricardo gives it deeper historical roots despite its contemporary feel.

In 2020, Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden named their daughter Raddix Chloe Wildflower. They invented the name themselves, but radix is a Latin word meaning "root," giving it a nature and linguistics connection.

Common Spanish surname that can work as a first.

Ruger is a German surname most famous as a gun name, which explains its popularity as a baby name in the US. If Cannon, Gunner, and Pistol are your type of name, you might like Ruger -- but we're not inviting him for a playdate.

A rare, but certainly usable, Japanese name from the manga series Vampire Knight.