Dog Names That Start With B

One of the more unfamiliar Nordic choices, a perfect set-up for the nickname Brody.

Broder

Gently appealing, a floral choice in Japanese.

Bara

The energetic Brody is a name that claims different meanings and origins depending on whether you're looking at its Irish, Scottish, or English history -- and Eastern Europeans claim a version too. This spelling is much more popular for boys, but has seen some use for girls in recent years, including volleyball player Gabrielle Reese's daughter. An alternate spelling is Brodie.

Brody

Traditionally used by the ultrareligious, the French boys' name Baptiste comes from the Greek word meaning "to dip". Baptiste is one of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names/france">Top 100 Boy Names in France</a>.

Baptiste

If you like the Irish surname feel, there are loads of more congenial options. 

Banning

Attached to one of the heroes of Christopher Paolini's megapopular fantasy novel Eragon, this name sounds strong yet sensitive. 

Paolini's character is named after another bestselling fantasy author and artist, the uni-named Brom (which is actually his last name).
The word broom in the name's meaning refers not to something you sweep with but to a yellow bush or plant that grows wild and is considered invasive.

Brom

Credit, of course, to the artist for inventing this secretive pseudonym, but we actually have Hilary Duff to thank for Banksy as a baby name. Banksy is Duff's nickname for her daughter Banks, born in 2018. Banksy debuted on the US charts in 2020, and in a more recent year, was given to seven girls. 
 
For some, it may feel too much of a mononyn, while others may see it as an arty alternative to Banks.

Banksy

When Australian actress Rachel Griffiths chose this highly unusual name for her son, many assumed it was a bizarre invention, but noted Australian poet and writer of Waltzing Matilda, Banjo Patterson, is known by this name. Sprightly and musical, it could blend in with Bruno, Benjamin and Joey.
 
Borne by a character in the hit cartoon show Bluey, Banjo entered the US stats for the first time in 2024 when it was given to eight boys.

Banjo

This lovely surname of the three novel-writing sisters, now used as a baby name, makes a fitting tribute for lovers of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. While the original name took an umlaut over the e, modern English speakers may find that more trouble than it's worth (though big fans of the Brontës may well disagree).
 Trivia note: The Anglo-Irish clergyman who was the father of Charlotte, Emily and Anne changed his name from the original Brunty. According to scholars, the family pronounced the name bron-tee, though today, you're likely to hear this pronunciation used interchangeably with bron-tay. 
 
In Australia, the name is more likely to take inspiration from Bronte Beach in Sydney. It was named after Lord Nelson, the 1st Duke of Bronté. He got his title from a town in Sicily, itself named after a mythological Cyclops.
 Many people first noticed the name in the film Green Card, as the name of the Andie MacDowell character.
 
Familiarly used in the 90s and early 2000s in the UK, Bronte fell out of style in the 2010s, but more recently, it has been coming back in a big way. In the latest stats, it ranked just outside the Top 500 in England and Wales, while in the US, it was given to just 14 girls.

Bronte

We hesitate to call Bandit an occupational name, any more than Rogue or Vandal are occupational names, yet its use by one of the bandmembers of My Chemical Romance (for his daughter: we're thinking only Gerard Way could pull that off) undoubtedly owes a debt to occupational cousins from Pilot to Parker.
 
 Snappy and daring though it is, it may be best reserved for celebrity babies, a mischievous pet, or as a fun nickname. While it could work as a generic nickname (like Sonny, Sport, and Chip might), it would be especially fitting with something like Benjamin, Benedict, Brandon, or Bennett. 
 
Nevertheless, celeb choices and animated characters can be influential. Bandit appears in the hit cartoon series Bluey, as the father of the title character, and possibly as a result of this, Bandit appeared in the US stats for the first time in 2024, when it was given to six boys.

Bandit

Short form of Bronisława, usually spelt Bronia in Poland.

Bronya

Banana is one fruity name we wouldn't recommend. Pick Plum instead. There is a Japanese novelist whose pen name is Banana Yoshimoto--birth name Mahoko.

Banana

Bamboo is a plant name that you might want to save for the zoo's name-the-panda contest.  It was used for a starbaby in 2000, though, the rapper Big Boi.

Bamboo

Bambalina

Brookie as a masculine name is an uncommon diminutive form that likely derives from Brooks or Brooklyn. Originally an English surname meaning 'one who lives near a brook or stream,' Brooks has gained popularity as a first name conveying a natural, outdoorsy image. Brookie offers a friendly, approachable variation with its playful ending. Though more frequently encountered as a nickname for Brooklyn for girls, its use for boys maintains the nature-inspired essence while adding a distinctive quality. The name carries associations with clear waters and peaceful landscapes. While informal in tone, Brookie has a cheerful, unpretentious character that might appeal to parents seeking something familiar yet uncommon.

Brookie

Dalton with a B. The original is better. 

Balton

Actor Pierce made both his first and last name appealing. 

Brosnan

Brownie is an uncommon feminine name derived from the English word for the small chocolate dessert or from the color brown. As a name, it has a sweet, endearing quality with a touch of whimsy and nostalgia. While not commonly used as a formal given name, Brownie may appear as a nickname for someone with brown hair or eyes, or someone who enjoys baking or eating the dessert. In folk traditions, 'brownies' were helpful household spirits in Scottish folklore, adding a touch of magical association. The name has an informal, affectionate quality that some parents might choose for its uniqueness and warm associations. Though rare in official records, Brownie might be used as a middle name or a distinctive first name for parents seeking something unconventional with friendly, comforting connotations.

Brownie

Balthasar was one of the biblical Three Kings who visited the infant Jesus, also used by Shakespeare and in the oil-rich Getty family; offbeat and intriguing.   Balthazar is another, equally appropriate spelling.

Balthasar

Brucey is an affectionate diminutive form of the masculine name Bruce. Bruce itself has Scottish origins, derived from the Norman place name 'Bruis' or 'Brix' in Normandy, France. The name gained significant recognition through Scotland's King Robert the Bruce (1274-1329). Brucey represents the addition of the diminutive suffix '-y' which creates a more endearing, youthful variation. This nickname form is typically used informally rather than as an official given name on birth certificates. While Bruce enjoyed peak popularity in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s, the diminutive Brucey is less common as a legal name. It carries a friendly, approachable quality that often remains as a childhood nickname.

Brucey

Female dog names that start B with currently in the Top 100 dog names include 

Dog names currently trending on Nameberry include 

. Unique female dog names that start with B include 

Male dog names that start with B in the Top 100 dog names include 

Beau, Bentley, Blu, Bruno, Benji, Bailey, Bandit, Benny, Buster, Baxter, Bruce, Brody 

. Unique male dog names that start with B include 

Male and female dog names that start with B, with meanings and origins (Page 19)