Dog Names That Start With H

An alternative to the more familiar Aviva. 

Haviva

An appealing alternative to Hayden and Hayes, perhaps in homage to Old Hollywood actress Rita Hayward.

Hayward

Chance has risen far on the baby-naming charts, but Hazard has a considerably more dangerous edge.  It was the middle name of famed US naval commander Oliver Hazard Perry.

Hazard

The name of the Greek goddess of youth, daughter of Zeus and Hera, is rarely used today but may be ripe for revival considering the popularity of rhyming Phoebe. Sweet as Bebe but with the sophistication of Hera or Hero, it can be pronounced as HEH-BEH in classical Greek and as HEE-bee in English.
 
While some may find is a little close to the phrase "heebie-jeebies", it nevertheless featured in the England and Wales charts back in the late 90s and early 2000s and doubles up as a botanical name, associated with colorful evergreen shrubs with purple, pink, or white flowers.

Hebe

In Greek mythology, Hecate is associated with witchcraft and magic. The name may mean "willpower" or "far-reaching". 

She was often associated with the moon and with storms, making this name a good alternative to more familiar names like Selena, Luna and Tempest. Hecate debuted in the US charts for the first time in 2022.

Hecate

An ancient German saint's name – and most famously the name of Harry Potter's snowy owl – but the combination of "head" plus "wig" feels a little too literal in English.

Hedwig

An elaboration on Moana, newly familiar thanks to the heroine of the eponymous 2016 Disney movie.

Heimoana

A combination of hei "crown" and moana "ocean".

Melodic and friendly, and similar to a Spanish word for chilled and ice cream. 

Heladio

Like twins Helene and Elaine, a relic of the 1930s to 40s French Renaissance of names. 

Helaine

Heleena

A traditional Nordic name, Helga was extremely popular throughout Scandinavia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In Germany, it was a Top 10 pick from 1924 to 1943. And it still ranks in the Icelandic Top 50 today.

 In the English-speaking world, Helga has been associated with a series of unfortunate characters in popular culture, from the wife of Hägar the Horrible in the comic strip of the same name, to Helga Pataki from the kids' TV show Hey Arnold!. But more recent, more positive Helgas – like Helga Hufflepuff, one of the four founders of Hogwarts, and a character in the drama series Vikings – could redeem the name.

 Helga's Russian cognate, Olga, is a classic there, and still ranks in the Russian Top 50 today.

Helga

Photographer Newton...or that hard thing you wear on your head. 

Helmut

No matter how much you love the novels of Papa H., don't saddle your son with this unwieldy appellation.

Hemingway

Herb is a masculine name that originated as a shortened form of Herbert, which comes from Germanic elements 'hari' meaning 'army' and 'beraht' meaning 'bright.' Primarily used in English-speaking countries, Herb peaked in popularity in the United States during the early 20th century. The name has a friendly, unpretentious quality that reflects its association with everyday herbs and plants, despite its martial etymological origins. Herb gained cultural recognition through notable bearers like American bandleader Herb Alpert and basketball player Herb Williams. While rarely given as a formal name to newborns today, it retains a warm, vintage charm that evokes the mid-century era. The name's brevity and straightforward pronunciation give it an accessible, down-to-earth character.

Herb

Herbie is a diminutive form of Herbert, a Germanic name combining 'hari' (army) and 'berht' (bright), meaning 'bright warrior' or 'illustrious soldier.' Popularized in the mid-20th century, Herbie gained notable recognition through jazz musician Herbie Hancock and the fictional Volkswagen Beetle in Disney's 'The Love Bug' films. The name has a friendly, approachable quality with a vintage charm that evokes mid-century Americana. Though its popularity has declined since its peak in the 1950s and 60s, Herbie retains nostalgic appeal as a nickname. It exemplifies the trend of shortened, affectionate forms that became independently used given names in their own right.

Herbie

The Tahitian roots of Herenui are here, which means love, and nui, which means big. So this South Sea Islander name can be translated as "big love".

Herenui

This Greek name may have several meanings. Referenced in the bible, Hermas was the name of one of the 70 Disciples. The Shepherd of Hermas was an early Christian literary work from the 2nd century.

Hermas

Hermina is a feminine name with Germanic origins, functioning as a feminine form of Herman or Armin. It derives from the elements 'heri' or 'hari' meaning 'army' and 'man' meaning 'man,' together conveying the sense of 'army woman' or 'warrior.' The name has variations across European cultures, including Hermina, Hermione, and Ermina. While never achieving widespread popularity in English-speaking countries, Hermina has maintained consistent usage in Central and Eastern European countries, particularly Hungary, Czech Republic, and Slovakia. The name carries an old-world elegance and strength, balancing feminine softness with its warrior etymology. With its classical sound and uncommon status, Hermina offers an alternative to more popular names while maintaining recognizable linguistic roots. It projects dignity and resilience through its connection to martial tradition.

Hermina

Hermosa, the name of a California beach town, means "beautiful".

Hermosa

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

Dog names currently trending on Nameberry include 

. Unique female dog names that start with H include 

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

. Unique male dog names that start with H include 

These dog names starting with H are ordered by their current popularity.

Male and female dog names that start with H (Page 12)