Dog Names That Start With R

  1. Rian
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "little king"
    • Description:

      As Ryan quickly becomes a plausible option for a girl, some parents may be interested in the spelling Rian — the more authentic and original form of the name.
  2. Rosaura
    • Origin:

      Spanish
    • Meaning:

      "golden rose"
    • Description:

      A combination of Spanish rosa "rose" and aurea "gold". This name was used by Pedro Calderón de la Barca for a character in his play Life Is a Dream (1635), and more recently by Mexican author Laura Esquivel in her 1989 novel Como agua para chocolate.
  3. Romney
    • Origin:

      Welsh
    • Meaning:

      "winding river"
    • Description:

      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.
  4. Rira
    • Origin:

      Persian, French, Japanese, Yiddish
    • Meaning:

      "pure, laugh"
    • Description:

      Rira is a truly multicultural name with roots in four different languages. It's most common as a Japanese name, where it can be made up of various kanji combinations with meanings such as "good plum" and "easy pear." In French, it means "laugh."
  5. Richie
    • Origin:

      Short form of Richard, English, German
    • Meaning:

      "dominant ruler"
    • Description:

      Richie was once a popular enough nickname for Richard that it made the Top 1000 all by itself, blending in with Ronnie, Reggie, Robbie, and Randy. In the US, it last appeared in the charts back in the 70s, but its still in style in the UK where a recent year saw it rank at the latter end of the charts, alongside Drew, Wilf, and Bobbie.
  6. Reino
    • Origin:

      Finnish variation of Reynold
    • Meaning:

      "council power"
    • Description:

      An attractive Finnish name with the potential to cross borders.
  7. Rufina
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "red-haired"
    • Description:

      A feminine form of Rufus, which has potential in the current trend for ancient Roman names.
  8. Rini
    • Origin:

      Japanese
    • Meaning:

      "little bunny"
    • Description:

      Cute Japanese name with a nickname to match. Rini was used in the Sailor Moon series.
  9. Rueben
    • Description:

      Rueben is a masculine name representing an alternative spelling of Reuben, which derives from Hebrew origins meaning 'behold, a son.' In the Bible, Reuben was the eldest son of Jacob and Leah, giving the name significant religious heritage. This variant spelling with the 'e' before the 'u' creates a subtle distinction while maintaining the traditional pronunciation. Rueben carries the warm, friendly quality of its traditional counterpart with a slightly different visual presentation. The name enjoyed modest popularity in English-speaking countries throughout the 20th century but has become less common in recent decades. It has a timeless, somewhat old-fashioned appeal that connects to both Jewish and Christian traditions. Rueben's familiar sound paired with its less common spelling offers a balance between tradition and individuality.

  10. Rafiq
    • Origin:

      Arabic
    • Meaning:

      "friend, companion, gentle, kind"
    • Description:

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

      Variation of Rowan, Irish and Scottish, Frisian, English word name
    • Meaning:

      "little redhead; rowan tree; raven; animal with a coat of two interspersed colors"
    • Description:

      Historically more popular for boys and generally less familiar than its sound-alike Rowan, Roan is a name with multiple meanings, origins, and pronunciations. Given to less than 10 girls back in 2023, time will tell if singer-songwriter Chappell Roan has brought the name more exposure.
  12. Raven
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      Make that bird name, and while it does work for both genders, it's far more popular for girls, via Raven Symone.
  13. Raja
    • Origin:

      Arabic or Sanskrit
    • Meaning:

      "hope; ruler"
    • Description:

      A relatively popular Arabic and Sanskrit name, which has a great positive meaning no matter which origin you claim.
  14. Rowdy
    • Origin:

      American word name
    • Meaning:

      "noisy, disorderly, riotous"
    • Description:

      Rowdy was first famously used as a given name in the television series Rawhide, with the young Clint Eastwood playing Rowdy Yates. More recently, competitive swimmer Rowdy Gaines has been featured in a series of TV commercials, and a new badass baby name is gaining notice.
  15. Rudo
    • Origin:

      Shona
    • Meaning:

      "love"
    • Description:

      In the Shona language of souther Africa, this simple and wearable boys' name means love.
  16. Ramses
    • Origin:

      Egyptian
    • Meaning:

      "son of God"
    • Description:

      Ramses was the name of several kings in Ancient Egypt, including the long-reigning Ramses II, known as Ramses the Great. Unfortuntely, some may associate it with the condom brand name.
  17. Robby
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Robert, English
    • Meaning:

      "bright fame"
    • Description:

      This classic Robert nickname is starting to sound sweet again, along with ultra-retro Bobby.
  18. Rohmer
    • Origin:

      German surname
    • Meaning:

      "pilgrim; fame"
    • Description:

      Like other stylish choices from Roman to Romy to Romeo, Rohmer is a German surname that relates to both Roman pilgrims and the root word for fame.
  19. Rebel
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Meaning:

      "rebel"
    • Description:

      Asking for trouble. Rebel Wilson is a hilarious Australian actress who puts a female spin on this contemporary badass baby name. Still, we think this name is truly gender neutral – though hardly neutral in any other way. Rebel is undoubtedly one of the edgiest girls' names starting with the letter R.
  20. Racer
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      New, fast, cool, and chosen by director Robert Rodriguez, whose other sons are Rebel, Rocket, and Rogue, all somewhat risky options.

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