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269 Unique Dog Names for Your One-of-a-Kind Pup

  1. Fergie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Fergus

    • Description:

      One Fergie was an aberration. But two women with that nickname -- the duchess and the Black Eyed Pea -- might make a trend.
  2. Dijon

    • Origin:

      French place-name

    • Description:

      Dijon is the capital city of the Burgundy region of eastern France, famed for its wine and yes, its mustard. As a first name, it's been brought to wider attention by a few prominent musicians and could grow in use.
  3. Hitchcock

    • Description:

      Hitchcock is an extremely rare masculine given name derived from an English surname. The surname itself has Anglo-Saxon origins, combining the Old English personal name 'Hicce' with 'cock' (meaning 'little'), possibly originally referring to someone who lived near a ridge. As a first name, Hitchcock is almost unheard of, making it among the most distinctive name choices possible. The surname gained considerable recognition through film director Alfred Hitchcock, lending the name associations with creativity, suspense, and artistic innovation. As a given name, it would certainly stand out, potentially leading to nicknames like Hitch. Its uniqueness would make it memorable in any context.
  4. Derby

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "park with deer"

    • Description:

      Derby might be considered a word name or a surname-name. In England, it would be pronounced darby, causing confusion with that similar name.
  5. Jaguar

    • Origin:

      Animal name

    • Description:

      Grrrr.
  6. Ogden

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "from the oak valley"

    • Description:

      Rarely used surname, associated with humorous poet Ogden Nash.
  7. Zissou

    • Origin:

      Invented name

    • Description:

      Superfans of auteur Wes Anderson may now consider Zissou as a baby name option, ever since Kieran Culkin and Jazz Charton used it for their daughter (birth name Kinsey Sioux). It's a clear homage to Anderson's film The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, chronicling the journey of a Jacques Cousteau-like oceanographer avenging his partner's death-by-jaguar-shark.
  8. Tundra

    • Origin:

      Geographical name

    • Description:

      With geographical features like Savannah and Sierra and increasingly getting the baby-name treatment, could icy Tundra also see some use? It's only appeared six times on the Social Security rankings, all in the 1960s and 70s.
  9. Cayenne

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Description:

      Spicy.
  10. Salmon

    • Origin:

      Animal name

    • Meaning:

      "salmon, a fish"

    • Description:

      nature namesare in, and even fish names like Pike and Salmon are open for consideration.
  11. Horton

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "gray settlement"

    • Description:

      Sweet and southern-feeling, maybe thanks to Horton Foote, author of Tender Mercies and The Trip to Bountiful, not to mention the Dr. Seuss connection.
  12. Frodo

    • Origin:

      Literary name

    • Description:

      An admirable meaning, with roots in a Germanic word meaning wisdom, but we fear it will never be detached from the hobbit hero of The Lord of the Rings.
  13. Wrenly

    • Description:

      Wrenly is a modern feminine name inspired by the small songbird, the wren, known for its sweet singing despite its tiny size. This nature-based name emerged in the early 21st century amid growing trends for unique botanical and animal-inspired names. Wrenly combines the natural charm of the bird reference with the popular feminine '-ly' ending found in names like Emily and Lily. Still quite rare, Wrenly appeals to parents seeking something distinctive yet melodic and meaningful. The wren symbolizes joy and liveliness in various cultures, lending the name positive connotations of cheerfulness and resilience. As a contemporary creation, Wrenly lacks historical usage but fits well with current naming trends celebrating nature and individuality.

  14. Lava

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "liquid, molten rock"

    • Description:

      Molten rock from volcanos, and now a red-hot baby name possibility.
  15. Mayo

    • Origin:

      Irish place-name

    • Meaning:

      "yew-tree plain"

    • Description:

      When ordering a baby name, hold the mayo.
  16. Greco

    • Origin:

      Italian

    • Meaning:

      "from Greece"

    • Description:

      A name with a lot of panache, with ties to the great Spanish Mannerist painter El Greco--though his real name was DOMENICOS.
  17. Wavy

    • Origin:

      English word name

    • Meaning:

      "undulating"

    • Description:

      Short for Waverly or a fresh twist on Navy, Wavy is a quirky and interesting new word name option.
  18. Otter

    • Origin:

      Animal name

    • Description:

      While we don't see many parents adopting Otter as a name for their own babies, Zooey Deschanel put this one in the lexicon when she used it as a middle name for her adorably-named daughter Elsie Otter. Even in the celebrisphere, Otter is one of the most unique baby names we've heard.
  19. Bourbon

    • Origin:

      Word name

    • Description:

      Not even for Brandy's twin brother.
  20. Kubo

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "sunken ground"

    • Description:

      The lead character of the Oscar-nominated 2016 film "Kubo and the Two Strings" lives in Edo-period Japan, but his name is more often heard as a surname in Japan. Still, fans of the animated movie may want to consider it.