Golden Retriever Names

An upbeat and friendly nickname, Bud is more often reserved as a term of endearment, though it was once a Top 500 choice in the US and remained in the charts right up until the 60s. While long-form Buddy may feel more wearable, it does have the vintage yet energetic feel of Teddy, Kit, or Scout.
 
Now meaning "friend" or "companion", the terms "Bud" and "Buddy" likely emerged from children's mispronunciation of the word "brother". This form also coincides with the botanical word, used to the growths on plants that turn into a leaves or flowers, and as such, it is connected wit growth and promise too. 
 
While short form Buddy made the England and Wales Top 7000 in a recent year, Bud has yet to appear in the stats as a stand-alone name, while in the US, nearly 30 boys were called Buddy and 13 were called Bud.

X marks the spot in names these days, usually at the middles or ends of names, but here is one that puts it squarely up front.
 This extravagant name, which, like many Greek names beginning with X, is pronounced as if it were a Z in English, is derived from the Greek word for the color yellow. A Homeric epithet of Demeter, Xanthe would be a striking choice, thanks to its "golden" meaning.
 
A consistent member of the UK Top 1000 since 2005, Xanthe was chosen by the social media star Emily Clarkson in 2024.

Xanthe

Zareen

Derived from Slavic zlato "gold", this strong and dynamic name has a fitting namesake in Swedish professional footballer Zlatan Ibrahimović. It is used in Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Poland, and Slovenia.

Zlatan

Fortune is a middle name choice designed to generate good luck and prosperity. 

Fortune

One celebrity baby Pilot put this occupational choice into the pool -- together with the middle name Inspektor, something we wouldn't advise following. 

Pilot

This upbeat, friendly surname name has appeared on television's Battlestar Galactica a handful of cartoons, and on a literary note, a character in Herman Melville's Moby Dick. Sports fans might think of Boomer Esiason, the NFL quarterback turned color commentator. He's not the only athlete to answer to the upbeat nickname.
 
But the reason the name makes the Nameberry database is Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps, who chose the name for his son in 2016.
 
Boomer may have had a chance at mainstream baby name success, but it became a popular term for people of the Baby Boomer generation in the late 2010s. If you use the name for your child, expect a lot of "OK Boomer" jokes.

Boomer

<a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/895/boy-names-ending-in-i">Names that end in I</a> are hot right now, but Yari has yet to be discovered. It's a unisex name more common among girls, perhaps due to its similarity to Yara.

Yari

More often heard in the West as a surname, Zarin could work as a first for boys or girls.

Zarin

Biblical place name and masculine given name in the Old Testament.

Ophir

Zuma was entered in the American name lexicon when musicians Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale chose it for their son. Californians will recognize Zuma as the name of a beautiful beach in Malibu, and it's also the surname of a South African president. With the lovely meaning of peace and its place-name associations, Zuma is one of those <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/519/american-baby-names">American names</a> that literally sprang from the earth.

Zuma

An interesting and as yet undiscovered place name, Orleans feels similar to the likes of Harlem, Memphis, and Oslo. The English form of the French Orléans, it ultimately derives from the Latin Aurelianum, meaning "gold".
 
Also used as a surname, lending it a similar feel to Devereux or Olsen, Orleans appears on the map a number of times. The French city gives its name to The Île d'Orléans in Quebec, Orléans in Ontario, Orleans in Massachusetts, and New Orleans in Louisiana.

Orleans

Ochre is an exceedingly rare name, found only a few times since the nineteenth century, and not showing up in any current data. Yet it means much the same thing as popular Sienna (another clay coloured with iron oxide) and sounds similar to fashionable Oakley. A strong earthy nature name that is both unusual and evocative.


Ochre

Goose

Bardot joined the first and last names of other glamour girl icons such as (Jean) Harlow when David Boreanaz chose the surname of '50s French sex symbol Brigitte Bardot for his daughter. Bardot debuted in the US charts in 2022.

Bardot

Spike is part mid-century nickname-name, ala Buster or Buck, and part word name, with an all-over cool creative dude feel thanks to directors Spike Lee and Spike Jonze. Mike Myers named his son Spike. That's right: Spike and Mike. Spike qualifies as one of the distinctly <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/519/american-baby-names">American names</a>.

Spike

Doug is a masculine name that originated as a diminutive form of Douglas, a Scottish surname meaning 'dark water' or 'dark stream,' derived from the Gaelic elements 'dubh' (dark) and 'glas' (water). While Douglas has been used as a given name since the late Middle Ages, Doug emerged as a standalone name in the mid-20th century. The name peaked in popularity in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s, conveying a friendly, approachable quality. Doug has a straightforward, unpretentious character that embodies mid-century American values. Though its usage has declined significantly since its peak, the name retains a certain classic appeal. Doug conveys a sense of reliability and straightforwardness, with many perceiving it as friendly and trustworthy.

Doug

Dhani is a haunting <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/540/hindi-names-for-boys">Hindi name for boys</a> that's a million miles away from the similar-sounding Danny or Donny. One notable namesake is musician Dhani Harrison, look-alike son of Beatle George. He is named after the sixth and seventh notes of the Indian music scale, 'dha' and 'ni'. 'Dhani' is also a raga in north Indian classical music. Another noted bearer is longtime NFL linebacker Dhani Jones.

Dhani

Y-ending color adjectives like Tawny and Rusty are nowhere near as stylish as the more sophisticated Lilacs and Violets. 

Tawny

Golden Retriever names are particularly well-suited to the yellow-colored, friendly dog breed. Options include 

 like Dakota and Boomer, and names related to blonde celebrities, including Monroe and Gigi.

 include Sandy, Penny, and Georgia. In addition to Boomer, other 

If you are naming a Golden Retriever dog or puppy, search our collection of names for Golden Retrievers below.

Golden Retriever names including names for Golden Retriever puppies and Golden retriever dogs (Page 6)