Funny Dog Names

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

Bubba

Demon is probably best left as an edgy nickname or chosen moniker than put on the birth certificate. Typically associated with evil or familiar spirits, it could also be considered an Ancient Greek name, meaning "the people". 
 
The protagonist of Barbara Kingsolver's David Copperfield adaptation, Demon Copperhead, is actually called Damon, which, along with Damien, might be a more wearable choice.

Demon

Katniss Everdeen is the heroine of the popular Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, whose name comes from the (very real) edible aquatic plant of the genus Sagittaria. Katniss's father tells her that if she "finds herself," she'll never go hungry. 

Other unusual botanical names in the series include Primrose, Posy, Rue, and Clove, all for girls. Several of the boys' names come from ancient Rome: Cato, Seneca, Flavius, Caesar.

Katniss the name has less appeal than Katniss the heroine, though it's definitely more attractive than Renesmee.

Katniss

There is a whole new species of bird names open to the baby namer, from the light and feminine Lark to the sleek and powerful Falcon. 

Falcon

A very small number of boys are given this intense and aggressive name each year, but that could increase given that Rowdy is now in the Top 1000. 

Furious

Luann is a feminine name that emerged as a combination of the names Lou and Ann, or as a variation of Luana. It gained notable popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century, particularly in the 1940s-1960s. The name has English origins, with 'Lu' possibly derived from Louise (meaning 'renowned warrior') or Lucia ('light'), while 'Ann' comes from Hannah, meaning 'grace.' Luann projects a friendly, approachable quality with its short, melodic sound. The name experienced a decline in usage from the 1970s onward but maintains cultural recognition through characters in popular media, including the long-running comic strip and animated series 'King of the Hill.'

Luann

Heathcliff is the name of the original passionate macho hero of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, and also of the cartoon cat. It was chosen by fashionista Lucy Sykes for her son, and inspired the late Heath Ledger's name. But otherwise it's barely used, and perhaps a bit much of a namesake. For a modern boy we'd recommend Heath....or Cliff.

Heathcliff

Jocko is a masculine name that originated as a diminutive form of 'Jack' or 'John.' It has Scottish roots, where it developed as an affectionate nickname. The name carries a playful, energetic quality and has occasionally been used as a nickname for athletes or performers. Jocko has never been widely popular as a formal given name in most English-speaking countries, remaining instead in the realm of nicknames or informal appellations. The name has sporadic usage in Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom. It has a distinctive, somewhat whimsical character that sets it apart from more conventional names, appealing to parents looking for something with a light-hearted, friendly quality.

Jocko

It's difficult to imagine anyone using the first name Jonesy -- and in fact, in the most recent US tally, there were nearly 100 babies named Jones but none named Jonesy.  Still, this is a name that many people with Jones for a name, last or first, end up being known by, and as a nickname, it's sorta cute in a Skip, Chip, Bitsy kind of way.

Jonesy

Don't come crying to us when your son is breaking all the rules.
 
Lawless returned to the charts after a 90-year gap in 2020 when it was given to six baby boys.

Lawless

You're really asking for it with this one.

Mayhem

Super-sweet name that was the title of a Broadway play -- but best known as a type of apple. The Dutch variation is Pepijn is finding some popularity in that country, where short nickname names are stylish.

Pippin

A new addition to the menagerie of animal baby names — Rooster was given to five baby boys in 2019, but did not return to the charts in the following year. The word has American origins — the Puritans used it as an alternative to "cock," which developed its euphemistic meaning around the 1770s. Rooster comes from the verb "to roost," as the birds are known to do.

Rooster

Kids would be more likely to associate this name with the hyperactive meercat in "The Lion King" than with the ancient Greek philosopher or Shakespearean character, which could cause playground problems. 

Timon

Rapper Tupac Amaru Shakur was named after 18th century Peruvian revolutionary Túpac Amaru. There was also a 15th century Incan ruler whose name was an extension of the Quechua Topa or Tupa, and the Tupaq spelling is also used.

Tupac is a prime example of a one-person name, used for almost no babies, though that could change. Some singular celebrity or character names only become widely-used only long after the fame of the original bearer, when the association of the name with that bearer begins to fade.


Tupac

Madonna

Pixie is a cute -- quite possibly too cute -- name that suddenly feels possible thanks to the craze for names that contain the letter x.  Though its origin may be uncertain, a pixie is internationally recognized as a sprite or fairy: tiny, sometimes green, usually pointy-eared.

Pixie

Over-the-top glitzy. Sparkle debuted in 1976 and peaked in 1979 when it was given to 124 baby girls. Since then, it has only been given to a small handful of girls most years in the US. Pretty Amaryllis, Swedish Tindra, and Greek Maira all have sparkly meanings, while Sparky feels closer to Sparkle but more in line with the likes of Ziggy, Goldie, and Stevie. 

Sparkle

Tsunami is a Japanese word, derived from the elements tsu meaning "harbor," and nami, "wave." It was first used as a name in 2004 and 2005, then left the charts and reemerged in 2020. At the very least, it makes an interesting way to get to the nickname Sue or Susie (or would that be Tsu/Tsusi?)

Tsunami

Funny dog names may be used for a goofy-looking pup or just for fun. Naming babies is serious, but dogs won't be teased for having a silly name. In fact, everybody loves unexpected and playful names on pets!

 are popular among pet names, with Cookie, Moose, and Ziggy ranking among the top choices. Along with Cookie, other 

 include Zippy, Susan, and LaRue. In addition to Moose, other 

It's funny to name your dog after a silly character, like Kermit or Gru. 

Featured here is our expansive selection of funny dog names. Search below to find the perfect goofy name for your dog or puppy.

Funny dog names, including Dudley, Dweezil, Diva, and other funny names for dogs, with meaning, origin, and popularity (Page 9)