Cute Dog Names

Popular in its own right in Germany and definitely makes a more intriguing and grownup short form of the classic Timothy than Timmy or even Tim.

Timo

Archie, Albie, and Alfie are coming back into style, so naturally, we think Alvie could be next. Alternate spelling Alvy was used by Woody Allen for his character in Annie Hall.

Alvie

The name Barney is hot among hip Londoners and it has been above the Top 500 in the UK since 2012. You can see why - it's got a friendly happy sound and a lovely meaning and is more easily worn than Barnabas. However, Barney is a more difficult sell in America, due to Barney the Dinosaur and Barney Gumble, the loveable lout from The Simpsons. In the positive column for Barney are jazz clarinetist Barney Bigard and guitarist Barney Kessel. For those who love the name but can't get past the dinosaur, may we suggest the related names Bernard or Barnaby?

Barney

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

With its stylish -o ending and similarity to the likes of Remy, Rio, and Leo, this Italian name could make an appealing and distinctive choice. A variation of Remus, it is associated with Roman mythology, Remus being one of the founders of the city of Rome, alongside his twin brother Romulus — who later killed him. While the exact meaning of the name is unknown, "twin" has been suggested.
 
Familiar in Switzerland, Remo might work for those who enjoy gentler names, and by those who love mythology but want something more subtle — and less Harry Potter connected too.

Remo

Lissy may be this generation's answer to Missy. It's rare to see Lissy on a birth certificate, but if you pay attention, you may notice it as a nickname for names such as the classic Elizabeth or hot traditional choice Felicity.

Lissy

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

Whimsy is a new entry to the ever-expanding word name lexicon, sister for Pixie and Bliss. While it has an undeniable offbeat English aristocratic charm (maybe we're thinking of Dorothy Sayers' fictional detective Lord Peter Wimsey, whose middle name was Death?), we see this as more fitting for a middle than a first name.
 
Infamous baby namers Nara and Lucky Blue Smith welcomed a daughter named Whimsy Lou in 2024, which is likely to increase this name's profile significantly.

Whimsy

Diminutive of Imogen, rarely given as a standalone even in the UK, where Imogen is a Top 50 pick. 2023 however saw a slight spike in usage, when Immy was chosen for twelve girls — more than double the number ever given the name in a single year before — while Immie was also chosen for nine girls. 

Immy

Lolly is a sweet and playful nickname, usually used for Laura or Charlotte, though other full names could be Dolores, Ololade, Lauren, Lorelei, Lorena, Elodie, Ottilie, Louella, Elora, Elowen, Olive and beyond. Also spelled as Lollie (which featured in the US Top 1000 in the late 19th century, Lolly is still occasionally given as a stand-alone name, with more than 50 girls receiving the name since the 2000s. 
 
Associated with lollipops, ice lollies, and candy more generally in Australia, the name may appeal to those who also like Dulcie, Coco, Birdie, and Gigi. A notable bearer is actress Lolly Adefope (born Ololade).

Lolly

Hubie is primarily a masculine name functioning as a diminutive form of Hubert, which comes from Germanic origins meaning 'bright heart' or 'bright mind.' This friendly, approachable nickname has an inherently casual and affectionate quality. While Hubert has historical significance—having been borne by several saints and European nobility—Hubie represents its more playful, informal cousin. The name peaked in familiarity mid-20th century but has since become uncommon. Many may recognize it from the Adam Sandler character Hubie Dubois in 'Hubie Halloween.' Though rarely used as a legal given name, Hubie maintains a charm that evokes mid-century Americana and carries a warm, unpretentious character that some parents might find appealing for its vintage feel and friendly sound.

Hubie

Gidget was the surfer girl who started it all. She was the subject of six novels by Frederick Kohner, and the 1959 film in which she made her theatrical debut, starring Sandra Dee, helped make surfing a popular sport. Today, her name feels fun, sunny and retro. Or rather, her nickname: the character's given name was Franzie, Gidget was her nom de surf, formed by combining "girl" and "midget."

Gidget

This name, more recognized as a short form of Sebastian, is perfectly usable a cool full name, and, in fact, ranks on the UK popularity list. Seb is getting lot of attention as the nickname name of the Ryan Gosling character in the hit film La La Land.

One of the few Lu- names that you've probably never heard of, Lulie could prove a good alternative for Luna, Lucy, and Lula.

Lulie

Gibby is a playful diminutive that typically derives from Gilbert or Gibson. The name Gilbert comes from Germanic origins meaning 'bright pledge' or 'shining hostage,' while Gibson was originally a patronymic surname meaning 'son of Gilbert.' Gibby emerged as an affectionate nickname before occasionally being used as an independent given name. It has a friendly, approachable quality with a distinctly casual feel. The name carries associations with youthful energy and cheerfulness. While never achieving mainstream popularity as a formal name, Gibby has maintained steady usage in English-speaking countries, particularly among families seeking a name with an upbeat, informal character. Notable cultural references include characters in television shows that have helped maintain its recognition.

Gibby

If Frances and Fran are too serious for you, and Fanny too saucy, you might like Franny, still identified by some with J. D. Salinger's Franny and Zooey stories.

Franny

Associated with figgy pudding and the Christmas rhyme, Figgy is a nickname-style choice, possibly used as a diminutive (or feminine variation) of Fig (as in the fruit), Folke (an old English and Danish name meaning "people"), Figaro (literary name meaning "barber"), or Felicity (meaning "happy, good fortune"). 
 
In the rhyme, and in terms of the pudding, it refers to raisins or dried fruit in general, rather than figs specifically.
 
The name has appeared occasionally in the England and Wales stats, with four girls given the name in a recent year.

Figgy

Fig was the unlikely name of a beautiful character in Curtis Sittenfeld's Man of My Dreams. It could make a playful middle name or a sparky nickname for the likes of Philippa, Fiona, Felicity, and Francis.
 
Culturally, figs have been associated with "mother earth" after the Babylonian goddess Ishtar took the form of a divine fig tree, with cultivation and refinement in Ancient Greece, with chastity and humility in the Bible, and with enlightenment in Buddhism.

Fifi is a perfect name -- for a French poodle. But Fifi may seem more child-friendly as names like Coco and Lulu rise.  Fifi in its fluffiness also balances the seriousness of such full names as Josephine or Federica. 

Fifi

Milou and her near-identical twin Malou are adorable names popular throughout Europe; they're contractions of Marie or Mary and Lou or Louise. The Malou spelling will probably be easier for English speakers to pronounce; Milou may be conflated with Milo.

 Fun fact: Milou is the French name of the dog Snowy in Tintin.

Milou

Cute dogs need cute dog names. It's practically a rule!

? Well, Bella and Max, the two top names for dogs, definitely count as cute names for dogs. But more unique choices such as Emmy and Ernie might compete for the title as well.

 include Dottie, Juno, and Pippa. In addition to Max and Ernie, other 

 include Dewey, Monty, and Ozzy. Word names for dogs can be really cute, such as Bonnet, Cozy, and Otter.

If you're looking for cute names for dogs to suit your adorable dog or puppy, consult our extensive roster here.

Cute dog names including Zoey, Ziggy, and other cute names for dogs, with meaning, origin, and popularity (Page 10)