Dog Names That Mean Survivor or Fighter

  1. Koah
    • Origin:

      Variation of Koa, Hawaiian
    • Meaning:

      "warrior"
    • Description:

      It was only a matter of time before the Koa-Noah mashup came around. Koah is rising quickly and could be a future member of the Top 1000.
  2. Louie
    • Origin:

      Variation of Louis, German and French
    • Meaning:

      "renowned warrior"
    • Description:

      With Stevie, Scottie, and Charlie on the rise, and Lula, Lucy, Eloise, and Lucia all in style, we're predicting a rise in baby girls called Louie. Fitting the "boyish-nicknames-for-girls" trend, it may additionally be used as a nickname of classic Louisa and Louise.
  3. Umberto
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Humbert
    • Meaning:

      "renowned warrior"
    • Description:

      A definite improvement over the English Humbert, Umberto has nevertheless been rarely heard outside the Italian community.
  4. Nike
    • Origin:

      Greek
    • Meaning:

      "victory"
    • Description:

      The goddess and personification of victory in Greek mythology – sister to strength, force, and zeal – could make a powerful namesake for a daughter. The goddess would fly a chariot across battlefields rewarding the victors with laurel garlands. Though Nike would make a more unique alternative to her much more popular Roman counterpart, Victoria, be warned that many people’s first association will be the sportswear brand.
  5. Lulie
    • Origin:

      Short form of Lula or Louise, German and French
    • Meaning:

      "renowned warrior"
    • Description:

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

      Dutch
    • Meaning:

      "famous warrior"
    • Description:

      It originated as a nickname for Lodewijk, but now Lowie is more popular as-is, even ranking in the Top 100 in Belgium.
  7. Clancy
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "red-haired warrior"
    • Description:

      Irish surnames are hot, and this one can successfully cross the line to work for girls, replacing the outdated Casey. And only a dozen girls were named Clancy in the US in one recent year (along with 27 boys), making it one of those rare Irish names that are both accessible and distinctive, classic and cool. Clancy is a winner for either gender.
  8. Hodge
    • Origin:

      Variation of Roger, German
    • Meaning:

      "famous warrior"
    • Description:

      Hodge is a medieval English nickname for Roger, which was brought to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Roger isn't ready for a comeback yet, but we'd love to see the resurgence of Hodge, which never was a common choice in the US.
  9. Aloisia
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "famous fighter"
    • Description:

      Inventive female form of Aloysius.
  10. Vika
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Viktoria, Russian from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "victory"
    • Description:

      Fresher and more exciting than Vicki or Tori.
  11. Signy
    • Origin:

      Scandinavian
    • Meaning:

      "new victory"
    • Description:

      Signy — also spelled Signe — would make another distinctively offbeat alternative to Sydney. Signy appears in Norse mythology as the twin sister of Sigmund.
  12. Connery
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "warrior-lord"
    • Description:

      This appealing name of a mythical king of Tara whose reign brough prosperity to his kingdom is strongly associated with actor Sean. The Irish form is Conaire.
  13. Kjartan
    • Origin:

      Nordic
    • Meaning:

      "sea warrior"
    • Description:

      A short form of Mýrkjartan, an Old Norse name derived from the Irish Muircheartach "sea warrior". It is also a Nordic form of the Old Irish name Certán, possibly meaning "humming sound".
  14. Evena
    • Origin:

      Finnish feminization of Even, Norwegian
    • Meaning:

      "gift; winner"
    • Description:

      A rare feminine form of Even, a common Norwegian boy name.
  15. Aloisa
    • Origin:

      German variation of Louisa
    • Meaning:

      "renowned warrior"
    • Description:

      Obscure form of an old-fashioned favorite that's poised to make a comeback. This version, which owes as much to Alison as to Louisa, has a stylish A beginning and a multi-syllabic feminine grace.
  16. Donahue
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "dark fighter"
    • Description:

      This genial Irish surname feels much more current than Donald.
  17. Jayant
    • Origin:

      Hindu
    • Meaning:

      "victorious"
    • Description:

      Jayant is the name of the son of the Hindu God Indra. Its meaning is derived from the Sanskrit word Jaya, meaning victory.
  18. Durant
    • Origin:

      English and French from Latin
    • Meaning:

      "enduring"
    • Description:

      Durant's meaning signifies staying power, a good quality to impart to your child. Notables with the surname Durant include Pulitzer Prize-winning authors Will and Ariel Durant, most famous for their eleven-volume The Story of Civilization, and William Crappo Durant, co-founder of General Motors and Chevrolet.
  19. Garrick
    • Origin:

      Teutonic
    • Meaning:

      "mighty warrior"
    • Description:

      A rarely used last-name-first-name, never as popular as cousins Garrett or Derek.
  20. Alvar
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "elf warrior"
    • Description:

      This name woould be hard to picture in a contemporary kindergarten, though it does have some cultural cred via Finnish architect and furniture designer Alvar Aalto. Aalto would actually make a more interesting choice.

Introducing the Nameberry App

Nameberry App
Find your perfect baby name together with our new mobile app.
  • Swipe through thousands of names with your partner
  • Names you match on are saved to your shared list
  • Get personalized recommendations that learn based on your and your partner's preferences
  • Partner with friends and family to find names you all love
  • Backed by Nameberry's 20 years of data around name preferences.
Sign up to be notified when the app launches and to receive a discount on full access.
Nameberry App Logo