Pet Names · Dog Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 370 pages
of 370
Latin
"light"
A warm and simple alternative to Luna, derived from Latin lumen "light".
Diminutive of Arthur, Celtic
"bear"
Artie is a cute short form rarely given on its own, unlike the more grownup Art. But for a young Arthur, it's adorable.
Arabic, Turkish
"gift, ancestor"
Although it's a traditional male name in the Middle East, Ata has a more feminine read in the US.
German
"bold and renowned"
The name of a monk who is the patron saint of blacksmiths -- not a twentieth-century occupation or baby name.
Spanish
"arms; nature name"
The name of a river that flows through Texas into the Gulf of Mexico is given to a dozen or so baby boys and a handful of girls each year. The name derives from Spanish río de los Brazos de Dios…
English surname
"boundary gate"
This unusual unisex surname name is pretty evenly divided between the sexes these days than it was in the late 1800s and early 1900s, when it was almost entirely male. Merritt was a female character…
American invented name
The word "bricks," name-ified. Rapper Pusha T used this as the middle name for his son, Nigel.
Diminutive of Mary, Miriam, and others
Sweet, nicknamey name belonging to the tragic heroines of both La Bohème and Rent . Mimi might feel too slight for many parents to use on the birth certificate, but as a short form, it's one of the…
Irish
"from the narrow forest"
A beaming, friendly Irish last-name-first-name waiting to be discovered, though anyone into American history might associate it with John C. Calhoun, a 19th century statesman who defended slavery.…
Yiddish form of Hebrew Menucha
"comfort"
Rarely heard outside the Jewish community; another form is Minda.
Scottish
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
Mirren is a lively and attractive Scottish name, popular in its native country but best known outside Scotland as the surname of the English actor Dame Helen Mirren. It is thought to be a Scottish…
"blackberry"
Intriguing derivation, though people will assume it's a simplified form of Maura.
French fictional name
"From Artagnan"
The name of the protagonist of a trio of novels by French author Alexandre Dumas, most notably The Three Musketeers . D’Artagnan is an aspiring musketeer who travels to Paris in search of fortune and…
Greek, Latin, and Georgian variation of Noah, Hebrew
"rest, repose"
Spelled Noë, this name is common among baby girls in the Netherlands. The umlaut clarifies the two-syllable pronunciation, at least to Europeans, and the spelling variation may help sidestep gender…
"pig"
Portia is a perfect role-model name, relating to Shakespeare's brilliant and spirited lawyer in The Merchant of Venice , and is now also a Hunger Games name . Another Shakespearean Portia was the…
West African (Fula)
"bold"
Possibly meaning "bold", this West African surname is less commonly found as a first name, too.
English
"red-haired"
Sleek, unisex surname rarely heard for girls -- which could be seen as an asset.
"black stranger"
An Irish surname possibility for those who like Daley, Royal, Dougal, and Dolan, though it may sound too much like doily to catch on for modern boys. Nevertheless, it was fairly well used in the 20th…
Diminutive of Earl, English, or word name
"nobleman, warrior; early"
Early is a word-turned-name, pleasantly suggesting the start of a bright new day. Of the new word and day names, Early is one of the best. Early James is the stage name of singer-songwriter Fredrick…
Finnish variation of Eric
"eternal ruler"
Creative gem perfect for an architect's son, in tribute to modern Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen.
