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

Breton is the term for the people and language of Brittany, a region of northern France with a distinct culture.  Breton also might be thought of as a trendy modern invention, taking the midcentury surfer boy Bret or Brett and adding the current favorite boy's name ending -on and turning it into a name all its own.  Bretton is a variation.

Breton

Fianna, a virtually unknown Irish name in the US, combines the best elements of Fiona and Brianna. In Irish and Scottish mythology, the Fianna were independent bands of warriors. It has ranked in Northern Ireland's Top 100 for girls several times over the past decade. The name also has potential political connotations: Fianna Fáil is a conservative Irish republican political party.

Fianna

Bubba

Although Gracia is the literal Spanish translation of Grace and is used as the Grace equivalent in Spanish-speaking countries, where it's pronounced grah-see-ah or grah-thee-ah, it's also a long-time if unusual Grace variation pronounced gray-sha. You might consider Gracia if Grace is getting too commonplace for you.

Gracia

Notorious Chicago gangster Al Capone may not seem like a worthy namesake, but parents have been using his surname for their sons since 1996. In English, we pronounce Capone with two syllables, but the authentic Italian pronunciation is cah-POH-neh.
 
Capone has two separate origins. The first is from the Italian word capo, meaning "head." Capone was likely used as a nickname for someone with a "big head," meaning "arrogant" in the figurative sense. It may also be an occupational surname from the word capon, referring to a castrated chicken. From this derivation, Capone would have denoted someone who raised chickens, or was possibly a mean-spirited nickname for a cuckold. No matter how you slice it, you can't escape negative associations with this name.

Capone

On one hand, Caron is a place name, deived from the Welsh caru meaning "to love", and therefore related to Carys and Caradoc. Alternatively, it's influenced by the Greek Charon ("fierce brightness" and mythological ferryman for the dead) or the French Chèron (possibly from Roman Carinu, "beloved, dear").

Caron

Naples-born Enrico Caruso was one of the greatest opera singers of all time. Recordings of his powerful singing voice are still in circulation today, nearly 100 years after his death. Increasingly, though, the name Caruso is associated not with the Italian tenor but with Rick Caruso, owner of a major chain of malls.

Caruso

In Hindi, Hara is one of the 1,008 names for the god Siva and, to English speakers, a possible feminine spin on Harry. In Greek the name is pronounced with emphasis on the last syllable, where it has the uplifting meaning "joy" (also seen as Chara).

Hara

An androgynous alternative to Hazel, Hayes, and Hayden, Hazen is predominantly used for boys at the moment, though it has been given to a handful of girls since the 2000s. 
 
Hazen is a variation of the Dutch surname Hasin, which has two separate origins. The first is as a nickname for Haso, a Germanic given name derived from haswa, meaning "gray" or "black." Hasin was also a variation of Haas, a Dutch and German surname meaning "hare."

Hazen

Retro nickname for Charles that has the potential for revival, a la Hal, Ike, and Gus.
 
Ben Stiller played the high-strung but devoted Chas Tenenbaum in Wes Anderson’s 2001 film The Royal Tenenbaums.

Chas

The perfect Latin-accented hero name to honor labor activist César Chavez. 

Chavez

Frequently cited as an example of cruel baby naming, à la Ima Hogg. 

Smart choice given to a handful of baby boys each year.

Clever

Connelly is an open, inviting, and rarely used Irish surname that can make a perfect alternative to the overused Connor or Colin for a boy. 

Connelly

Dagger is one of the new <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/404/badass-baby-names">badass baby names</a>, a sharp and scary choice that some parents may feel arm their child for battle in a cruel modern world.

Dagger

A Damian relative and the name of an ancient Spanish pope with modern possibilities. 

Damaso

Prime example of the aggressive word names that are an off-the-grid branch of the new macho names.  Makes Cannon, Maverick, and Ranger feel almost soft and sensitive by comparison. 

Danger

Delmer is kind of a smoosh of two dated names, Delmar and Elmer, that does not improve on either. While Elmer is making a return as a Geek Chic name, Delmar was given to only 14 baby boys last year while Delmer is extinct.

Delmer

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

Welcome to Nameberry's masterlist of dog names, where you can find every dog name we've ever recommended, all in one place.

We have over 7000 choices perfect for your pooch, whether you're looking for male dog names, female dog names, or even 

Start here to find a name for your puppy or dog, or narrow your search with our 

. You can also check out our lists of the 

Complete list of 7000+ dog names — male dog names and female dog names — including meaning and origin (Page 231)