Fantasy Dog Names
- Ged
Origin:
English diminutive of Gerard, Gerald, or Gethin, GermanMeaning:
"spear strength; ruler with the spear; dark, swarthy complexion"Description:
An oldy-world feeling nickname-name, used for a number of names such as Gerard (said with a sound G) and Gethin (said with a hard first consonant). In the US, it may be associated with the General Educational Development (GED) tests, which are equivalent to a high school diploma.
- Ramsay
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"low-lying land"Description:
A surname occasionally used as a first, as in former attorney general Ramsey Clark. This spelling is now closely associated with the psychopathic Game of Thrones villain Ramsay Snow (later Ramsay Bolton), and so is probably best avoided as long as the show and books are popular.
- Pollux
Origin:
GreekMeaning:
"crown"Description:
Castor's twin in the constellation Gemini. That final x makes this name modern and cool.
- Gilly
Origin:
Literary nameDescription:
Gilly is a name that's popped up from time to time in different contexts: As a nickname for Gillian, for instance, and as the name of a town in Switzerland. But it's increasingly associated with Hannah Murray's character Gilly in HBO's Game of Thrones, whom Sam Tarly rescued from Craster's Keep.
- Shadow
Origin:
English word nameDescription:
A word name with a touch of mystery surrounding it, Shadow is a bold, edgy choice for a baby which some may find a bit ominous. While it is predominatly used for cats, dogs, and other furry friends, it can be considered a wild word name that parents are actually using, having debuted in the US stats for girls in 1974 and for boys in 1987.
- Gendry
Origin:
Literary nameDescription:
Most of the names George R.R. Martin created for his A Song of Ice and Fire series of books are close variants of existing English names, but this is an exception. Gendry was a minor character in the first few seasons of the show, who became a fan favorite largely on the strength of a meme-worthy photo of his shirtless, muscled torso. He returned to the show for a key plotline in the seventh season.
- Brienne
Origin:
Modern invented nameDescription:
There aren't many characters in the notoriously amoral world of Game of Thrones with a spotless record of moral righteousness -- but Brienne of Tarth comes close. She's one of the most accomplished, ferocious fighters in the entire series -- she was one of the few people ever to best The Hound in one and one combat. And yet she always tries to use her power for good.
- Gollum
Origin:
Literary nameDescription:
J. R. R. Tolkien introduced a plethora of new names into the world, but this is one character name that never caught on, nor will it likely ever.
- Loras
Origin:
Literary nameDescription:
Loras Tyrell is the most prominent gay character in HBO's Game of Thrones, who's one of the most renowned fighters in the world until he's imprisoned by the ultra-conservative religious leader known as the High Sparrow.There's something elvish-sounding about the name that may consign it in the fantasy realm for the time being.
- Han
Description:
Han is a name with diverse origins spanning multiple cultures. In Chinese, it refers to the Han dynasty and the majority ethnic group in China, representing strength and cultural heritage. It also appears in Korean naming traditions, often meaning 'one' or 'first.' In Dutch and German contexts, Han serves as a short form of Johannes (John), carrying the meaning 'God is gracious.' As a standalone masculine name, Han has maintained steady yet modest usage in Western countries, while being more common in East Asian communities. The name gained some Western recognition through the Star Wars character Han Solo, adding a connotation of rugged independence to this concise, strong-sounding name.
- Han
Description:
Han is a name with diverse origins spanning multiple cultures. In Chinese, it refers to the Han dynasty and the majority ethnic group in China, representing strength and cultural heritage. It also appears in Korean naming traditions, often meaning 'one' or 'first.' In Dutch and German contexts, Han serves as a short form of Johannes (John), carrying the meaning 'God is gracious.' As a standalone masculine name, Han has maintained steady yet modest usage in Western countries, while being more common in East Asian communities. The name gained some Western recognition through the Star Wars character Han Solo, adding a connotation of rugged independence to this concise, strong-sounding name.
- Cersei
Origin:
Modern invented nameDescription:
Cersei Lannister is one of the most villainous -- and, in a certain light, glamorous -- characters in HBO's Game of Thrones, played by beautiful actress Lena Headey.Though we can't say for sure how author George R.R. Martin came up with the character's name, it is a near-homophone with Circe, a seductive witch in Greek mythology.
- Padme
Origin:
Modern invented nameDescription:
Padmé Amidala, played by Natalie Portman, was one of the main characters in the Star Wars prequels, the mother (with Anakin Skywalker) of Luke and Leia. Enough time may have passed for it to be conceivable as a first name IRL.
- Jareth
Origin:
Hybrid nameDescription:
For that rare parent who's torn between Jared and Gareth.
- Tyrion
Origin:
Literary nameDescription:
Tyrion is one of the many new names entering the lexicon thanks to George R. R. Martin, author of the Game of Thrones book. Tyrion's name shares its first two letters with those of his father Tywin and his grandfather Tytos. The Tyrion Lannister character, a dwarf, is played by award-winning actor Peter Dinklage. Martin has said he saw the Tyrion character as being both the ugliest and the most intelligent person in the world, a mixed legacy for any child.
- Kinsey
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"king's victory"Description:
Kinsey enjoyed popularity blip thanks to similarity to Lindsay, and because of Sue Grafton's alphabet mysteries heroine, Kinsey Millhone. Now, Kinsley has become more popular than Kinsey, perhaps because it's more distinct from Mackenzie offshoot, Kenzie.
- Faramir
Origin:
Literary creation, SindarinMeaning:
"sufficient jewel"Description:
Faramir is a character appearing in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, first seen in The Two Towers and described as a gentle lover of lore and music, a leader in battle. The character appeared in not only the books but film and video games. Faramir has already been used by one berry Tolkien fan as an intriguing middle name.
- Olenna
Origin:
Literary nameDescription:
Variant form of Olena. George R. R. Martin used this spelling for a character in his "A Song of Ice and Fire" series. It is likely inspired by the Ukrainian form of Helen meaning "torch; shining light".
- Kanan
Origin:
Arabic, Sanskrit, Azerbaijani, HebrewMeaning:
"merchant; woods, grove; variant of Canaa; low, humble"Description:
Kanan is multicultural name with a number of different origins, making it a versatile choice that travels well. A Top 50 choice in Azerbaijan, Kanan also made a brief appearance in the US Top 1000 in 2022. Given to around 200 boys each year, it feels familiar and rare at the same time.
- Aeryn
Origin:
Variation of Erin, IrishMeaning:
"from the island to the west"Description:
Spelling variation of Erin invented for a character on the science fiction TV show Farscape.
The Nameberry App Is Live

- 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.


