Dog Names That Mean Dog
Updated Wed Feb 14 2024
Share
Copy link
Dog names that mean dog are some of the most fitting choices out there for your pooch. They may mean "dog" in any number of languages, or they may have meanings such as "wolf" or "fox" if these are more fitting for your pup.
Dog names that mean dog or hound include Madigan, Cymbeline, Kalev, and Connor.
Male dog names that mean wolf include Channing, Ralph, Conan, Lowell, and Rudy. Female dog names that mean wolf include Lovella, Blakesley, Lupita, Ylva, and Randi.
Variations of the name Wolf itself are also great options, such as Wolfson, Wolfie, and Wolfgang.
Aside from Fox itself, male dog names that mean fox include Fennec, Renard, Todd, and Voss. Female dog names that mean fox include Inola and Tsula.
Here is our comprehensive collection of names that mean dog, ordered by their current popularity on Nameberry.
RELATED:
- Rafe
Origin:
Variation of Ralph, EnglishMeaning:
"wolf-counsel"Description:
A top ranking choice in England and Wales, making frequent appearances on the Telegraph Announcments, Rafe feels equal parts rugged, amiable, and posh. Traditionally seen used a variant of Ralph (itself from the Old Norse Ráðúlfr), it came into use in the 17th century to reflect this particular pronunciation.
- Ralph
Origin:
English from GermanMeaning:
"wolf-counsel"Description:
Ralph has two diametrically different images: there's the suave Ralph Fiennes-type Brit (often pronounced Rafe), and then there's the Jackie Gleason blue-collar, bowling blowhard Ralph Kramden bus driver. It's all in the eye of the beholder, though its hip factor did rise when it was chosen for his son by cool U.K. actor Matthew Macfadyen.
- Connor
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"lover of hounds"Description:
Connor, the appealing name of an early semi-legendary king of Ulster in Irish mythology, sits firmly in the Top 100 and taken together with its alternate spellings would rank even higher. In its native Ireland the Conor version is one of the highest charting boys’ name.
- Wolfgang
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"traveling wolf"Description:
A name with plenty of grandeur, but a playful nickname, Wolfgang blends sophistication, wildness, and gothic imagery. While it may feel surprising in this century, it does have an allure for those who want a name associated with dark academia, Halloween, history, intellect, wolves, and art.
- Todd
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"fox"Description:
A 1970s beach boy surfing buddy of Scott, Brad, and Chad, Todd is given to relatively few babies these days.
- Fox
Origin:
Animal nameDescription:
Fox is one animal name backed by a longish tradition, and then popularized via the lead character Fox Mulder on X Files. Fox is simple, sleek, and a little bit wild, and could make an interesting middle name.
- Rudy
Origin:
German, diminutive of RudolphMeaning:
"famous wolf"Description:
Rudy is one of those names that has been consistently in the US Top 1000 since the early 20th century without ever becoming overwhelmingly popular. It peaked back in the 1930s, when it briefly entered the Top 250, though more recent years have seen it make the latter end of the charts. Certainly more stylish than its parent name, Rudolph, which has been relegated to reindeers in English speaking countries, Rudy was given to 300 boys in a recent year.
- Lowell
Origin:
FrenchMeaning:
"young wolf"Description:
Lowell is an upstanding and somewhat conservative name that calls to mind the genteel patrician families of nineteenth century New England, such as the one poet Robert Lowell was born into. Two other Lowell-surnamed poets are Amy and James Russell.
- Raif
Origin:
Arabic; EnglishMeaning:
"compassionate; wolf counsel"Description:
Raif (or Raef, Rayif) is a Muslim name usually given in reference to the Qur’anic verse "God is most compassionate and most merciful to mankind." A notable bearer is Saudi writer, dissident and activist Raif Badawi.
- Conor
Origin:
Spelling variation of Connor, IrishMeaning:
"lover of hounds"Description:
Conor's more popular brother name Connor has been in the Top 100 for long enough that both are ready to make way for a new generation of Irish boys' names.
- Madden
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"little dog"Description:
Madden is an Irish surname relative of Madigan rising through the charts thanks to its trendy two-syllable, -en ending sound along with its appeal to Madden Football video game-playing dads. John Madden is a former pro football player who went on to coach the Oakland Raiders and become a popular NFL commentator. Madden is also the surname of groovy Nicole Richie baby daddy Joel Madden.
- Soma
Origin:
Hungarian tree name, Hindi, Sanskrit, JapaneseMeaning:
"Dogwood tree; elixir, to extract; sound of the wind + genuine"Description:
Popular in Hungary, but rare elsewhere, Soma is a botanical boy name, relating to the dogwood tree, notable for its white blooms and red twigs. Pronounced as SHO-maw, it ranked at #36 in its native country in a recent count.
- Zev
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"wolf"Description:
Zev is a short, simple, animal name that may relate to the Old Testament Ze'ev -- except he was a villainous character.
- Rudy
Origin:
German, short form of RudolphMeaning:
"famous wolf"Description:
Rudy hasn't yet enjoyed the comeback of cousin name Ruby, despite having been chosen by hip couple Sadie Frost and Jude Law, but it still could happen.
- Conan
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"little wolf"Description:
The fierce image of the Barbarian made a complete turnaround thanks to amiable talk show host O'Brien, making Conan one of the newly desirable Irish choices, a perfect alternative to Conor/Connor.
- Wolf
Origin:
Animal name or diminutive of Wolfgang, GermanMeaning:
" traveling wolf"Description:
Wolf is a name with a split personality. It can be seen as one of the fierce animal names, like Fox and Bear and Puma, with a touch of the werewolf, or it can be viewed as a quieter, Wolf Blitzer kind of name, fairly common in German (where is pronounced Vulf) and Jewish families, sometimes as a short form of Wolfgang, or even Wolfram or Wolfhart.
- Lupin
Origin:
Flower, animal, and literary name, from LatinMeaning:
"pertaining to the wolf"Description:
Lupin is an unusual flower name with roots in Old French, from the Latin lupinus, meaning "pertaining to the wolf". In the literary world, it's the surname of Remus Lupin, a popular character in the Harry Potter franchise and a werewolf.
- Raul
Origin:
Spanish variation of RalphMeaning:
"wolf counsel"Description:
Raul and French brother Raoul are much more appealing than flat-footed daddy Ralph. Puerto Rican actor Raul Julia, who starred in the Addams Family movies, brought fame to the name before his death in 1994.
- Voss
Origin:
GermanicMeaning:
"fox"Description:
Voss is a German name, that is seen in Norway and Australia (in the former it is associated with a region, in the latter it is associated with the protagonist of Patrick White's novel by the same name). Voss is an interesting alternative to Fox.
- Madigan
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"little dog"Description:
An unusual, energetic surname choice that would make a good Madison alternative. Madigan was a typical police detective series of the 1970s, starring Richard Widmark.
The Nameberry App Is Live
Find your perfect baby name together in our iPhone app, now available on the App Store.
- 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.
