You’re almost ready for the new arrival, but naming your new puppy is one of the most exciting moments of bringing the bundle of fluff home. Or contentious… Families can have protracted discussions about what to name the darling new addition. It’s a fine art picking exactly the right name that suits your dog and is unique but popular, while getting the syllable-count spot-on. (Try shouting “Angelina-Ballerina” across the park – too long, too flowery and ever-so-slightly embarrassing). If you have chosen a bitch, then you’ll probably be looking at dog names for girls – although there are plenty that work just as well for both genders. Or if you’re undecided, check out our suggested dog names for boys.
A few tips: two syllables is best. Any longer and you’ll be nicknaming the pup in no time, leading to confusion in your commands. Shorter, and you’ll probably add an “-ie” sound on the end: Rose–Rosie; Pink–Pinkie; Mole–Moley.
The trend for popular culture names always ebbs and flows. Hopefully your wee pup will live well over a decade, so ask yourself whether you’ll still be happy with the name Barbie 15 years down the line. When Frozen came out, there was a 900% rise in dogs named after the film’s characters. Likewise, Moana, Ariel, Minnie, Nala, Arya, and Harley have all risen in popularity.
Avoid naming your puppy anything too similar to members of your family or you’re inviting confusion. So, if your daughter is Ellie, don’t settle on Nellie.
Whatever you alight upon, it needs to roll off the tongue, and suit the dog’s personality. Sometimes incongruity works best. I know a marvellous mini dachshund girl called Hippo – she makes everyone smile.
The most popular dog names for girls
In 2023, the top 10 female puppy names in the UK were:
- Luna
- Bella
- Lola
- Poppy
- Daisy
- Coco
- Ruby
- Molly
- Rosie
- Willow
Luna also tops the charts in the US, with Bella also taking the runner-up spot. While further down, Maggie, Lucy, Bailey and Sadie replace Poppy, Coco, Ruby and Molly. The Australians also love Luna, making it their top choice of the year.
But perhaps you want something more individual. Here are three girls’ names for each letter of the alphabet:
A Apple, Ava, Astrid
B Blossom, Binky, Bluebell
C Cici, Chilli, Coco
D Ditzy, Dido, Dotty
E Echo, Elsa, Evie
F Freya, Fifi, Flossie
G Gucci, Gypsy, Gretel
H Honey, Hippo, Hera
I Ivy, India, Iris
J Jessie, Juno, Jasmine
K Kiwi, Kimchi, Keiko
L Lulu, Lucky, Layla
M Minnie, Missy, Mocha
N Nina, Noodle, Nova
O Orla, Olive, Oreo
P Pixie, Prada, Pepa
R Roxy, Rosa, Raven
Q Queenie, Quizzie, Quincey
S Soda, Sienna, Snowdrop
T Trixie, Twiggy, Tia
U Urchin, Ugli, Una
V Venus, Violet, Vega
W Winnie, Willow, Wilma
X Xenia, Xanthe, Xyla
Y Yoko, Yara, Yami
Z Ziggy, Zelda, Zenya
Think you’ve settled on a name? Now it’s time to go shopping for everything you need to buy for a puppy!
Personalised Dog Tag | Amazon
Chosen your name? Now you need a tag with all your info. This one is available in two shapes and a range of colours.
You may also enjoy reading…
You don’t want to sleep on these savings – here’s our final list of the best Prime Day deals for dog owners
100 boys’ names for your new male pup
Meet 7 of the world’s smallest dog breeds
21 of the cutest dog breeds to make you coo, smile (and want more dogs…)
Sleep tight little one! Best puppy beds for sweet slumber
Train your puppy with tasty treats to entice and reward
Best dog play pens for security and comfort
Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access ready for the Olympics and more
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.
