Here at Hiro + Wolf, we are thrilled to hear the news about your new dog! One of the most difficult decisions when bringing home your new family member is choosing their name. No doubt that you already see your dog as the most precious pet in existence, so you’ll want a name to live up to that. Dogs are renowned for their friendly disposition, and have a reputation as Man's Best Friend. Because of this, there are many famous hounds to take inspiration from. To help you out, we’ve compiled a quick-to-read list of dog name ideas inspired by historical dogs, and famous dogs from pop-culture.
Historical Dogs
Throughout history, dogs have truly made their mark. Here is our list of famous dogs in history.
- Balto - a famous sled dog, he was the lead dog on the final leg of the 1925 serum run to Nome to deliver life-saving medication to many.
- Sinbad - the U.S. Coast Guard's most famous mascot. He was adopted by a crewman prior to World War II where the crew enlisted him in the Coast Guard. Sinbad had a book written about him.
- Nemo - a German Shepherd that served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. Nemo was credited with saving the life of his handler.
- Nipper - the dog with the gramophone in the 1901 His Master's Voice logo.
- Bobby (or "Greyfriars Bobby") - loyal to his owner long after his owner's death in 1858. Until Bobby's death 14 years later, he reportedly spent every night at his owner's grave.
- Laika - aka Kudryavka, a Russian stray was the first animal to orbit the Earth, in 1957.
- Smoky - a Yorkshire Terrier, credited as the first therapy dog.
- Betsy - one of the most intelligent dogs, who knew over 340 words.
- Bluey - an Australian Cattle Dog who was verified as the world's oldest dog by Guinness World Records.
- Hachiko - a Japanese Akita who became famous for his loyalty and devotion to his owner. Hachiko would wait for his owner at a train station every day, and his story has become a symbol of loyalty and devotion in Japan.
Pop-Culture Dogs
From Disney to classic Hollywood cinema, our list of pop-culture dogs has something for everyone. How many dogs from this list do you recognise?
- Toto - The Wizard of Oz
- Lassie - Lassie
- Rin Tin Tin - The Adventures of Rin-Tin-Tin
- Scooby-Doo - What's New Scooby-Doo?
- Krypto - Krypto the Super Dog
- Zero - The Nightmare Before Christmas
- Pluto - Disney
- Monchi - The Mitchells vs. the Machines
- Lou - Cats & Dogs
- Toby - The Great Mouse Detective
- Oddball - 102 Dalmatians
- Fluffy - Harry Potter
- Beethoven - Beethoven
- Clifford - Clifford the Big Red Dog
- Blue - Blue's Clues
- Isabelle - Animal Crossing
- Snoopy - Peanuts
- Santa's Little Helper - The Simpsons
- Doug - Up
- Bond - Spy X Family
- Benji - Benji
- Marley - Marley & Me
- Gromit - Wallace and Gromit
- Frank - Men in Black
- Bruiser - Legally Blonde
- Slinky - Toy Story
- Einstein - Back to The Future
- Max - How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- Dante - Coco
- Shiloh - Saving Shiloh
- Fly - Babe
- Chance - Homeward Bound
- Buddy - Air Bud
- Milo - The Mask
- Lady - Lady and the Tramp
- Padfoot - Harry Potter
- Chase - Paw Patrol
- Odie - Garfield
- Pongo - 101 Dalmatians
- Astro - The Jetsons
- Spike - Looney Tunes
- Cooper - The Fox and the Hound
- Buckley - The Royal Tenenbaums
- Cosmo - Guardians Of The Galaxy
- Cujo - Cujo
- Daisy - John Wick
- Lolabelle - Heart Of A Dog
- Matisse - Down and Out in Beverly Hills
- Wolfie - Terminator 2: Judgement Day
- Nanook - The Lost Boys
- Pippin - Jaws
- Samantha - I Am Legend
- Sparky - Frankenweenie
- Whiskey - Blade Runner 2049
- Cinnamon - The Big Bang Theory
Bonus Bookish Dog Name Ideas
To complete the list, we’ve added a bonus selection of our favourite dog's name ideas from literature. These names are inspired by authors as well as famous dogs from books, and we think they would suit your new furry friend.
- Argos - The Odyssey by Homer
- Asta - The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett
- Blanche - King Lear by William Shakepeare
- Buck - Call of the Wild by Jack London
- Eos - Funeral Games by Mary Renault
- Kiche - White Fang by Jack London
- Nana - Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
- Pilot - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
- Spot - Spot by Eric Hill
- Timmy - Famous Five Series by Enid Blyton
- Austen - Jane Austen, the beloved British author of classic novels.
- Conrad – Inspired by Joseph Conrad, the Polish-British author of “Heart of Darkness."
- Fitzgerald – Inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author of “The Great Gatsby” and other classic works.
- Hemingway – Ernest Hemingway, the renowned American author.
- Orwell – Paying tribute to George Orwell, the British author known for his dystopian novel “1984.”
- Poe – Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, the American writer known for his macabre tales,
- Shelley – Paying homage to Mary Shelley, the English author of the gothic novel “Frankenstein.”
- Tolstoy – Paying tribute to Leo Tolstoy, the Russian author of “War and Peace.”
- Wilde – Named after Oscar Wilde, the witty Irish playwright and author.
- Woolf – Inspired by Virginia Woolf, the influential British writer.
