15 Best Names for Golden Retrievers

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Updated on 02/11/22

A Golden Retriever lounging on a couch — The Spruce / Kevin Norris

Bringing home a dog is a big step, and in addition to all of the ensuring your new dog has all of the care and attention it needs, choosing the perfect name is essential. But where do you even start? Golden retriever are known for being loyal, friendly, intelligent dogs, and this can help you start to narrow down potential names for your pup. Their own unique physical characteristics and personality are other factors you can consider when naming your dog.

Below, we've put together some of our favorite—and some of the best—options for golden retriever names, which are a great start.

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Top Names for Golden Retrievers

Amina
Allegra
Bear
Brick
Buttercup
Chaplin
Clem (Clemence)
Dorado
Doris
Dug
Gil
Liberty
Mustard
Sam
Truman

Fun Fact

Golden retrievers are known for being gentle dogs, and that includes their bite. These dogs were bred to retrieve fallen game, not attack it themselves. When retrieving the bird, they were bred to use a soft mouth, meaning their teeth would not puncture the prey item. Due to instinct, golden retrievers have one of the softest bites among all dog breeds. They’re not likely to bite you, but even if they do, it shouldn’t hurt much.

Tips for Naming Your Golden Retriever

If you like the idea of highlighting your dog's positive qualities in a name, think of words in other languages that mean loyal or happy. For example, the name "Amina" means "honest" in Arabic, "Truman" is another way of saying "true one," and "Allegra" is "happy" in Italian. Other sources of inspiration can come from the dog's shimmery coat or if you plan for your dog to be your hunting companion. Golden retrievers live on average 10 to 12 years, so make sure it's a name that can go the distance and you feel comfortable sharing it with people who ask as you walk your dog, in dog runs, or at the vet's office.

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A Golden Retreiver with a Goofy Grin upside down on a bed — franlaurendeau / Getty Images

A happy Golden Retriever running — Sharleen Chao / Getty Images

Golden Retriever Girl Names

If you are looking for a catchy name for a female golden retriever, take a look at these popular selections.

Amber
Bella
Blondie
Brandy
Ginger
Goldie
Gracie
Holly
Honey
Lady
Nala
Pearl
Penny
Sadie
Zuzu

Golden Retriever Boy Names

Good dog names are short and easy to say. Take a look at these popular favorites for male goldens.

Blaze
Buddy
Cody
Cooper
Copper
Duke
Harley
Leo
Marley
Max
Milo
Nugget
Rusty
Tucker
Whiskey

Golden Retriever Hunting Dog Names

Golden retrievers are a gun dog or bird dog that developed during the mid-19th century in Scotland. Good swimmers, golden retrievers were primarily bred for collecting waterfowl during a hunt. These dogs remain great hunting companions.

Ace
Apollo
Archer
Artemis
Bolt
Chase
Dash
Echo
Gunner
Hunter
Magnum
Orion
Ranger
Ryder
Scout

Golden Retriever Cute Names

As puppies, golden retrievers are among the most adorable dogs, but as they grow, their faces retain a gentle, friendly face with soulful, piercing eyes. It is no wonder they get sweet-natured names like Buttercup and Precious.

Angel
Biscuit
Buttercup
Cookie
Cupcake
Fluffy
Happy
Marigold
Marshmallow
Peaches
Precious
Sugar
Sunshine
Sweetie
Waffles

A to Z Golden Retriever Names

A

Ace
Allegra
Amber
Amina
Angel
Apollo
Archer
Artemis

B

Bear
Bella
Biscuit
Blaze
Blondie
Bolt
Brandy
Brick
Buddy
Buttercup

C–D

Chaplin
Chase
Clem (Clemence)
Cody
Cookie
Cooper
Copper
Cupcake
Dash
Dorado
Doris
Dug
Duke

E–H

Echo
Fluffy
Gil
Ginger
Goldie
Gracie
Gunner
Happy
Harley
Holly
Honey
Hunter

L–O

Lady
Leo
Liberty
Magnum
Marigold
Marley
Marshmallow
Max
Milo
Mustard
Nala
Nugget
Orion

P–S

Peaches
Pearl
Penny
Precious
Ranger
Rusty
Ryder
Sadie
Sam
Scout
Sugar
Sunshine
Sweetie

T–Z

Truman
Tucker
Waffles
Whiskey
Zuzu