200+ Unique Dog Names for Your One-of-a-Kind Pet

Sure, you could name your pooch Max or Bella or Rover. But if your new pet is beyond the ordinary, then she deserves a name as unique as her. However, it can be tough to find a name that is as special as your dog—especially when you don’t want a name that sounds like every other canine in the neighborhood. If you’re looking for a dog name that stands out from the pack, consider unique names that describe your dog’s personality, size, or heritage. When you call out, "Here, Zigzag!" or "Sit, Pixel!" you can be sure that yours is the only dog at the dog park that will respond.

We've created a list of over 200 uncommon dog names to choose from, so you can look through and choose the one that stands out from the rest, just like your new dog.

Top Unique Dog Names

To get you started, here are 21 unusual names for the new canine in your life.

• Atlas
• Barkus
• Beef
  
• Bixby
• Busy
• Cat
• Cinder
• Gimbal
• Hey Dog
• Hopper
• Kaboom
  
• Neo
• Nimrod
• Qwerty
• Renegade
• Repo
• Ritz
• Sativa
• Tails
• Toaster
• Tugs
  

23 Best Rare and Unique Dog Breeds

Unique Names for Big Dogs

Like your big dog who never escapes notice, these uncommon names will make a statement.

• Bertha
• Boombox
• Brick
• Burly
• Canyon
• Chopper
• Cletus
  
• Crush
• Dino
• Dozer
• Genghis
• Hefty
• Hilltop
• Jumbo
  
• Kane
• Kodiak
• Mojo
• Mondo
• Moose
• Sequoia
• Stack
  
• Sumo
• Titanic
• Tonka
• Thunder
• Tundra
• Ursa
• Vast
• Whopper
  
• Yeti
• Zoro
  

Unique Names for Little Dogs

As cute and cuddly as your little pooch, these names are totally adorable for any small pet.

• Acorn
• Atom
• Bantam
• Blink
• Button
• Butters
• Dibby
• Doodle
• Gadget
• Glitter
• Halfpint
• Iota
• Jax
• Jellybean
• Micro
• Minor
• Mixie
  
• Neutron
• Pip
• Pixel
• Pocket
• Puck
  
• Rolo
  
• Roo
• Speck
• Sprocket
• Sweet Pea
• Teacup
• Teeny
• Thimble
• Waffle
  

Unique Male Dog Names

Give your male dog a name that will stand out with these uncommon options.

• Axel
• Banjo
• Bono
• Bosch
• Brother
• Edison
• Hieronymus
• Galileo
• Holmes
• Hutch
  
• Irving
• Jagger
  
• Jobie
• Kai
• Lars
• Lupin
• Macon
  
• Orion
  
• Oswald
• Peeta
• Radar
• Ryder
• Schmidt
• Severus
• Sirius
• Tesla
• Wren
• Xander
• Yates
• Yogi
• Zoltran
  

Unique Female Dog Names

Unique names for female dogs could be drawn from nature, literature, theater, film, or even history.

• Alta
• Althea
• Artemis
  
• Beebee
• Bellatrix
  
• Birdie
• Boudicca
• Breeze
  
• Briar
• Cleopatra
• Effie
• Fern
• Flora
• Freya
• Gelta
• Katniss
  
• Keke
  
• Kit
• LBD
• Lilith
• Lottie
• Midge
• Norah
• Nova
• Prim
  
• Priya
  
• Rayne
  
• Sheena
• Sojourner
• Tonks
• Tuesday
  

Unique Dog Names Inspired by Food

Foodie fans far and wide will gobble up these unique dog names inspired by everyone’s favorite snacks and treats.

• Bacon
• Borscht
• Cap'n Crunch
• Chowder
• Espresso
• Fondue
• Garbanzo
• Gravy
• Hamburger
• Hershey
• Hoagie
• MacCheese
• Matzo
  
• Mayo
• Meatball
• Mr. Peanut Butter
• Nabisco
• Nutella
  
• Noodle
• Pancake
  
• Pepsi
  
• Pickles
• Queso
• Sausage
• Spaghetti
• Taco
  
• Tater Tot
  
• Toast
• Twix
• Whiskey
• Wonton
  

Unique Dog Names Based on Personality

Your dog has their own personality, so why not celebrate that with a name that reflects your canine's strongest trait?

• Bashful
• Bliss
• Bouncy
• Busy
• Buzzer
• Caper
• Clever
• Fierce
• Fiesty
• Frolic
• Genius
• Giver
• Glee
• Goofy
• Gritty
• Grumpy
• Happy
• Hero
• Keen
• Logic
• Mensch
• Noble
• Perky
• Savvy
• Smarty
• Thinker
• Trouble
• Whimsy
• Witty
• Zany

Tips for Naming Your Dog

When it comes to naming your dog, there are really no rules to follow. This means the options for a unique dog name are nearly endless—which is also part of the challenge of finding the right name. It may help if you start by thinking about your dog’s breed, type, color, shape, or size. If you don’t have your new furry friend picked out yet, think about favorite hobbies or interests that you have—or even your favorite food. Believe it or not, naming your pooch after a popular snack is a top-trending way to find an uncommon dog name.

Just remember that whatever name you choose should be recognizable for you and your dog. This can be especially important when choosing an uncommon dog name since you may be tempted to stray outside the box. It’s perfectly acceptable to pick a unique name, just be prepared to pronounce and maybe even spell it for family, friends, the veterinarian, groomer, etc. Also, try to avoid names that sound too much like commands you'll give your dog—sit or stay, for example—or that are very long or complicated. As a general rule, names that are one or two syllables are best, as these are easy for dogs to learn.

Picking a name for your dog may not happen overnight. You might spend a lot of time doing research or spend a few days getting to know your new furry friend before finding a name that has the right ring. Be patient and don't be afraid to think outside the box to find a rare and special name for your dog.

Other Dog Name Ideas

Did you find that special, rare, or unique name for your dog? There's no shortage of inspiration for uncommon dog names, so if you're still looking for the perfect option, be sure to check out these lists:

• 60 Unusual Male Dog Names
• 65 Space-Inspired Names for Dogs
• 66 Best Punny Dog Names