Exotic Dog Names

If you want to stand out from the crowd, check out this list of exotic dog names. It's a deeply eclectic mix of dog names from multiple cultures and languages.

Tap the arrow to see the meaning of each name, and the heart to save a name to your shortlist.

• Adelaar

  Meaning: eagle
• Adi

  Meaning: jewel
• Adlai

  Meaning: God's justice
• Adoni

  Meaning: Lord
• Afiya

  Meaning: good health; well being
• Akocha

  Meaning: sunrise
• Alajaguar

  Meaning:
• Alcyone

  Meaning: mighty power
• Amadi

  Meaning: lightning spirit
• Anandin

  Meaning: joy; bliss
• Ande

  Meaning: inside of the soul; spirit
• Ander

  Meaning: man
• Anpona

  Meaning: I hear the sun rising
• Aquiline

  Meaning: like an eagle
• Archana

  Meaning: worship
• Armas

  Meaning: sweetheart
• Atik

  Meaning: courageous one
• Avidan

  Meaning: my Father is judge
• Bahi

  Meaning: splendid
• Baisong

  Meaning: tall pine
• Balavaan

  Meaning: powerful man
• Balira

  Meaning: the strong one
• Barik

  Meaning: a well watered place
• Bashira

  Meaning: having mental perception
• Batua

  Meaning: unity
• Bedreven

  Meaning: skilled expert
• Benison

  Meaning: blessing; benediction
• Berhan

  Meaning: light, illumination
• Bhasanta

  Meaning: shining one
• Binah

  Meaning: mystical understanding
• Bodan

  Meaning: wise learned one
• Bodhya

  Meaning: one of great understanding
• Bron

  Meaning: spring; fountain
• Budhila

  Meaning: awakened; enlightened one
• Burton

  Meaning: From the fortress
• Cade

  Meaning: Juniper
• Callion

  Meaning: perfection; handsome
• Chalin

  Meaning: beautiful flower
• Chandi

  Meaning: silver
• Chava

  Meaning: earth
• Chene

  Meaning: oak tree
• Cherika

  Meaning: the moon
• Chime

  Meaning: to never die
• Chiwen

  Meaning: steady; persistent
• Chomden

  Meaning: overcome the negative
• Cion

  Meaning: affectionate one
• Clive

  Meaning: Cliff Dweller
• Cory

  Meaning: summit; peak
• Cuan

  Meaning: harbor; safety
• Dachen

  Meaning: great joy
• Daitan

  Meaning: daring; bold one
• Damon

  Meaning: Loyal
• Darit

  Meaning: gift
• Darshan

  Meaning: Observing and understanding.
• Dauphine

  Meaning: dolphin
• Dechen

  Meaning: ultimate bliss
• Deoma

  Meaning: a prayer
• Deun

  Meaning: saint
• Devrit

  Meaning: god-given
• Dhanesh

  Meaning: helpful to everyone
• Dhonden

  Meaning: having meaning
• Dione

  Meaning: divine
• Dolunay

  Meaning: full moon
• Doromene

  Meaning: gift of might
• Drake

  Meaning: Dragon
• Dreolan

  Meaning: the wren bird
• Dryade

  Meaning: tree
• Duren

  Meaning: enduring one
• Dyrkan

  Meaning: worthy of worship
• Echahow

  Meaning: I help save
• Edusamme

  Meaning: the one who advances
• Eldon

  Meaning: The Old Servant
• Elea

  Meaning: floating; clarity
• Elion

  Meaning: sun god
• Eliyada

  Meaning: God knows
• Emetal

  Meaning: joy
• Emrys

  Meaning: ambrosia; immortality
• Enze

  Meaning: bestows favors
• Ermene

  Meaning: mighty one
• Euden

  Meaning: fine tree
• Evander

  Meaning: Good Man
• Ezume

  Meaning: pure water; pond
• Faishtako

  Meaning: angelic
• Fanaka

  Meaning: success; valuable
• Farhan

  Meaning: joy
• Farzan

  Meaning: learned; intelligent
• Fletcher

  Meaning: Arrow Maker/Folk Army
• Fochik

  Meaning: the celestial stars
• Fredan

  Meaning: peace
• Gadula

  Meaning: greatness
• Gainde

  Meaning: wolf
• Gallan

  Meaning: brave one; gallant
• Gavan

  Meaning: safe harbor
• Gaza

  Meaning: treasure; wealth
• Genki

  Meaning: lively one
• Gev

  Meaning: brave warrior
• Giles

  Meaning: Pledge Or Young Goat
• Girma

  Meaning: worthy of glory
• Goren

  Meaning: excel; above all
• Guven

  Meaning: trust
• Guy

  Meaning: fighter, guide
• Hali

  Meaning: authentic; genuine
• Handowan

  Meaning: night song
• Hasiin

  Meaning: hope
• Haylan

  Meaning: healer
• Helaku

  Meaning: sunny day
• Hieron

  Meaning: holy place
• Hokama

  Meaning: the guide
• Hopet

  Meaning: hope
• Hugh

  Meaning: Bright In Mind And Spirit
• Ichante

  Meaning: from the heart
• Ife

  Meaning: love
• Ikeno

  Meaning: joy
• Ime

  Meaning: miracle
• Itan

  Meaning: the chief
• Izak

  Meaning: he who laughs
• Jadd

  Meaning: one who is serious
• Jaideep

  Meaning: victory of the light
• Jaleel

  Meaning: great; fine
• Jamal

  Meaning: handsome; beautiful
• Jampal

  Meaning: splendor; supreme
• Janta

  Meaning: knowledge; skill
• Javan

  Meaning: swift one
• Jeevan

  Meaning: life
• Jhazala

  Meaning: gazelle
• Jimin

  Meaning: he rescues people
• Jona

  Meaning: God gave
• Kabir

  Meaning: greatness
• Kadmiel

  Meaning: close to God
• Kalmanu

  Meaning: lightning striking a tree
• Kamen

  Meaning: stone
• Kave

  Meaning: above it all
• Kebede

  Meaning: great value
• Kemen

  Meaning: encouragement
• Kenji

  Meaning: Strong, healthy second son
• Kennis

  Meaning: knowledge; skill
• Kerk

  Meaning: church
• Keshen

  Meaning: deeply profound
• Kevad

  Meaning: springtime
• Kiama

  Meaning: magic
• Kida

  Meaning: the dawn
• Kiira

  Meaning: the dawn
• Kintu

  Meaning: first man
• Kitaro

  Meaning: happy boy
• Kiyo

  Meaning: purity
• Koji

  Meaning: to light the way
• Kona

  Meaning: the name of a star
• Kono

  Meaning: one with dexterity
• Kuasa

  Meaning: strength; power
• Kuende

  Meaning: growth; evolution
• Kumi

  Meaning: rarely seen beauty
• Kushala

  Meaning: wholesome one
• Kuva

  Meaning: power; forces
• Kwanzaa

  Meaning: feast of first fruits
• Lakota

  Meaning: Friends
• Lal

  Meaning: precious
• Laniyan

  Meaning: thoughtful one
• Lemuel

  Meaning: Devoted To God
• Lewin

  Meaning: cherished friend
• Lia

  Meaning: weary
• Lootus

  Meaning: he brings us hope
• Lyman

  Meaning: valley man
• Maitri

  Meaning: special kind of magic
• Majjati

  Meaning: dive into life; exuberance
• Maki

  Meaning: True hope
• Malak

  Meaning: angel
• Malone

  Meaning: grace from God
• Mandeep

  Meaning: heart fire; motivation
• Manoj

  Meaning: mind; heart
• Manulani

  Meaning: bird of heaven
• Marjah

  Meaning: the hope one has
• Mato

  Meaning: bear
• Medhavin

  Meaning: wise one
• Melak

  Meaning: angel
• Merak

  Meaning: curious one
• Mezian

  Meaning: goodness
• Mila

  Meaning: dream
• Miran

  Meaning: peaceful one
• Modigy

  Meaning: brave
• Mohkave

  Meaning: bobcat
• Monroe

  Meaning: From The Hill
• Mudar

  Meaning: wise one
• Munay

  Meaning: loving power
• Nadanje

  Meaning: the receiver
• Nadiv

  Meaning: generous & noble
• Nahko

  Meaning: bear
• Nakota

  Meaning: friend; ally
• Namiid

  Meaning: star dancer
• Nandak

  Meaning: brings happiness
• Neosho

  Meaning: river
• Nesshin

  Meaning: eagerness
• Neville

  Meaning: New Town
• Nikiq

  Meaning: flower of the moon
• Nimakin

  Meaning: original home
• Noa

  Meaning: pleasant man
• Nordun

  Meaning: seven jewels of wisdom
• Obadiah

  Meaning: servant of God
• Oban

  Meaning: king
• Odiche

  Meaning: one who is special

• Okana

  Meaning: extreme; without limit
• Olen

  Meaning: deer
• Oluremi

  Meaning: God consoles me
• Onsi

  Meaning: eagle
• Orun

  Meaning: sun
• Osceola

  Meaning: black drink crier
• Ossa

  Meaning: divine law
• Otto

  Meaning: Prosperous, rich
• Oyate

  Meaning: tribe; nation
• Ozoa

  Meaning: the good road in life
• Pachama

  Meaning: Mother Earth
• Pallava

  Meaning: sprout; blossom
• Panya

  Meaning: cherished
• Parthena

  Meaning: virginal; pure
• Pavaki

  Meaning: purity
• Pazima

  Meaning: lightning & thunder
• Pedion

  Meaning: field; open country
• Perama

  Meaning: very loving
• Phaedon

  Meaning: Shining one
• Phereniki

  Meaning: bringer of victory
• Planina

  Meaning: mountain
• Predan

  Meaning: devoted
• Princess

  Meaning: A daughter of a monarch.
• Qadesh

  Meaning: holy
• Qadir

  Meaning: Capable one
• Qawaya

  Meaning: strong one
• Qawe

  Meaning: brave
• Qen

  Meaning: honest & upright
• Qinda

  Meaning: hardworking man
• Qiyana

  Meaning: clever one; crafty
• Raashida

  Meaning: rightly guided
• Radi

  Meaning: satisfied
• Rahana

  Meaning: sweet basil
• Rama

  Meaning: Wife / Goddess Lakshmi
• Randeep

  Meaning: he outshines in battle
• Ranielle

  Meaning: Rain + Elle
• Raviro

  Meaning: gift from God
• Rayna

  Meaning: song of the Lord
• Remeleen

  Meaning: white antelope
• Rex

  Meaning: King
• Rhamah

  Meaning: my sweetness
• Rimaline

  Meaning: white antelope
• Rimon

  Meaning: pomegranate fruit
• Risette

  Meaning: pleasant little laugh
• Rochana

  Meaning: beautiful
• Rodan

  Meaning: fertile earth; fertility
• Roland

  Meaning: famous throughout the land
• Ronel

  Meaning: song of the Lord
• Rosalba

  Meaning: white rose
• Rukiya

  Meaning: she rises up
• Rukundo

  Meaning: victory
• Rupert

  Meaning: Bright Fame
• Sabon

  Meaning: seed
• Sabria

  Meaning: one with knowledge
• Sadira

  Meaning: lotus tree
• Safi

  Meaning: pure
• Sajjana

  Meaning: a good person
• Sajovan

  Meaning: possessed of youth
• Salome

  Meaning: Welcome, Peace
• Sana

  Meaning: Brilliance and intelligence.
• Sanjay

  Meaning: referring to Buddha
• Sarani

  Meaning: joy
• Sarita

  Meaning: river
• Sarojanetra

  Meaning: lotus eyes
• Sashi

  Meaning: the world
• Saundra

  Meaning: defender of mankind
• Savine

  Meaning: juniper plant
• Selaras

  Meaning: harmony
• Serena

  Meaning: calm & peaceful
• Sevan

  Meaning: devoted to serving others
• Shaelynn

  Meaning: Shae + Lynn
• Shaiwase

  Meaning: good luck; happiness
• Shalana

  Meaning: prefix Sha + Lana
• Shamir

  Meaning: guard; protector
• Shanah

  Meaning: standing elk
• Shanay

  Meaning: God is gracious
• Shani

  Meaning: marvelous
• Shantay

  Meaning: stone, boulder
• Sharonda

  Meaning: a plain, a flat area
• Shauriana

  Meaning: to counsel together
• Shawanda

  Meaning: prefix Sha + Wanda
• Sheela

  Meaning: kind
• Shilin

  Meaning: smart
• Shingi

  Meaning: be strong
• Shiva

  Meaning: Kind, auspicious
• Shori

  Meaning: triumph
• Sicily

  Meaning: an Italian island
• Sinjin

  Meaning: saint; holy man
• Siona

  Meaning: peak; height
• Solen

  Meaning: the light
• Somendra

  Meaning: the goddess Indra
• Sonste

  Meaning: sun
• Speire

  Meaning: sky
• Stalene

  Meaning: star; shining brightly
• Suchi

  Meaning: sacred
• Sulalita

  Meaning: good charm
• Sunkwa

  Meaning: thunder horse
• Surayya

  Meaning: stars in constellation Taurus
• Surya

  Meaning: The sun
• Syndy

  Meaning: Cindy; light
• Tahan

  Meaning: endurance; strength
• Tahana

  Meaning: from state of Texas
• Taij

  Meaning: light
• Taishiro

  Meaning: ambitious boy
• Taiyo

  Meaning: The sun
• Takaji

  Meaning: elevated boy
• Taki

  Meaning: song
• Talitha

  Meaning: maiden; child
• Tamani

  Meaning: desire
• Tamika

  Meaning: child of the people
• Tanani

  Meaning: Tanana River in Alaska
• Tapuwa

  Meaning: we have been given
• Tariqa

  Meaning: the spiritual way
• Tashina

  Meaning: born on Christmas day
• Tavanna

  Meaning: a treeless plain; savannah
• Taze

  Meaning: fresh; new
• Tehia

  Meaning: birth; resurrection
• Tejomur

  Meaning: made of light
• Teman

  Meaning: friend
• Tenzin

  Meaning: Dalai Lama's name
• Terra

  Meaning: Ancient goddess who governed the productivity and fertility of the Earth
• Teru

  Meaning: true illumination
• Theana

  Meaning: goddess
• Tierra

  Meaning: Earth/Land
• Tira

  Meaning: camp; encampment
• Toiya

  Meaning: victory
• Tonde

  Meaning: God please listen to our cry
• Tora

  Meaning: tiger
• Toshi

  Meaning: wise
• Toshiro

  Meaning: intelligent boy
• Trimene

  Meaning: triple might
• Tsering

  Meaning: long life
• Tsivya

  Meaning: gazelle
• Tuki

  Meaning: traveler
• Tulay

  Meaning: veil of the moon
• Tursa

  Meaning: lucky
• Tyvette

  Meaning: Ty + Yvette
• Uhane

  Meaning: the soul; strong spirit
• Ujama

  Meaning: fellowship, brotherhood
• Ume

  Meaning: energy
• Umika

  Meaning: fragrance of the ocean
• Umilan

  Meaning: one who is lovable
• Upala

  Meaning: stone; gem
• Upe

  Meaning: river
• Urban

  Meaning: strong; healthy
• Usian

  Meaning: wisdom
• Utama

  Meaning: Excellent
• Vallita

  Meaning: to rule
• Vandeny

  Meaning: the ocean
• Vasara

  Meaning: Hammer in Finnish.
• Vasun

  Meaning: excellence
• Velyo

  Meaning: great
• Venetia

  Meaning: city of canals in Italy
• Veran

  Meaning: belief; faith
• Versie

  Meaning: changing, twisting
• Vesta

  Meaning: clothed with authority
• Vidan

  Meaning: life
• Vinette

  Meaning: conquering
• Viran

  Meaning: strong hero
• Vrstan

  Meaning: excellent one
• Wagaye

  Meaning: my price
• Wailani

  Meaning: heavenly water
• Walaa

  Meaning: loyalty
• Wanniya

  Meaning: spirit; courage
• Waseya

  Meaning: bright sunshine
• Wayland

  Meaning: land by the road
• Westina

  Meaning: the western village
• Wicaka

  Meaning: tells the truth
• Wynelle

  Meaning: fair-skinned
• Xuren

  Meaning: continue the mission
• Xylon

  Meaning: comes from the forest
• Xylona

  Meaning: one from the forest
• Yakir

  Meaning: dear one; darling
• Yale

  Meaning: productive land
• Yamini

  Meaning: night
• Yarden

  Meaning: descent like a rivers waters
• Yaxkin

  Meaning: new sun
• Yetunde

  Meaning: mother has arrived
• Yohan

  Meaning: dove
• Yolanna

  Meaning: violet in color
• Yosef

  Meaning: God will add
• Yucala

  Meaning: hope
• Yume

  Meaning: dream
• Zaida

  Meaning: Increasing, Surplus
• Zak

  Meaning: pure one
• Zaklon

  Meaning: protection; shelter
• Zanna

  Meaning: God is gracious
• Zarevo

  Meaning: beautiful red glow in the sky
• Zawadi

  Meaning: gift
• Zeke

  Meaning: God Will Strengthen
• Zelphia

  Meaning: Sophia; wise
• Zhanna

  Meaning: mankind
• Zhenni

  Meaning: integrity; virtue
• Zira

  Meaning: path; the way
• Ziva

  Meaning: brilliance; splendor
• Zorana

  Meaning: acquires strength
• Zorden

  Meaning: acquires strength

Many people are content with tried-and-tested, traditional dog names – but what if you yearn to stand out? Finding true innovation with names often requires us to look to other cultures and languages, and step outside of our comfort zones. Thankfully, there’s a special beauty in what’s foreign and unusual to us, and that’s where exotic dog names come into play.

From the ancient Mayans, to Old Chinese, to Dutch and Gaelic, we’ve assembled a list here of some of the world’s most exotic and unusual dog names. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when looking through it, because most of these ideas will be completely foreign to you. But here are a few tips of ours for selecting a beautifully exotic name.

For male dogs, there’s no better place to start than Kenji. This name is unmistakable Japanese, and breathes vitality into a young puppy, meaning “strong, healthy second son”. Naturally, we see this name most often with Akitas and Shiba Inu dogs, but it’s powerful and versatile enough to work for any breed.

Sticking with the Japanese theme, we also like Maki. Inspiring images of cutely formed sushi rolls, this name probably works better with smaller dogs. And for something completely left-field, we love the sound of the name Safi – an Arabic name meaning “pure”.

For female dogs, our favourite from this list is Lia. This adorably soft name is found in several European languages, including Italian and Greek, and works well for calm, relaxed or gentle pups.

Looking next to Hindi and Arabic, we love the name Sana. We’ve actually never heard this given to a dog before, so you could be the first to give the honor! It means “brilliance” and “intelligence”, so would be a great choice for Border Collies, Labs, Shepherds and other naturally smart breeds.

And our third pick goes to Kona, which is strongly associated with the Kona coffee of Hawaii.