Traditional Dog Names

If you want to give your dog a time-honored, classic name, look no further. Here's a list of the best traditional dog names.

Tap the arrow to see a name's meaning, and the heart to save it to your shortlist.

Bailey
Popularized by classic films, it's a timeless choice for canine companions.
Bandit
Popularized by canine characters in old Western films and TV shows.
Bella
Popularized by classics like "Twilight", it's Latin for "beautiful".
Blackie
Popular since the 1800s, it's often chosen for dogs with dark fur.
Brownie
Popular since the 1930s, it's inspired by a classic American dessert.
Buddy
Popularized by Hollywood canines, its roots trace back to 19th century companionship.
Buster
Popularized by early 20th century media, it's stood the test of time.
Champ
Popularized by classic sports films, embodying victory and strength.
Charlie
Popularized by classics like "Charlie Brown" and "All Dogs Go to Heaven".
Chloe
Popular for centuries, this moniker hails from Greek mythology's "blooming."
Cinnamon
Spice-inspired monikers have been favored by pet owners for centuries.
Cocoa
Popular for its sweet connotation, mirroring chocolate's long-standing human affection.
Cody
Popularized by Buffalo Bill, it's a classic choice for canine companions.
Coffee
Brewed from popular culture, it's a classic choice for canine companions.
Cuddles
Popular for its affectionate connotation, often used in classic literature.
Daisy
Popular since the 1800s, it's often chosen for its sweet, innocent connotation.
Duke
Royalty-inspired monikers have long been favored for canine companions.
Fido
Latin roots mean "trust," and Abraham Lincoln owned a pup named so!
Fluffy
Popularized by classic literature and media, it's a timeless canine moniker.
Freckles
Popularized by classic literature and cartoons, it's a timeless canine moniker.
Ginger
Popular since the 1800s, it's often linked to red-haired canines.
Goldie
Popular since the golden age of Hollywood, it's a timeless canine classic.
Jack
Popular since the 1800s, it's a classic choice for canine companions.
Jade
Popular since ancient times, this gemstone moniker sparkles with timeless appeal.
Joker
Popularized by playing cards and Batman's nemesis, it's a classic choice.
Joy
Popular for decades, this moniker often graces canine companions in classic literature.
King
Royalty-inspired monikers have long been favored for canine companions.
Lady
Popularized by Disney's "Lady and the Tramp," it's a classic canine moniker.
Lola
Popularized by hit songs, it's a classic choice for canine companions.
Lucky
Commonly used for decades, often linked to dogs in classic films.
Lucy
Popular since the 1930s, it's a classic choice inspired by "Peanuts".
Maggie
Popular since the 1800s, it's a canine classic, thanks to Maggie Thatcher!
Max
Popular in classic literature and Hollywood canine stars.
Molly
Popularized by famous canines in literature and film over decades.
Nibbles
Popularized by classic cartoons, it implies playful, food-loving canines.
Patch
Popularized by classic literature and old-timey farm dogs.
Pepper
Spice-inspired monikers have seasoned canine nomenclature since time immemorial.
Prince
Royalty often named their canine companions after noble ranks.
Princess
Royalty-themed monikers have been popular for canine companions for centuries.
Queenie
Royalty-inspired monikers have long been favored for our canine companions.
Red
Popularized by classic literature and old western canine characters.
Rex
Latin for "king", it's been popular in canine nomenclature for centuries.
Rocky
Popularized by iconic boxing films, it's a timeless, well-loved canine moniker.
Rover
Popularized by early 20th century literature and radio shows.
Rusty
Popularized by classic literature and old Hollywood canine stars.
Sadie
Popular since the 1800s, it's a classic canine moniker with enduring appeal.
Sally
Popular since the 1700s, this moniker graced many a faithful canine companion.
Scamp
Popularized by Disney's "Lady and the Tramp", it's a classic canine moniker.
Scooter
Popular since the 1950s, this moniker often graces energetic, playful pups.
Scout
Popularized by classic literature and widely used for decades.
Scruffy
Popularized by old cartoons, it reflects a dog's unkempt, lovable appearance.
Shadow
Often chosen for its symbolism of companionship and loyalty in folklore.
Socks
Popularized by famous pets and common footwear, it's a timeless classic.
Sophie
Popular for centuries, this moniker hails from Greek meaning "wisdom".
Sparky
Popularized by 1950s comic strip "Peanuts", it's a classic canine moniker.
Speedy
Popularized by classic cartoons, it's a common choice for swift canines.
Spot
Popularized by literature and media, its usage dates back centuries.
Teddy
Popularized by Roosevelt's bear, it's a timeless choice for canine companions.
Tiny
Popularized by classic cartoons, it's often used for ironically large canines.
Toby
Popular since Victorian times, it's frequently featured in classic literature.
Wag
Rooted in old English, it's a playful nod to a dog's happy tail.

Traditional Dog Names currently rank in 25th place out of all PupNames.com categories.

As of May 2025, traditional dog names are trending down with new puppy owners. Our stats suggest that they are less fashionable than they were at this time last year.

We've seen quite a lot of variation for this category, which suggests its popularity could be seasonal or based on cultural events.

Which are the cutest and most unique Traditional Dog Names?

These traditional dog names range from cute to badass, and from traditional to unique. Click each circle to see the name.

Teddy is among the cutest of these. If you prefer tougher, edgier dog names, the one considered the most badass is King.

Coffee scored high for its uniqueness, which would help your dog to stand out. But if you prefer more common, old-fashioned names, the more traditional option here is Max.

How does interest compare across the United States for Traditional Dog Names?

The map below compares each state by the number of people browsing Traditional Dog Names.

The states that love traditional dog names the most are Wyoming, South Carolina and Alabama.

The least amount of interest in this category was registered in South Dakota, Kansas and Virginia.

Which countries have the most love for Traditional Dog Names?

Here's a world map showing the popularity in each country of traditional dog names.

Who'd have thought?! Some of the countries you might not have thought about that LOVE traditional dog names are Luxembourg, Germany and Iceland.

On the flip, PupNames data shows there's not much interest in Guatemala, Bolivia and Ecuador.