Search Menu

AKC is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to akc.org. If you purchase a product through this article, we may receive a portion of the sale.

Choosing your boy dog’s name is important, as it’s a name you and your new puppy will be living with for a long time, so it deserves some thought. A good boy dog name can actually enhance your dog’s responsiveness and improve communication between you over a lifetime. We’ve compiled the top 100+ most popular boy dog names from American Kennel Club’s purebred registration and mixed-breed enrollment data for 2023 to help you get inspired.

Trending Male Dog Names

Just like baby boy names, boy dog names rise and fall in popularity. The number of dogs named after “Frozen” characters rose 900 percent the year after that movie came out, so it’s possible that for a while you probably met more than one “Olaf” at dog daycare.

Names from streaming series, TV, movies, and books are always popular, plus whatever (or whoever) is in the news. Top picks include:

  • Travis (of football and pop-superstar relationship fame)
  • Ken (of “Barbie” fame)
  • Allen (also of “Barbie” fame)
  • Loki (Disney universe of characters, and Norse mythology)
  • Thor (Marvel universe, and also Norse mythology)
  • Simba (Disney)
  • Bruno (of “Encanto” fame)
  • Rocket (of “Guardians of the Galaxy” fame)
artpipi via Getty Images

Food and drink are always favorite themes, too. You might meet a “Whiskey,” “Mochi,” or “Oreo” on your daily walks. And at least 20 percent of dogs have traditionally human names like “Max,” “Cooper,” or “Charlie,” which figure high in our list. Music icons sometimes influence dog names, too, with “Bowie,” “Ziggy,” “Ozzy,” and “Prince” all making an appearance.

Sports figures are a perennial favorite (the year Derek Jeter retired from the New York Yankees, “Jeter” was in the top 10 male dog names), so it’s not surprising to see “Kobe” on the list. Outdoor activity-inspired names like “Moose” or “Harley” are another popular theme.

How to Choose the Right Male Dog Name

Dogs have an easier time hearing hard consonants and long vowels, so a name like “Lucky” or “Benny” will be easier for him to distinguish from other sounds. Most dog training experts recommend a one or two-syllable name that you can say quickly. It’s also commonly recommended that you avoid male dog names that sound like commands, for example, “Kit,” which sounds like “sit,” or “Bo,” which sounds like “no.”

Pick a name for your boy dog that you like to say (and that you won’t be embarrassed to yell across the park or put on a dog ID tag). You’ll be saying your boy puppy’s name a lot over time, as a quick attention grabber or just as part of their overall training and socialization.

Most Popular Boy Dog Names

Max Ace Shadow Rusty Jackson
Charlie Blue Bailey Tank Oreo
Cooper Odin Rex Whiskey Remy
Teddy Maverick Theo Atlas Walter
Milo Oliver Louie Luca Axel
Ollie Archie Thor Riley Bruce
Bear Henry Bandit Zeke Buck
Rocky Apollo Blu Frankie Buster
Finn Toby Arlo King Coco
Leo Hank Beau Luke George
Loki Winston Benny Rio Levi
Buddy Bentley Goose Ziggy Mac
Zeus Murphy Scout Baxter Oscar
Bruno Cash Diesel Cosmo Rudy
Duke Dexter Enzo Remi Kilo
Tucker Gunner Jake Sam Kobe
Jack Jasper Brody Simba Lucky
Jax Benji Chase Smokey Ozzy
Moose Koda Oakley Bo Sammy
Gus Ranger Otis Copper Chance

If you’re looking for a less popular boy dog name, try our list of unique dog names. (We’ve got girl dog name suggestions, too.)

Related article: New Puppy Checklist: Gear Youll Need for Your New Dog
https://www.akc.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php
Get Your Free AKC download

Puppy Vaccination Schedule

Download and print this vaccination schedule to help keep your puppy on track for its first year of life!
*Turn off pop-up blocker to download
*Turn off pop-up blocker to download