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 a name for your female puppy requires a little inspiration and plenty of thought. After all, this is a name that you’ll be saying to your new puppy every day for years to come. Like baby names, girl dog names trend in popularity. It’s unlikely you’re meeting a lot of toddlers named Ethel today, and similarly, you probably don’t meet too many female dogs named Lassie anymore.
Trending Female Dog Name Themes
Popular culture is always a trending theme for female dog names. When the movie “Frozen” came out, there was a 900 percent rise in dogs named for those characters, so there were plenty of “Elsa” girl puppies in the dog park for a while. Names from movies and book franchises like “Twilight,” “Star Wars,” “Game of Thrones” or the Marvel and Disney universe of characters are always coming in and out of style. Don’t be surprised to encounter girl puppies named “Princess,” “Jasmine,” “Nala,” “Arya,” or “Minnie” in the puppy playgroup.
Nature-themed girl dog names continue to be popular, with themes like “Daisy” or “Willow.” Food- and drink-themed names are also a favorite, with female puppy names like “Ginger,” “Honey” and “Cookie” making the list. If you’re looking for a more original name for your girl dog and want to steer clear of popular female dog names, try out these unique dog names. (We’ve got boy dog names, too.)
How to Choose a Girl Dog’s Name
It’s not all just in a name. A female puppy’s name is an important part of her training and socialization. Take some advice from experts in the field:
- Choose a name with one or two syllables. These are easiest to say and short enough to keep your girl dog’s attention.
- Consider a female puppy name with hard consonants, which may be easier for dogs to hear than sibilant sounds, like “Gracie” or “Bailey.”
- Try not to choose a girl dog name that sounds similar to a command. Avoid names like “Kit,” which sounds like “sit,” or “Poe,” which sounds like “no.”
- When a dog hears her name, it’s a signal that whatever is coming next is meant for her. So use her name frequently in a positive context so she doesn’t associate it with punishment or anything negative or scary.
- Don’t name a dog something that sounds a lot like the name of another family member. If your daughter is “Annie” and the dog is “Franny,” the dog (or your daughter) may be confused and not know when to respond.
Take a little time to get to know your new pet. Sometimes, her looks or behavior will inspire the perfect name. But, if you’re still stuck, this list of our top 100+ girl dog names may help you decide.
LUNA | RIVER | DOLLY |
BELLA | LAYLA | CLEO |
DAISY | WINNIE | MAPLE |
LUCY | SKYE | VIOLET |
BAILEY | COOKIE | ANGEL |
NALA | SCOUT | OLIVE |
ELLIE | LULU | LADY |
SADIE | STAR | JUNO |
RUBY | CHARLIE | FIONA |
MAGGIE | ZOE | ARYA |
ROSIE | KONA | GIGI |
STELLA | ABBY | JADE |
WILLOW | BONNIE | IVY |
LOLA | SASSY | BLUE |
COCO | EMMA | PHOEBE |
PIPER | MAYA | ECHO |
SOPHIE | TRIXIE | FREYA |
ZOEY | RAVEN | DELILAH |
CHLOE | PEARL | ZELDA |
MOLLY | HARPER | ROSE |
MILLIE | AVA | CALLIE |
PENNY | OAKLEY | MINNIE |
ATHENA | CALI | LACEY |
LILY | JOSIE | MISTY |
HARLEY | REMI | MISSY |
ROXY | SKY | GEMMA |
GINGER | PAISLEY | PIXIE |
MIA | ASPEN | SHELBY |
NOVA | LEXI | FINLEY |
DIXIE | ROXIE | OREO |
HONEY | STORM | EVIE |
GRACIE | TILLY | KATIE |
BELLE | DIAMOND | SUGAR |
POPPY | EMBER | SALLY |
HAZEL | HOLLY | LIBBY |
PEPPER | GEORGIA | GYPSY |
ANNIE | XENA | CORA |
ELLA | PRINCESS | MABEL |
SASHA | LILLY | PEACHES |
IZZY | RILEY | KALI |
SHADOW |