350 Small Dog Name Ideas For Your Adorable Miniature Friend

Are you looking for a name for your small dog? You’ve come to the right place.

Thinking of a name for your new furry friend is the most exciting activity and the chances are, you will think of a name for your small dog before you collect it, or even see it! But once you name your dog and it’s trained to respond to its name, it’s super difficult to change, so it’s important to ensure that you pick the right name for your small dog from the get-go, otherwise, it will cause some difficulty and confusion for your dog later down the line.

The dog’s name will define who they are and who they are referred to as, so whether you’d like your dog to be called some funny or joyful, that’s completely up to you, but it needs to be something simplistic, as it’s a name for life. The average lifespan of a dog is between 10 and 13 years, so make your choice wisely!

The good news: we’ve done the hard work for you and collated the best small dog names in one location for you. So, whether you’ve found a dog already that you like, or are scanning the market to find your perfect companion, this article will help you pick a name for your small doggy friend.

Small dogs bring so much happiness and joy to your home and will play a big part in your lives, overall happiness, and mental stability. They will be welcomed by friends and family, and by everyday people in the street, so it’s important that you pick a convenient and welcoming name for your small dog. A dog name that’s well understood, easily understandable, easily pronounceable and isn’t overly complicated. People should be able to immediately recognize that it’s a dog name and when called, understand that you are referring to a dog. 

If you’re soon to buy a miniature little friend and haven’t yet chosen a name for your small dog – you’re in luck, below is our list of the best small dog names, hand-picked by our expert team from sources all over the web.

Everything from names for both male and female dogs, cute dog names, human names for dogs, unusual names, names of products, actors, planets, celebrities, brands, vehicles, alcohol, flowers, and fictional character names. We’ve covered every angle to help you choose a name for your dog. If there isn’t a name that you like, the list may help generate or spark ideas later!

How to choose a name for your dog

The name you choose will likely be the name they are referred to as for life, so it isn’t a process you should rush and you should get your best ideas into a list before making your final decision. A dog’s name is an important part of their training and socialization, it should be something that’s simple, easy to understand, and easy to hear. Something that’s easy to say and keeps your dog’s attention.

As an example, a name like “Lucy” is much easier to understand and will catch your dog’s immediate attention once said, than “Peanut Wigglebut”. The dog may get confused or think that you’re trying to speak to it or tell it to do something, then simply call it.

Below are some considerations when choosing a name for your dog.

1) Keep the dog’s name short and simple

It should be an easy word to say and understand by a small dog – as a rule of thumb you should keep the name between one or two syllables, so your dog can easily understand the message you are trying to convey.

2) Name your dog something unique and isn’t used by another family member or friend

If someone in your family is called “Brett” and your dog is called “Bert”, this will cause some confusion and the dog won’t know who you are referring to and won’t know when to respond. This will result in the dog not responding to its name and they may ignore it.

3) Avoid names that sound similar to a command

As an example, you wouldn’t want to call your dog “Sid”, this will cause confusion when you say “Sit”. The dog won’t know how to differentiate between both of these words and will make the training process difficult.

4) Choose a positive name that is friendly to say and ends with a vowel

Dogs react to the tone of their humans voice and when we say positive things enthusiastically, the dog sees this as a positive and happy reaction. Thus, they react positively too. A name like “Blue” is easy to say, easily understood and when we say it, we say it with a calm tone of voice. Make sure this is considered when choosing your dog’s name. It shouldn’t seem like you are shouting or saying a name aggressively when calling your dog, it should be a happy, positive signal that whatever you say next, you are saying to your dog.

5) Avoid names with negative connotations

Avoid calling your dog something that’s associated with something negative, keep it positive, as the chances are, your dog’s name won’t only be said by you, but others around you too.

6) Think of your dog’s personality when naming your companion

The name of your dog will represent who they are and what they’re like, the name will also represent the owners of the dog too.

So now you’ve got the best tips on how to choose a name for your dog, let’s look at some ideas to help name your small dog! This isn’t a definitive list, however, should help inform your decision and help spark ideas.

Small Dog Names For Female Dogs

Your female dog will be cute and cuddly, so you’ll need a female dog name that reflects this, even if she’s a proper girly girl (or will be), shy and cute, or an all-out sassy pup, this list will help generate some small dog names!

We’ve provided a mixture of the best female names for dogs that we found on the web, all in one place for you. These names will help define your dog and its personality.

1. Lola
2. Bonbon
3. Bella
4. Gracie
5. Mousey
6. Lilly
7. Becca
8. Belle
9. Coca
10. Lexi
11. Maggie
12. Daisy
13. Zoe
14. Roxy
15. Riley
16. Emma
17. Leia
18. Sugar
19. Zara
20. Flo
21. Honey
22. Peppy
23. Lulu
24. Hazel
25. Sophie

Small Dog Names For Male Dogs

Do you want your boy to be called the same as other dogs that you come across, or are you looking for something more creative and one of a kind?

Below are some of our most creative dog names for small male dogs.

1. Zeus
2. Buddy
3. Cooper
4. Apollo
5. Diesel
6. Jack
7. Koda
8. Carlos
9. Loki
10. King
11. Yoda
12. Blue
13. Theo
14. Arlo
15. Alife
16. Joy
17. Atlas
18. Barry
19. Bruno
20. Cash
21. Money
22. Dash
23. Pepper
24. Salty
25. Dude

Cute Small Dog Names For Male Or Female

Looking for a dog name that’s cute and joyful but isn’t necessarily fussed about whether it suits a boy or a girl? Below are some ideas that will help you decide, these names are easy to say, understandable, and don’t overlap with other words that we use in our daily lives, so it’ll help the training process too.

1. Betty
2. Abe
3. Baby
4. Bambi
5. Bea
6. Biscuit
7. Blossom
8. Buffy
9. Boomer
10. Chewy
11. Diamond
12. Gold
13. Silver
14. Everett
15. Flash
16. Peppy
17. Callie
18. Lulu
19. Pancake
20. Sugar
21. Stella
22. Zuzu
23. Frodo
24. Robin
25. Mongoose

Human Names For Small Dogs

If you’re on the lookout to name your dog something that’s similar to humans, we’ve got a list for you too.

Here are some of the most common dog/human-friendly names we could think of.

However, it’s important to pick a name that isn’t used by someone else in your life, like a family member or friend, as this will confuse your dog if you were to ever call someone else the same name. The dog may start to ignore their name when around that person, as they don’t know who you are trying to communicate to, and will generally cause communication issues between you and your dog.

1. Chloe
2. Dixie
3. Shannon
4. Carlo
5. Brandon
6. Alex
7. Brannon
8. Brandon
9. Jackie
10. Sophie
11. James
12. John
13. Rob
14. Mary
15. Patricia
16. Jennifer
17. Linda
18. Sarah
19. Karen
20. Nancy
21. Betty
22. Lisa
23. Michelle
24. Kimberley
25. Paulina

The Most Unusual Small Dog Names

If you’re looking to name your dog something that’s unique and not something you would hear someone say to another dog, then this list may be of interest to you too.

Below are some of the most unusual names we could think of that could be a name for your dog, ideas you wouldn’t have heard of before, but actually sound pretty cool!

These names are short and simple and the dog won’t have any trouble knowing that you are trying to call them.

1. Spark
2. Nemesis
3. Angel
4. King
5. Pepper
6. Pepsi
7. Yoda
8. Stein
9. Rick
10. Twix
11. Mars
12. Milk
13. Glass
14. Steel
15. Pipe
16. Galaxy
17. Hot
18. Cold
19. Darthvader
20. Johnson
21. Market
22. Moon
23. Gently
24. Flag
25. Pipe

Names of Products For Your Small Dog

Here are some everyday products you will use in your lives that may spark some other name ideas, and you may even want to name your dog an everyday product that you love or use all the time. Whatever floats your boat!

However, it is important to note that naming your dog an everyday item may cause some confusion if you were to ever use the word in an everyday sentence when you aren’t trying to call your dog. Your dog may start to get confused and when it hears the name in the future, it may decide to ignore it. So, choose carefully!

1. Ferry
2. Cola
3. Lappy
4. Tele
5. Money
6. Snickers
7. Twix
8. Milky Way
9. Durex
10. Sauce
11. Rolo
12. Polo
13. Gel
14. Whisky
15. Vodka
16. Frosty
17. Kit Kat
18. Chicken
19. Nugget
20. Pepper
21. Pickle
22. Ketchup
23. Jaffa
24. Crisp
25. Biscuit

Names of Actors For Your Small Dog

If you love watching films then you may find the list below of interest, however, you may turn some heads in the street when shouting your dog’s name in public!

These are some short and simple small dog names that will remind you of your favorite actor.

1. Bruce
2. Bellrock
3. Shrek
4. Max
5. Leo
6. Elvis
7. Rick
8. Rocky
9. Jason
10. Russel
11. Allen
12. Jennifer
13. Fox
14. Megan
15. Curtis
16. Eddie
17. Murphy
18. Ramsay
19. Julia
20. Clint
21. Warren
22. Samuel
23. Jackson
24. Will
25. Rock

Planet / Space Exploration Names For Your Dog

If you’re into space exploration and like the sound of naming your dog something that comes from outer space, then we may have some ideas for you too. Below are some of the other planets in our solar system, and terminologies used for space travel. They may sound crazy at first, but may spark some ideas!

These names have been inspired by planets and space phenomena, as well as names used by space explorers. 

1. Milky
2. Eris
3. Pluto
4. Luna
5. Atlas
6. Leo
7. Falcon
8. Cosmo
9. Earth
10. Venus
11. Mercury
12. Armstrong
13. Neptune
14. Blue
15. Galaxy
16. Nebula
17. Star
18. Comet
19. Nova
20. Orbit
21. Aurora
22. Cassiopeia
23. Aster
24. Calypso
25. Rover

Funny Names For Your Small Dog

If you’re looking for a quirky name for your dog that brings a smile to your face (and others) every time it’s said, then this list may be of interest. Who wouldn’t like to smile and laugh every time a dog’s name is said? It could be a blessing!

All of these small dog names have positive connotations and when the name is said, they are said in a friendly tone of voice, so your dog will know that you’re saying something positive.

1. Chewbacca
2. Jimmy Chew
3. Dobby
4. Elmo
5. Yoda
6. Pikachu
7. Archie
8. Larry
9. Bob
10. Betty
11. Binx
12. Tank
13. Barney
14. Meatball
15. Nacho
16. Cheese
17. Kiwi
18. Oreo
19. Sushi
20. T-Bone
21. Smooches
22. Puddin
23. Spice
24. Muggles
25. Sauce

Celebrity Names For Your Dogs

Celebrities are often perceived as hot, trendy, fun, and cool characters, so if you’re looking for inspiration on what to name your small pup, these celebrity names for dogs may be of interest.

1. Frodo (Frodo – Lord of the Rings)
2. Bilbo (Bilbo – Lord of the Rings)
3. Bagins (Bilbo Bagins – Lord of the Rings)
4. Justin – (Justin Bieber)
5. Biebes – (Justin Bieber)
6. Kylie – (Kylie Jenner)
7. Dwayne  – (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson)
8. Miley – (Milley Cyrus)
9. Ariana – (Ariana Grande)
10. Paris – (Paris Hilton)
11. Michelle – (Michelle Obama)
12. Hailey (Hailey Bieber)
13. Channing (Channing Tatum)
14. Boris – (Boris Johnson)
15. Kanye – (Kanye West)
16. Tom – (Tom Cruise)
17. Leonardo – (Leonardo DiCaprio)
18. Gordon – (Gordon Ramsay)
19. Britney – (Britney Spears)
20. Phillip – (Phillip Schofield)
21. Ed – (Ed Sheeran)
22. Johnny – (Johnny Depp)
23. Kim (Kim Kardashian)
24. Graham – (Graham Norton)
25. Donald – (Donald Trump)

Famous Brand Names For Your Dogs

Some brands are known globally for their excellent products, so if you’re looking for a dog name that stands out in the street, has meaning, and is recognizable by everyday people – a name of a product for your dog may sit the sweet spot in your search for a name.

If you love drinking Coca-Cola, you may love calling your dog “Cola” or “Pepsi”- imagine the daily smiles!

1. Lego
2. Pepsi
3. Cola
4. Mars
5. Haribo
6. Pringle
7. Oreo
8. Skittle
9. Kinder
10. Puma
11. Pepper – (Dr Pepper)
12. Apple
13. Zara
14. Gucci
15. Visa
16. Sprite
17. Shell
18. Ralph
19. Lauren
20. Canon
21. Nokia
22. Wendy
23. Berry – (Black Berry)
24. Venus
25. Sony

Names Of Vehicles That Could Be Your Dogs Name

If you love your cars then it wouldn’t be a bad idea to name your dog your favourite type of car, after all, cars are fast, trendy, and tough, which may be the perfect representation of your dog in the future!

If your dog is a quick little runner with lots of agility, a name like “Bugatti” may help summarise them well, same with “Limo” for a sausage dog – as they are long!

1. Toyota
2. Honda
3. Ford
4. Nissan
5. Audi
6. Lexus
7. Volvo
8. Bentley
9. Mazda
10. Tesla
11. Limo
12. Bugatti
13. Genesis
14. Renault
15. Citroen
16. Subaru
17. Mini
18. Civic
19. Cooper
20. Falcon
21. Nova
22. Titan
23. Spyder
24. Sprite
25. Rio

Dog Names Inspired by Beer, Wines, Cocktails, and Breweries

Everyone loves an evening or weekend alcoholic drink to help de-stress and wind down, but have you ever thought about naming your dog after your favourite drink?

It wouldn’t be the craziest idea I’ve heard and some of the names actually sound pretty darn cool.

1. Whiskey
2. Bud
3. Jager
4. Foster
5. Skyy
6. Brew
7. Tipsy
8. Tonic
9. Hooch
10. Brandy
11. Bailey
12. Sherry
13. Vodka
14. Gimlet
15. Amber
16. Pub
17. Club
18. Barley
19. Cava
20. Port
21. Rose
22. Cork
23. Tonic
24. Daiquiri
25. Thatcher

Small Dog Names Inspired by Nature

If you love all things nature and are inspired by the wildlife that surrounds us, you’ll love this list. 

Peaches is my personal favourite! My mouth would hurt from the uncontrollable smile every time it’s said!

1. Everest
2. Berry
3. Basil
4. Daisy
5. Poppy
6. Pumpkin
7. Flower
8. Peaches
9. Leaf
10. Luna
11. Bear
12. Lupo
13. Moose
14. Robin
15. Echo
16. Ivy
17. Lana
18. Rio
19. Thistle
20. Zola
21. Meadow
22. River
23. Breeze
24. Sunny
25. Yasmine