2025's Top 100 Boy Dog Names + Extra Male Dog Name Ideas

You've got the leash, the crate, maybe even a tiny bandana picked out. Now comes the big decision: what are you going to call this dog for the next 10 to 15 years? 

Naming a puppy is part gut instinct, part research project. You want something that fits his personality, rolls off the tongue at the dog park, and doesn't make you cringe when you're yelling it across the backyard at 7 a.m. 

Here's where we come in. This isn't another recycled list pulled from baby name sites. These rankings are based on real Embrace Pet Insurance enrollment data from 2024 to 2025. That's tens of thousands of actual dogs, named by actual owners. We've tracked what's trending, what's timeless, and what's falling out of favor so you can make a confident pick. 

(Looking for girl dog names instead? Check out our Female Dog Names guide.) 

The Top 100 Boy Dog Names of 2025

These are the heavy hitters, ranked by real Embrace Pet Insurance enrollment data from 2025. If you want a name that's popular for a reason (easy to say, proven crowd-pleasers), start here. 

Found your name? Now make sure you're ready for everything else. Check out our New Puppy Checklist to make sure you've got all the essentials covered. 

2025 Trend Watch: What's Rising (and Falling) Fast

Names don't exist in a vacuum. They follow culture, and right now, the data is showing some clear patterns. Here's what's moving in 2025. 

Grandpa Names Are Back

Your great-uncle's name is suddenly cool again. Old-fashioned names that sound like they belong on a guy who plays chess in the park are climbing fast. 

• Bernie jumped 14.1% 

• Arthur up 8% 

• Walter up 7.6% 

• Theodore up 7% 

• Franklin up 6.8% 

There's something satisfying about yelling "Walter, drop it!" at the dog park. These names have built-in personality and zero trendiness. They're not trying too hard, and that's exactly why they work. 

Snack Attack: Food Names Keep Rising 

Naming your dog after food isn't new, but the choices are getting more creative. Forget Oreo and Peanut (still popular but flat). The growth is in the weird stuff. 

• Mango up 19% 

• Meatball up 15.6% 

• Tofu up 15.5% 

• Tater up 13% 

• Pickles up 12.6% 

• Nugget up 11.6% 

If it sounds like something you'd order at a food truck, it's probably trending. Bonus: these names are easy to say, fun to yell, and guaranteed conversation starters. 

Rugged Revival

Outdoorsy, country-leaning names are having a moment. Think less "suburban golden retriever" and more "dog who rides in a truck bed." 

• Knox up 19.5% 

• Rowdy up 16.4% 

• Buck up 14.5% 

• Kodiak up 13.5% 

These work especially well for hunting breeds, working dogs, or any pup with a little wild streak. 

Cooling Off: The Gods Are Out

A few years ago, mythology names were everywhere. Not anymore. The data shows a clear dip across the board. 

• Zeus down 5.8% 

• Odin down 5.3% 

• Thor down 4.9% 

• Titan down 6.3% 

They're still popular in raw numbers (Zeus is #28, Thor is #35), but the growth has stalled. If you want something that feels fresh, the Asgardian moment may have passed. 

Best Boy Dog Names by Breed

Different breeds attract different naming styles. A name that fits a French Bulldog might feel off on a German Shepherd. We pulled the top names for Embrace's most popular breeds to see what patterns emerge. 

Golden Retrievers

The usual suspects (Charlie, Cooper, Max) are still popular here. But a few names punch way above their weight for Goldens specifically: 

• Tucker ranks #3 for Goldens but only #12 overall 

• Murphy ranks #4 for Goldens but only #16 overall 

• Beau ranks #11 for Goldens but #31 overall 

• Goose ranks #14 for Goldens but #47 overall 

The pattern? Warm, friendly, slightly preppy. Golden owners lean toward names that sound like a guy you'd grab a beer with. Nothing too edgy, nothing too cute. Just solid, approachable names for solid, approachable dogs. 

Learn more about Golden Retrievers → 

Labrador Retrievers

Labs and Goldens share some overlap, but Lab owners lean more rugged. The cute names drop off and the hunting-dog energy kicks in. 

Names that spike for Labs: 

• Moose ranks #3 for Labs but only #20 overall 

• Hank ranks #6 for Labs but only #30 overall 

• Gunner ranks #14 for Labs but only #54 overall 

• Ranger ranks #17 for Labs but only #46 overall 

Meanwhile, Milo (#2 overall) drops to #16 for Labs. Teddy (#5 overall) falls to #19. Oliver (#6 overall) slips out of the top 25. 

Lab owners are naming for the field, not the couch. Think duck blinds and truck beds, not matching bandanas. 

Learn more about Labrador Retrievers → 

Goldendoodles

No surprise here: Doodle owners lean into the fluff. These are teddy bear dogs, and the names reflect it. 

Names that spike for Doodles: 

• Teddy jumps to #1 for Doodles but only #5 overall (they're literally teddy bears) 

• Bentley ranks #6 for Doodles but only #18 overall 

• Ollie ranks #10 for Doodles but only #17 overall 

• Benny ranks #19 for Doodles but only #37 overall 

Meanwhile, the tougher names fade. Rocky (#7 overall) drops to #21. Loki (#14 overall) slips outside the top 25. 

Doodle naming skews soft, cuddly, and a little bougie. Nothing wrong with that when your dog looks like a stuffed animal. 

Learn more about Goldendoodles → 

French Bulldogs

Frenchie owners have personality, and they name accordingly. The overall top 3 (Charlie, Milo, Cooper) barely register here. Instead, it's European flair and tough little guy energy. 

Names that spike for Frenchies: 

• Louie jumps to #1 for Frenchies but only #19 overall (très français) 

• Bruno ranks #4 for Frenchies but only #22 overall 

• Frankie ranks #7 for Frenchies but only #49 overall 

• Stitch ranks #9 for Frenchies (those bat ears match) 

• Enzo ranks #13 for Frenchies but only #42 overall 

• Rocco ranks #15 for Frenchies but only #58 overall 

Meanwhile, Charlie (#1 overall) drops to #24. Cooper (#3 overall) falls to #20. Teddy (#5 overall) slips below the top 25. 

Frenchie naming skews compact, punchy, and a little fancy. 

Learn more about French Bulldogs → 

German Shepherds 

Remember how mythology names are cooling off overall? German Shepherds didn't get the memo. This breed is where the gods still reign. 

Names that spike for GSDs: 

• Zeus ranks #3 for GSDs but only #28 overall 

• Apollo ranks #5 for GSDs but only #29 overall 

• Odin ranks #6 for GSDs but only #43 overall 

• Thor ranks #8 for GSDs but only #35 overall 

• Gunner ranks #12 for GSDs but only #54 overall 

• Rex ranks #21 for GSDs but only #59 overall 

• Kaiser ranks #24 (German name for a German breed) 

Meanwhile, the friendly everyman names disappear. Charlie (#1 overall) misses the top 25 entirely. Same for Milo, Teddy, and Oliver. 

GSD owners want names that match the badge energy. Power, authority, and a little mythology go a long way. 

Learn more about German Shepherds → 

Yorkshire Terriers 

Small dog, big attitude. Yorkie owners skip the rugged outdoor names and lean into fancy or quirky. 

Names that spike for Yorkies: 

• Bentley ranks #2 for Yorkies but only #18 overall 

• Gizmo ranks #8 for Yorkies but only #65 overall 

• Prince ranks #14 for Yorkies but only #90 overall 

• Benji ranks #17 for Yorkies but only #39 overall 

The big-dog names don't translate. Bear (#9 overall) drops to #17. Duke, Murphy, and Moose all fall outside the top 25. 

When your dog fits in a purse, you name him like royalty or like a gremlin. There's no in-between. 

Learn more about Yorkshire Terriers → 

Naming Tips That Actually Work

You can name your dog whatever you want. But if you want a name that's easy to train with and easy to call, a few simple rules help. 

The Two-Syllable Sweet Spot 

One syllable can get lost in background noise. Three or more can feel like a mouthful when you're trying to get your dog's attention fast. Two syllables hit the sweet spot. 

Names like Cooper, Milo, and Charlie are easy to call across a dog park and distinct enough for your dog to recognize. There's a reason the top 10 is dominated by two-syllable names. 

One-syllable names (Max, Jack, Bo) still work fine, especially if you stretch them out a bit when calling. But if you're choosing between options, two syllables gives you a slight edge. 

Hard Consonants Cut Through 

Dogs respond better to names with hard consonant sounds: T, K, D, B, and P. These sounds are sharp and distinct, which makes them easier for dogs to pick out from the blur of human conversation. 

Names like Tucker, Koda, Duke, and Bandit have built-in clarity. Softer sounds like S, F, and H tend to blend into background noise. 

This doesn't mean you can't name your dog Finn or Shadow. It just means you might need to say it a little louder at the dog park. 

The No-Go List: Sounds Like a Command 

Some names are too close to common training commands. Your dog hears the sound, not the spelling, so even a slight overlap can cause confusion. 

Names to avoid: 

• Kit, Sit, Mitt (sounds like "sit") 

• Beau, Bo (sounds like "no") 

• Ray, Shay, Mae (sounds like "stay") 

• Fletch, Ketch (sounds like "fetch") 

• Joe, Whoa (sounds like "whoa" if you use it) 

Beau is #31 on the overall list, so plenty of people make it work. But if you're starting from scratch, why create confusion? 

The Yell Test 

Before you commit, stand in your backyard and yell the name five times in a row. If it feels awkward, embarrassing, or hard to say, keep looking. You'll be saying this name thousands of times over the next decade. 

Curated Collections: Names by Vibe

Not sure what direction to go? These lists are organized by personality type. Find your dog's energy, then pick from the pile. 

Tough & Strong 

For the dog who looks like he could bench press you. These names hit hard and don't apologize. 

Data note: Chief and Maximus are the most popular in this category. Vader gets bonus points for the breathing sound effect potential.

Nature & Outdoors 

For the trail dog, the cabin dog, the dog who'd rather be outside. These names smell like pine trees and campfire smoke. 

Data note: Hunter leads the pack, followed by River and Timber. Storm works for dramatic entrances. 

Funny & Punny 

For owners who don't take themselves too seriously. These names are conversation starters. 

Data note: Biscuit and Chewie are the most popular here. Scooby still has legs after all these years. Waffles is rising fast in the food name category. 

Honorable mentions from the database: Sir Charles Barkley, Pablo Escobark, Anakin Skybarker, Bark Vader, and Gnarls Barkley all appear in the data. Yes, really. 

International Flair

For the cultured pup. These names have passport stamps and good taste. 

Data note: Otto is the runaway favorite, followed by Tito and Hugo. Yoshi gets a boost from Nintendo fans. Fritz and Klaus are having a quiet German renaissance. 

Pop Culture Picks 

Movies, TV, games, comics. If it's on a screen, someone's naming their dog after it. 

Data note: Rocket tops this list, likely thanks to the Guardians franchise. Kylo proves Star Wars still has pull. Watson works for Sherlock fans and anyone who just likes the name. Atticus and Sawyer give literary cred without being pretentious. 

Unique & Rare Gems

Want a name nobody else at the dog park has? These are real names from the Embrace database that fly under the radar. Distinctive, unexpected, and guaranteed to start conversations. 

Distinguished Gentlemen 

Old-fashioned names so vintage they've come full circle. Your dog will sound like he owns a pocket watch. 

Why they work: These names have built-in gravitas. Try saying "Barnaby, heel" without smiling. Impossible. 

Culinary Deep Cuts 

Beyond the usual food names. For the dog who deserves something more interesting than Biscuit. 

Why they work: Specific enough to be memorable, fun enough to yell across a park. "Gnocchi, come!" has a nice ring to it. 

Trouble Makers 

For the dog who breaks rules and looks good doing it. These names don't apologize. 

Why they work: Sometimes a name is a warning label. If your puppy already has that look in his eye, lean into it. 

Literary Legends 

For the well-read owner. These names say "I have opinions about books and I'm not afraid to share them." 

Why they work: Cultural references that aren't overdone. Hemingway hits different than yet another Max. 

Location, Location, Location

Cities and places that double as solid dog names. Geographic inspiration without being obvious. 

Why they work: Place names feel substantial without being pretentious. They also tend to have good hard consonants. 

The Wildcards 

Names that defy categorization. For owners who want something truly different. 

Why they work: Each of these hits a different vibe but they all share one thing: nobody else will have them. 

You've Got the Name. Now Protect the Pup.

Naming your dog is the fun part. You'll say it thousands of times over the next decade-plus, at the vet, at the park, and probably at 6 a.m. when he's stolen your shoe. 

Whether you went classic (Charlie, Max) or completely off the wall (Schnitzel, Chaos), the name is just the beginning. The real adventure starts now: the zoomies, the vet visits, the inexplicable 3 a.m. barking at nothing. 

That's where we come in. Embrace Pet Insurance has been protecting pets since 2003, and we've seen every name in the book (literally, we used our data to write this article). We know what it costs when Brisket eats something he shouldn't or when Archibald needs emergency surgery. 

Get a free quote from Embrace Pet Insurance and see how affordable it is to cover your new best friend. It takes about two minutes, and your dog won't judge you for being practical. 

Data in this article is based on Embrace Pet Insurance enrollment records from 2024-2025.