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Best Black Dog Names

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Best Black Dog Names

Updated April 1, 2022 | Getting a Dog

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Black dogs are a special bunch, from the classic black Lab to the striking great Dane, the schnauzer, the Portuguese water dog, or any lovable mixed-breed dog that landed the dark fur genes. So how do you find a great name for your new black dog? Consider size, look, and personality. This list has options to fit any dog, from a lovely Luna to a strong Onyx. We handpicked these choices from our huge Rover.com database of dog names.

15 Most Popular Black Dog Names

  1. Bear
  2. Stella
  3. Pepper
  4. Scout
  5. Nova
  6. Olive
  7. Dakota
  8. Poppy
  9. Skye
  10. Bean
  11. Arya
  12. Hershey
  13. Guinness
  14. Midnight
  15. Opal
  16. Darcy

The Best Black Dog Names

Many of these are gender-neutral. A female black dog can easily go by Ash, for example, while a male black dog could sport Raven.

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  1. Adrian
  2. Amaya (night rain in Japanese)
  3. Angus
  4. Anise
  5. Artemis (the moon goddess)
  6. Asher (Ash)
  7. Astra
  8. Athena
  9. Bamboo
  10. Bartholomew (Bart)
  11. Black Beauty (for a show dog, perhaps)
  12. Blackberry (or just Berry)
  13. Blackjack
  14. Blake
  15. Boomer
  16. Bran (meaning raven)
  17. Brenna / Brena
  18. Bruno
  19. Calla
  20. Celeste
  21. Chase
  22. Cocoa
  23. Cola (as in Coke or Pepsi)
  24. Colby
  25. Cole (Coal)
  26. Corbin
  27. Cosmos
  28. Dahlia
  29. Darth (after all, Darth Vader becomes good in the end)
  30. Dashiell (Dash)
  31. Delaney
  32. Denali
  33. Deva (Hindu moon goddess)
  34. Domino
  35. Duna
  36. Duncan
  37. Ebony
  38. Eclipse
  39. Elvira
  40. Emery
  41. Espresso
  42. Eve (Evening, Evie)
  43. Flint
  44. Indigo
  45. Jett / Jetta
  46. Keira
  47. Kieran
  48. Kodiak
  49. Kuro (black in Japanese)
  50. Kylo (of the newest Star Wars)
  51. Leila / Layla (meaning “night”)
  52. Legend
  53. Licorice
  54. Luna (moon in Spanish)
  55. Lyra
  56. Maverick
  57. Nash (a star in Sagittarius)
  58. Nerissa
  59. Nisha (night in Sanskrit)
  60. Noir
  61. Nyx
  62. Onyx
  63. Ophelia
  64. Oreo (great for a black and white dog)
  65. Orion
  66. Orpheus
  67. Oso (Spanish for bear)
  68. Panther
  69. Pearl (as in a black pearl)
  70. Persephone (Persie)
  71. Rain (Rainy)
  72. Raven (not to be confused with a crow!)
  73. Sable
  74. Selena
  75. Selkie (seal-woman of Gaelic legend)
  76. Shadow
  77. Smoky
  78. Starling (a black bird)
  79. Storm (Stormy)
  80. Sullivan (Sully)s
  81. Thunder
  82. Turtle (fun fact: a type of black bean)
  83. Tynan
  84. Velvet
  85. Vesper
  86. Wednesday (as in Addams)
  87. Vega
  88. Wilder
  89. Yukon

Do Black Dogs Need a Themed Name?

Sure, a black dog named Shadow, Moon, or Sable is pretty cute. But you don’t have to go that route. Some of the names on Rover’s list are inspired by your dog’s color, but not all! You don’t have to give your new puppy a name that has anything to do with their coat if you don’t want to.

Here are some other considerations when choosing your new black dog’s name.

People Names for Dogs

Do you like the sound of a human baby name on a puppy? If so, you’re not alone. It used to be that most of us agreed on a good name for a dog. Fido, Rex, Lady: we expected generic choices. Now, however, you’re more likely to hear human names on dogs.

Our data shows that each year, dog owners increasingly turn to human names for their pets. This reflects the larger cultural trend that embraces dogs as full-on family members who deserve their own special place in our homes and hearts. Our dog love runs deep.

Dog Naming Advice

If you’re having trouble deciding, keep in mind that a great black dog name can come from many different sources of inspiration, such as your favorite foods, books, celebrities, your heritage, or even dog breed history. For example, a black Lab puppy might sport a water-inspired name like River, while a Latin dog breed could carry a cute name like Chico.

Another consideration when choosing your dog’s name? Dog training. This is of particular importance for puppies. When you’re teaching your new dog to respond to commands like sit, stay, or come, you’ll want to be sure their name isn’t a source of confusion. In other words, avoid puppy names that sound like a common dog training cue, such as “Bit,” which could easily be misheard as “sit.”

Of course, what matters most is that the dog name you choose rolls off your tongue. The best names will make you happy. We’re fans of the “backdoor test” for dog name selection. It’s pretty much what it sounds like: stand at the back door and call out your new dog‘s potential name. Saying “Domino, it’s time for dinner!” or “Vega, leave it!” helps take the name out of your imagination and into reality.

Once you’ve found the perfect name, you can show off the great new name and protect your dark-furred pet with customizable, reflective or bright collars, leashes, and harnesses. That beautiful black coat can be hard to see in low light!

The Bottom Line

Good luck, have fun and be sure to check out our other dog name coverage. As dog lovers through and through here at Rover, we find dog names absolutely fascinating, and we love searching our data on the topic to discover hot trends, quirky choices, and unique twists on classics. Over the years, we’ve compiled plenty of names for you to peruse—and we keep our lists updated with new data each year.

More Dog Names

  • Unique Dog Names
  • Irish Name Choices
  • Male or Female Dog Names
  • Popular Names for Hunting Dogs
  • Small Dog Names
  • White Dog Names
  • Names for Huskies or German Shepherds
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