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Who doesn’t love a brown dog? From the classic chocolate Lab to the striking Newfoundland, the poodle, the fawn pug, the labradoodle, or any lovable mixed breed dog that landed a brown coat—they’re all sweet.
So how do you find a great name for your new brown dog? Consider size, look, and personality. This list has options to fit any dog, from a lovely Autumn to a strong Bear.
All of these choices come from our huge Rover.com database of the 1000 most popular dog names in the country and are listed in order of popularity. Their numbers here represent their relative popularity, not their actual rank.
The Best Brown Dog Names
Many of these are gender-neutral. A female brown dog can easily go by Snickers, for example, while a male brown dog could sport Tawny.
Brown Dog Names by Popularity
- Penny
- Coco (a)
- Ginger
- Pepper
- Cookie
- Honey
- Bruno (brown bear)
- Moose
- Dusty
- Bean (Beans)
- Kona
- Hazel
- Winnie
- Peanut
- Chewy (Chewie, Chewey)
- Sandy
- Mocha
- Pebbles
- Peaches
- Brandy
- Aspen
- Foxy
- Summer
- Sunny
- Guinness
- Amber
- Nugget
- Sierra
- Cinnamon
- Reese
- Pumpkin
- Snickers
- Bear
- Brownie
- Tootsie
- Autumn
- Hershey
- Muffin
- Mochi
- Maple
- Oakley
- Biscuit
- Goldie
- Kahlua
- Cupcake
- Ember
- Whiskey
- Freckles
- Copper
- Canela (cinnamon in Spanish)
- Taffy
- Waffles
- Bourbon
- Timber
- Mango
- Sienna
- Java
- Nutmeg
- Truffles
- Caramel
- Pinto
- Chocolate
- Forest
- Bacon
- Bagel
- Fox
- Dunkin (as in donuts!)
- Chai
- Wookie
- Noodles
- Toffee
- Pancake
Brown Puppy in Green Grass
Other Brown Dog Names by Theme
- Aruna (Hindi for “reddish brown”)
- Buckwheat
- Carob
- Cashew
- Cedar
- Champagne
- Cider
- Cheddar
- Chesnut
- Coffee
- Donut
- Espresso
- Fawn
- Fudge
- Graham (Cracker)
- Henna
- Oatmeal
- Sundance
- Tawny
- Teak
- Toast
- Topaz
Do Brown Dogs Need a Themed Name?
Sure, a brown dog named Cocoa, Topaz, or Honey 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.
Whatever name you settle on, you can accessorize to match your dog’s coat. A customized wooden dog bowl stand will look great with your dog’s coloring. Or you can select a bright, complementary collar with a custom name tag that shows off your dog’s coat as well as their great 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 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 chocolate Lab puppy might sport a water-inspired name like Ocean, while a Latin dog breed could carry a cute name like Coco.
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 “Brownie, it’s time for dinner!” or “Chaco, leave it!” helps take the name out of your imagination and into reality.
More Dog Names
Good luck in your name search. Have fun and be sure to check out our other dog name coverage.
Here at Rover, as dog lovers through and through, we find dog names absolutely fascinating, and we love searching our data 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.
