There’s a reason dogs are referred to as “Man’s Best Friend” (although I think “Human’s Best Friend” is more appropriate, right?). It’s difficult to find a more loving, loyal, and affectionate creature with whom to share your life and home. Which is why—if you’re pondering the right name to give your new dog—you might choose a name that celebrates that incredible bond of friendship.
There are a number of ways you can do that. You can literally name your dog some variation of the word “friend” in another language, you can give them a moniker that describes an essential element of friendship (think Cuddles, Friendly, or Heart), or you can honor them with the name of a beloved dog-friend character from movies or literature.
Whichever route you decide to take, we know that your pet will appreciate your thoughtful approach. And in honor of you, our friends, we’ve rounded up an assortment of dog names that capture the meaning of friendship. We hope you find the right one for your pup!
Friend dog names
Dog names meaning friend can come from a variety of different languages. If you want your dog’s name to literally translate to “friend,” try one of these names from around the world.
- Winifred (or Winnie!): Irish, translates to “friend of peace”
- Rafiki: Swahili, translates to “friend”
- Bellamy: French, translates to “fair friend”
- Ruta: Hebrew, translates to “friend”
- Ashura: Swahili, translates to “friend”
- Ven: Danish, translates to “friend”
- Medwyn: English, translates to “strong friend”
- Safiya: Arabic, translates to “sincere friend”
- Filia: Greek, translates to “friendship”
- Ami: French, translates to “friend”
- Aldwyn: English, translates to “old friend”
- Dakota: Dakota tribe, translates to “friend”
- Amica: Latin, translates to “female friend”
- Amigo: Spanish, translates to “friend”
- Thuy: Vietnamese, translate to “friendship”
- Arvin: German, translates to “friend of the people”
- Edwina: English, translates to “old friend”
- Auden: English, translates to “old friend”
- Tomoko: Japanese, translates to “one who is friendly”
- Khalil: Arabic, translates to “friend”
- Una: Icelandic, translates to “friend”
- Mila: Russian, translates to “dear one”
- Dai: Welsh, translates to “beloved” or “friend”
- Baldwin: German, translates to “brave friend”
- Goodwyn: English, translates to “good friend”
- Yadira: Hebrew, translates to “friend”
- Corwin: English, translates to “friend of the heart”
- Cara: Irish, translates to “friend”
- Sumitra: Sanskrit, translates to “good friend”
- Jebediah: Hebrew, translates to “beloved friend”
- Vida: Scottish, translates to “beloved” or “friend”
- Amity: English, translates to “friendship”
More friendly dog names
Looking for something else? Rover’s giant dog name database has plenty of options that’ll inspire the warm glow of friendship, companionship, and love. We’ve gathered together some of our favorite friendship-inspired dog names that’ll really brighten up your day!
These puppy names may not literally mean “friendship,” but they exude that happy feeling.
- Sunshine
- Angel
- Bear
- Sugar
- Yogi
- Arnan (Hebrew for joyful)
- Felicity (Latin for happiness)
- Dolly
- Honey
- Daisy
- Lucky
- Allegra (Italian for cheerful)
- Teddy
- Roo
- Summer
- Winston
- Precious
- Farrah (Arabic for happy)
- Fluffy
- Sunny
- Sparkles
- Grace
Friend-inspired dog names from books and movies
You’ll find plenty of wonderful name possibilities if you turn to film and literature. Many of the most beloved characters are excellent inspirations for your pet’s new name. Here are just a few of our favorite animal friend options:
- Beethoven
- Lassie
- Nana (from Peter Pan)
- Hooch (from Turner & Hooch)
- Benji
- Gus (from Iron Will)
- Otis (from The Adventures of Milo & Otis)
- Shiloh
- Argos (from The Odyssey)
- Buck (from The Call of the Wild)
- Clifford (you know, the Big Red Dog!)
- Chance (from Homeward Bound)
- Marley (from Marley & Me)
- Toto (from The Wizard of Oz)
10 most popular dog names inspired by friendship
These friend-inspired dog names were all given by real dog owners. They’re ranked in order of popularity in Rover’s data.
- Buddy
- Shadow (as in, “your little shadow”)
- Dakota (Dakota tribe for “friend”)
- Honey
- Minnie (German for “love”)
- Mila (Russian for “Dear One”)
- Faith
- Obi (Nigerian for “heart”)
- Lovey
- Pal
Dog naming advice
Didn’t find anything that inspired you on this list? No worries. There are plenty of options out there to choose from—maybe you can even name your pup after your favorite flower or holiday! Regardless of where you pull inspiration from, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind when naming your dog:
- Spend time with your pup first! Choose a name that you feel really makes sense for your dog…which means you should give yourself some time to get to know them. You want to make sure their name fits their personality—after all, you’re going to be calling out your new best friend’s name for a long time to come.
- Keep confusion to a minimum. Make sure their name won’t get confused with the simple commands you plan on teaching them! Nothing is worse than calling for your dog “Mitt” and having them sit every time they hear you. Keeping things clear will make both of you happy in the end.
- Feel good about your choices! Remember—you’re going to use this name a lot, so make sure you love it! Don’t get too wrapped up in finding the “perfect” meaning, just focus on finding a word you enjoy saying.
Learn more about dog names with Rover
Looking for some more dog naming inspiration? At Rover, we’ve got articles covering every dog name under the sun, including tough dog names, literary dog names, and the best food-inspired dog names. Now, get out there and discover the name that best suits you and your four-legged best friend!
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Sources for name meanings
