Gray dogs are a stunning bunch, from the silvery Weimaraner to the striking Irish wolfhound, the husky, the schnauzer, the blue nose pit bull, or any lovable mixed-breed dog that landed the gray coat genes.
So how do you find a great name for your new gray dog? Consider size, look, and personality. This list has options to fit any dog, from a lovely Luna to a strong Ash. We handpicked these choices by consulting dog name trends and our huge Rover.com database of dog names. Those with an asterisk (*) rank among the top 100 most popular dog names.
The Best Gray Dog Names
Many of these are gender-neutral. A female gray dog can easily go by Ash, for example, while a male gray dog could sport Sparrow.
- Artemis (the moon goddess)
- Arya
- Athena*
- Atlas (a moon of Saturn)
- Asher (Ash)
- Astra
- Aurora (Rory)
- Bailey*
- Bear*
- Beau
- Blue (silver-coated dogs are often referred to as “blue”)
- Blueberry
- Boomer*
- Bruno*
- Bubbles
- Callisto (the 3rd largest moon in our solar system)
- Casper (the friendly ghost!)
- Celeste
- Charcoal
- Chase*
- Chrome
- Cinder
- Clay
- Comet
- Cosmos
- Crystal
- Dakota*
- Deva (Hindu moon goddess)
- Duna
- Dusty
- Eve (Evening, Evie)
- Falcon
- Flint
- Floyd (gray-haired in Welsh)
- Glacier
- Glimmer
- Grace / Gracie
- Grady
- Grayson / Gray / Grey
- Griselda (great for a German shepherd)
- Gunnar
- Halo
- Heather
- Isabel*
- Jazz
- Jupiter
- Lacy
- Layla or Leila
- Lilac
- Lobo (Spanish for wolf)
- Luna* (moon in Spanish)
- Lyra
- Maverick
- Mercury
- Misty
- Monday (literally “moon day”)
- Nora*
- Nova*
- Olive*
- Opal
- Orion
- Paloma (Spanish for pigeon)
- Pearl*
- Pebbles
- Phoebe
- Pigeon
- Poppy
- Rain (Rainy)
- Reign
- River*
- Sage
- Sapphire
- Scout*
- Selena
- Shadow*
- Sherlock (Holmes’ eyes are described as gray)
- Silver
- Skye
- Smoky
- Sparkle
- Sparrow
- Steel(e)
- Stella*
- Sterling
- Storm (Stormy)
- Sullivan (Sully)
- Sylvia / Sylvie
- Thunder
- Tinsel
- Vega
- Velvet
- Vesper
- Violet
- Whisper
- Willow*
- Windy
- Wisp
- Wolf
- Xena
- Yukon
- Zane (Grey, the famous author)
- Zelda
pixabay.com
Do Gray Dogs Need a Themed Name?
Sure, a gray dog named Shadow, Moon, or Silver 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 gray 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 gray 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, an Italian greyhound puppy might sport a fashionista name like Donatella, while a husky mix could carry a name like Glacier.
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 “Misty, it’s time for dinner!” or “Sterling, leave it!” helps take the name out of your imagination and into reality.
Source: Flickr
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.
