Harry Potter fans are a special bunch, and there’s a reason they love giving names from the books and movies to their dogs. For one thing, Harry Potter names offer a wide variety of options, from the classic Luna to the friendly Dobby or elegant Hermione. So how do you choose the perfect Harry Potter moniker for your pet? Consider size, look, and personality of your new dog.
We handpicked these choices from our huge Rover.com database of dog names. They’re listed in order of popularity; those with an asterisk are among the top 100 most popular dog names. Have fun, good luck, and enjoy the trip to Hogwarts. Don’t worry, we’ll skip Azkaban and head straight to the Gryffindor common room.
The Best Harry Potter Dog Names
These names are listed in order of popularity in the national dog names database but are not numbered with their actual rank in the list. That said, the dog name Luna is so popular, it regularly shows up in the top 5—putting it miles above the rest of these names in terms of overall usage. Also, there’s not a single dog across the U.S. named Voldemort—of course—but there ARE a surprising number of pups named Draco.
- Luna* (or the full Luna Lovegood)
- Harry (Hairy Pawter?)
- Dobby
- Percy
- Dudley
- Ginny
- Draco (Malfoy could work, too)
- Sirius (or, again, the full Sirius Black)
- Albus
- Tonks
- Remus
- Neville
- Bellatrix (okay, she was a death eater, but it’s such a cool name!)
- Hermione
- Lupin
- Potter
- Nimbus
- Granger
- Winky
- Cedric
- Weasley
- Hagrid
- Fluffy
- Minerva (Minnie for short)
- Gryffindor
- Ron
- Fawkes
- Padfoot
- Fang
- Cornelius (Fudge)
- Newt
- Norbert
- Dumbledore
- Riddle
- Severus
- Lucius
- Godric
- Crookshanks (the cat)
- Gilderoy
- Hedwig
- Diggory
Clever Pun Harry Potter Dog Names
- Gryffindog
- Dogwarts
- Hairy Pawter
- Hufflepup or Hufflepug
- Ruffyndor
- Pansy Barkinson
- Ravenpaw
Harry Potter Dog Names: Words, Creatures, Places
- Buckbeak
- Phoenix
- Patronus
- Butterbeer
- Muggle
- Goblin
- Snitch
- Alohomora
- Quidditch
- Quaffle
- Accio
- Errol
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, from Harry to Hagrid. Or fantastical names, as the case may be! “Here, Buckbeak,” anyone?
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
Whether your dog is a Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, or Slytherin, consider personality when choosing their name.
If you’re having trouble deciding, keep in mind that a great dog name can come from many different sources of inspiration. Dog breeds are a particularly powerful influence. For example, French bulldog puppy might be just right wearing Fleur as a name, while a Shih Tzu (known as “the lion dog”) might sport Gryffindor.
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 “Fleur, it’s time for dinner!” or “Weasley, leave it!” helps take the name out of your imagination and into reality.
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.
To start, check out our list of the most popular dog names, and then jump over to unique dog names to see the contrast. But that’s only the beginning. We’ve got articles covering top Irish choices, male dog names, female dog names, and popular names for hunting dogs, small dogs, white dogs, Huskies, German shepherds, and many more.
Featured image: Flickr/petsadviser-pix
