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The Most Popular German Shepherd Dog Names

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German shepherd wearing a baseball cap

The Most Popular German Shepherd Dog Names

Updated April 1, 2022 | Getting a Dog

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German shepherds are one of the most popular dog breeds. They’re a beautiful, active family dog with boundless energy and famous loyalty. I have a rescued GSD mix of my own, and she fits that to a tee. When you decide to bring one of these noble dogs into your home, you have a big decision to make: their name!

When we adopted my dog, we had a long list of names ready. During our hour-long drive from the shelter to our home, we tried all of the names out loud to see if one would fit.

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But from Freyja to Lyra, none of them worked. While we sat in traffic, I started saying every name I could think of. Nothing really sounded right until suddenly, I came up with the winner. It was a spur-of-the-moment choice that stuck: Lana.

Turns out we picked a unique name for our GSD mix! See below for the most popular German shepherd dog names of the year from Rover.com’s enormous database of dog names. If you’re looking for a name that stands out, look no further. Let’s start with the most popular German dog names given by real GSD owners, and go from there.

Top 143 German Shepherd Names

  1. Luna
  2. Max
  3. Bella
  4. Bear
  5. Nala
  6. Rocky
  7. Duke
  8. Stella
  9. Zoe
  10. Roxy
  11. Apollo
  12. Loki
  13. Lucy
  14. Nova
  15. Bailey
  16. Lola
  17. Daisy
  18. Charlie
  19. Jax
  20. Thor
  21. Leo
  22. Milo
  23. Lily
  24. Jack
  25. Ace
  26. Buddy
  27. Ellie
  28. Willow
  29. Molly
  30. Rex
  31. Beau
  32. Moose
  33. Maggie
  34. Diesel
  35. Riley
  36. Piper
  37. Penny
  38. Ranger
  39. Dakota
  40. Coco
  41. Ruby
  42. Blu
  43. Tucker
  44. Rosie
  45. Finn
  46. Bruno
  47. Axel
  48. Ava
  49. Pepper
  50. Chloe
  51. Sophie
  52. Kobe
  53. King
  54. Chief
  55. Lady
  56. Scout
  57. Hazel
  58. Charlie
  59. Arya
  60. Freya
  61. Simba
  62. Hank
  63. Atlas
  64. Murphy
  65. Millie
  66. Sam
  67. Heidi
  68. Chase
  69. Toby
  70. Ghost
  71. Ollie
  72. Kai
  73. Oliver
  74. Bruce
  75. Jackson
  76. Leia
  77. Riley
  78. Oakley
  79. Marley
  80. Gus
  81. Jake
  82. Luke
  83. Bandit
  84. Titan
  85. Abby
  86. Teddy
  87. Ginger
  88. Kylo
  89. Dixie
  90. Louie
  91. Rocco
  92. Cleo
  93. Hunter
  94. Scout
  95. Jasper
  96. Samson
  97. Emma
  98. Winston
  99. Oakley
  100. Zelda
  101. Honey
  102. Roscoe
  103. Ella
  104. Skye
  105. Lucky
  106. Winnie
  107. Mocha
  108. Tank
  109. Goose
  110. Prince
  111. Major
  112. Chance
  113. Tyson
  114. Greta
  115. Echo
  116. Archie
  117. Scooby
  118. Ivy
  119. Elsa
  120. Benny
  121. Olive
  122. River
  123. Kane
  124. Otto
  125. Sage
  126. Belle
  127. Brutus
  128. Storm
  129. Josie
  130. Sky
  131. Kira
  132. Ozzy
  133. Rambo
  134. Otis
  135. Lulu
  136. Ryder
  137. Angel
  138. Princess
  139. Whiskey
  140. Chewy
  141. Sam
  142. Blu
  143. Mac

Top 10 Female German Shepherd Dog Names

  1. Luna
  2. Bella
  3. Nala
  4. Stella
  5. Zoe
  6. Roxy
  7. Lucy
  8. Nova
  9. Bailey
  10. Lola

Top 10 Male German Shepherd Dog Names

  1. Max
  2. Bear
  3. Rocky
  4. Duke
  5. Apollo
  6. Loki
  7. Charlie
  8. Jax
  9. Thor
  10. Leo

100 More German Dog Names

We selected these name ideas by digging through our enormous Rover.com database and researching names from Germany, going way beyond the top 100 dog names to find the perfect German picks.

  1. Ada—noble, kind
  2. Adler—eagle
  3. Aldo—old, wise
  4. Alger—noble, bright
  5. Alfred—counselor
  6. Annika—graceful
  7. Arnold—eagle power
  8. Arvin—friend to all
  9. Aubrey—noble
  10. August—exalted, revered
  11. Axel—peaceful
  12. Ava—a variation of Eve
  13. Bernard—brave as a bear
  14. Berta—intelligent, glorious
  15. Bismarck—German statesman
  16. Britta—strength
  17. Cayden—the spirit of battle
  18. Clovis—famous warrior
  19. Damian—the fighter
  20. Dieter—the people’s ruler
  21. Donner—thunder
  22. Duxi—warrior of the people
  23. Elsa—noble
  24. Emmett—industrious, strong
  25. Ellard—noble, brave
  26. Felix—lucky
  27. Ferdinand—adventurous, courageous
  28. Franz—free
  29. Frauke—little lady
  30. Frederick—peaceful ruler
  31. Frido—powerful
  32. Frieda—peaceful
  33. Garin—warrior
  34. Gerda—protected
  35. Gretchen—pearl
  36. Greta—pearl
  37. Gunther—warrior
  38. Hamlin—one who loves his home
  39. Harbin—little shining fighter
  40. Heidi—noble, serene
  41. Helga—pious
  42. Helmar—famous protector
  43. Hendrik—home ruler
  44. Hugo—wise man
  45. Ida—hardworking
  46. Jaeger—hunter
  47. Kaja—alive
  48. Katrin—great beauty
  49. Keene—bold, sharp
  50. Klaus—the people’s victory
  51. Leona—brave as a lioness
  52. Leopold—bold leader
  53. Liebe—love
  54. Liesel—God is my oath
  55. Lorelei—alluring
  56. Lotti—little woman
  57. Luther—warrior
  58. Manfred—man of peace
  59. Matilda—mighty in battle
  60. Max—greatest
  61. Meyer—bringer of light
  62. Milla—industrious
  63. Milo—beloved
  64. Mozart—German composer
  65. Nadja—hope
  66. Nia—bright
  67. Norbert—hero
  68. Olinda—protector of property
  69. Otto—prosperous, rich
  70. Ozzy—divine spear
  71. Petra—solid as rock
  72. Prinz—prince
  73. Raina—mighty army
  74. Rainer—warrior
  75. Ritter—knight
  76. Romey—obstinate, rebellious
  77. Rowland—famous in the land
  78. Sascha—defender of mankind
  79. Schatzi—sweetheart
  80. Sigrid—beautiful victory
  81. Skye—sheltering
  82. Sonje—wisdom
  83. Theobold—the boldest
  84. Tilli—battle maiden
  85. Tobias (Toby)—God is good
  86. Trudi—strong spear warrior
  87. Ugo—mind, heart, spirit
  88. Ula—pearl
  89. Ulrika—all-ruling, wolf ruler
  90. Vera—faith, truth
  91. Vala—singled out
  92. Verner—defending army
  93. Waldo—ruler
  94. Wilfred—determined peacemaker
  95. Winifred (Winnie)—peaceful friend
  96. Wolfgang—wolf journey
  97. Zelda—battle maid
  98. Zelig—blessed one
  99. Zenzi—to spring up, grow, thrive
  100. Zita (also Hungarian)

German People Names for Dogs

Do you like the sound of a human name on a dog? 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. As you can see from the list above, this is true for male and female German dog names. 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. Dog love runs deep.

Via Flickr User Karoliina T

German Dog Naming Advice

If you’re having trouble deciding on a name, keep in mind that a great dog name can come from many different sources of inspiration, such as your favorite vacation spots, cartoon characters, books, celebrities, or even dog breed history. For example, a chocolate Lab puppy might sport a water-inspired name like Lily, while a Latin dog breed could carry a cute name like Canela (Spanish for “cinnamon”).

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 “Dakota, it’s time for dinner!” or “Ella, leave it!” helps take the name out of your imagination and into reality.

More Top Dog Names

For more on naming your German shepherd, check out these articles! Rover is a leading expert in dog names and we’ve got tons of ideas and tips for you.

  • The Science Behind the Perfect Dog Name
  • Most Popular Male and Female Dog Names
  • The 70 Most Unique Dog Names Ever
  • 25 Cool Dog Names for Hip Dogs
  • Rover’s Dog Name Generator
  • Everything You Need to Know About German Shepherds
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