German Shepherds are one of the most popular dog breeds. Known for being beautiful, active family dogs with boundless energy and famous loyalty, when you decide to bring one of these noble dogs into your home, you have one big decision to make: their name!
From behavior training to boarding your dog with a sitter, your pet’s moniker will become an important part of everyday life – for you, your pet, and others who spend time with your dog!
See below for the most popular German Shepherd dog names of the year from our enormous database of dog names. If you’re looking for a name that stands out, look no further.
Top Female German Shepherd Names
With a mix of strong names (like Xena) and sweet, adorable names (like Luna, Sadie, and Lola), there’s sure to be a name for your German Shepherd girl that fits her personality.
- Luna
- Bella
- Nala
- Athena
- Nova
- Stella
- Roxy
- Sadie
- Zoe
- Lucy
- Sasha
- Lola
- Daisy
- Harley
- Mia
- Bailey
- Willow
- Xena
- Maya
- Ruby
- Kona
- Lily
- Lexi
- Heidi
- Coco
- Freya
- Mila
- Maggie
- Riley
- Layla
- Raven
- Hazel
- Molly
- Ellie
- Lady
- Remi
- Penny
- Kira
- Piper
- Rosie
- Sophie
- Ava
- Callie
- Leia
- Dakota
- Gracie
- Millie
- Skye
- Chloe
- Pepper
Top Male German Shepherd Names
People tend to gravitate toward tough names for their German Shepherd boys, ranging from Greek gods to popular movie characters.
- Max
- Zeus
- Bear
- Rocky
- Duke
- Thor
- Loki
- Apollo
- Koda
- Rex
- Jax
- Shadow
- Maverick
- Ace
- Axel
- Gunnar
- Bruno
- Leo
- Odin
- Ranger
- Charlie
- Jack
- Milo
- Cooper
- Buddy
- Diesel
- King
- Moose
- Beau
- Atlas
- Chief
- Chase
- Kai
- Kaiser
- Blu
- Scout
- Major
- Simba
- Ruger
- Ghost
- Enzo
- Finn
- Rocco
- Hank
- Hunter
- Kobe
- Ares
- Lucky
- Rambo
- Titan
Top Food German Shepherd Names
Food names for dogs are continuing to trend upward, and this is certainly true of what people name their German Shepherds. Think Honey, Bean, and Taco.
- Mac
- Honey
- Olive
- Cookie
- Ginger
- Maple
- Mochi
- Bean
- Bleu
- Brownie
- Sugar
- Nacho
- Oreo
- Chip
- Taco
- Basil
- Peanut
- Sushi
- Biscuit
- Waffles
- Beans
- Cinnamon
- Pickle
- Pumpkin
- Bacon
Top Music German Shepherd Names
The music industry is a great place to gain some inspiration for naming your dog. For a German Shepherd, celebrate a new “era” with your latest family member by naming her Taylor, or go with Willie or Mozart for an old-school vibe.
- Summer
- Harry
- Elvis
- Billie
- Willie
- Kate
- Nelly
- Taylor
- Donna
- Nelson
- Nipsey
- James
- Steven
- Cardi
- Ciara
- Psy
- Styles
- Tyler
- Dolly
- Kim
- V
- Sebastian
- Mozart
- Bach
- Ludwig
Top TV/Movie German Shepherd Names
If you can’t stop streaming Netflix, we’re thinking that a unique TV or movie-related name would be perfect for your German Shepherd.
- Zelda
- Belle
- Khaleesi
- Kya
- Ken
- Ariel
- Ursula
- Abby
- Izzy
- Baloo
- Red
- Felix
- Jesse
- Alma
- Mo
- Buzz
- Pongo
- Doug
- Darby
- Pico
- Rox
- Pepa
- Antonio
- Camilo
- Figaro
Top Sports German Shepherd Names
German Shepherds are known for their athletic prowess, so it makes sense to name them after a major sports star, like Brady or Venus.
- Harper
- Tucker
- Jackson
- Blaze
- Indy
- Angel
- Cody
- Ragnar
- Frankie
- George
- Luka
- Buck
- Astro
- Copper
- Lincoln
- Maxx
- Rudy
- Brady
- Judge
- Raider
- Sandy
- Wilson
- Jazz
- Kevin
- Venus
Top Celebrity German Shepherd Names
Whether it’s one that a celebrity has chosen for their kid (like Brooklyn), or you always light up when you see a particular star on the red carpet, think of celebrity-inspired names for your German Shepherd.
- Otto
- Ella
- Jojo
- Wolf
- Amber
- Kiki
- Alex
- Tommy
- Jada
- Katie
- Ben
- Khloe
- Brooklyn
- Gwen
- Olivia
- Ray
- Johnny
- Carly
- Blake
- Hailey
- Paris
- Damon
- Bob
- Hayley
- Jamie
Top German (Origin) German Shepherd Names
German Shepherds originated in Germany, of course. Give them a name that would make their motherland proud.
- Sam
- Oakley
- Storm
- Echo
- Whiskey
- Zeke
- Marley
- Cash
- River
- Dexter
- Kane
- Onyx
- Sage
- Kylo
- Murphy
- Arya
- Bruce
- Karma
- Jake
- Sarge
- Jasper
- Emma
- Tyson
- Goose
- Samson
Top Funny German Shepherd Names
Although German Shepherds are dogs that are very serious about their work and their loyalty to their families, you can give them a funny name that lightens things up a bit.
- Dixie
- Ziva
- Sheba
- Bonnie
- Gypsy
- Kimber
- Lulu
- Tilly
- Ripley
- Muffin
- Libby
- Schatzi
- Addie
- Bronco
- Nugget
- Stormy
- Trixie
- Josie
- Lilo
- Schnitzel
- Delta
- Birdie
- Knight
- Mocha
- Misha
Top Noble/Luxury/Classic German Shepherd Names
German Shepherds are undoubtedly regal dogs that you could picture up on a throne, so why not name your dog Prince, Queen, or Windsor?
- Archie
- Prince
- Queen
- Charlotte
- Louis
- Diana
- Megan
- Lizzie
- Queenie
- Lili
- Elizabeth
- William
- Windsor
- Princess
- Duchess
- Camilla
- Aurora
- Gucci
- Dior
- Chanel
- Dolce
- Prada
- Hermès
- Balenciaga
- Versace
Human Names for German Shepherds
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, pet parents 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. Dog love runs deep.
German Shepherd 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”).
Learn More About Dogs
- The Most Popular Dog Breeds in America
- Best Dog Breeds for Kids & Families
- Do Dogs Have A Sense of Time? How Does It Feel?
- An Illustrated Guide to Dog Behavior
Rover Knows Pet Names
As pet lovers through and through, Rover has the scoop on what people are naming their dogs. We have a passion for all things dog names and love helping pet parents pick their pup’s perfect name. For over a decade, we’ve gathered pet names from Rover’s database of millions of pets. The names you find here aren’t randomly generated. We keep our lists updated to match the trends within—and from—our own pet parent community.
