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.
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 75 German Shepherd Names
- Max
- Luna
- Bella
- Bear
- Charlie
- Zeus
- Zoey / Zoe
- Sadie
- Nala
- Lucy
- Rocky
- Riley
- Duke
- Bailey
- Koda
- Stella
- Sasha
- Jax
- Kona
- Cooper
- Harley
- Shadow
- Daisy
- Roxy
- Buddy
- Lola
- Athena
- Leo
- Apollo
- Scout
- Mia
- Dakota
- Bruno
- Molly
- Gunner
- Jack
- Loki
- Sophie
- Thor
- Maggie
- Sam
- Maya
- Milo
- Maverick
- Rex
- Diesel
- Tucker
- Ellie
- Nova
- Odin
- Chloe
- Lexi
- Ranger
- Jake
- Marley
- Penny
- Layla
- Ruby
- Lily
- Rosie
- Moose
- Ava
- Heidi
- Ace
- Murphy
- Kaiser
- Lady
- Piper
- Willow
- Coco
- Bandit
- Ruger
- Abby
- Hunter
- Emma
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.
- Ada—noble, kind
- Adler—eagle
- Aldo—old, wise
- Alger—noble, bright
- Alfred—counselor
- Annika—graceful
- Arnold—eagle power
- Arvin—friend to all
- Aubrey—noble
- August—exalted, revered
- Axel—peaceful
- Ava—a variation of Eve
- Bernard—brave as a bear
- Berta—intelligent, glorious
- Bismarck—German statesman
- Britta—strength
- Cayden—the spirit of battle
- Clovis—famous warrior
- Damian—the fighter
- Dieter—the people’s ruler
- Donner—thunder
- Duxi—warrior of the people
- Elsa—noble
- Emmett—industrious, strong
- Ellard—noble, brave
- Felix—lucky
- Ferdinand—adventurous, courageous
- Franz—free
- Frauke—little lady
- Frederick—peaceful ruler
- Frido—powerful
- Frieda—peaceful
- Garin—warrior
- Gerda—protected
- Gretchen—pearl
- Greta—pearl
- Gunther—warrior
- Hamlin—one who loves his home
- Harbin—little shining fighter
- Heidi—noble, serene
- Helga—pious
- Helmar—famous protector
- Hendrik—home ruler
- Hugo—wise man
- Ida—hardworking
- Jaeger—hunter
- Kaja—alive
- Katrin—great beauty
- Keene—bold, sharp
- Klaus—the people’s victory
- Leona—brave as a lioness
- Leopold—bold leader
- Liebe—love
- Liesel—God is my oath
- Lorelei—alluring
- Lotti—little woman
- Luther—warrior
- Manfred—man of peace
- Matilda—mighty in battle
- Max—greatest
- Meyer—bringer of light
- Milla—industrious
- Milo—beloved
- Mozart—German composer
- Nadja—hope
- Nia—bright
- Norbert—hero
- Olinda—protector of property
- Otto—prosperous, rich
- Ozzy—divine spear
- Petra—solid as rock
- Prinz—prince
- Raina—mighty army
- Rainer—warrior
- Ritter—knight
- Romey—obstinate, rebellious
- Rowland—famous in the land
- Sascha—defender of mankind
- Schatzi—sweetheart
- Sigrid—beautiful victory
- Skye—sheltering
- Sonje—wisdom
- Theobold—the boldest
- Tilli—battle maiden
- Tobias (Toby)—God is good
- Trudi—strong spear warrior
- Ugo—mind, heart, spirit
- Ula—pearl
- Ulrika—all-ruling, wolf ruler
- Vera—faith, truth
- Vala—singled out
- Verner—defending army
- Waldo—ruler
- Wilfred—determined peacemaker
- Winifred (Winnie)—peaceful friend
- Wolfgang—wolf journey
- Zelda—battle maid
- Zelig—blessed one
- Zenzi—to spring up, grow, thrive
- 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 foods, books, celebrities, your heritage, 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 “Zelda, it’s time for dinner!” or “Skye, 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.
