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Though originally descended from the Basque herding dogs in Europe, the modern Australian shepherd gained popularity in the United States via Western ranchers. Whether working on farms or performing in rodeos, this breed is too smart to stay still.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), they may be challenging for a novice owner, but with a firm hand, they’ll become a loving, lifelong companion. We’ve rounded up the most popular Australian shepherd names of the year from our enormous Rover.com database of dog names nationwide. Yes, these are real names given by Aussie owners, ranked in order of popularity. Did your dog’s name make the list?
Looking for a dog name for your new puppy or adopted family member? Have fun, use your imagination, and be sure to check out other ideas from our wide selection of dog name lists.
The 112 Most Popular Australian Shepherd Names
- Luna
- Bella
- Charlie
- Cooper
- Blu
- Bear
- Lucy
- Bailey
- Sadie
- Max
- Koda
- Zoe
- Finn
- Daisy
- Milo
- Scout
- Jax
- Riley
- Lily
- Tucker
- Oliver
- Piper
- Ollie
- Pepper
- Beau
- Ellie
- Stella
- Penny
- Willow
- Molly
- Buddy
- Callie
- Harley
- Maggie
- Murphy
- Jack
- Lola
- Rocky
- Roxy
- Remi
- Bandit
- Kona
- Bentley
- Loki
- Ruby
- Nala
- Leo
- Oakley
- Sydney
- Rosie
- Sophie
- Chloe
- Duke
- Apollo
- Maverick
- Millie
- Gracie
- Coco
- Hazel
- Dakota
- Marley
- Toby
- Teddy
- Ranger
- Boomer
- Dixie
- Nova
- Ace
- Jasper
- Moose
- Shadow
- River
- Jake
- Lexi
- Gunnar
- Winston
- Mia
- Annie
- Abby
- Layla
- Aspen
- Hank
- Izzy
- Maya
- Brody
- Dexter
- Gus
- Zeus
- Louie
- Copper
- Jackson
- Cash
- Winnie
- Oreo
- Cody
- Ginger
- Atlas
- Skye
- Ozzie
- Indy
- Lady
- Rusty
- Lucky
- Roo
- Archie
- Athena
- Baxter
- Ella
- Finley
- Odin
- Theo
- Thor
Top 10 Female Australian Shepherd Names
Names with an asterisk (*) are not in the top 10 for all dogs nationwide
- Luna
- Bella
- Lucy
- Sadie
- Daisy
- Bailey
- Piper
- Ella
- Stella
- Penny
Top 10 Male Australian Shepherd Names
Names with an asterisk (*) are not in the top 10 for all dogs nationwide
- Cooper
- Bear
- Charlie
- Max
- Finn
- Milo
- Jax
- Tucker
- Oliver
- Blue
Australian Shepherd Name Trends
It seems that the wily ways of this breed have had an impact on the names that are chosen for them by their families. As you can see, there are a plethora of names that touch upon their independent spirit, including Scout, Bandit, Ranger, and Maverick. Indy is one name that is up 155%—perhaps a nod to the uncrushable spirit of Indiana Jones? Whatever the reason, these names speak to the breed’s smart, independent streak and seem wholly appropriate.
We also see a big influx of outdoorsy, nature-inspired names, probably because this breed has such an active and adventurous lifestyle. The most popular ones include River, Aspen, Bear, Moose, Daisy, and Luna.
Be sure to tag your adventurous Australian shepherd with a sturdy, customizable collar or LL Bean’s outdoor-ready monogrammed harness to keep your dog safe wherever the trail (or those famous herding instincts) may lead.
Australian Shepherd Name Advice
If you’re having trouble deciding, keep in mind that great Australian shepherd names can come from many different sources of inspiration, such as your favorite foods, books, celebrities, your heritage, or even dog breed history. For example, your puppy might sport a famous musician’s name like Ozzy or a color-themed moniker like Ginger.
Another consideration when choosing your Australian shepherd 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 Australian shepherd 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 “Gracie, it’s time for dinner!” or “Cash, leave it!” helps take the name out of your imagination and into reality.
All Dog Names, All the Time
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 names of 2019, 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.
