The refined and charming Maltese breed comes with quite an interesting history. Likely introduced to Malta by the Phoenicians, this breed was celebrated by the aristocrats of the Roman Empire and considered the perfect accessory and symbol of status. After Rome fell, the Maltese breed was kept alive by Chinese breeders who crossed them with some of their own toy breeds, creating an even more adorable canine that quickly gained popularity—eventually being recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1888.
We’ve rounded up the most popular Maltese names of the year from our enormous Rover.com database of dog names nationwide. 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.
Top Maltese Names For Girls
With their sweet, little faces and dainty demeanors, a Maltese female dog will have just the right name if you go with Bella, Gracie, or Chanel.
- Bella
- Lily
- Coco
- Luna
- Daisy
- Chloe
- Molly
- Lucy
- Lola
- Sophie
- Zoe
- Mia
- Lulu
- Bailey
- Rosie
- Princess
- Gracie
- Lexi
- Sugar
- Chanel
- Stella
- Gigi
- Maggie
- Roxy
- Sadie
- Angel
- Ellie
- Millie
- Nala
- Cookie
- Callie
- Mimi
- Minnie
- Sasha
- Abby
- Poppy
- Penny
- Elsa
- Maya
- Nina
- Mila
- Ella
- Piper
- Holly
- Willow
- Dolly
- Ginger
- Pearl
- Belle
- Izzy
Top Maltese Names For Boys
Looking just like mini teddy bears, Teddy is definitely an appropriate name for a Maltese male dog, and so are Bear and Snowball.
- Max
- Teddy
- Milo
- Charlie
- Bentley
- Toby
- Buddy
- Leo
- Lucky
- Cooper
- Rocky
- Oliver
- Ollie
- Prince
- Bear
- Casper
- Winston
- Louie
- Benji
- Jack
- Sammy
- Simba
- Snowy
- Cody
- Marley
- Gizmo
- Snowball
- Mochi
- Tucker
- Bruno
- Beau
- Chase
- Harley
- Benny
- Joey
- Oreo
- Gucci
- Kobe
- Zeus
- Jax
- Oscar
- Romeo
- Snoopy
- Dexter
- Ziggy
- Snow
- Thor
- Chewy
- Rocco
- Baxter
Top Food Maltese Names
It’s not an uncommon sight to see a Maltese dancing around for food, so it makes sense to give them a food-inspired name like Peanut, Marshmallow, or Maple.
- Peanut
- Biscuit
- Muffin
- Sushi
- Pepper
- Cupcake
- Honey
- Mac
- Olive
- Pumpkin
- Marshmallow
- Brownie
- Hazel
- Chip
- Toffee
- Cinnamon
- Maple
- Nacho
- Brie
- Butter
- Dumpling
- Basil
- Chowder
- Taco
- Waffles
Top Music Maltese Names
From Billie Holiday to Willie Nelson, lots of famous musicians have unique names that are ideal for dogs, including the Maltese.
- Harry
- Billie
- Summer
- Nelly
- Willie
- Nelson
- Tyler
- Elvis
- James
- Nipsey
- Beyonce
- Donna
- Taylor
- Adele
- Olivia
- Elton
- Swift
- Whitney
- Neil
- Winnie
- Missy
- Miley
- Lana
- Bunny
- Charli
Top TV/Movie Maltese Names
A movie-inspired name, especially a Disney name like Snow White, is perfect for your Maltese. You could also go with Olaf to also nod to their wintry-hued fur.
- Kya
- Apollo
- Mickey
- Odie
- Snow White
- Margo
- Sonic
- Tashi
- Joker
- Claire
- Sydney
- Carmen
- Marcus
- King
- Mason
- Tony
- Duncan
- Dana
- David
- Jane
- Nate
- Olaf
- Brian
- Steve
- Jesse
Top Sports Maltese Names
We think these strong sports names for Maltese are a slam dunk, from Ace to Wilson.
- Riley
- Ace
- Frankie
- Nugget
- Jackson
- Rudy
- Sandy
- Tiger
- George
- Brady
- Jimmy
- Moose
- Blaze
- Harper
- Lenny
- JJ
- Hunter
- London
- Wilson
- Kevin
- Murray
- Copper
- Larry
- Luka
- Papi
Top Celebrity Maltese Names
Everyone in your family is sure to shower your Maltese with attention, so give them a name inspired by famous celebrities.
- Jojo
- Tommy
- Khloe
- Kiki
- Paris
- Bob
- Otto
- Andy
- Miki
- Ben
- Dakota
- Brooklyn
- Katie
- Alex
- Amber
- Carly
- Blake
- Jamie
- Kylie
- Tom
- Chrissy
- Dylan
- Hailey
- Johnny
- Kim
Top Italian Maltese Names
Maltese came here by way of Italy, so give them a dog name that’ll fit in perfectly in Italia.
- Remi
- Blu
- Happy
- Loki
- Rex
- Sunny
- Archie
- Coconut
- Duke
- Alfie
- Murphy
- Chico
- Cotton
- Emma
- Lady
- Maddie
- Ruby
- Frosty
- Jasper
- Sky
- Sparky
- Theo
- Henry
- Layla
- Brody
Top Funny Maltese Names
Dogs, like Maltese, bring so much joy to our lives. Increase the smiles, and even a giggle or two, with these laugh-out-loud names.
- Fluffy
- Pebbles
- Baby
- Joy
- Snowflake
- Yuki
- Pixie
- Candy
- Fifi
- Dixie
- Peaches
- Mattie
- Sassy
- Tootsie
- Gidget
- Misty
- Cherry
- Bean
- Tinkerbell
- Toto
- Evie
- Tiny
- Bubbles
- Zuzu
- Buttercup
Top Noble/Luxury/Classic Maltese Names
Maltese dogs often carry regal names that suggest they’re pampered pets. Think Queen, Precious, and Diamond.
- Louis
- Lili
- Lizzie
- Lilibet
- Queen
- Windsor
- Charlotte
- Diamond
- Daphne
- Precious
- Lizzy
- Dior
- Elizabeth
- Hamilton
- Meghan
- Dolce
- Prada
- Hermes
- Gabbana
- Versace
- Lily Rose
- Bernie
- Matthew
- Betty
- Annabelle
Maltese Name Trends
It’s not too surprising that the elegant and charming nature of this breed seems to 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 poshness, including Coco, Bentley, Stella, Pearl, Ruby, and Romeo. Names like Princess and King are also rising in popularity—perhaps a nod to the generations of royalty who appreciated that Maltese grace? Whatever the reason, these names do speak to the breed’s undeniable charms.
We also see a big influx of names referring to their soft and cuddly appearance—something that these pups are definitely known for. The most popular ones include Fluffy, Teddy, Snowball, Bear, and Honey.
Maltese Name Advice
If you’re having trouble deciding, keep in mind that great Maltese names can come from many different sources of inspiration, such as your favorite song, books, season, heritage, or even dog breed history. For example, your puppy might sport a famous song name like Jolene or a season-themed moniker like Summer.
Learn More About the Maltese
- Maltese Puppies: A Complete Guide
- New Puppy Essentials: Get The Checklist
- Most Popular Maltese Haircut Styles
- 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.
