Shih Tzus are as sweet and charming as they appear, especially to children, making them an ideal family addition. We’ve rounded up the most popular Shih Tzu names of the year from our enormous database of dog names nationwide. Yes, these are real names given by Shih Tzu owners, ranked in order of popularity. Did your dog’s name make the list?
For a quick sneak peek of the highlights, check out this video we made:
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 50 Shih Tzu Names for Girls
Pretty and petite, your Shih Tzu girl should have a name that’s as dainty and elegant as she is. We’re thinking: of Sophie, Lily, or Princess.
- Bella
- Coco
- Daisy
- Lola
- Luna
- Zoe
- Lily
- Lucy
- Chloe
- Sophie
- Molly
- Mia
- Maggie
- Cookie
- Rosie
- Sadie
- Gracie
- Roxy
- Ruby
- Lulu
- Princess
- Bailey
- Minnie
- Nala
- Stella
- Gigi
- Millie
- Lexi
- Penny
- Poppy
- Sasha
- Ellie
- Missy
- Pepper
- Willow
- Ginger
- Abby
- Izzy
- Winnie
- Piper
- Phoebe
- Dolly
- Angel
- Mocha
- Holly
- Honey
- Callie
- Pebbles
- Mila
- Layla
Top 50 Shih Tzu Names for Boys
Although they might act tough, male Shih Tzus are basically just squishable, fluffy balls of love, and a boy name like Teddy or Buddy will be so fitting for him.
- Teddy
- Max
- Charlie
- Oreo
- Milo
- Gizmo
- Chewy
- Buddy
- Toby
- Cooper
- Bentley
- Rocky
- Bear
- Benji
- Oliver
- Louie
- Ollie
- Lucky
- Jack
- Bruno
- Prince
- Beau
- Bandit
- Simba
- Tucker
- Murphy
- Winston
- Ace
- Oscar
- Buster
- Kobe
- Theo
- Benny
- Alfie
- Dexter
- Jax
- Sammy
- Cody
- Romeo
- Baxter
- Riley
- Brownie
- Henry
- Mochi
- Chase
- Duke
- Harley
- Chico
- Marley
- Rocco
Top Food Shih Tzu Names
We noticed that some of the top food-related Shih Tzu names harken back to their Chinese roots, with names like Dumpling and Tofu.
- Peanut
- Muffin
- Biscuit
- Chip
- Hazel
- Sugar
- Sushi
- Olive
- Bean
- Cinnamon
- Pumpkin
- Maple
- Cupcake
- Toffee
- Basil
- Waffles
- Taco
- Mac
- Waffle
- Tofu
- Bleu
- Chocolate
- Potato
- Chowder
- Dumpling
Top Music Shih Tzu Names
If you can see your Shih Tzu pup being the center of attention on stage, then they deserve a creative name inspired by a music star.
- Harry
- Elvis
- Willie
- Summer
- Billie
- Nelly
- Tyler
- Cardi
- Donna
- Taylor
- Nipsey
- James
- Nelson
- Steven
- Ciara
- Rob
- Sebastian
- Beethoven
- Mozart
- Elton
- Ariana
- Jimmy
- Kelly
- Suga
- Kim
Top TV/Movie Shih Tzu Names
For your new Shih Tzu, go with a classic name that’s derived from TV and movies, like Mickey, or hop on the cool train with Ken or Sonic.
- Ken
- Kya
- Mickey
- Odie
- Tashi
- Sonic
- Patrick
- Margo
- Rohan
- King
- Mason
- Duncan
- Tony
- Lana
- Jane
- Margaret
- Anderson
- Dana
- Jeff
- Miller
- Norah
- Pauley
- Pete
- Jesse
- Eric
Top Sports Shih Tzu Names
While you might not see your Shih Tzu on the soccer or football field anytime soon, you can make them a true fan with a sports-inspired name.
- Frankie
- Jackson
- Nugget
- Rudy
- Harper
- Brady
- Blaze
- Moose
- Bernie
- Hunter
- Sandy
- Wrigley
- Tiger
- Wilson
- Copper
- Mookie
- Luka
- Indy
- Maxx
- Raven
- Austin
- Jeter
- Kevin
- London
- Barry
Top Celebrity Shih Tzu Names
Can you totally see the paw-parazzi snapping pics of your Shih Tzu? Then, in this case, go with a star-studded celebrity name.
- Ella
- Kiki
- Jojo
- Khloe
- Dakota
- Ben
- Katie
- Olivia
- Tommy
- Brooklyn
- Otto
- Bob
- Andy
- Alex
- Carly
- Jada
- Amber
- Gilbert
- Johnny
- Kylie
- Simone
- Tom
- Becca
- Bill
- Blake
Top Mythical/Nature Shih Tzu Names
Give your Shih Tzu a name with an air of mystery and maybe a throwback to a favorite historical tale, like Apollo or Isis.
- Leo
- Aries
- Gemini
- Loki
- Zeus
- Paris
- Thor
- Apollo
- Juno
- Athena
- Hercules
- Odin
- Pandora
- Troy
- Hermes
- Isis
- Jupiter
- Mars
- Artemis
- Hector
- Hercules
- Osiris
- Venus
- Diana
- Mercury
Top Funny Shih Tzu Names
Maybe you want to kick it old-school with a name that goes back to your Nintendo-playing days, like Yoshi, or perhaps you want to pick a food name that will always make you smile, like Pork Chop. Either way, we love these funny names for Shih Tzus.
- Yoshi
- Cocoa
- Otis
- Beans
- Ozzy
- Snickers
- Belle
- Sparky
- KitKat
- Toast
- Finn
- Sassy
- Snoopy
- Sunny
- Tilly
- Brody
- Yogi
- Jasper
- Maddie
- Gus
- Nova
- Georgie
- Mimi
- Pork Chop
- Blu
Top Noble/Classic/Luxury Shih Tzu Names
You may need to get your Shih Tzu a teeny, tiny crown to match any of these names.
- Archie
- Lady
- George
- Louis
- Charlotte
- Lizzie
- Lili
- Queen
- Queenie
- William
- Elizabeth
- Megan
- Lilibet
- Chanel
- Gucci
- Dior
- Dolce
- Prada
- Versace
- Gabbana
- Fluffy
- Scout
- Rex
- Chance
- Champ
Shih Tzu Name Trends
It seems that fun, food-inspired names are popular choices for Shih Tzu families when it comes to choosing a moniker. Maybe it’s because these pups are so small and sweet you just want to eat them up? As you can see, there are a plethora of names that seems to be cuisine-inspired, including Oreo, Cookie, Pepper, Ginger, and Snickers.
We also see a big influx of quirky and silly names, probably because this breed has such a fun-loving and charming personality, plus they’re super popular with kids (and we know how much they love silly names). The most popular ones include Chewy, Gizmo, Pebbles, Yogi, and Sassy.
Shih Tzu Name Advice
If you’re having trouble deciding, keep in mind that great Shih Tzu names can come from many different sources of inspiration, such as your favorite food, television shows, musicians, your heritage, or even dog breed history. For example, your puppy might sport a favorite dish’s name like Curry or a TV character-inspired moniker like Fonzie.
Another consideration when choosing your Shih Tzu’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.”
Learn More About Shih Tzus
- Shih Tzu Breed Facts & Personality
- Shih Tzu Puppies: A Complete Guide
- Top Shih Tzu Haircut Styles
- Getting A New Puppy? Here’s Our Essential Checklist
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.
