Small dogs are popular for a reason—they’re great companions, easy to travel with, and cute as anything. Among the most well-known include breeds like the chihuahua, Yorkshire terrier, shih tzu, Maltese, and dachshund, though that’s only the beginning! Despite their size, small dogs can have big personalities. That’s why we’ve given a lot of thought to this list of best small dog names. There’s variety to fit any dog, from a cute Huckleberry to a feisty Xena.
We selected these small dog names by digging through Rover’s massive dog names database. Many of these names are unique, while a others show up on a few of our other fantastic lists of dog names.
50 Best Small Dog Names
- Apple
- Archie
- Athena
- Bean
- Betsy
- Button
- Chico
- Coco
- Cricket
- Daisy
- Dash
- Dobby
- Elsie
- Eggroll
- Fiona
- Gatsby
- Gimli
- Hercules (the irony!)
- Huckleberry (Huck)
- Ivy
- Isabel (Izzy)
- Jazz (Jazzy)
- Jett
- Kai
- Loki
- Marshmallow
- Maverick
- Micro
- Nacho
- Oliver
- Otto
- Peanut
- Pippin (Pip)
- Pixie
- Poppy
- Primrose (Prim)
- Quark
- Rhubarb (Ruby)
- Rocket
- Roo
- Starlet
- Sprout
- Thimble
- Toby
- Tucker
- Uno
- Willow
- Xena
- Zephyr
- Ziggy
Still not satisfied? The best small dog names don’t necessarily have to say anything about your dog’s size. A sweet name like Rosie, or a silly name like Noodles, might be perfect for your pet. Why? Because the best small dog names are the names that fit the individual dog. 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 “Ziggy, it’s time for dinner!” or “Nacho, leave it!” helps take the name out of your imagination and into reality.
Good luck, have fun and make sure to check out our other dog name coverage. As dog lovers through and through here at Rover, we find dog names absolutely fascinating, and we love searching through 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 unique names, incredible Scottish dog names, or the cutest names for dogs!
The Dog Name Generator
If you need some more name inspiration, check out our Dog Name Generator! We’ll delve into our huge Rover database of dog names and based on the information you provide, we’ll give you some dog-name-related intel. We’ll tell you the two most popular dog names for your dog’s breed and gender, and if you’re looking for a name that stands out from the pack, you’re in luck! We’re throwing in a third, decidedly random option that’s just for fun. That’s right, we won’t just give you one result, we’ll give you three whole dog names to choose from! Then we’ll leave it up to you to decide if your new addition is more of an Alfie or a Captain Merrylegs. Good luck and have fun choosing the perfect name for your new wee friend.
Once you’ve found the perfect name, find the perfect dog sitter who can provide your dog with all the love and attention they deserve when you can’t be around on Rover.com.