Sometimes, the go-to dog names don’t suit some homes or families. Pet parents may be looking for names that show a dog’s unique personality or their own passions or interests. Plus, many dogs end up with names that suggest a sly sense of humour. With their constant antics and playful natures, dogs are some of nature’s finest comedians, and some pet parents are looking for names to match.
It’s no wonder that people often look to the comedy world for a name to capture their new pet’s playful character. And with a storied past of providing some of Earth’s funniest people, from stand-ups to sitcoms to a uniquely dry, quirky brand of comedy movies, where better to pull from than British comedy? (If a name is good enough to adorn a marquee above the entrance of the Hammersmith Apollo, you can yell it across a park without feeling embarrassed.)
Some of these names appear in our database of the top 100 dog names for 2024, but others take inspiration from the UK’s comedy treasures throughout history.
Top 10 Comedian-Inspired Names for Dogs
These are the most popular comedian-inspired names for the new dog in your life, according to our 2024 database. Sean (Lock) is the top trending name, likely in his memory after his tragic passing in 2021. Rowan (Atkinson) and Ricky (Gervais) are also among the highest trending comedian-themed dog names this year.
- Jack (Whitehall)
- Eddie (Izzard)
- Jimmy (Carr)
- Rowan (Atkinson)
- Ricky (Gervais)
- John (Bishop)
- Simon (Amstell)
- James (Acaster)
- Sarah (Millican)
- Sean (Lock)
UK-Comedian-Inspired Names for Female Dogs
- Dawn (French)
- Miranda (Hart)
- Shappi (Khorsandi)
- Nina (Conti)
- Alice (Lowe)
- Bec (Hill)
- Sandi (Toksvig)
- Isy (Suttie)
- Zo (Zoe Lyons)
- Cariad (Lloyd)
- Josie (Long)
- Joanna (Lumley)
- Katherine/Kathy (Tate/Ryan/Burke)
- Sally (Philips)
- Tammy (Tamsin Grieg)
- Roisin (Conaty)
- Holly (Walsh)
- Ruth (Jones)
- Sara (Pascoe)
- Parris (Rachel)
- Jojo (Jo Brand)
- Ruby (Wax)
- Prunella (Scales)
UK-Comedian-Inspired Names for Male Dogs
- Tommy (Cooper)
- Cooper
- Alex (Horne)
- Pat Springleaf (James Acaster)
- Milton (Jones)
- Rommy (Romesh Ranganathan)
- Chubby (Roy “Chubby” Brown)
- Nish (Kumar)
- Benny (Hill)
- Jethro
- Bailey (Bill Bailey)
- Reggie (Reginald D. Hunter)
- Mo (Gilligan)
- Billy (Connolly)
- Richie (Richard Ayoade)
- Vegas (Johnny Vegas)
- Sacha (Baron Cohen)
- Doc (Brown)
- Lenny (Henry)
- Ronnie (Barker/Corbett/The Two Ronnies)
- Noel (Fielding)
- Spike (Milligan)
- Frankie (Boyle)
- Sanjeev (Bhaskar)
- Greg (Davies)
- Morris (Chris Morris)
- Coogy (Steve Coogan)
- Lucas (Matt Lucas)
- MacKenzie (Crook)
- Russ (Russell Howard)
- Stan (Laurel)
- Dave (Mitchel/Walliams)
- Bishop (John Bishop)
- Chatty (Alan Carr, Chatty Man)
Wavetop via iStock
Dog Names Inspired by UK Comedy TV Characters
UK comedians and TV go hand-in-hand, with many crossing the threshold and some characters like Delboy or Borat gaining new life in their own right. Whether it’s sketch shows, sitcoms, or the quirky underbelly of British comedy, naming your dog after a British comedy character can help you highlight their eccentric, silly nature and sense of humour better than most other names out there!
A snooty Schnauzer named after Basil Fawlty or a fussy poodle called Hyacinth Bucket, anyone? Just don’t mention the paw…
- Delboy (Only Fools & Horses)
- Rodney (Only Fools & Horses)
- Trigger (Only Fools & Horses)
- Basil (Fawlty Towers)
- Sybil (Fawlty Towers)
- Manuel (Fawlty Towers)
- Hyacinth (Bucket) – (Keeping Up Appearances)
- Chabuddy (People Just Do Nothing)
- Borat
- Bruno
- Vicky (Little Britain)
- Alan (Partridge)
- Victor (Meldrew, One Foot in the Grave)
- Mac (Green Wing)
- Caroline (Todd, Green Wing)
- Mrs Brown (Mrs Brown’s Boys)
- Bean (Mr. Bean)
- Philomena (Cunk on Earth)
- Barry (Chuckle)
- Baldrick (Blackadder)
- Edmund (Blackadder)
- Jonesy (Dad’s Army)
- Jackie (Friday Night Dinner)
- Jeremy/Jez (Peep Show)
- Super Hans (Peep Show)
- Dobby (Peep Show)
- Barley (Nathan Barley)
- Moss (The IT Crowd)
- Garth (Marenghi, Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace)
- Naboo (The Mighty Boosh)
- Old Greg (The Mighty Boosh)
- Tony Harrison (The Mighty Boosh)
- Brent (David Brent, The Office)
- Finchy (Chris Finch, The Office)
Dog Names Inspired By Dog-Loving Comedians
Some UK comedians actively profess, explore, or demonstrate their love for rescues and other dogs. Ricky Gervais, for example, is a very public spokesperson for dogs and other animals. The late, great Paul O’Grady has a wing of Battersea Dog’s Home dedicated to him, and Jack Dee and Seann Walsh run the Oh My Dog! podcast, celebrating all things canine with other celebrity dog enthusiasts. Maybe your dog’s name can help your pup return the favour.
- Paul (O’Grady)
- O’Grady
- Gervais
- Corden
- Law (Tony Law)
- Jenny (Bede)
- Kiri (Pritchard-McLean)
- Luisa (Omielan)
- Dee (Jack Dee)
- Seann (Walsh)
- Norton (Graham Norton)
Dog Names Inspired by UK Comedy Movies
From claymation heroes (the classic animated dog Gromit’s blank, disapproving stare being as dryly funny as any stand-up’s joke) to Michael Palin’s hapless animal-obsessed Arthur in A Fish Called Wanda, British comedy creations provide a great pool of inspiration for dog names to match your furry friend’s goofy personality. It stands to reason that Gromit is still trending in 2024, with an incoming Wallace & Gromit movie the likely reason.
- Monty (The Fully Monty OR Monty Python)
- Shaun (Shaun of the Dead/Shaun the Sheep)
- Wallace
- Gromit
- Bridget (Bridget Jones’ Diary)
- Wanda (A Fish Called Wanda)
- Otto (A Fish Called Wanda)
- Arthur (A Fish Called Wanda)
- Broderick (Monty Python’s Life of Brian)
- Brian (Monty Python’s Life of Brian)
- Ni (Monty Python and the Holy Grail)
- Arthur (Monty Python and the Holy Grail)
- Sir Lancelot (Monty Python and the Holy Grail)
- Mr Creosote (Monty Python’s Meaning of Life)
- Charles (Charles Petrescu, Brian and Charles)
- Clousseau (Peter Sellers, The Pink Panther)
Dog Names Inspired by UK Comedy Duos
More than one dog? No problem! The UK boasts some fantastic comedy duos to help inspire the naming process. (Ant & Dec are included because… well, who wouldn’t say no to a couple of pups named after them or their Byker Grove counterparts, PJ & Duncan?)
- Morecambe & Wise
- Mitchell & Webb
- Vic & Bob
- Peter & Dudley
- French & Saunders
- Rik & Ade
- Armstrong & Miller
- Ant & Dec/PJ & Duncan
- Cannon & Ball
- Smith & Jones
- Max & Paddy
- Adam & Joe
- Kevin & Perry
- Fry & Laurie
Dog Names Inspired by Classic UK Comedy Catchphrases
Some comedians and comedy shows are instantly recognizable from their catchphrases. This makes them a great way to honour your favourite comedy moments and heroes without giving them a human name (although feel free to think twice before shouting Smeghead across a crowded park). Imagine naming a stubborn dog Dan and having to call him repeatedly before he comes back to you. You could relive your very own Alan Partridge moments!
- Jubbly – from Del Boy’s “Lovely Jubbly!” in Only Fools & Horses
- Plonker – from Only Fools & Horses
- Dave – from Only Fools & Horses
- Tatty – from “Tatty Bye,” The Two Ronnies
- Smeghead – from Red Dwarf
- Gorgeous George – from Hancock’s Half Hour
- Guv’nor – from Bob Mortimer
- Morty – from “More tea, vicar?” – from The Vicar of Dibley
- Bingo – from The Fast Show
- Dan! – from I’m Alan Partridge
- Cake – from Chris Morris on Brass Eye
- Cheesecake – from Peter Kay
If you’re looking for dog name inspiration, we can help! For years, we’ve been compiling lists and refreshing them with new dog name data showing current trends in the UK. You can call your dog anything you like, so have fun, be inventive, and feel free to check out our Dog Name Generator if you feel truly stuck.
