The ultimate small dog names guide

Small Dog Names: Cute, Unique, Funny & Unforgettable Names for Little Dogs

Looking for the perfect name for a small dog? You have come to the right place. Whether your new companion is a tiny Chihuahua, a fluffy Pomeranian, a mischievous Yorkie, a dignified little Pekingese, a cuddly Cavapoo or a mystery-breed marvel with ears that deserve their own zip code, this guide is packed with names worth considering.

We have included popular favorites, but the real fun begins when we wander beyond the obvious. You will find sweet names, silly names, elegant names, food names, old-fashioned people names, names for tiny dogs with enormous personalities, and wonderfully grand names for dogs who weigh less than a bag of groceries.

Our goal is simple: help you find a dog name that makes you smile every time you say it.

Quick tip: Say a potential name out loud several times. Try calling it from another room. Imagine saying it at the veterinarian, at the dog park, and when your puppy is sprinting away with a sock. The best dog names are fun to say as well as fun to read.

How to Choose the Perfect Name for a Small Dog

A good dog name should suit the animal in front of you, but it does not have to describe them literally. A tiny white Maltese does not have to be called Snowball, and a Chihuahua is under no obligation whatsoever to answer to Taco.

Consider your dog’s appearance, personality, history, breed heritage and the things you love. Sometimes the right name arrives immediately. Other times it appears after your puppy has spent three days revealing that she is less “Princess” and considerably more “Pickles.”

What Makes a Good Dog Name?

Easy to say: You will use this word thousands of times.
Easy to recognize: Short, distinct names are often convenient during training.
Different from common cues: A name that sounds almost identical to “sit,” “stay,” “down” or “no” may be unnecessarily confusing.
Comfortable in public: If you would rather not shout it across a crowded park, reconsider.
Right for an adult dog, too: That tiny puppy will eventually grow up—even if “Mr. Wigglebottom” remains completely accurate.
Something you genuinely enjoy: Popularity is optional. Affection is not.

Do not worry if the whole family cannot agree immediately. Make a shortlist, live with the choices for a day or two, and see which one begins to feel like the dog’s name.

Our Favorite Small Dog Names

If you want to skip straight to the fun, start here. These names have charm, personality and just enough mischief to suit a great many little dogs.

Alfie
Bean
Birdie
Biscuit
Button
Clover
Cricket
Dottie
Fig
Gigi
Gizmo
Juniper
Louie
Mabel
Mochi
Nellie
Olive
Peanut
Pickles
Pip
Poppy
Roo
Scout
Sprout
Teddy
Tilly
Truffle
Waffles
Winnie
Ziggy

Popular Small Dog Names

There is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing a popular name. Names become popular because people love them. If one of these feels perfect for your dog, use it proudly.

Bella
Charlie
Coco
Daisy
Lucy
Luna
Max
Milo
Molly
Bailey
Buddy
Cooper
Lola
Rosie
Teddy
Winston
Leo
Ruby
Penny
Archie
Chloe
Ollie
Sophie
Finn
Stella
Murphy
Millie
Henry
Willow
Oscar

If you would rather avoid meeting four other dogs with the same name at puppy class, keep going. Things get considerably stranger from here.

Girl Puppy Names & Female Small Dog Names

Searching for small dog names for a female puppy? These range from sweet and feminine to spunky, vintage and slightly eccentric.

Ada
Birdie
Bonnie
Cleo
Daphne
Delilah
Dottie
Edie
Elsie
Evie
Fifi
Flora
Gigi
Goldie
Hattie
Hazel
Ivy
Josie
Junie
Lottie
Maisie
Mabel
Margot
Matilda
Millie
Minnie
Nellie
Olive
Opal
Pearl
Penny
Pippa
Poppy
Posie
Queenie
Rosie
Ruby
Sadie
Suki
Tallulah
Tilly
Violet
Winnie
Zelda

Want hundreds more? Our dedicated Girl Dog Names Guide will feature female dog names by style, meaning, theme and alphabet.

Boy Puppy Names & Male Small Dog Names

The U.S. keyword data supplied for this guide shows particularly strong interest in unique male dog names, cute male dog names, cool male dog names, funny male dog names and strong male dog names. So here is a starter collection with a little of everything.

Albie
Alfie
Angus
Archie
Arlo
Basil
Baxter
Bean
Benny
Bernie
Bertie
Bowie
Chester
Dexter
Digby
Ernie
Felix
Finn
Frankie
Freddie
George
Gizmo
Gus
Harvey
Hugo
Jasper
Louie
Monty
Murphy
Ned
Oliver
Otis
Percy
Pip
Ralphie
Reggie
Remy
Rupert
Scout
Stanley
Teddy
Toby
Walter
Winston
Ziggy

Looking for something more specific? Visit our Boy Dog Names Guide for unique, cute, funny, cool, strong, one-syllable and A–Z male dog names.

Cute Small Dog Names

Little dogs do have an unfair advantage in the cute-name department.

Bambi
Beanie
Bibi
Biscuit
Bitsy
Bluebell
Bubbles
Button
Cookie
Cupcake
Doodle
Dumpling
Fifi
Flossie
Honey
Jellybean
Kiki
Lulu
Marshmallow
Mimi
Mochi
Muffin
Nibbles
Noodle
Peaches
Peanut
Peep
Pickle
Pip
Pixie
Pookie
Pudding
Roo
Sprinkle
Squish
Sweetpea
Tater Tot
Tinker
Toffee
Waffles

Unique & Unusual Small Dog Names

For the dog who looks at “Bella” and thinks, surely you can do better than that.

Alouette
Amble
Bijou
Bramble
Caboodle
Chutney
Crumpet
Dashi
Dill
Dovey
Fable
Fennel
Figgy
Flicker
Gingersnap
Hiccup
Jinx
Juniper
Kismet
Locket
Mallow
Midge
Miso
Nimbus
Orbit
Peapod
Piccolo
Quirk
Riddle
Roux
Saffron
Scribble
Sprig
Thimble
Trinket
Vesper
Whimsy
Widget
Yuzu
Zuzu

Funny Small Dog Names

A ridiculous name can be magnificent if you are willing to commit to the bit.

Bark Twain
Beefcake
Biggie Smalls
Bonk
Captain Crumb
Chewbarka
Chonk
Deputy Dawg
Doodlebug
Dr. Biscuit
Fuzz Aldrin
Gary
Grandpa
Gravy
Kevin
Lord Wiggleton
Meatball
Nacho
Nugget
Professor Pickles
Potato
Sir Barksalot
Sir Nibbles
Snack
Socks
Spud
Steve
Taco
Toast
Toe Bean
Wiggles
Woofgang

Tiny Names for Tiny Dogs

These names celebrate just how delightfully little your dog is.

Atom
Bean
Bitty
Button
Chip
Cricket
Dot
Flea
Imp
Mini
Midge
Minnie
Morsel
Nib
Peanut
Peep
Pebble
Piccolo
Pip
Pixel
Pixie
Smidge
Speck
Sprout
Tic Tac
Tinker
Tot
Trinket
Weezy
Widget

BIG Names for Little Dogs

Few things are funnier than introducing a six-pound dog as Brutus with a completely straight face.

Atlas
Bear
Beast
Brutus
Buffalo
Caesar
Colossus
Duke
Goliath
Hercules
Hulk
Jumbo
Kong
Mack Truck
Mammoth
Moose
Rambo
Rex
Sarge
Samson
Tank
Thor
Titan
Viking
Zeus

Food & Drink Names for Small Dogs

Bagel
Basil
Bean
Biscuit
Brie
Chai
Chili
Chutney
Cocoa
Cookie
Couscous
Dumpling
Espresso
Fig
Gnocchi
Latte
Miso
Mochi
Nacho
Noodle
Olive
Peanut
Pickles
Pesto
Pretzel
Ravioli
Roux
Sushi
Taco
Tofu
Truffle
Waffles

Sweet Treat Names

Bonbon
Brownie
Butterscotch
Cannoli
Caramel
Churro
Cinnamon
Cupcake
Donut
Fudge
Gingersnap
Honey
Jellybean
Licorice
Macaron
Marzipan
Nougat
Oreo
Praline
Pudding
Shortcake
Skittles
Sprinkles
Sundae
Taffy
Toffee
Twix
Wafer

Flower & Garden Names

Azalea
Begonia
Blossom
Bluebell
Buttercup
Camellia
Clover
Dahlia
Daisy
Fern
Flora
Freesia
Gardenia
Heather
Holly
Iris
Ivy
Jasmine
Lavender
Lilac
Lily
Magnolia
Marigold
Petal
Petunia
Poppy
Posie
Primrose
Rosie
Violet
Zinnia

Nature-Inspired Small Dog Names

Acorn
Autumn
Birch
Breeze
Brook
Cedar
Cloud
Coral
Dawn
Ember
Forest
Hazel
Juniper
Maple
Meadow
Misty
Moon
Moss
Ocean
Pebble
Rain
River
Sage
Sky
Snow
Star
Storm
Sunny
Willow
Wren

Old-Fashioned People Names for Small Dogs

There is something irresistible about a tiny dog with the name of a retired accountant or someone’s formidable great-aunt.

Agnes
Alfred
Arthur
Beatrice
Bernard
Betty
Clive
Doris
Edgar
Edith
Edna
Ernest
Esther
Ethel
Florence
Frank
George
Gladys
Harold
Harriet
Herbert
Irene
Leonard
Mabel
Maude
Mildred
Myrtle
Nigel
Norman
Olive
Percy
Phyllis
Stanley
Walter
Wilfred
Winnie

Elegant & Sophisticated Small Dog Names

Amélie
Anastasia
Arabella
Beaumont
Benedict
Bentley
Bianca
Camille
Celeste
Chanel
Clarissa
Cosette
Daphne
Darcy
Delphine
Eloise
Esme
Fitzgerald
Genevieve
Giselle
Hugo
Juliette
Laurent
Margot
Monet
Odette
Penelope
Remington
Sebastian
Sophia
Theodore
Valentina
Vivienne
Winston

Royal Names for Little Dogs

Albert
Alexandra
Arthur
Beatrice
Charles
Charlotte
Duchess
Duke
Edward
Elizabeth
George
Grace
Henry
King
Louis
Margaret
Prince
Princess
Queenie
Regina
Royal
Victoria
William

Sassy Names for Little Dogs With Attitude

Boss
Brassy
Chaos
Chili
Dash
Drama
Diva
Feisty
Fury
Jinx
Mayhem
Moxie
Pepsi
Rebel
Riot
Roxy
Sassafras
Sassy
Snap
Spicy
Stormy
Spitfire
Tango
Trouble
Vixen
Zippy

Names for Fluffy Small Dogs

Alpaca
Cloud
Cotton
Dandelion
Feather
Fleece
Floof
Flurry
Fuzz
Fuzzy
Marshmallow
Meringue
Mop
Pillow
PomPom
Puff
Snowball
Soufflé
Swiffer
Teddy
Tufty
Velvet
Woolly

Small Dog Names by Coat Color

Names for White Small Dogs

Alba
Blizzard
Casper
Coconut
Cotton
Dove
Frosty
Ivory
Marshmallow
Moon
Pearl
Snowdrop
Snowy
Sugar
Vanilla

Names for Black Small Dogs

Ash
Batman
Coal
Cosmo
Inky
Jet
Licorice
Midnight
Onyx
Panther
Raven
Shadow
Smudge
Sooty
Velvet

Names for Brown & Chocolate Dogs

Brownie
Cocoa
Coffee
Espresso
Fudge
Hazel
Hershey
Mocha
Nutmeg
Rolo
Truffle
Walnut

Names for Red, Apricot & Golden Dogs

Amber
Apricot
Autumn
Butterscotch
Caramel
Copper
Ginger
Goldie
Honey
Mango
Maple
Peaches
Pumpkin
Sunny
Toffee

Names for Black-and-White Dogs

Checkers
Domino
Magpie
Oreo
Panda
Patch
Piano
Pixel
Socks
Spot
Tux
Yin-Yang

Small Dog Names Inspired by Personality

For Happy, Bouncy Dogs

Bubbles
Cheerio
Happy
Jolly
Peppy
Sunny
Wiggles
Zippy

For Cuddly Little Dogs

Baby
Cuddles
Honey
Lovebug
Snuggle
Sweetpea
Teddy
Velcro

For Mischievous Dogs

Bandit
Chaos
Imp
Jinx
Loki
Rascal
Scamp
Trouble

For Brave Little Dogs

Braveheart
Hero
Major
Moxie
Scout
Sheriff
Trooper
Valor

For Calm, Gentle Dogs

Dove
Dreamy
Grace
Mellow
Peace
Serene
Sunday
Zen

Dog Names Inspired by Books, Movies & Pop Culture

Choose a character you already love, but make sure you will still enjoy saying the name after the current trend has passed.

Atticus
Arya
Bilbo
Bowie
Bridgerton
Dobby
Dorothy
Frodo
Gatsby
Hermione
Hobbes
Indy
Leia
Loki
Matilda
Merlin
Nemo
Paddington
Phoebe
Poppins
Ripley
Sherlock
Stitch
Toto
Wednesday
Winnie
Yoda
Zelda

International & Heritage-Inspired Small Dog Names

A breed’s history can be a wonderful source of naming ideas. Heritage-inspired names are especially useful for our breed-specific naming guides, where we can explore them properly and respectfully.

French-Inspired

Amélie
Bijou
Chérie
Coco
Gigi
Louis
Marcel
Monet
Pierre
Rémy

Italian-Inspired

Amore
Bella
Enzo
Gino
Luca
Piccolo
Rocco
Roma
Sofia
Vito

Spanish-Inspired

Alma
Chico
Diego
Dolce
Lola
Lucía
Nico
Paco
Pepe
Sol

Japanese-Inspired

Aki
Hana
Haru
Kiko
Mika
Momo
Ren
Sora
Yuki
Yumi

Matching Names for Two Small Dogs

Peanut & Jelly
Salt & Pepper
Gin & Tonic
Mac & Cheese
Biscuits & Gravy
Peaches & Cream
Chip & Dip
Pickles & Relish
Fish & Chips
Tea & Biscuit
Bonnie & Clyde
Fred & Ginger
Bert & Ernie
Lucy & Ethel
Romeo & Juliet
Sonny & Cher
Laurel & Hardy
Thelma & Louise
Starsky & Hutch
Batman & Robin
Frodo & Sam
Wallace & Gromit
Thunder & Lightning
Sun & Moon
Dot & Dash
Tic & Tac
Button & Bow
Truffle & Toffee

Small Dog Names by Breed

Sometimes the best name comes from the breed itself. A dignified Pekingese may inspire an entirely different list from a mischievous Yorkshire Terrier, a snow-white Maltese or a curly little Cavapoo.

Our breed-specific naming guides are designed to go far beyond generic lists. We can draw inspiration from a breed’s appearance, personality, history, homeland and all the funny little traits that make people fall in love with it.

Purebred Small Dog Name Guides

Designer Small Dog Name Guides

Dogs Central is continually expanding this collection. If your dog’s breed guide is not linked yet, check back soon.

How to Teach Your Puppy Their Name

Your dog’s name should predict good things. The goal is not simply for the puppy to hear the sound; you want them to learn that hearing their name means, “Pay attention to me—something worthwhile may happen.”

Choose a quiet room with few distractions.
Say your puppy’s name once in a cheerful voice.
The moment your puppy looks toward you, mark the behavior with praise or a clicker and give a tiny treat.
Repeat only a few times before taking a break.
Practice in different rooms and gradually around mild distractions.
Avoid repeating the name over and over when the puppy is ignoring you.

Try not to use the dog’s name mainly when you are annoyed. “Winston!” should not become code for “you are in trouble again.”

Dog Names You May Want to Avoid

There are no naming police, but a few choices can create unnecessary inconvenience.

Names that closely resemble cues: A name such as Kit can sound rather like “sit” when spoken quickly.
Names almost identical to another pet’s: Milo and Mylo may be charming until both dogs answer every call.
Names that embarrass you in public: You will eventually have to say it to a receptionist.
Names built around a temporary joke: Ask whether the joke will still amuse you ten years from now.
Names with cruel or insulting meanings: Your dog does not understand the joke, but other people do.

If you adore a name that breaks one of these rules and it works perfectly in your household, that matters more than our opinion.

Can You Change an Adopted Dog’s Name?

Yes. Dogs can learn new names, and changing a name does not erase the relationship the dog had with a previous owner.

If the dog already responds strongly to the old name, you can make the transition gradual. Pair the old and new names briefly—“Buddy, Winston!”—and reward attention. Over time, use the new name alone.

For dogs coming from frightening or neglectful situations, a new name can even become associated with a very different chapter of life: safety, kindness and a new routine.

Frequently Asked Questions About Small Dog Names

What is a good name for a small dog?

A good small dog name is easy to say, distinct enough for your dog to recognize and enjoyable for you to use every day. Names such as Pip, Teddy, Olive, Bean, Poppy, Louie, Mabel and Ziggy work beautifully for many little dogs, but the best name is the one that feels right for your individual companion.

What are some unique small dog names?

Some less-common ideas include Thimble, Yuzu, Quirk, Locket, Chutney, Sprig, Fable, Piccolo, Whimsy, Roux, Figgy, Caboodle and Vesper.

What are cute names for boy small dogs?

Alfie, Archie, Arlo, Bean, Benny, Bertie, Finn, Freddie, Gus, Louie, Milo, Otis, Pip, Teddy and Ziggy are all cheerful choices. For many more, visit our Boy Dog Names Guide.

What are cute names for girl small dogs?

Birdie, Daisy, Dottie, Evie, Gigi, Junie, Mabel, Maisie, Nellie, Olive, Pippa, Poppy, Rosie, Tilly and Winnie are lovely options. Explore our Girl Dog Names Guide for a much larger collection.

Are one-syllable dog names better?

Not necessarily. Short names can be convenient, but dogs can learn longer names perfectly well. What matters more is consistency and teaching the dog that their name predicts your attention and reinforcement.

Should a dog name end in a vowel?

It does not have to. Names ending in vowel sounds can be pleasant and easy to call, which may help explain the popularity of names such as Bella, Coco, Milo and Rosie, but dogs can readily learn names that end in consonants too.

Is it okay to give a tiny dog a big-dog name?

Absolutely. In fact, we strongly encourage introducing a six-pound Chihuahua as Goliath whenever the opportunity arises.

How long does it take a puppy to learn their name?

Many puppies begin showing recognition quickly when owners practice short, positive name-response games. Reliable attention around distractions takes more practice, so continue reinforcing the response in different environments.

Can I change my rescue dog’s name?

Yes. Dogs are capable of learning a new name. Pair the new name with positive experiences and rewards, and make the transition gradual if the dog already responds strongly to the old name.

About Our Small Dog Names Guide

Dogs Central has had a dog-names section before, and one of the things readers loved about it was that we tried to go beyond the same predictable lists. We are bringing that spirit back in a much bigger way.

This guide will continue to grow as we discover more wonderful, ridiculous, elegant, unusual and downright perfect names. We are also building breed-specific naming guides so you can find ideas inspired by your dog’s heritage, appearance and personality—and then explore everything else Dogs Central has to offer about that breed.

If a name on this page makes you laugh, makes you immediately picture your dog, or makes the whole family say, “That’s the one,” then this guide has done its job.

Happy naming!