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100+ Funny Dog Names for Pups With Personality

How can you ever have a bad day when there's a little Meatball waiting at home for you?!

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Lucky, Bailey, Buddy … some of the most popular dog names are just so overdone. Besides, good luck calling your pup when three others have the same name. Unusual and funny dog names offer up so much more personality! Case in point: When a friend of mine was looking for a rescue dog in Brooklyn, they came across a goofy hound mix on a local dog adoption website. His name? Joseph Bagel. It was love at first lox. Sadly, by the time they applied for ol' Joe Carbs, another lucky family had snapped him up. But a few months later, they managed to bring home a different pup to his fur-ever home and gave him the name JB, in tribute to one of the most hilarious dog names any of us had ever heard.

Of course, naming a dog can be a difficult decision, especially if you don't already have one in mind when you're looking for a new furry friend. Unlike baby names, it's usually weird to name your dog after a treasured family member. But much like human names, a dog's name has to fit your pup's personality and be easy to shout across the park when you need to get their attention. We've got you covered. Try one of these unique dog names that are a little silly, a bit clever, and in some cases, just downright random. We can virtually guarantee nobody else at doggy daycare will bear the same one.

Fun Foods

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If you are what you eat, these names are pretty sweet (or salty — take your pick).

•Snacks

•Beans

•Chalupa

•Fluffernutter

•Latke

•Meatball

•Nacho

•Noodle

•Nugget

•Pickle

•Porkchop

•Sauce

•Reeses Puppycups

•Spud

•Taco

•Tater Tot

•Wonton

•Tuna

•Potato

RELATED: 100+ Boy Dog Names That Are As Special As Your Pup

Silly Celebs

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Whether you consider them groan-inducing or genius, the pun game is strong with these A-list names.

•Biggie Smalls

•DOTUS

•Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

•Einstein

•Fabio

•James Earl Bones

•Jimmy Chew

•Lisa Vanderpup

•Pawtrick Stewart

•Sarah Jessica Barker

•Virginia Woof

•Woofgang Puck

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Pop Culture Nods

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Show your off devotion to the fandom or pick an obscure reference only your family will appreciate.

•Mary Puppins

•Captain Kirk

•Chewbacca (Chewy)

•Colonel Mustard

•Felix

•Gollum

•Hairy Pawter

•Jabba the Mutt

•Marty McFly

•Muttley Crue

•Ricky Bobby

•Sasha Fierce

RELATED: 100 Girl Dog Names That Are As Cute As Your Pup

Traditional People Names

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Just because they normally refer to a person doesn’t mean these monikers won’t work well for a dog.

•Brian

•Buster

•Cecil

•Clive

•Elaine

•Horace

•Kevin

•Larry

•Maude

•Nigel

•Howard

•Pam

•Paula

•Sharon

•Jerry

•Reginald

•Fitzgerald

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Lady Dog Names

white poodle with reflection in  mirror in pink dressing room
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For the pup who just screams "sugar and spice and everything nice."

•Chiquita

•Jolene

•Piglet

•Zuzu

•Ladyface

•Mixi

•Opal

•Pearly White

•Foxy

•Nanny

•Madame

•Darlene

•Jo-Jo

•Hawt Stuff

Boy Dog Names

portrait of a cute black french bulldog wearing a striped tie
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If you have a real Mister Man on your hands, one of these names might fit the bill.

•Macho

•Stud

•Higgins

•Tiny (for a big dog)

•Dudley

•Clark

•The Manager

•Mister Tinkles

•Bossman

•Uncle Joe

•The Earl of Kibble

•Sir Barksalot

•Sparky

•Pinky

•Pal

•Boss

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Completely Offbeat

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Just go for it with a silly-sounding noise or matter-of-fact name that no one can disagree with.

•Kermit

•Boop

•Bow-Wow

•Chien

•Dog

•Pupperooni

•Doodle

•Perro

•Putt-putt

•Qwerty

•Sassafras

•Scooter

•Wag

•Woof

•Tails

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Caroline Picard
Contributing Writer

Caroline is a writer and editor with almost a decade of experience. From 2015 to 2019, she held various editorial positions at Good Housekeeping, including as health editor, covering nutrition, fitness, wellness, and other lifestyle news. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism and dreams of the day Northwestern will go back to the Rose Bowl.  

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Lizz Schumer
Senior Editor
Lizz (she/her) is a senior editor at Good Housekeeping, where she runs the GH Book Club, edits essays and long-form features and writes about pets, books and lifestyle topics. A journalist for almost two decades, she is the author of Biography of a Body and Buffalo Steel. She also teaches journalism as an adjunct professor at New York University's School of Professional Studies and creative nonfiction at the Muse Writing Center, and coaches with the New York Writing Room.
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