Giving your new pooch a famous dog name is a fun way to celebrate your love of entertainment and pay homage to a favorite movie or show. With thousands of famous dogs to choose from, though, how do you decide which one to go with?
I’ve narrowed down the list to our favorites from cartoons, movies, TV shows, and even a little history.
Ready to get inspired by these famous dog names? Let’s dig in!
Related: 7 Spectacular Dog Names Inspired By Sports Stars
My Favorite Dog Names Named After Famous Dogs
Let’s start with a few of my absolute favorites!
1. Astro
Astro was the family dog in the television animated sitcom, The Jetsons. He was a Great Dane with a great big flair for the dramatic.
Related: 11 Clever Male Dog Names Inspired by TV Sitcoms
2. Barney
Barney was the family dog of former United States President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush. He was Scottish Terrier was born on September 30, 2000, and died on February 1, 2013, from lymphoma.
Barney is featured with a bronze sculpture at the George W. Bush Library in University Park, Texas. George W. Bush served as the United States president from January 17, 1995, to December 21, 2000.
3. Beethoven
Beethoven is the lovable St. Bernard from the Beethoven film series, who made his premiere in the 1st movie Beethoven in 1992.
4. Odie
Odie is the cute, fun-loving dog from the Garfield comic strip by Jim Davis. He’s is a male beagle born on August 8, 1978. In addition to the comic strips, Odie has also appeared in the animated television series Garfield and Friends, which aired from September 17, 1988 to December 10, 1994 and several movies, including Garfield: The Movie which was released in theaters on June 11, 2004 and Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties, released in theaters on June 16, 2006.
Odie is a bit of a doof, but he is kind, sweet and lovable.
5. Snoopy
We can’t talk about famous dogs without mentioning the most beloved Beagle of all time, now can we? He’s been capturing our hearts since he first appeared in the Peanuts comic strip way back on October 4, 1950.
6. Blue
Because they’re who’s clues? FYI, Blue is actually a girl dog. Who knew that? I didn’t until a few years ago!
7. Dutchess
A regal name from Snow Dogs. Perfect if you get a Duke too!
8. Lassie
As far as famous names for female dogs go, this one is probably the most famous of all! Lassie dedicated her life to saving Timmy from falling into wells. Actually, funny story, but according to the actor who played Timmy, he never once in 500+ episodes actually fell into a well. Lakes, abandoned mines, and even quicksand yes…but no well.
9. Smoky
Smoky was a teeny Yorkie that made history for her role as a World War II hero who lifted the spirits of soldiers in foxholes, according to the AKC.
10. Roselle
During the 9/11 tragedy at the World Trade Centers, seeing-eye dog Roselle led her human, Michael Hingson, to safety. She got her out of the building and walked her 40 blocks to a friend’s house. Roselle lived for another 10 years after that day and earned several awards for her bravery.
100 More awesome famous dog names
Ace: A police dog known for his exceptional skills in apprehending criminals.
Angel: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from Disney’s “Lady and the Tramp,” known for her grace and compassion.
Belle: The intelligent and adventurous Rough Collie from the TV series “Adventures of Belle and Sebastian.”
Belka: She and Strelka (below) were two of the first female dogs to go into space, aboard the Sputnik 5.
Benji: The adorable mixed-breed dog who starred in several movies and TV shows, capturing hearts with his charm.
Bingo: as in, there was a farmer had a dog, and Bingo was his name oh! Everybody sing! Bingo is also the name of the Cracker Jack dog.
Bluey: An Australian Cattle Dog who holds the record for the longest-lived dog, living to be 29 years and 5 months old.
Bolt: The superhero dog with super speed and strength, starring in the animated film “Bolt.”
Boomer: The canine star of the TV series “Here’s Boomer,” who touched the lives of many people he encountered.
Bretagne: Pronounced like Brittany, Bretagne was another 9/11 hero.
Buddy: The Golden Retriever who famously traveled hundreds of miles to reunite with his owners after being left behind.
Chance: A mischievous American Bulldog and one of the main characters in the film “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey.”
Clifford: The lovable big red dog, featured in children’s books and a popular animated TV series.
Comet: forget Stamos, this cute Golden was the real star of Full House!
Copper: The hound dog from Disney’s “The Fox and the Hound,” a movie that still has me crying decades after I first saw it.
Cujo: for you “rabid” King fans. Get it? Hey, it’s not the dog’s fault he got bit by a rabid bat, or that his owner didn’t keep up with his vaccines.
Dixie: The feisty and courageous Chihuahua from Disney’s “The Fox and the Hound 2,” known for her musical talent.
Dolly: The adventurous Sheepdog who leads the flock in the TV series “Shaun the Sheep.”
Dreyfus: the name of this Empty Nest dog once kept me up until 4 am because I couldn’t remember. Once it popped back into my head, it’s never left.
Duke: Max’s best friend in “The Secret Life of Pets” movies, known for his rough-and-tumble personality.
Eddie: The Jack Russell Terrier who brought comedic moments to the TV show “Frasier” as Martin Crane’s faithful companion.
Einstein: Doc Brown’s pet dog in the “Back to the Future” film trilogy, who inadvertently becomes a time traveler.
Elsa: The heroic Siberian Husky from the animated film “Balto,” leading the sled dog team through treacherous conditions.
Evie: The spirited Border Collie from the TV show “101 Dalmatian Street,” known for her intelligence and leadership skills.
Fang: Rubeus Hagrid’s fierce and loyal Boarhound in the “Harry Potter” series.
Freeway: The clever and resourceful dog from the TV series “Hart to Hart,” assisting the titular couple in solving mysteries.
Gidget: The adorable white Pomeranian from the movie “The Secret Life of Pets,” known for her spunky personality.
Gromit: Wallace’s intelligent and resourceful canine companion in the stop-motion animated films by Nick Park.
Hachiko: The faithful Akita dog who waited for his deceased owner at a train station in Japan for nearly 10 years, symbolizing loyalty and dedication.
Hooch: The French Mastiff from the movie “Turner & Hooch,” known for his slobbery antics and unwavering loyalty.
Hubble: The superpowered Beagle from the film “The Adventures of Beethoven,” capable of granting wishes.
Inspector Rex: The star of an Austrian police procedural drama series, portraying a German Shepherd police dog solving crimes.
Jock: The Scottish Terrier from Disney’s “Lady and the Tramp,” known for his bravery and loyalty to his friends.
Jofi: Sigmund Freud may not have been the best therapist (he’s a little creepy, honestly), but he definitely had one of the best therapy dogs!
Krypto: Superman’s loyal and super-powered dog from DC Comics, joining him on various adventures.
Lady: The refined and loving Cocker Spaniel from Disney’s “Lady and the Tramp,” who finds romance with Tramp.
Lassie: The iconic Rough Collie from books, movies, and TV shows, famous for rescuing people in distress.
Lily: The Border Collie known for her exceptional sheep-herding skills and appearances in various dog sports competitions.
Little Ann: The dedicated and loyal Redbone Coonhound from the novel “Where the Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls.
Lulu: The heroic and intelligent Border Collie who helped save lives during the September 11 attacks in New York City.
Maggie: The Labrador Retriever known for her loyalty and companionship in the film “Milo and Otis.”
Marley: The lovable and mischievous Labrador Retriever from the book and film “Marley & Me.”
Marley: The mischievous and lovable Labrador Retriever from the book and film “Marley & Me,” known for his larger-than-life personality.
Marmaduke: The lovable and clumsy Great Dane from the comic strip and movie, capturing hearts with his giant antics.
Matilda: The intelligent and psychic dog from the book “Matilda” by Roald Dahl, who helps the protagonist with her powers.
Max: The Jack Russell Terrier from “The Grinch” movies, known for his energetic and daring personality.
McGruff: The crime-fighting bloodhound who appeared in public service announcements promoting crime prevention.
Nana: The caring St. Bernard who serves as the Darling family’s nanny in J.M. Barrie’s play “Peter Pan.”
Nanook, who just might save you from vampires (from The Lost Boys). This is a great name for a Siberian Husky.
Old Yeller: The brave and faithful dog from the classic novel and movie “Old Yeller,” known for his sacrifice.
Otis: The mischievous pug from the movie “The Adventures of Milo and Otis,” known for his curious nature and friendship with Milo the cat.
Paul Anka: you didn’t expect Lorelei Gilmore to pick a normal dog name, did you?
Perdita: The courageous Dalmatian and mother figure in Dodie Smith’s novel “The Hundred and One Dalmatians” and Disney’s animated adaptation.
Pippin: The Border Collie from the TV series “Come Outside,” who teaches children about various aspects of the world.
Pluto: One of Disney’s most iconic characters, Mickey Mouse’s faithful and fun-loving pet dog.
Pongo: The Dalmatian father and protagonist in Dodie Smith’s novel “The Hundred and One Dalmatians” and Disney’s animated adaptation.
Queenie: The Bull Terrier mix who played the role of Petey in the “Our Gang” series of comedy short films.
Remy: The talented and acrobatic Rat Terrier from the TV series “Dog with a Blog,” known for her unique abilities and cleverness.
Rin Tin Tin: A German Shepherd who rose to fame as a silent film star in the 1920s, known for his intelligence and bravery.
Rin Tin Tin: The female German Shepherd who followed in the footsteps of the original Rin Tin Tin, becoming a popular canine actor in her own right.
Sally: The adorable Beagle from the “Peanuts” comic strip, known for her sweet and loyal personality as a friend to Charlie Brown.
Sandy: The lovable and faithful stray dog who befriends the title character in the musical “Annie.”
Santa’s Little Helper: The Greyhound adopted by the Simpson family on the TV show “The Simpsons.”
Sasha: The Siberian Husky from the animated film “All Dogs Go to Heaven,” known for her bravery and loyalty.
Scooby-Doo: The lovable Great Dane and mystery-solving canine from the animated series and movies.
Shadow: The wise and loyal Golden Retriever from the movie “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey.”
Shep: The faithful Border Collie who waited for his deceased owner at a train station in Scotland, inspiring the song “Old Shep.”
Shiloh: The beagle from the children’s book series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, who teaches important lessons about love and compassion.
Skip: The Jack Russell Terrier from the movie “My Dog Skip,” capturing hearts with his loyalty and companionship.
Skye: The fearless and smart Cockapoo from the animated TV series “PAW Patrol,” specializing in flying and rescue missions.
Snoopy: Charlie Brown’s imaginative and beloved pet beagle from Charles M. Schulz’s comic strip “Peanuts.”
Sophie: The courageous Boxer mix who alerted her family during a house fire, saving their lives.
Spuds MacKenzie: The bull terrier mascot of Bud Light beer commercials in the late 1980s, known for his party-loving personality.
Stella: The brave and resourceful Bloodhound from the TV show “The Littlest Hobo,” traveling and helping those in need.
Strelka: Along with Belka, she was the first female dog in space.
Taffy: The playful and mischievous Cocker Spaniel from Disney’s “101 Dalmatians,” known for her energetic nature.
Tasha: The friendly and helpful German Shepherd from the children’s TV show “The Backyardigans.”
Tess: The Border Collie known for her exceptional sheep-herding skills, competing in trials and demonstrating her intelligence.
Toto: Dorothy’s loyal Cairn Terrier from the classic film “The Wizard of Oz,” known for her adventures in the Land of Oz.
Toto: Dorothy’s loyal Cairn Terrier from the classic film “The Wizard of Oz,” known for his adventures in the Land of Oz.
Tramp: The street-smart and charming mutt from Disney’s “Lady and the Tramp,” who wins Lady’s heart.
Trudy: The talented and fearless Golden Retriever from the film “Air Bud,” showcasing her basketball skills.
Uggie: The scene-stealing Jack Russell Terrier from the film “The Artist,” who captivated audiences with his charm and talent.
Underdog: The superhero dog with superpowers, appearing in comics, TV shows, and a 2007 film adaptation.
Vida: The search and rescue dog who played a crucial role in locating survivors during various disasters around the world.
Wallace: The absent-minded inventor with his loyal dog Gromit, featured in the clay animation films by Nick Park.
Winn-Dixie: The lovable and quirky mixed-breed dog from the book and film “Because of Winn-Dixie,” bringing joy to those around her.
Wishbone: The Jack Russell Terrier from the TV series “Wishbone,” who brought classic literature to life through his adventures.
Wishbone: The Jack Russell Terrier from the TV series “Wishbone,” who brought classic literature to life through his adventures.
Xena: The courageous and heroic Belgian Malinois who served as a police dog, known for her bravery in capturing criminals.
Yeller: The brave and faithful dog from the book “Old Yeller” by Fred Gipson, known for his courage and loyalty.
Yellow Dog Dingo: The Australian folk hero dog in Banjo Paterson’s poem “The Man from Snowy River,” who aids the protagonist.
Yogi Bear: The animated bear from Hanna-Barbera’s cartoons, often accompanied by his sidekick Boo-Boo.
Yuki: The fearless and determined Siberian Husky who completed the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race multiple times.
Zero: The ghost dog from Tim Burton’s film “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” belonging to Jack Skellington.
Zero: The ghost dog from Tim Burton’s film “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” belongs to Jack Skellington.
Zeus: The powerful and mighty Rottweiler from the film “Zeus and Roxanne,” known for his protective nature and friendship with a dolphin named Roxanne.
Zoe: The affectionate and playful mixed-breed dog from the TV series “Sesame Street,” teaching children about friendship and kindness.
Zuma: The adventurous and water-loving Chocolate Labrador Retriever from the animated TV series “PAW Patrol,” specializing in aquatic rescues.
Zuri: The energetic and curious Dalmatian from the film “102 Dalmatians.”
As I said, there are literally thousands of options. Some are kind of eh; some are a little out there. Chances are, any name you’re thinking of has already been used in entertainment, so really, we’re all using famous dog names in some way!
How do you come up with dog names? Tell us your tips in the comments!
