Picking a name for your pet is like a rite of passage welcoming them to the family.
It’s important to pick a name that suits your dog and your taste, because you’ll be using it for a while.
If you’re searching for strong masculine male dog names, you're probably not a fan of cutesy ones.
We understand if the thought of calling your dog 'Fluffy' or 'Cuddles' every day makes you cringe. Here are 100 manly dog names that sound great and will maintain your dog’s dignity too.
Top 10 Manly Names for Dogs
The Dogue de Bordeaux is a powerful dog with a very muscular body
We've chosen the top 10 masculine dog names based on factors like name's history, popularity, and how tough they sound.
1. Rambo
Rambo is a film series starring Sylvester Stallone, who plays a former U.S. Special Forces soldier and all-around tough guy. It is one of several manly celebrity dog names to make this list.
2. Prince
The name Prince would make a handsome dog name. It can refer to several things, including a title (like Prince Harry or William) or the American singer/songwriter.
3. Rufus
Rufus is a male name that would suit a scruffy dog. In Latin it means, “red” or “red haired”.
4. Baron
Baron is a title of nobility as well as a boy’s name that means “warrior”.
5. Clyde
Clyde is a Scottish name that referred to people who lived by the River Clyde. The name is popular with fans of the infamous gang members, Bonnie and Clyde.
6. Luther
Luther is an Old German name that means “soldier of the people”, although the name also has links to English and Greek origins. Also the baddass villain in the Superman movies.
7. Brutus
Brutus is a Latin name that means heavy or muscular - perfect for a Rottweiler.
8. Vader
Vader is perfect if you’re looking for manly black dog names and are a Star Wars fan. According to George Lucas, the name for Darth Vader comes from the German/Dutch word for “father”.
9. Marco
Marco is a good one if you’re looking for manly Italian dog names. It means “warlike”.
10. Victor
Victor is a name with a Latin background that means “winner” or “conqueror”.
Manly Dog Names for Big Dogs
The Cane Corso is a working dog who absolutely loves having a job to do
BIG dogs need BIG names, so here are some strong masculine male dog names for your big pup's shoes to fill.
1. Hunter
Seeing as many dogs were originally bred to help hunters and hunt themselves, Hunter makes a good dog name.
2. Duke
The name Duke means “leader”. It’s English in origin and is one of the titles given to nobility (i.e., William the Conqueror was Duke of Normandy).
3. Thor
Thor, God of Thunder, protected both people and Gods from the forces of Evil. Whether you’re a fan of Greek mythology, the Avengers, or both, Thor is an excellent name for a big dog.
4. Rocco
Rocco is a unique name that gained popularity in the 2000s after Madonna and Guy Ritchie named their son Rocco Ritchie. It has Italian roots and means “rest”.
5. Blaze
Trying to find manly dog names for German Shepherd? Blaze was the name of the German Shepherd who played Rin Tin Tin on the 1950s show The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin.
6. Rocky
Like Rocco, the name Rocky is traced back to the Italian word for “rest”. Famous Rocky’s include fictional boxer Rocky Balboa and the flying squirrel from Rocky and Bullwinkle.
7. Henri
The name Henri became popular in England during the Middle Ages and was shared by eight kings. It comes from the Germanic words “heim” meaning home, and “ric” which means power or ruler.
8. Rex
Have a big, clumsy, lovable chomper on your hands? Why not name them after the mighty Tyrannosaurus Rex?
9. Arnold
Arnold is a manly Germanic name meaning eagle power. Famous Arnolds include Schwarzenegger (actor, former Governor of California) and Palmer (golfer).
10. Asher
Asher is a name of Jewish origin, meaning “happy” or “blessed”. It is referenced in the Bible and is also a popular male name in the U.S. today.
11. Bernard
Bernard is a masculine name from Medieval Europe. It comes from the words “bern” meaning bear and “hard” meaning brave or hardy. This name might work if you’re considering manly hunting dog names.
12. Bruce
There are many famous Bruce’s you could name your dog after, like Wayne, Willis, and Springsteen.
13. Clarence
The name Clarence is connected to a town named Clare in Suffolk. It means “bright or illuminated one”.
14. Bruiser
Bruiser is the perfect name for a tough, intimidating guard dog. Mind you, the chihuahua in Legally Blonde was also named Bruiser...
15. Darius
Darius is a unique manly name. One famous Darius is Darius the Great, a Persian King who reigned from 522 - 486 BCE.
16. Eric
Eric is an interesting name with a Norse background. It means “ever ruler” or “eternal ruler” and was the name of several early Scandinavian Kings.
17. Diesel
Diesel is a popular dog name. It’s associated with the German engineer, Rudolph Diesel, as well as Diesel fuel.
18. Garth
Garth would be a manly name ideal for fans of American singer/songwriter Garth Brooks.
19. Tyson
If you’re a wrestling fan you may want to consider a name like Tyson for your pup, after a fighter that you admire. It’s one of those manly dog names for pit bulls that look tough, but you know are really softies once you get to know them.
20. Archer
Archer was originally a name used for those who practiced archery. It’s popular today because of the American sitcom with the same name.
21. Hulk
If you think your dog can’t get any bigger, why not name them after the mighty Hulk?
22. Moose
Moose is a great name for a large dog that’s big and hefty.
23. Tank
The name Tank comes from the ancient Norman name Tancred, and also refers to large armored vehicles.
Manly Small Dogs Names
Let’s break the stereotype that manliness and small dogs don’t mix and find the best possible name for your pooch, shall we?
Here our favorite names for small dogs.
Long-haired chihuahua is the smallest purebred dog in the world! Image by @chihuahua.dingding
1. Dexter
Dexter is an English name that means “dyer of clothes”. It’s been used by several fictional characters, including the TV shows Dexter and Dexter’s Laboratory.
2. Charlie
Charlie is a classic Old German name meaning “free man”.
3. Jack
Jack is an English name that means “God is gracious”.
4. Ben
Ben one of those solid manly dog names (for a) male. It can stand alone and be short for Benedict or Benjamin.
5. Buzz
Buzz is a cool, uncommon dog name. Think Buzz Lightyear, American astronaut Buzz Aldrin, or the older brother from Home Alone, Buzz McCallister.
6. Milo
The name Milo comes from Miles and means “soldier”.
7. Captain
Give your small dog a manly name (and some authority) by naming them after a title, like Captain, Boss, Chief, etc.
8. Cooper
Cooper is a common dog name in the United States and very masculine sounding. It comes from a Middle English occupational name that means “barrel maker”.
9. Dave
Dave is a simple, manly name. A few famous Dave’s include American stand-up comedian Dave Chappelle and American guitarist Dave Navarro.
10. Edgar
If you’ve got a thing for the dark and macabre, why not name your dog Edgar after Edgar Allen Poe?
11. Apollo
Apollo was the son of Zeus and is one of many possible manly Greek dog names. The name Apollo means Destroyer.
12. Fang
Fang is the name of Hagrid’s large dog in Harry Potter and would be a good name for your small dog if you want to throw people off.
13. Forrest
Forrest is an English name that means “of the forest”. It is famously known from the 1994 film Forrest Gump.
14. Turbo
If you’ve got a little dog that likes to GO, GO, GO, turbo might be just the name for them.
15. Ford
Ford is a great name whether you’re a fan of the vehicles, Harrison Ford, or just like way it sounds.
16. Jerry
Jerry is the name of the fictional mouse from Tom & Jerry and famous American comedian Jerry Seinfeld.
17. Vincent
The name Vincent is formed from the Latin word “vincere”, to conquer. There was a famous lab named Vincent in the movie Lost, making this is one of several good manly dog names for labs.
18. Kevin
Kevin is the anglicized version of a popular Irish name that means “handsome birth”.
19. Norman
Norman is a manly sounding name that is a combination of the worlds “nord” or north, and man.
20. Fred
Fred, sometimes short for Frederick, is the English form of the German name Friedrich and means “peaceful ruler”.
21. Bolt
If you’ve got a quick little dog on your hands, consider the name Bolt from the 2008 Disney film.
22. Guinness
If you’re looking for a unique dog name for your macho dog, why not choose something inspired by your favorite drink?
23. Houdini
Do you have a tiny escape artist on your hands? Houdini is a great name for a fly dog that likes to take off on you any chance they get.
Cute Badass Dog Names
Chow Chows were used as guard dogs for homes and livestock over 2000 years ago.
Maybe you need to compromise with a name that’s both cute and manly, either to appease family members or make sure you’re fully representing your manly little dogs multifaceted personality.
We have ideas for that too:
1. Max
Max can be short for the Latin name Maximillian which means “the greatest”. It is also short for Maxwell in English.
2. Bear
Bears are fierce and beautiful creatures. The name is cute for dogs that look like big fuzzy bears, for example if you’re looking for manly Bernese Mountain Dog names.
3. Benji
If you were around in the 70s and 80s you may remember the Benji movies, about a lovable mutt that saved two kidnapped children.
4. Bandit
If your doggy has face markings like a raccoon or loves stealing things – like your food or your shoes – Bandit might be just the right name for them.
5. Clifford
After another famous and lovable pup, Clifford is a cute name for a dog that is also a manly English name.
6. Fido
The name Fido comes from a Latin name meaning “to trust, believe, confide in”. It was made famous by an Italian dog who showed extreme faithfulness to his owner, even in death, and because it was the name of Abraham Lincoln’s dog.
7. Runt
Runt as a dog name is an endearing jab at your dog’s size, referring to the “runt” of the litter.
8. Webster
Historically, Webster was the occupational name for a weaver, but it also makes a hip dog name.
9. Teddy
Teddy is a cute name for a small, snuggly dog. It can also be short for Theodore or Edward.
10. Hercules
Hercules is a Roman God who is known for his strength and heroism.
11. Bradley
The name Bradley, or Brad, is derived from the name of English places that mean “broad wooded clearing”.
12. Champ
Although not common today, Champ is a Middle English name that means “warrior” and is one of those good manly dog names (for a) boy.
13. Rubble
Rubble is the name of the adorable construction pup on Paw Patrol. Using this name if you have kids might win you brownie points, but if you just like the name that’s ok too.
14. Ghost
The name Ghost would work if you’re searching for cool manly dog names to suit a creepy looking or white dog.
15. Goliath
Goliath is Hebrew in origin and means “exile”. It was the name of a giant in the bible which also makes it a funny small dog name.
16. Harry
Harry is a medieval form of the name Henry. A great option if you’re a fan of the Harry Potter series.
17. Leo
Leo is a masculine Latin name that means “lion”. One famous Leo is Russian writer Tolstoy, who wrote War and Peace and Anna Karenina.
18. Jethro
The name Jethro comes from the Hebrew word for “abundance” and was used by the 70s rock back Jethro Tull.
19. Huck
The name Huck is short for Huckleberry, made famous by Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. It’s also the name of a character on the American thriller show, Scandal.
20. Yoda
Yoda is the name of Star Wars’ small but powerful and wise Jedi Master.
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”
- Yoda -
21. Barkley
Barkley is a cute dog name that’s especially fitting if your dog tends to bark a lot.
22. Tucker
Tucker is an old English occupational name meaning “softener of cloth”.
Manly Dog Names Inspired by Foreign Languages
The Shiba Inu - most popular breed in Japan! Image by @meet.me.meeko
If you need more inspiration, here are several strong manly dog names inspired from places around the world.
1. Axl
Axl is Hebrew in origin, meaning “father is peace”. If you’re a Guns N’ Roses fan, you may consider naming your dog Axl, or Axel after their singer, Axl Rose.
2. Dante
The name Dante means “everlasting” and has it’s roots in Latin culture. One of the more famous Dantes was a medieval Italian poet, philosopher, and author of a poetic trilogy called The Divine Comedy.
3. Abram
Abram is a name with Hebrew origins. It means “high father” and was the name of several biblical patriarchs.
4. Albert
The name Albert comes from the Germanic name Adalbert, “adal” for noble and “beraht” for bright.
5. Andre
Looking for French manly dog names? Andre is a French name and a variation of the Greek name Andreas, which means “manly”.
6. Bruno
The name Bruno comes from the Old German “brun” meaning brown.
7. Cassius
Cassius is a Latin name that means “vain”.
8. Diego
When it comes to manly Spanish dog names, Diego (short for San Diego) is an excellent choice.
9. Gunther
The name Gunther comes from the Old German name Gundahar, which means “war”.
10. Hank
Hank is a strong male name from German descent that means “ruler of an estate”.
11. Ivan
Ivan is a Slavic name that means “God is gracious”.
12. Jamal
Jamal is a masculine sounding Arabic name that means “beauty” or “handsome”.
13. Kane
The name Kane is of Irish and Gaelic origin. It means “little warrior”.
14. Paul
The name Paul is derived from the Roman family name Paulus, meaning “small” or “humble”. Famous Paul’s include British singer/songwriter Paul McCartney and American actor Paul Rudd.
15. Gaston
Gaston is a French name meaning “from Gascony, France”. It is popularly associated with the manly character of Gaston from Beauty and the Beast. As far as manly Disney dog names go, this one’s at the top of the list.
16. Hugo
Hugo is an Old German name that means “bright in mind and spirit”.
17. Luc
The name Luc is a short for of Lucas or Luke. In Latin it means “from Lucania” and in French it means “bringer of light”.
18. Odin
Odin is a Scandinavian name meaning “frenzy, rage, inspiration” and was the highest Norse God.
19. Zeus
Zeus is a Greek boy’s name and the name of the highest Olympian God.
20. Sergei
The name Sergei means “servant” and is among the most manly Russian dog names.
21. Igor
Igor is a Russian name that means “warrior of peace”.
22. Paco
Paco is a Spanish name that means “free”.
Tips for Choosing The Best Male Dog Name
Choosing the best manly names for a dog doesn’t have to be difficult.
Whether you’re making the decision by yourself or with others, start by writing down answers to these questions:
- What names do I like?
- What names do I dislike?
- What characteristics stand out about my dog (size, personality, color, etc.?)
- Is there a name I like that reminds me of my family's hobbies, heritage, interests, etc.,?
Jot down the first things that come to mind, to help pick out a suitable name for your dog.
What Makes a Name Manly?
You might be asking yourself, what makes a name manly anyways?
A big part of it is just the way the name sounds. According to Scientific American, names have an inherent gender and usually come across as either masculine or feminine.
Other factors you can use to judge name manliness aside from sound are the origins of the name and what the name makes you think of. This could be a concept, like Bruiser, or other people/characters with the same name.
There are many manly dog names for both small and big dogs out there. Hopefully, with guidance from this article you’ve found one that fits your dog perfectly.
Want more ideas for dog names? Check out our other articles:
