200+ Names for Your New Bulldog

Bulldogs are known for being even-tempered (if a bit stubborn), family dogs who don’t require much exercise and like hanging out with their pet parents. With so many great name possibilities for this lovable breed, choosing the perfect one can be tough. Whether you want something classic, celeb-inspired, or totally unique, the right name should match their vibe. Browse through this list of 200 Bulldog name ideas to help you find the perfect match.

Bulldog overview

First, here is a little about the Bulldog breed for inspiration. The breed can be traced back to England, where they were trained for bull-baiting (thus, their name). Thankfully, by 1835, Britain banned blood sports and began to breed them as companion dogs, which resulted in the endearing Bulldogs we have come to know today. There are many types of Bulldog breeds to choose from: American Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, among many others.

Unfortunately, that inbreeding has led to brachycephalic respiratory issues due to their flattened face and shortened airways, leading countries such as Norway to ban Bulldog breeding altogether. This is why if you want a Bulldog (and who doesn’t, really?), it’s best to head to a rescue or shelter, rather than a breeder.

If you haven’t adopted yet, head to Adopt a Pet to search by your preferred breed and meet the rescue dog of your dreams. After adopting your new family member, take a look at our guide below for every dog name you can think of for your new Bulldog.

Names for a male Bulldog

If you’ve adopted a male Bulldog, here are some great name choices to consider.

• Arthur

• Artie

• Barney

• Baxter

• Biggie

• Brock

• Bruce

• Bubba

• Buster

• Casper

• Charlie

• Chester

• Chip

• Clyde

• Cody

• Duke

• Floyd

• Gus

• Lenny

• Leroy

• Max

• Ned

• Otis

• Paco

• Rufus

• Spike

• Tan

• Toby

• Wally

• Zeke

Names for a female Bulldog

Got a female Bulldog? Here are some fun, fierce, and adorable name ideas for your new best friend.

• Alice

• Bella

• Brandy

• Chrissie

• Coco

• Daisy

• Dolly

• Dottie

• Frankie

• Gigi

• Hugo

• Izzy

• June

• Lola

• Lulu

• Luna

• Maggie

• Maisie

• Misty

• Nina

• Olive

• Peaches

• Rosie

• Roxy

• Sadie

• Sammy

• Sunny

• Taffy

• Zelda

• Zoe

Cute, gender-neutral Bulldog names

Looking for a cute name that suits any Bulldog, regardless of gender? Here are some awesome gender-neutral options to consider.

• Beignet

• Biscuit

• Bubbles

• Cupcake

• Echo

• Harley

• Honey

• Lucky

• Mochi

• Noodle

• Nugget

• Pudding

• Scooter

• Scout

• Snickers

• Snugs

• Squish

• Toffee

• Waffles

• Wiggles

• Ziggy

English Bulldog names

Stockier, shorter, and wrinklier than their American Bulldog cousin, these pups were bred to be companion dogs in England. These names honor this heritage, which has resulted in them becoming the best sidekicks ever.

• Adele — after the singer

• Alfred — after Batman’s loyal butler in the DC comic 

• Alistair

• Bacon — after Francis, the painter

• Basil 

• Bertie

• Bond — after James Bond, the fictional spy

• Bowie — after David, the iconic musician

• Caine — after Michael, the Cockney actor

• Crumpet — as in a griddle bread, like an English muffin

• Elizabeth (Lizzy)

• Eton — after the dessert Eton mess

• Freddie — after Mercury, Queen’s lead singer

• George

• Hobbes — after Thomas, the philosopher

• Jasper

• Jemima (Jem)

• Joyce — after James, the Ulysses writer

• Lily

• Oliver

• Rufus

• Rupert

• Watson — after Sherlock Holmes’ loyal sidekick

• Winston — after Churchill, the famed WWII prime minister

• Woolf — after Virginia, the Mrs. Dalloway writer

French Bulldog names

This natural-born lapdog is famous for their upright “bunny” ears and playful nature. They first gained popularity in Paris, France, which in turn provides vast naming inspiration.

• Baguette

• Bardot — after actress Brigitte

• Bijou — or “jewel” in French

• Bisou — or “kiss” in French

• Bonbon

• Brie

• Brioche

• Chanel — after the fashion label

• Cherie  — or “darling” in French

• Chienne — or “dog” in French

• Claudette

• Eclair

• Gaston

• Laurent — after Yves, the designer

• Miel — or “honey” in French

• Pompom — classic French pet name

• Rosée

• Serge — after Gainsbourg, the singer

• Truffaut — after François, the director

• Truffle

American Bulldog names

Larger and more muscular than other Bulldog breeds, these pups warrant cool names that celebrate their history of working ranches across America.

• Boone

• Bruiser

• Buddy

• Cash

• Champ

• Chief

• Chubbs

• Henry

• Jack

• Jake

• Jolene

• Knox

• Lincoln

• Molly

• Muffin

• Sadie

• Sage

• Savannah

• Teddy 

• Turbo

Celebrity names for your Bulldog

When you get a Bulldog, you’ll quickly find that, thanks to their friendly dispositions, they quickly become besties with everyone on your block. Here are names that befit this newfound fame.

• Aretha — after Franklin, the Queen of Soul

• Cassius — after Clay, Muhammad Ali’s birth name

• Clint — after Eastwood, the actor

• Hank — after Tom Hanks, the actor

• Idris — after Elba, the actor

• Iggy — after Iggy Pop, the punk legend

• Kobe — after Bryant, the late NBA player

• Lucille — after Ball, the iconic star of I Love Lucy

• Marlon — as in Brando, the legendary actor

• Pablo — after Picasso, the painter

• RiRi — as in Rihanna, the popstar, clothing, and makeup mogul

• Rumi — the mystical, 13th-century Persian poet

• Shaq — after Shaquille O’Neal, the former NBA player

• Socrates — after the ancient Greek philosopher

• Stevie — after Nicks, the Fleetwood Mac singer

• Suki — after Waterhouse, the model-actress-singer

• Taylor — after Swift, the music artist

• Tiger — after Wood, the golfer

• Tupac — after the rapper

• Zen — as in Zendaya, the actress

Badass, intimidating names for your Bulldog

Bulldogs are famously sweet and cuddly. But if you’re a well-humored pet parent, you may consider giving them an ironically tough name that will make people smile.

• Biggie — after Smalls, the rapper

• Brutus

• Butch

• Capone — after Al, the legendary Chicago gangster

• Crusher

• Diesel

• Escobar — after Pablo, leader of the Medellín Cartel

• Gotti  — after, boss of NYC’s Gambino crime family

• Hulk — after the Marvel Comics character

• Rambo — after Sylvester Stallone’s character in the ’80s action movie

• Rex

• Rocco

• Thor — after the Norse god of storms, also a Marvel Comics character

• Valkyrie

• Vito — after Corleone, the fictional Mafia boss in The Godfather

Names of Famous Bulldogs

You’re not the only one who couldn’t resist adopting a Bulldog. Politicians, schools, celebs, and Internet denizens have all doted on the breed.

• Boston Beans — President Calvin Coolidge’s Bulldog

• Chesty — the Marine Corp’s mascot

• Chance — from the movie Homeward Bound

• Francis — from the animated movie Oliver & Company

• Handsome Dan — Yale University’s mascot

• Hector — from Looney Toones

• Jacques — Brad Pitt’s dog

• Large — One of Michael Jackson’s many pets

• Manny — an Internet-famous Frenchie

• Mel — from the animated movie The Secret Lives of Pets

• Nipper — the logo mascot of the RCA Victor record label

• Old Boy — President William Harding’s pet

• Otto — set a Guinness record for skateboarding through the legs of 30 people

• Stella — Frenchie from the TV series Modern Family

• Tank — from the animated movie Wonder Dogs

• Tillman — Set a record for the fastest 100-meter on a skateboard by a dog

• Tyson — the Internet-famous skateboarding Bulldog

• Uga — University of Georgia’s Bulldog mascot

Lazy Bulldog names

Bulldogs come with lower exercise needs, which means they love to hang out at home. Here are some names for your resident couch potato.

• Chilli

• Dozer

• Fritter

• Loaf

• Marshmallow

• Meatball

• Molasses

• Mumble

• Snoozer

• Tater

Tips on naming your Bulldog

Bulldogs are notoriously stubborn, but rest assured, it’s not that tough to train them to respond to a new name. Let’s walk through some reasons why you may want to change their name, as well as how to make that new name stick.

Reasons to rename your dog

• Their existing name doesn’t match their personality or appearance.

• They may associate their current name with unhappy times or trauma.

• Their name sounds too much like your other pet’s name.

• You just don’t like their given name (or changed your mind about the one you gave them). 

How to choose a name

You can use any name that feels right to you. However, there are a few tips that can help your pet learn their new name a little faster.

• Find a name that “feels” like your dog. A word that plays on their looks, personality, or something they remind you of.

• One- to two-syllable names are best because dogs can understand them better.

• Make sure the name you choose doesn’t sound like a training command.

• Not sure which name is the best? Try them out on your Bulldog and see which one they respond to most.

A step-by-step on how to rename your dog

1. Address them by saying their old name and the new name together.

2. After a little time has passed, begin referring to them by only their new name.

3. Any time your dog reacts to their new name, reward them with petting, treats, and positive encouragement.

References

“American Kennel Club.” American Kennel Club, 6 Nov. 2017, www.akc.org/dog-breeds/bulldog.