200 + Names for Your Labrador Retriever

Long before the French Bulldog became the country’s favorite dog breed, the Labrador Retriever held that title for more than 30 years straight. And for good reason: Social, affectionate, and full of fun, the Lab is a natural addition to any family, especially ones with children, other pets, and plenty of human visitors. 

Not surprisingly, these happy-go-lucky pups hail from the land of nice, Canada — specifically Newfoundland and Labrador (thus, their name) where they typically helped duck hunters and fishermen. The breed gained popularity in the 1800s when the English visited Canada and were so taken by these awesome dogs that they brought some back home to Britain. A bit of breeding transpired…and, well, here we are.

If you’re about to adopt (or just adopted) a Labrador Retriever, congratulations, you just gained a best friend. You’re also probably looking for a name that captures just how playful, kooky, and kind your new pup is, so scroll on for countless naming ideas that will get your creative juices flowing.

Popular Names for Labrador Retriever

When it comes to popular Labrador Retriever names, look for something as friendly and down-to-earth as these beloved pups. Here are a few popular name trends:

• Bella

• Luna

• Lucy

• Daisy

• Coco

• Buddy

• Charlie

• Max

• Cooper

• Finn

Female Labrador Retriever names

Here are some name ideas for female Labradors that are both sweet and strong.

• Allie 

• Billie

• Charlie

• Chloe

• Cleo

• Clover

• Dory

• Janey

• Harper

• Holly

• Molly

• Olive

• Penny

• Piper

• Polly

• Riley

• Sadie

• Sammie

• Sophia

• Willow

• Zoe

Male Labrador Retriever names

For male Labrador names, here are a few dog names as bold and loyal as these fun-loving pups.

• Barney

• Bruce

• Buck

• Buster

• Chester

• Chip

• Gus

• Harold

• Henry

• Huck

• Jack

• Luke

• Marley

• Ollie

• Otis

• Parker

• Quincy

• Roscoe

• Tucker

• Walter

Old-timey classic names for a Labrador Retriever

Playfully switch things up with a sleepy, uptight moniker that is the exact opposite of your goofy pup. 

Female names

• Abigail

• Agnes

• Blanche

• Doris

• Dorothy

• Edith

• Eleanor

• Enid

• Helene

• Lavinia (Luvvy)

• Maude

• Mildred

• Millicent (Millie)

• Nellie

• Winifred (Winnie)

Male names

• Alistar

• Archibald  (Archie)

• Arthur

• Basil

• Bertram (Berty)

• Clarence

• Cornelius

• Gideon (Giddy)

• Nigel

• Orson

• Otis

• Otto

• Silas

• Stanley

• Theodore (Theo)

Cute and funny Labrador Retriever names

Lean into your dog’s silly-sweet temperament with these options.

• Boo Boo

• Boomer

• Bubbles

• Bunny

• Chewbacca (Chewy)

• Comet

• Fidget

• Floof

• Goose

• Merlin

• Pongo

• Pumpkin

• Skippy (Skip)

• Snuggles

• Tigger

Labrador Retriever names inspired by food

Every dog loves food. Give into your Lab’s cravings (so to speak) with a snack-inspired name.

• Apple

• Biscuit

• Cheddar

• Cookie

• Crouton

• Crumpet

• Cupcake

• Donette — Hostess’ chocolate cupcake

• Fig

• Flapjacks (Jax)

• Gravy

• Hazelnut (Hazel)

• Jelly

• Lollipop (Lolli)

• Muffin

• Noodle

• Nugget

• Peaches

• Pudding

• Snickers

• Sprinkles

• Strawberry

• Sugar (Shug)

• Sweet Pea

• Taffy

• Tootsie

• Waffles

Yellow Labrador Retriever names

Got a lighter-colored Lab? Here are some sun-kissed names for your male or female Retriever.

• Acacia — a tree with yellow flowers

• Amber

• Aurelia — means “golden” in Latin

• Banana (Nana)

• Blondie

• Bumblebee (Bea)

• Buttercup

• Champagne (Champs)

• Citrine — a yellow quartz

• Coco

• Colonel Mustard (Mustard) — from the movie Clue

• Custard

• Daffodil

• Dijon — as in mustard

• Duckie

• Eggnog

• Gilda — as in “gilded,” meaning covered in gold

• Goldie

• Honey

• Lemmy — as in lemon

• Marigold (Mari)

• Orla — Irish for “golden princess”

• Popcorn

• Sandy

• Sunny

• Tawny

Black labrador retriever names

Whether your pup is male or female, these monikers celebrating their rich, darkly colored coats work for either gender.

• Blackberry

• Blackie

• Char — as in charcoal

• Cinder

• Cosmo — as in the cosmos, or outer-space

• Dusky

• Ember

• Espresso

• Guinness — as in the stout beer

• Ink

• Jet

• Licorice

• Mamba — as in black mamba

• Midnight

• Night

• Noir

• Obsidian (Obsy) — a dark, volcanic glass

• Onyx

• Panther

• Pepper

• Pepsi

• Phantom

• Raven

• Sable — the dark-furred animal

• Shadow

• Smokey

• Stormy

• Stygie — as in stygian, meaning “very dark”

• Twilight

• Zorro  — the masked swordsman-vigilante

Chocolate Labrador Retriever names

Inspired by your new pup’s velvety coat, sweet disposition, or outdoorsy looks? We’ve got practically every name in the book to consider for your male and female Labs.

• Almond

• Barley

• Mr. Bean — a nod to the English comedian

• Bear

• Bourbon

• Chai

• Chesnut

• Choco

• Clay

• Clove

• Corky — as in a cork

• Dune

• Fudge

• Hazel

• Hersh  — as in Hershey

• Kahlua

• Maple — as in syrup

• Mocha

• Moose

• Nutmeg

• Rocky

• Rusty

• Suede

• Truffles

• Woody

Tips on naming your Labrador Retriever

Did you know that you can train both younger and older Labrador Retrievers to respond to a new name? Here are some reasons why you might want to rename them. And if you decide you do want to give them a new moniker, we also walk you through how to find the right name, as well as some helpful tips on how to make that name work.

Reasons to rename your dog

• You’d prefer a name that better fits their personality or appearance.

• You’d like to give your dog, who’s been through some trauma, a fresh start with a name that doesn’t evoke upsetting memories.

• Their current name sounds too much like another pet’s name.

• Or maybe you simply don’t like their assigned name (or changed your mind about the name you previously gave them). 

How to choose a name

Although names are subjective, there are a few tips that can help them stick.

• Lean into a name that captures your dog’s personality, their adorable looks, or even something that you love. Like, are you a fan of cheese? Maybe you name your dog Cheddar.

• Stick with words that don’t have too many syllables (which is why we offer some nicknames for longer ones, above) or are hard to pronounce. These may be difficult for a dog to understand.

• Avoid names that sound like training commands for obvious reasons.

• If you’re waffling between a few names, test them out on your pup to see which one summons the best response.

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

1. Repeat the old name and the new name together for a day or so.

2. Then begin to use only the new name.

3. Each time your dog responds to their new name, give them positive reinforcement such as treats and/or petting, while praising them in an encouraging voice.

References

‌Hernandez, Joe. “The Small but Mighty French Bulldog Is Now the Top Purebred Dog Breed in America.” NPR, 15 Mar. 2023, www.npr.org/2023/03/15/1163687568/french-bulldog-top-purebred-dog-breed-us-labrador-retriever.

‌Paulenoff, Simon. “American Kennel Club.” American Kennel Club, American Kennel Club, 6 Nov. 2017, www.akc.org/dog-breeds/labrador-retriever.

“Dog Names through the Decades – Wizard of Paws.” Uww.edu, 2022, blogs.uww.edu/wizardofpaws/2022/04/01/dog-names-through-the-decades/. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

‌“Top Dog Names in Cambridge | Open Data Portal | City of Cambridge.” Cambridgema.gov, 2018, data.cambridgema.gov/General-Government/Top-Dog-Names-in-Cambridge/h6kb-zgjn. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

‌“Top Pet Names of 2022.” Newcastlewa.gov, 2022, www.newcastlewa.gov/news/archives/2023/top_pet_names_of_2022. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.