200+ Names for Your New Small Dog

If you’re a fan of smaller pups (or live in an environment that’s more conducive to one), you’re in luck: Plenty of local rescues and shelters have countless small breeds and small-breed mixes waiting for their forever homes. Once you’ve found your canine soul mate, you’ll need a name that befits them. And that’s where this guide comes in — with a whole lot of small-dog naming inspiration to help you get started.

Small female dog names

If you’re looking for more feminine name ideas for your small dog, consider one of these adorable names.

• Annie

• Blossom

• Brook

• Chantilly

• Daisy

• Dot

• Ellie

• Elsa

• Fern

• Gigi

• Honey

• Jane

• Jasmine

• Juniper (June)

• Minnie

• Mira

• Noelle

• Peach

• Petal

• Pebbles

• Penny

• Pepper

• Pixie

• Poppy

• Rose

• Rosie

• Ruby

• Sapphire

• Skye

• Sol

• Sparrow

• Tinkerbell

• Tulip

• Wren

• Zoe

Small male dog names

Did you adopt a small male dog? One of these names could be just right for your little buddy.

• Archie

• Arlo

• Blaise

• Buddy

• Buster

• Chico

• Chip

• Comet

• Cricket

• Doodle

• Eddie

• Finn

• Goose

• Jack

• Jasper

• Jett

• Kai

• Jax

• Joey

• Leo

• Levi

• Milo

• Ollie

• Oscar

• Percy

• Pipsqueak (Pip)

• Scooter

• Soda

• Tiki

• Toby

• Zed

• Ziggy

Cute small dog names (that are also non-gender)

C’mon, how cute is your little rescue pup? These are names cherry-picked to do justice to just how adorable they are.

• Apple

• Berry

• Biscuit

• Boba

• Boo Boo

• Bubbles

• Chai

• Cheddar

• Cupcake

• Dimple

• Dumpling

• Echo

• Elf

• Fidget

• Gizmo

• Kewpie

• Jelly Bean (Bean)

• Marshmallow

• Muffin

• Nugget

• Otter

• Peanut

• Peep

• Pickle

• Pixel

• Skittles

• Slim

• Smol

• Sprinkles

• Sprout

• Squirrel

• Taco

• Teeny

Black small dog names

Whether your dog is fluffy or sleek, these names capture the beauty and elegance exuded by your richly hued pet — think Scottish Terriers, Miniature Pinschers, and everything in between.

• Ash

• Blackberry (BeBe)

• Carbon

• Cinder

• Cosmo — as in the cosmos, or outer space

• Dusk

• Evening (Eve)

• Inky

• Midnight

• Noir

• Nova — a star that fades away

• Onyx

• Orca

• Panther

• Phantom

• Plum

• Raven

• Sable

• Salem

• Smokey

• Slate

• Truffle

• Twilight

• Velvet

• Zorro

White small dog names

There’s a whole class of pet parents who adore loyal, cottony dogs such as the Maltese, Bichon Frise, and countless mixed breeds. Here are doting names for these pure-as-the-driven-snow pups.

• Angel

• Aspen — snowy ski town

• Aurora — meaning “dawn”

• Blanca/Blanco — “white” in Spanish

• Buttercup

• Cashew

• Cotton

• Frost

• Ghost

• Halo

• Ice

• Ivory

• Luna — goddess of the moon

• Mayo

• Misty

• Miso

• Moon

• Nimbus

• Pearl

• Q-Tip

• Shiro — “white” in Japanese

• Snowball

• Star

• Stone

• Sugar

• Tofu

• Vanilla (Nilla)

Brown small dog names

Pups with Miniature Dachshund and Pomeranian genes are proof that shades of brown can be badass. Stuck on a brown name that captures just how special they are? Try these out.

• Bamboo

• Brownie

• Cedar

• Chewie — as in Star Wars’ Chewbacca

• Choco

• Churro

• Cocoa

• Cookie

• Dusty

• Espresso (Esso)

• Fig

• Fudge

• Hazel

• Hershey — as in chocolate

• Maple

• Nutmeg

• Pancake

• Pudding

• Russet — as in the potato

• Snickers

• Suede

• Taco

• Tater

• Toffee

• Whiskey

Ironic “big” names for small dogs

When your small dog has a commanding personality, they radiate petite-powerhouse energy. Here are some names to match the bigger-than-their-size vibe of pups like Chihuahuas,  Yorkies, and their many mixes.

• Apollo

• Bear

• Biggie

• Bruno

• Brutus

• Chief

• Colonel

• Diesel

• Duke

• Giga

• Goliath 

• Grizzly (Grizz)

• Hawk

• Hercules

• Kong

• Maximus (Max)

• Moose

• Odin

• Rex

• Tank

• Thor

• Thunder

• Titus

• Wolfie

• Yeti

• Zeus

Tips on naming your small dog

If your pup comes with a name you’re not that keen about, fret not. You can always train them to respond to a new name. Below are valid reasons why you may want to rename them, as well as tips on how to go about pulling off a name change.

Reasons to rename your dog

• They deserve a name that better matches their personality or physical appearance.

• They’ve experienced trauma, and a new moniker represents a fresh start.

• Their name could cause confusion, because it sounds too much like another one of your pet’s names.

• You just don’t like their given name (or decided you no longer like the name you gave them). 

How to choose a name

Naming your pup is more gut instinct than science. Still, there are a few best practices that may ease this process along.

• Consider a name that captures your dog’s attributes (such as their personality and appearance), or even something that you love. For instance, if you have a sweet tooth — and your dog lives for treats — perhaps the name “Churro” would be a good pick.

• Choose a name with minimal syllables that’s easy to understand. If the name is more than a few syllables, it’s a good idea to abbreviate it with a nickname. (For example, see “Maximus” shortened to “Max,” above.)

• Try not to use names that sound anything like a training cue — for pretty obvious reasons.

• If you’re on the fence about a few names, try them out on your dog to see which ones get the best reaction.

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

1. Call them by their old name and their new name together (yes, at the same time). Repeat this for a few days.

2. Once they’re fully responsive, begin to use just the new name.

3. Each time your dog responds to their new name, reward them with positive reinforcement (treats and/or petting), while speaking to them in an encouraging voice.