How to Pick the Best Dog Name

Last week, we wrote about the 10 Most Popular (and Wacky) Dog Names of 2008. Well, the reader response was incredible, and so we’ve decided to continue the conversation about names and delve deeper into the subject. There are nearly 50 million households in America with a dog, and collectively we’re welcoming thousands of new pooches into our homes every day. But with all of these new four-legged residents, a common question continues to surface: What should I name my dog?

Seek Input from the Entire Family

Over the next few weeks, we are going to extensively cover the topic of dog names and share with you surefire ways to find the perfect name for your pooch. Are you just going for the most popular? Or do you want the weirdest, strangest, most unusual? Perhaps you’re seeking female dog names or male dog names. Ah, you want cute names for small dogs, right? Big dogs? Well, no matter what criteria you’ve established, we’re going to cover them all.

We continue to hear about your household angst surrounding this major decision, but naming your dog doesn’t have to be so agonizing. In reality, this is a joyous occasion, and the naming process should be creative and fun. You probably just need some suggestions to get those creative juices flowing; well that’s where we come in.

In fact, here’s a quick preview of what we’ll be discussing over the next few weeks in this new series…

Music Makes for Great Dog Names
Here is one example of how some family friends of ours chose a name for their newly-adopted pup. The parents brainstormed on their all-time favorite musicians—I’m talking all the way from Miles Davis, Johnny Cash, and Otis Redding on up to Notorious BIG and Mariah Carey. Avid music lovers, the couple then wrote each name on a piece of paper, put them in a hat, and asked their baby girl to pick one. And that was it…they had a name!

An even more creative solution (if an “unusual name” is your goal) would have been to place all of the artists’ first names (i.e. Miles, Otis, Mariah, and Notorious) into one hat, and then place all of their last names (i.e. Davis, Redding, Carey, and Cash) into a separate hat. Then, their daughter could have selected a random first name and then paired it with a random last name. What do you think of these potential titles:

• Mariah Redding
• Notorious Cash
• Otis Davis
• Miles Carey

Also, think about your favorite song titles, lyrics, and instruments. The only rule in naming your dog is…there are no rules! Think outside of the doggy box, and find a totally unique word to describe your totally unique pooch.

The Ultimate Dog Name Guide
Be sure to check in over the next few weeks as we review all the best ways to find a perfect name for your dog. We’ll go over the most popular, weirdest, strangest, and most unusual…names for female dogs, male dogs, small dogs, big dogs. And what if you already have a dog–or if you adopt siblings–and you need complimentary names? Or perhaps you want to honor your pooch with the family surname…oh boy, this is getting serious. We’ll cover all of this and more, so make sure you subscribe for new updates and get the latest articles delivered directly into your email box.