Modern Dog Names
Fresh picks for a new generation of dogs. These names feel current without being gimmicky — the kind you hear at daycare drop-off and think, that suits them perfectly.
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The names
- Ace — The number one — a winner's name.
- Apollo — God of the sun, music and light.
- Arlo — A breezy modern favourite, possibly from "fortified hill".
- Aspen — The trembling-leafed alpine tree.
- Atlas — The Titan who carried the sky — strong and steady.
- August — Means "great, venerable"; the golden month.
- Axel — From Absalom, "father of peace" — with rock energy.
- Blaze — A burst of flame; also a white facial marking.
- Bodhi — Means "awakening, enlightenment".
- Bolt — Lightning fast — for the sprinter of the pack.
- Boss — Who really runs the household.
- Bowie — Means "fair-haired"; forever linked to David Bowie.
- Bronx — New York's toughest borough.
- Brooklyn — The famous New York borough.
- Chase — Literally "the hunt" — honest advertising for many dogs.
- Chief — The one in charge — self-evidently.
- Comet — The long-tailed visitor streaking across the sky.
- Cruz — Means "cross" in Spanish — sharp and quick.
- Dash — Quick, light and off like a shot.
- Denver — The mile-high city.
- Drake — A male duck; also an old word for dragon.
- Duke — A noble rank — dignified with a soft spot.
- Echo — The nymph whose voice repeats — for the vocal ones.
- Ember — A softly glowing coal — warm with a spark.
- Everest — The world's highest peak.
- Falcon — The fastest bird on earth.
- Fox — The clever red wild cousin.
- Gatsby — Fitzgerald's great romantic — old sport.
- Halo — The ring of light above the well-behaved (allegedly).
- Harlow — An English place name with old-Hollywood glamour.
- Hendrix — Means "son of Hendrik"; guitar genius forever.
- Hero — What every dog already thinks they are. Correctly.
- Hunter — One who hunts — keen-nosed and focused.
- Indie — Short for independent — free-spirited by definition.
- Iris — The rainbow goddess and the flower.
- Ivory — Creamy white — lovely for pale coats.
- Jagger — An old word for a carter; Rolling Stones swagger.
- Jax — A sharp modern spin on Jack.
- Jett — The glossy black stone, doubled down.
- Journey — The adventure itself.
- Juniper — The evergreen shrub with fragrant berries.
- Karma — What goes around comes around — usually a ball.
- Kenzo — A Japanese name often meaning "wise and strong".
- King — The crown, claimed.
- Legend — A story worth telling — status: absolute.
- Lennon — Means "lover"; imagine that.
- Leo — Means "lion".
- Lux — Means "light".
- Lyric — The words of a song.
- Maverick — An independent who won't follow the herd.
- Memphis — The ancient Egyptian capital and the home of the blues.
- Nash — From "at the ash tree" — crisp and country.
- Navy — The deep blue — nautical and neat.
- Nova — Means "new"; a star that suddenly shines brighter.
- Onyx — The glossy black gemstone — striking for dark coats.
- Orion — The great hunter of Greek myth and the famous constellation.
- Phoenix — The mythical firebird reborn from ashes.
- Presley — The King's surname — blue suede paws optional.
- Quinn — Means "descendant of Conn" — crisp and modern.
- Rebel — For the one who reads the rules, then ignores them.
More ways to choose
See all collections, browse every name A–Z, or let the Matchmaker pick names that fit your dog.
By the numbers
- 60 verified names in this collection
- Every meaning and pronunciation checked by our editors
- Popularity data from 5 Auckland Pets In The City centres
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