Famous Dog Names: The Who’s Who in Pup Culture

Celebrity baby names aren’t the only monikers that turn heads. Famous dog names get plenty of attention too, and with good reason. In fact, many doggo icons have fascinating backstories and names.

Check out these famous dogs with us and see what mighty mutt monikers are out there.

Famous Dogs from History

While humans take a lot of the credit, the halls of history are howling with equally awesome puppers, including:

1. Abuwtiyuw: One of the earliest named domesticated dogs on record
2. Balto: Helped deliver diphtheria antitoxin to stop an outbreak in Nome, Alaska 
3. Barry: Legendary rescue Saint Bernard in the Alps
4. Belka & Strelka: First animals to go into orbit and survive
5. Bobbie: A cross-country traveling dog who found his way back to his owners
6. Cairo: Belgian malinois that took part in the Osama bin Laden raid
7. Chips: The most decorated war dog in World War II
8. Diamond: Sir Isaac Newton’s dog
9. Hachiko: Akita who waited daily at the train station for his owner after his death
10. Horand von Grafrath: The foundation dog for German shepherds
11. Jofi: Sigmund Freud’s four-footed friend
12. Just Nuisance: The only dog ever enlisted in the Royal Navy 
13. Laika: The first living animal in space
14. Lex: A military dog who served in Iraq and received an honorary Purple Heart medal
15. Lila: A British general’s fox terrier who ran off (later returned unharmed) during the Battle at Germantown 
16. Nemo: A decorated German shepherd that served during the Vietnam war 
17. Owney: Unofficial postal office mascot during the 1800s 
18. Peritas: Alexander the Great’s favorite dog
19. Phiz: Helen Keller’s dog
20. Red Dog: A famous kelpie/cattle dog mix that roamed rural Australia
21. Sergeant Stubby: The only US war dog ever promoted to sergeant
22. Sinbad: A World War II dog who appeared in war publications 
23. Snuppy: The first cloned dog 
24. Susan: Queen Elizabeth II’s original Pembroke Welsh corgi
25. Trakr: A rescue dog who found the last survivor at the World Trade Center

Famous Record-Breaking Dogs

Every doggo is special, but some extraordinary puppers manage to make the record books with their looks or skills, whether they’re a jumbo-sized doggo or a sport phenom. A few record-smashing sniffers are:

1. Anastasia: This Jack Russell popped a record-breaking 100 balloons in just 44.49 seconds.
2. Bluey: This Australian cattle dog is the verified longest-lived dog ever at over 29 years!
3. Bud Nelson: A pitbull who was the first dog to cross the US by car with his owner.
4. Feather: This greyhound has the highest jump by a dog on record at 75.5 inches
5. Jean: This collie was the first dog to have a leading role in a motion picture.
6. Milly: This Chihuahua is the smallest dog in the world at 4 inches tall! Talk about a perfect name for a pint-sized dog!
7. Sounders: A dock jumping extraordinaire, this whippet holds the record for the farthest dock jump at 36 feet 2 inches.
8. Tigger: This bloodhound was the owner of the longest dog ears ever (13.75 for the right, 13.5 inches for the left)
9. Zeus: This Great Dane holds the Guinness World Record for the tallest dog ever at 44 inches, making this the perfect big dog name!
10. Zorba: A record-holder for the heaviest dog ever, he was an Old English mastiff.

Famous Dog Mascots

With their exuberance for life and irresistible personality, it’s no surprise that many institutions chose a dog for their mascot. Some of the most famous tail-wagging mascots are:

1. Bernie: Siena College
2. Bully: Mississippi State University
3. Butler Blue: Butler University
4. Chesty: US Marine Corps
5. Gumbo: New Orleans Saints
6. Handsome Dan: Yale University 
7. Jack the Bulldog: Georgetown University
8. Jonathan: University of Connecticut
9. Moondog: Cleveland Cavaliers
10. Reveille: Texas A&M University
11. Roongo: Bloomsburg University
12. Scotty: Carnegie Mellon University
13. Smokey: University of Tennessee
14. Uga: University of Georgia
15. Zeke the Wonder Dog: Michigan State University 

Famous Dogs from Literature

Dogs are a staple in writing, whether they’re appearing as a hungry beast in Harry Potter or serving as a faithful companion out in the country. There are tons of great literary dog names to choose from! Notable canine characters in literature include:

1. Argos: Odyssey by Homer
2. Capitoline Wolf: Mythical she-wolf who nursed Romulus and Remus
3. Carl: Good Dog, Carl by Alexandra Day
4. Charkie: Curious George by H.A. and Margret Rey
5. Charley: Travels with Charley in Search of America by John Steinbeck
6. Clifford: Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
7. Cujo: Cujo by Stephen King
8. Endal: Endal by Allen Parton
9. Fang: Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
10. Kipper: Kipper the Dog by Mick Inkpen
11. Lassie: Lassie Come-Home by Eric Knight
12. Little Ann: Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
13. Max: How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
14. McKinley: The Good Dog by Edward Irving Wortis
15. Old Dan: Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
16. Old Yeller: Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
17. Pilot: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
18. Shiloh: Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds
19. Spot: Where’s Spot by Eric Hill
20. Toto: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, cairn terrier
21. Winn-Dixie: Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Famous Dogs from Movies

The big screen has been home to many four-legged stars over the years, from Disney doggos to comedy canines. Some Hollywood hound dogs are: 

1. Baxter: Anchorman
2. Beefy: Little Nicky
3. Beethoven: Beethoven
4. Benji: Benji series
5. Bolt: Bolt
6. Bruiser:  Legally Blond
7. Bruno: Cinderella 
8. Buck: The Call of the Wild
9. Buddy: Air Bud
10. Chance: Homeward Bound
11. Charlie Barkin: All Dogs Go to Heaven
12. Copper: Fox And the Hound
13. Daisy: John Wick
14. Dante: Coco
15. Dodger: Oliver & Company
16. Dug: Up
17. Einstein: Back to the Future
18. Fly: Babe
19. Frank the Pug: Men in Black
20. Harvey: E.T.
21. Hercules: The Sandlot
22. Hooch: Turner & Hooch
23. Jackal: Dude, Where’s My Car?
24. Jock: Lady and the Tramp
25. Kyle: Despicable Me
26. Lady: Lady and the Tramp
27. Little Brother: Mulan
28. Lucky: Dr. Dolittle
29. Luiz: Rio
30. Marley: Marley & Me
31. Mel: The Secret Life of Pets
32. Milo: The Mask
33. Moses: Meet the Fockers
34. Mozart: Beethoven
35. Nana: Peter Pan
36. Percy: Pocahontas
37. Perdita 101 Dalmatians
38. Petey: The Little Rascals
39. Pongo 101 Dalmatians
40. Puffy: There’s Something About Mary
41. Samantha: I Am Legend
42. Sandy: Annie
43. Scud: Toy Story
44. Shadow: Homeward Bound
45. Skip: My Dog Skip
46. Slinky: Toy Story
47. Sparky: Frankenweenie
48. Tchaikovsky: Beethoven
49. The Tramp: Lady and the Tramp
50. Zero: The Nightmare Before Christmas

Famous Dogs from TV

Primetime has its share of famous fur faces, and these four-legged friends are often scene stealers. Top television pooches are:

1. Allen: The King of Queens
2. Arnold: Entourage
3. Backup: Veronica Mars
4. Brandon: Punky Brewster
5. Buck: Married… With Children
6. Bullet: The Roy Rogers Show
7. Buster: The Wonder Years
8. Champion: Parks and Recreation
9. Chester: The Nanny
10. Cinnamon: The Big Bang Theory
11. Comet: Full House
12. Djinn Djinn: I Dream of Jeannie
13. Eddie: Frasier
14. Happy: 7th Heaven
15. Rin Tin Tin: The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin
16. Stan: Dog with a Blog
17. Stella: Modern Family
18. Tiger: The Brady Bunch
19. Vincent: Lost
20. Wishbone: Wishbone.

Famous Dog Actors

Famous dog actors are always in high demand, and like their human counterparts, this talent has some interesting names amongst them, such as:

1. Beasley: Turner & Hooch
2. Brownie the Wonder Dog: Brownie’s Little Venus
3. Chris: Beethoven
4. Darla: The Silence of the Lambs
5. Diesel: Togo
6. Dynamite the Dog: The Four-Footed Ranger
7. Flame: My Dog Shep
8. Gidget: Taco Bell commercials
9. Higgins: Benji
10. Jed: White Fang
11. Koko: Red Dog
12. Madison: Lost
13. Moonie: Legally Blonde
14. Moose: Frasier
15. Pal: Lassie
16. Skippy: The Thin Man
17. Soccer: Wishbone
18. Strongheart: Brawn of the North
19. Terry: The Wizard of Oz 
20. Uggie: The Artist

Famous Dogs from Brands & Advertisements

A cute pup sells, as seen in many advertisements. Some sell so much that they become synonymous with the brand itself, like these famous fur friends:

1. Bingo: Cracker Jack
2. Bullseye: Target
3. Duke: Bush Baked Beans
4. Lady Greyhound: Greyhound buses
5. McGruff: National Crime Prevention Council
6. Sensation: Westminster Kennel Club
7. Spuds MacKenzie: Bud Light
8. Walkie Talkie: Bazooka bubble gum

Famous Dogs of Celebrities

We often see celebrities out and about with their pups. Some even come on set with them and strut their stuff as the pampered pooches of the stars. Red-carpet ready canines include:

1. Asia: Lady Gaga’s French bulldog
2. Atticus: Jake Gyllenhaal’s German shepherd
3. Chunk: Chelsea Handler’s mixed breed
4. Daisy: Jessica Simpson’s poodle mix
5. Dodger: Chris Evans’ mixed breed
6. Finn: Amanda Seyfried’s Australian shepherd
7. Gary: Carrie Fisher’s French bulldog
8. Genghis Khan: Martha Stewart’s chow
9. Hobbs: The Rock’s French bulldog
10. Lola: Hilary Duff’s Chihuahua
11. Mr. Famous: Audrey Hepburn’s Yorkshire terrier
12. Martha: Paul McCartney’s sheepdog
13. Meatball: Adam Sandler’s bulldog
14. Mighty: Orlando Bloom’s toy poodle
15. Mimi LaRue: Tori Spelling’s pug
16. Nash: Reese Witherspoon’s German shepherd
17. Neville: Marc Jacobs’ bull terrier
18. Norman: Jennifer Aniston’s mixed breed
19. Sage: Jim Morrison’s shepherd mix
20. Spike: Joan Rivers’s Yorkshire terrier
21. Sui: Steve Irwin’s Staffordshire terrier
22. Tessa: Tom Holland’s Staffordshire terrier
23. Thurman Murman: Rachel Bilson’s mixed breed
24. Tinkerbell: Paris Hilton’s Chihuahua
25. Toulouse: Ariana’s Grande’s mixed breed

Famous Dogs of Presidents and Other Leaders

The floors of the White House and beyond have experienced the pitter-patter of plenty of doggos’ feet over the years. From the funny to the tough, these four-footed companions to world leaders have some tail-wagging names, including:

1. Barney: President George W. Bush’s Scottish terrier
2. Bergère: President Thomas Jefferson’s shepherd
3. Bessie: President Calvin Coolidge’s collie
4. Big Ben: President Herbert Hoover’s fox terrier
5. Blackberry: President Calvin Coolidge’s chow
6. Blackjack: President Theodore Roosevelt’s Manchester terrier
7. Blanco: President Lyndon B. Johnson’s white collie
8. Blaze: President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s bullmastiff
9. Bo: President Barack Obama’s Portuguese water dog
10. Boston Beans: President Calvin Coolidge’s Boston terrier
11. Bród: Irish President Michael D. Higgins’ Bernese mountain dog
12. Bruce: President Woodrow Wilson’s bull terrier
13. Buddy: President Bill Clinton’s Labrador retriever
14. Calamity Jane: President Calvin Coolidge’s Shetland sheepdog
15. Caruso: President William Taft’s mixed breed
16. Checkers: President Richard Nixon’s cocker spaniel
17. Clipper: President John F. Kennedy’s German shepherd 
18. Cornwallis: President George Washington’s greyhound
19. Dash: President William Henry Harrison’s collie mix
20. Davie: President Woodrow Wilson’s Airedale terrier 
21. Dilyn: UK Prime Minister’s Jack Russell mix
22. Dot: President Rutherford B. Hayes’ cocker spaniel
23. Eaglehurst Gillette: President Herbert Hoover’s setter
24. Edgar: President Lyndon B. Johnson’s beagle
25. Faithful: President Ulysses S. Grant’s Newfoundland
26. Fala: President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Scottish terrier
27. Feller: President Harry Truman’s cocker spaniel
28. Fido: President Abraham Lincoln’s mixed breed
29. Freckles: President Lyndon B. Johnson’s beagle
30. Gaullie: President John F. Kennedy’s poodle
31. Glen: President Herbert Hoover’s Scotch collie
32. Grim: President Rutherford B. Hayes’ greyhound
33. Grits: President Jimmy Carter’s border collie mix
34. Grizzle: President Thomas Jefferson’s shepherd
35. Hector: President Rutherford B. Hayes’ Newfoundland
36. Heidi: President Dwight Eisenhower’s Weimaraner 
37. Him: President Lyndon B. Johnson’s beagle
38. Her: President Lyndon B. Johnson’s beagle
39. Jet: President Rutherford B. Hayes’ mixed breed
40. Jip: President Abraham Lincoln’s mixed breed
41. Juno: President John Adams’ mixed breed
42. Kenzie: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Portuguese water dog
43. King Cole: President Calvin Coolidge’s Belgian sheepdog
44. King Timahoe: President Richard Nixon’s Irish setter
45. King Tut: President Herbert Hoover’s Belgian shepherd
46. Laddie Boy: President Warren Harding’s Airedale terrier
47. Lara: President James Buchanan’s Newfoundland
48. Le Beau: President James Tyler’s Italian greyhound
49. Lennu: Finnish President Sauli Niinisto’s Boston terrier
50. Lewis Brown: President Jimmy Carter’s Afghan hound
51. Liberty: President Gerald Ford’s golden retriever
52. Lucky: President Ronald Reagan’s Bouvier de Flandres
53. Major: President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s German shepherd
54. Manchu: President Theodore Roosevelt’s Pekingese
55. Meggie: President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Scottish terrier
56. Mike: President Harry Truman’s Irish setter
57. Millie: President George H. W. Bush’s English springer spaniel
58. Miss Beazley: President George W. Bush’s Scottish terrier
59. Misty: President Gerald Ford’s golden retriever
60. Moe: President John F. Kennedy’s Doberman pinscher
61. Old Boy: President Warren G. Harding’s bulldog
62. Otis: President Rutherford B. Hayes’ miniature schnauzer
63. Pasha: President Richard Nixon’s terrier mix
64. Patrick: President Herbert Hoover’s Irish wolfhound
65. Paul Pry: President Calvin Coolidge’s Airedale terrier
66. Peggy: President Ronald Reagan’s Irish setter
67. Pete: President Theodore Roosevelt’s bull terrier
68. Peter Pan: President Calvin Coolidge’s wirehaired fox terrier
69. President: President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Great Dane
70. Prudence Prim: President Calvin Coolidge’s white collie
71. Punch: President James Buchanan’s terrier
72. Pushinka: President John F. Kennedy’s mixed breed
73. Ranger: President George H. W.’s English springer spaniel
74. Rex: President Ronald Reagan’s Cavalier King Charles spaniel
75. Rob Roy: President Calvin Coolidge’s white collie
76. Rollo: President Theodore Roosevelt’s Saint Bernard
77. Ruby Rouch: President Calvin Coolidge’s collie
78. Sailor Boy: President Theodore Roosevelt’s Chesapeake Bay retriever
79. Satan: President John Adams’ mixed breed
80. Scentwell: President George Washington’s foxhound
81. Sebastian: President James Monroe’s Siberian husky
82. Shannon: President John F. Kennedy’s cocker spaniel
83. Skip: President Theodore Roosevelt’s mixed breed
84. Spot Fetcher: President George W. Bush’s English springer spaniel
85. Sunny: President Barack Obama’s Portuguese water dog
86. Sweetlips: President George Washington’s foxhound
87. Taca: President Ronald Reagan’s Siberian husky
88. Taster: President George Washington’s black and tan coonhound
89. Tiny Tim: President Calvin Coolidge’s chow
90. Tipler: President George Washington’s black and tan coonhound
91. Tipsy: President George Washington’s black and tan coonhound
92. Veto: President James A. Garfield’s mixed breed
93. Vicky: President Richard Nixon’s poodle
94. Victory: President Ronald Reagan’s golden retriever
95. Vulcan: President George Washington’s foxhound
96. Weegie: President Herbert Hoover’s Norwegian elkhound
97. Winks: President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s setter
98. Wolf: President John F. Kennedy’s mixed breed
99. Yuki: President Lyndon B. Johnson’s mixed breed
100. Yukonan: President Herbert Hoover’s Canadian Inuit dog

Famous Dogs from Comics and Cartoons

Comics and cartoons offer a treasure trove of amazing mutt monikers, from nerdy finds to food-themed names for pudgy dogs. Some highlights are:

1. Ace the Bat-Hound: Batman
2. Akamaru: Naruto
3. Astro: The Jetsons
4. Blue: Blue’s Clues
5. Brain: Inspector Gadget
6. Brian: Family Guy
7. Bulletdog: Bulletman
8. Cosmo: Guardians of the Galaxy
9. Courage: Courage the Cowardly Dog
10. Deputy Dawg: Deputy Dawg
11. Dogbert: Dogbert
12. Droopy: Various cartoons
13. Electra: Cathy
14. Goddard: Jimmy Neutron
15. Goliath: Davey and Goliath
16. Goofy: Disney
17. Gromit: Wallace & Gromit
18. Huckleberry Hound: The Huckleberry Hound
19. Jake the Dog: Adventure Time
20. Krypto: DC Comics
21. Magenta: Blue’s Clues
22. Marmaduke: Marmaduke 
23. Mr. Peabody: Various cartoons
24. Muttley: Dick Dastardly
25. Odie: Garfield
26. Pluto: Disney 
27. Porkchop: Doug 
28. Pupcake: Strawberry Shortcake
29. Ren: The Ren & Stimpy Show
30. Santa’s Little Helper: The Simpsons
31. Scooby-Doo: Scooby-Doo
32. Scrappy-Doo: Scooby-Doo
33. Snoopy: Peanuts
34. Spike: Tom & Jerry
35. Spunky: Rocko’s Modern Life

Famous Dogs from the Internet

The internet is an endless source of cute canines across the world, from laid-back Australian pups to hiking hounds in Canada with nature names. Some of the most popular dogs online are:

1. Boo: An adorable Pomeranian
2. Darren & Phillip: The BlueBoys Staffordshire terriers
3. Digby & Aloysius Van Winkle: Brussels Griffons doubling as top-notch doggo models
4. Doge: Shiba Inu meme star
5. Elwood: Chinese crested mix and winner of World’s Ugliest Dog
6. Lentil: French bulldog with a cleft palate
7. Mishka: Siberian husky known for “talking”
8. Rosie Pig: Snorting Chihuahua and Vine star
9. Sam: Chinese crested dog is a three-time winner of World’s Ugliest Dog
10. Tuna: Chihuahua/dachshund mix meme star 

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Looking for other great dog name ideas? Make sure to check out our guides on the best regal dog names as well as our favorite cartoon dog name ideas!

Who’s your favorite famous dog? Is your pupper named after one? Let us know in the comments!