310 Best Boy Dog Names: Cute, Unique, Country-Inspired Ideas

At Country Living, we really love our pets. (Fun fact: We're a pet-friendly office!) On any given day, you'll see assorted staffers' dogs running around, including Otis, Buck, Hank, and Charlie. (Otis is a mischief-maker; Buck is an aspiring model.) If you've found your way here, then you, too, have also likely made the (brilliant!) decision to bring home a four-legged friend of the male variety, and the next natural step is pondering boy dog names for the lucky pup who just found his furever home. (Lucky, perhaps?)

Naming a dog can be fun because the stakes are lower than, say, naming a human. For example, you don't have to worry about whether the moniker will make a good impression on a job interviewer, or how it could affect his presidential prospects. Still, it can be daunting if you're not quite sure where to start. After all, you may still be getting to know your pet's overall demeanor—is he shy? raucous? dry-witted?—and you want your furry little fella to wear his name with pride when he strolls into doggie day care for the first time. (Not every dog can confidently pull off a name like Tater Tot.)

You can never go wrong with something classic—and we've got plenty of ideas on that front—but if you don't want a pack of dogs running toward you at the dog park when you yell out a name, you may want to reconsider Max or Charlie and opt for something less common, like Whiskey. (On the flip side those names are classic for a reason—you do you!) Just like with baby names, there's no right answer, as long as you pick something you love—and something you won't mind saying repeatedly in front of the neighbors. (Worth noting: Some experts do say a one- or two-syllable name with sharp consonants is best for training purposes.)

To get you inspired, we've compiled our favorite male dog names across a variety of categories. Some names take inspiration from pop culture (Yellowstone!) and country music icons (Hank! Willie!) while others pay tribute to favorite foods, fictional characters, and the great outdoors. Once you've picked out a winning name, you can start researching other new pet essentials, like best dog beds, indestructible dog toys, and even the best dog Instagram captions for your future flood of canine content. And if you need female name ideas instead, we've got your covered on that front, too. Check out our list of best girl dog names. (If you're curious, we're especially feeling Sadie, Clover, and Tillie.)

bedroom with vintage footlocker camp theme, dog on bed

BOB COSCARELLI

"Camp" or "Scout" would be pretty cute for this pup.

Popular Boy Dog Names

Yes, you've likely already heard of some of these options. (According to the American Kennel Club, Max was the post popular boy dog name in 2023, with Charlie and Cooper coming in second and third.) Going with something that's widely beloved isn't a bad thing—it's just a sign that a lot of other people agree that it's a great choice.

Max
Charlie
Cooper
Bailey
Buddy
Teddy
Scout
Milo
Oliver
Rocky
Tucker
Toby
Jack
Winston
Murphy
Louie
Zeus
Boomer
Smokey
Chance
Lucky
Rex
Spot
Scooter
Bandit
Duke
Jake
Benji
Buster
Riley
Jasper
Rover
Finn
Leo

a dog relaxing outside saltbox hill country farmhouse in la grange, texas

Buff Strickland

This cute pooch is right out of central casting for a country music video.

Boy Dog Names Inspired by Country Artists

This may in fact be our favorite dog name category at Country Living—especially if your pup is prone to howling. Dog microphone optional.

Cash
Waylon
Willie
Hank
Bocephus
Merle
Charley
Conway
McGraw
Aldean
Buck
Paisley
Rucker
Garth
Strait
Trace
Denver
Kane

a bandanna wearing dog on the porch of claire zinneckers 1897 folk victorian farmhouse in texas

Buff Strickland

This guy clearly feels right at home in the country.

Boy Dog Names with Country Charm

These picks will ensure your pooch feels right at home in a more pastoral setting, frolicking among the tire swings and gravel drives.

John Deere
Moonshine
Hunter
Maverick
Austin
Cody
Wyatt
Butch
Cassidy
Sundance
Gentry
Levi
Holler
Stetson
Cash
Dutton
Huck
Ranger
Jimmy Dean
Bronco
Tex
Skeeter
Cowboy
Lasso
Davis
Tony Lama
Durango
Ford
Chevy
Mud
Clay

screened in porch, porch swing, wicker furniture painted in night watch by glidden lakeside cabin, houston lake, georgia walter gray, kelly gray

Brie Williams

Need pet name inspiration? Just raid the cooler or the bar cart.

Boy Dog Names Inspired by Drinks

This list is for the dog that sits at your feet while you sip something refreshing in your rocking chair.

Whiskey
Rye
Bud
Pappy (after Pappy van Winkle)
Espresso
Coffee
Cortado
Cappy (short for Cappuccino)
Brew
Earl Gray
Boozer
Guinness
Pabst
Bushwhacker
Growler
Keg
Nehi
RC
Arnold Palmer

Brian Woodcock
Licks his lips at the sound of the word "Biscuit."

Boy Dog Names Inspired by Food

Take your pick but we'll admit we're kinda partial to Moon Pie and Tater Tot.

Biscuit
Bacon
Toast
Moon Pie
Bagel
Cookie
Peanut
Grit
Cheerio
Butter
Cashew
Burger
Tater Tot
Pork Chop
Drumstick
Taco
Nacho
Sushi
Caesar
Meatball
Meatloaf
Hoagie
Oreo
Cannoli
Miso
Waffles
Noodle
Nugget
Crackerjack
Popcorn

COREY HENDRICKSON/AURORA PHOTOS
"My humans call me Phelps."

Boy Dog Names Inspired by Sports

Can your dog jump high? Is he lightning-fast? Then consider one of the athletically inclined options below.

Champ
Victor
Bolt
Puck
Slugger
Rugby
Blitz
Dunk
Baller
Bomber
Dodger
Homer
Rawlings
Scout
Ump
Chip
Links
Callaway
Wrigley
Yank
Maverick
Goalie
Penn (like the Tennis brand)
Ref (When he acts up you can say, "Ref, you gotta be kidding me!")
Yogi (Berra)
Ali
Kelce (named for Travis Kelce)
Kobe (Bryant)
Mamba (named for late basketball legend Kobe Bryant)
Neymar (named for soccer player Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior)
Novak (named for tennis star Novak Djokovic)
Babe (Ruth)
Gronk
(Charles) Barkley
(Tom) Brady
(Lionel) Messi
(David) Beckham
(Peyton) Manning
(Michael) Jordan
Mookie (Wilson)
(Arthur) Ashe
Shaq (O'Neal)
Satchel (Paige)
Rafa (Nadal)
(Mike) Tyson
Yogi (Berra)
(Cal) Ripken
(Michael) Phelps

Tara Romasanta Photography

Talk about ruff-ing it.

Boy Dog Names Inspired by Nature

Dog parents who appreciate the tranquility of a day spent in nature will love these outdoorsy options.

Summit
Ranch
Everest
Canyon
Wolf
Wilder
Brooks
Sky
Bear
Geo
Alder
Ash
Spruce
Flint
River
Rocky
Oakley
Cliff
Moose
Tiger
Indigo
Barley
Ocean
Storm
Cedar
Camp

plaid sofa in front of staircase with dog decor rescue dogs bedford and gibson

Brian Woodcock

Dutton here is currently binging Yellowstone on Paramount Plus.

Boy Dog Names Inspired by Fictional Characters

Looking to a favorite film, TV show, or video game for inspiration is a fun way to find a name. It also gives you an excuse to settle in on the sofa in the name of 'research.'

Dutton (Yellowstone)
Rip (Yellowstone)
Kayce (Yellowstone)
Cletus (Resident Alien)
Inigo (Princess Bride)
Toto (Wizard of Oz)
Huck (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn)
Finn (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn)
Sawyer (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn)
Harold (Harold and the Purple Crayon)
Bond (James Bond)
Bodhi (Point Break)
Ferris (Ferris Bueller's Day Off)
Gandalf (Lord of the Rings)
Riggins (Friday Night Lights)
Solo or Lando (Star Wars)
Doc (Back to the Future)
Falkor (The NeverEnding Story)
Hopper (Stranger Things)
Barney (Barney the Dinosaur)
Vader (Star Wars)
Luke (Star Wars)
Chewbacca or "Chewy" (Star Wars)
Simba (The Lion King)
Thor (Avengers)
Scooby (Scooby-Doo)
Dug (Up)
Pongo (101 Dalmatians)
Snoopy (Peanuts)
Blue (Blue's Clues)
Comet (Full House)
Archie (Riverdale)
Bruiser (Legally Blonde)
Cheddar (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
Marley (Marley and Me)
Remy (Ratatouille)
Jax (Mortal Kombat)
Luigi (Super Mario Brothers)
Yoshi (Super Mario Brothers)
Buzz (Toy Story)

bookish buds halloween costume and door decor

Brian Woodcock

If you encounter a name you love in a book, be sure to dogear it. Right, Atticus?

Boy Dog Names Inspired by Books, Authors, and Literature

Look no further than the local library for a name that has some gravitas. While we're here we should also probably let you know that you could also get a smoking jacket for your pup while you're at it.

Atticus
Finch
Boo
Radley
Kerouac
Gatsby
Heathcliff
Faulkner
Ernest
Hemingway
Beckett
Bingley
Darcy
Sherlock
Watson
Dante
Gulliver
Harry
Rowling
Holden
Keats
Homer
Poe
Truman
Capote
Melville
Yeats
Silas
Hugo
Whitman
Thornton
Wilder
Cormac
McMurtry
Dewey (as in the Dewey Decimal System)

emma the dachshund in her easy pack bed with camera and passport chew toys petplaycom

Brian Woodcock

This guy’s just livin’ that glamorous jetsetting life.

Boy Dog Names Inspired by Celebrities/Hollywood

Go ahead and roll out the red carpet for your favorite rescue pet. (Just don't blame us if he provides you with a three-page rider of ridiculous demands.)