Updated 26 June 2024
Welcoming a new pup home soon? We’ve got you - choose from our 150+ black dog names to suit your new charcoal chum.
We’re starting off with some of the best black female dog names, but you’ll also find name inspiration for male dogs, plus a few ideas to suit your doggo’s other stand-out features.
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Black female dog names
If it’s a female pooch you’re welcoming home, take a look at these black female dog names- and remember - you’ll have to shout it at the dog park!
| Black female dog names | Meaning and name inference |
|---|---|
| Onyx | Onyx is a rare gemstone that often showcases two bands of color - black and white - so it’s perfect if you’re after names for black dogs with white patches. |
| Sapphire | While generally blue, black sapphire is a rare gemstone that’s thought to help with protection and deflecting negative energy. The perfect name for a happy-go-lucky, protective pup! |
| Sand | Black sand is pretty unique, just like your new pup! It’s sometimes partly magnetic, and can be found on the beaches near volcanoes. |
| Myna | Is your new black doggo a little… flighty? Well a myna is a rather unique black female dog name - they’re Asian and Australasian starlings with dark, almost black feathers and a call that travels impressive distances. |
| Ebony | Another find from the East, Ebony is a black-colored wood from southeast Asia, related to members of the persimmon family. |
| Opal | Did you know that opal can be black? Well if your new pooch keeps you feeling upbeat (and naturally, that will be the case), opal is a great name, as it’s thought to protect against negative energy. |
| Quartz | If you’re after a female black dog name that represents your pooch’s good vibes, Quartz could fit just fine - the gemstone is thought to help you attract positive vibrations. |
More female black dog names
- Olive
- Luna
- Caviar
- Melanite
- Panther
- Swan
- Tea
- Cocoa
- Pepper
- Sesame
- Blackberry
- Velvet
- Petunia
- Tulip
- Orchid
- Dahlia
- Primrose
- Iris
- Pearl
- Sky
- Cookie
- Sherry
- Vanilla
Black dog names: male
As promised, here’s our list of male black dogs names! While some are obvious, others are slightly more far-fetched and will be a great conversation starter at your local dog park.
| Male black dog names | Meaning and name inference |
|---|---|
| Darth | If your pooch has a dark side, maybe Darth (as in Darth Vader of Star Wars) will suit their eclectic personality. |
| Shungite | This rare, healing gem is said to be around 2 billion years old, so if you’re adopting an older pooch, Shungite could be the perfect black dog name! |
| Tourmaline | What could be better for your precious pooch, than a gemstone meaning ‘precious’ itself? Fun fact? ‘Tourmaline’ comes from ‘turmali’, which means ‘something small from the Earth’- which your pooch kind of is, too. |
| Baloo | If you’re a Disney fan, Baloo could be the perfect black dog name for your dark-colored doggo. Known for being a teacher of cubs, it’s the perfect name for a wise old doggo. |
| Fang | Remember the hefty, ever-drooling doggo from Harry Potter? Well if you’ve got pup with midnight-colored fur of the same disposition and you’re a fan of the franchise, give ‘Fang’ a try. |
| Obsidian | If your new black doggo gets you out exploring places you wouldn’t without a pup for company, try ‘Obsidian’ on for size - it’s a gemstone that’s thought to help build courage. |
| Jasper | It’s thought that jasper was used as a talisman to deflect negative forces in ancient times, and let’s face it, our doggos do this just by existing, right? |
More male names for black dogs
- Ilvaite
- Onyx
- Carbon
- Charcoal
- Tux
- Bat
- Stallion
- Checker
- Spade
- Shade
- Fog
- Dusk
- Iron
- Mud
- Diesel
- Pit
- Coal
- Jaguar
- Clove
- Phantom
- Black Beard
- Mangave
- Tuxedo
- Crow
- Magpie
- Beetle
- Seal
- Goth
- Gibbon
- Soot
- Tarmac
- Space
- Polish
- Tar
- Suit
- Belt
- Lead
- Raisin
- Ash
- Thunder
- Bull
- Stout
Cute black dog names
Have you recently adopted a pooch so cute, you simply need a black puppy name to match their adorable presence? We’ve got you - here’s a (very subjective) list of names to try on.
- Coffee
- Cocoa
- Pepper
- Chocolate
- Olive
- Blackberry
- Dahlia
- Lace
- Baloo
- Chimp
- Vanilla
- Brownie
- Soot
- Shadow
- Oreo
Unique black dog names
One way to get the conversation started at your local dog park or your pup’s training classes is to opt for an obscure black dog name. So, take those below as a starter for ten for your one of a kind, dark-furred doggo.
| Unique black dog names | Meaning and name inference |
|---|---|
| Mondo | From black mondo grass. It’s a striking black plant made of grass-like leaves with white flowers, belonging to the Asparagaceae family. |
| Bamboo | Did you know that bamboo can be black? Well now you do - it’s native to the Hunan Province of China and grows clumps of slender canes which turn black after two or three seasons. |
| Blackbeard | While dogs don’t technically have beards, we thought we’d include this one for all of you history enthusiasts. Blackbeard was an English pirate who died in 1718 and operated around the West Indies. His real name was Edward Teach, but that’s far less interesting (especially if you’re looking for black dog names). |
| Mangave | Ever heard of the plant Mangave Black Magic? It’s a beautiful succulent plant with nearly black, pointed leaves that are known for growing fast (perfect for black puppies then). |
| Baccara | The Black Baccara Rose is apparently the darkest-coloured rose in the world - perfect if you’ve recently adopted a black beauty. The flower is actually a dark red but under certain lights, it can appear to look black. |
| Lily | While you might think of lilies in their vibrant pink, yellow or orange hues, the Black Odessa Calla Lily is so deep in purple that it can look black. And it attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. |
| Squirrel | Perhaps you’ve welcomed a tiny dog breed into your home, so how about naming your new buddy after the Black Squirrel? They’re mostly found in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. |
| Valais | A rather sassy black dog name, maybe for your new stylish Poodle? You might be surprised to know that this name is after the Valais Black Neck, a domestic Swiss goat from the canton of Valais that can survive in the harshest of conditions. |
| Galloway | Galloway Cattle are Scottish cows covered in a fluffy black coat. |
| Swift | A good name for a black dog who simply can’t keep still! The Common Swift is a blackish-brown bird who flies from Portugal to West China in the summer and from central to southern Africa in the winter. |
| Drongo | With Pongo being such a popular dog name, we thought you’d want to hear about this black-feathered counterpart, the Black Drongo. They’re small Asian passerine birds who are part of the drongo family Dicruridae. |
| Caiman | This is a rather epic black dog name, if you ask us! Ideal if you’ve adopted a substantial Black Lab or Great Dane. The Black Caiman is an enormous crocodile that belongs to the largest existing members of the Alligatorida family. |
| Rooster | Now we know you’ve adopted a black or dark-coated beauty of a pooch and not a bird, but the Black Rooster Ayam Cemani is a pretty cool black-feathered chicken native to Indonesia. |
Strong black dog names
If you’ve welcomed a Great Dane, Mastiff or Doberman home, maybe you’re on the lookout for a black dog name that reflects their impressive stature. So, here’s a list of names for black dogs ideal for the beasty dog breeds, or pick one of these up and ironically name your black Chihuahua!
- Monk
- Night Rider
- Knight
- Miner
- Storm
- Cosmos
- Mountain
- Crow
- Beetle
- Rooster
- Bear
- Wolf
- Gibbon
- Gorilla
- Raven
- Caiman
- Tar
- Bull
- Scorpion
- Domino
- Zeus
- Thor
- King
- Nero
Cool black dog names
Does your pooch exude swagger? Here’s a list of cool names for black dogs.
- Sesame
- Ember
- Pepper
- Clove
- Velvet
- Mondo
- Lace
- Bonobo
- Orca
- Limo
- Domino
- Shadow
- Sirius
- Espresso
- Pitch
- Eclipse
- Nocturne
- Mystery
Tips for choosing names for a black dog
Here are a few handy ideas to help you choose the best black dog name for your new pup.
- Personality. If your pup is filled with energy, loves a sofa laze or has another stand-out personality trait, consider naming them after this.
- TV shows and movies. Got a favorite character that resonates with your pup? Use it as inspiration for your black dog’s name.
- Food. There’s nothing cuter than a pup named after a sweet treat, so reflect that in their name.
- The natural world. If there is an object, plant or animal that resonates with your pup’s appearance or personality, consider incorporating it into their black puppy name.
- Keep it short and sweet. Make sure it’s not too long - that way, you’ll be sure your dog recognises their moniker.
Are you still on the lookout for a black dog name?
Here’s our list of the top dog names that’ll hopefully settle the matter of naming your new pooch.
