Updated 09/20/2023 – Are you in search of the perfect name for your black dog or puppy? Look no further! This guide explores the realm of black dog names, providing over 450 unique names tailored for these striking canines.
As you may already know, black dogs possess a captivating allure that sets them apart from the rest of the pack. Their sleek, ebony coats, available in a range of stunning shades from deep obsidian to charcoal, offer a blank canvas for naming creativity.
Consider naming your midnight-loving companion “Luna,” a nod to the moon’s gentle glow. For a dog with a hint of spice and liveliness, “Pepper” could be the perfect choice. “Shadow” captures the mysterious aura of a black dog, while “Onyx” adds an elegant touch to their identity. And if your black pup exudes strength and cuddly charm, “Bear” might just be the ideal fit.
Black dogs are not only visually striking; they also have a rich history, often intertwined with superstitions and folklore. In various cultures, black dogs symbolize luck, protection, and even healing.
So, as you embark on this naming journey, remember that you’re not just selecting a name; you’re embracing the mystique and charm that black dogs bring into our lives. Explore our extensive list of black dog names and find the one that perfectly resonates with your ebony friend’s unique spirit.

Dog Breeds With a Full or Partial Black Coat
Black dog breeds are known for their unique elegance and charm. Here you find a list of black dog breeds, each with its own distinctive characteristics. Some of these breeds come in all black, but some will have black markings on their coat.
Dog Breed | Dog Breed |
Affenpinscher | Labrador Retriever |
Afghan Hound | Lancashire Heeler |
Appenzeller Sennenhund | Lhasa Apso |
Bearded Collie | Manchester Terrier |
Beauceron | Mountain Cur |
Belgian Sheepdog | Mudi |
Black and Tan Coonhound | Newfoundland |
Black Russian Terrier | Norwich Terriers |
Bohemian Sheperd | Otterhound |
Borzoi | Plott Hound |
Border Collie | The Pointer |
Boston Terrier | Polish Lowland Sheepdog |
Bouvier des Flandres | Poodle |
Briard | Portuguese Sheepdog |
Brussels Griffon | Portuguese Water Dog |
Cane Corso | Puli |
Cesky Terrier | Pumi |
Cocker Spaniel | Rat Terrier |
Croatian Sheepdog | Rottweiler |
Curly-Coated Retriever | Schipperke |
Dachshund | Scottish Terrier |
Doberman Pinscher | Shikoku |
Dutch Shepherd | Siberian Husky |
English Springer Spaniel | Skye Terrier |
Entlebucher Mountain Dog | Slovensky Kopov |
Finnish Lapphund | Stabyhouns |
Flated Costed Retriever | Staffordshire Bull Terrier |
Giant Schnauzer | Swedish Lapphund |
Gordon Setter | Taiwan Dog |
Great Dane | Thai Ridgeback |
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog | Tibetan Mastiff |
Hoawart | Tibetan Terrier |
Jagdterrier | Transylvanian Hound |
Karelian Bear Dog | Wetterhoun |
Kerry Blue Terrier | Working Kelpie |

Why are so many dogs black?
You may be wondering why there so many black dogs. It has to do with genetics of course. According to Dog Genetics UK, black is the default eumelanin color in dogs.
Eumelanin is one of the two types of melanin pigments responsible for coat color in dogs, with the other being pheomelanin. Unless a dog possesses specific genes for liver or dilution, its coat will default to black.
Deciding On a Name
When deciding on a name for your new pup, there are 7 guidelines you should follow. We already mentioned the first one:

How to Choose a Dog Name
Selecting the right name for your new dog can be a fun but sometimes tricky task. To make the process easier, here are some practical tips for you to use:
- Consider Your Dog’s Personality: Think about your dog’s personality traits, such as whether they are playful, loyal, or independent. Then pick a name that reflects that trait.
- Avoid Confusing Sounds: Pick a name that doesn’t sound like common commands like sit, stay, or no. This helps prevent confusion during training.
- Keep It Short and Simple: Short names, typically one or two syllables, are easier for your dog to recognize and respond to.
- Test It Out: Say the name out loud to see how it sounds and whether it feels natural when calling your dog.
- Check for Popularity: Make sure the name isn’t common in your area or among your friends’ dogs to avoid mix-ups.
- Keep it clean: Pick a name that you are comfortable saying in public. What might seem funny in private might not go over well in a public place.
- Names have influence: Your dog’s name will influence what people think of your dog.
- Wait a Bit: Spend some time with your new dog before finalizing the name.
- Trust Your Instincts: Ultimately, go with a name that feels right and resonates with you and your furry friend.
- Plan for the future. Not all black coated puppies will stay black. Poodles and some other breeds are known to fade to gray or silver as they mature.

Names for Black Dogs
Animal Inspired Names for Black Dogs
Black is a prevalent hue in the natural world, making it an excellent source of inspiration for naming your pup. These lists feature names inspired by both black-colored birds and animals. If you happen to have a black and white dog, you might find “Magpie” to be a delightful and unique choice.
Animal Inspired Names
- Bat
- Bear
- Jaguar
- Momba
- Orka
- Panda
- Panther
- Raven
- Seal
- Shamu
- Snake
- Stallion
- Starling
- Whale
- Zebra
- Cheetah

Bird Inspired Names
- Ani
- Coot
- Crow
- Falcon
- Grackle
- Kite
- Magpie
- Myna
- Noddy
- Rooster
- Swan
- Swift
- Vulture
- Rook

Nature Inspired Dog Names
Our next list also draws inspiration from the natural world, though its contents aren’t living entities. Among my personal favorites on this list are ‘Pearl’ (akin to the Black Pearl) and ‘Pitch’ (evoking the concept of ‘Pitch Black’).
- Agate
- Ash
- Asphalt
- Carbon
- Cast (as in cast iron)
- Char
- Cinder
- Coal
- Dark
- Diamond
- Dirt
- Dusk
- Dust
- Ebony
- Echo

- Eclipse
- Electric
- Ember
- Flash
- Flint
- Fog
- Foggy
- Graphite
- Hole
- Indigo
- Ink
- Inky
- Iron
- Jet
- Lava

- Lead
- Lightning
- Luna
- Magma
- Metallica
- Mica
- Midnight
- Miner
- Mink
- Mist (Misty)
- Mountain
- Mud
- Muddy
- Night
- Nightfall

- Nightshade
- Nova
- Oil
- Onyx
- Ore
- Orion
- Pearl
- Pit
- Pitch
- Puma
- Satin
- Shade
- Shadow
- Shady
- Skye

- Slag
- Slate
- Soil
- Soot
- Sooty
- Steam
- Stone
- Storm
- Stormy
- Tar
- Thunder
- Twilight
- Velvet
- Witch
For more nature inspired dog names check out our full list of Flower Names For Dogs: Plus Nature Inspired Dog Names

Dog Names From Our Cultures
Our cultures are what define us. It’s the characteristics and knowledge that brings us together but also helps up stand apart. It’s also a great place to look for unique names for our dog.
The list below is a start, but I suggest that you look deep into your own culture to look for a name that will stand out.

Food Related Dog Names
We first start our list of cultural names with common foods and food related words. Names like Cocoa and Truffles make cute unique names for small dogs.
- Anise
- Berry
- Bosco
- Bourbon
- Butler
- Cadbury
- Caviar
- Chocolate
- Chow
- Coca
- Coco
- Cocoa
- Coke
- Cola
- Espresso

- Forge
- Fudge (ie)
- Godiva
- Grit
- Guinness
- Hershey
- Kettle
- Licorice
- Liquorice
- Meatball
- Oreo
- Pepper
- Pepsi
- Roast
- Rum
- Smelt
- Smoke
- Truffles
- Whiskey
Black Dog Names Based on Culture
This list consists of words and names from other cultures that mean black or darkness. To make it easier for you to choose we have included the words meaning. We also threw in a couple of ancient gods into the mix.
Name | Meaning |
---|---|
Adrian | Black in Latin |
Adrien | French for Dark |
Aka | Black in Uzbek |
Azur | Meaning black in Egyptian |
Bellinar | French for Beautiful and dark person |
Bisman | Indian Black; Dark Blue |
Choccy | Australian for Chocolate |
Corbin | Meaning Raven in French |
Dee | Dark in Welsh |
Donelle | Elfin Girl who has Dark haired |
Duff | Gaelic for dark |
Fia | Dark in Gaelic |
Hera | Goddess |
Hercules | |
Jetta | Jet Black in Latin |
Name | Meaning |
Keira | Celtic meaning Little Dark-haired Woman |
Kuro | Japanese |
Marli | Black Swan (Noongar) – Name |
Melanie | Greek French for blackness |
Musta | Black in Finnish |
Nisha | Night in Sanskrit |
Noche | Night in Spanish |
Noir | Black in French |
Noire | Black in French |
Nuit | The Egyptian goddess of the Night Sky |
Oso | Meaning Bear in Spanish |
Preta | Black in Portuguese (F) |
Preto | Black in Portuguese (M) |
Revna | Norse – Raven |
Schwarz | Black in German |
Sheba | African Queen |
Svart | Norwegian |
Swart | Black in Afrikaans |
Teina | Black in Maori |
Thor | |
Titan | |
Xena | Warrior princess |
Zeus |
Looking for a name for your large dog? Check out our list of Big Dog Names: 300+ Names From the Classic to the Unique

Pop Culture
Naming your dog based on pop culture can be a fun way to find a unique name. My favorite is Chaplin, as in Charlie Chaplin. Who was the lovable character from the days of black and white films.
- Batman
- Black Beauty
- Black Magic (nickname Magic)
- Bolt
- Chaplin (as in Charlie Chaplin, king of the black and white movies)
- Darth Vader
- Godzilla
- Hulk
- King Kong
- Micky
- Nana
- Nemesis
- Night Rider
- Pango
- Poisedon
For more culturally inspired dog names check out our posts on; Norse Dog Names: Viking Names for Your Dog; Australian Dog Names: 200 Dog Names to Choose From; French Dog Names; 550 British Dog Names: You Will Want to Use and Scottish Dog Names: 500 Names to Choose From
Black Dog Names From Games
Common games can also make a fun name for your dog.
- Blackjack
- Checker
- Chess
- Dice
- Domino
- Eight Ball
- Pawn
- Spade

Unique Dog Names for Black Dogs
If you are looking for something a bit more unique for your dog, try one of these names.
- Angst
- Arrow
- Atticus
- Black Widow
- Blackfoot
- Blackout
- Bootleg
- Boots
- Chi Chi
- Coven
- Dane
- Demon
- Dash
- Ego
- Enigma

- Fefe
- Galaxy
- Gizmo
- Goth
- Grim
- Groucho
- Gucci
- Hex
- Ink Spot (nickname Spot)
- Magic
- Murk
- Mystery
- Nebula
- Nike
- Nyx

- Reaper
- Rebel
- Sealy
- Sharpie
- Silhouette
- Voodoo
- Yeezy
- Yeti
- York
- Yorkie
- Zeek
If none of these unique names fit what you are looking for check out our full list of Unique Dog Names: Plus How to Pick One

Black Dog Names for Girls
Still can’t find a name that you like. Here are some more names that could be perfect for your female black dog.
- Abby
- Alva
- Ashley
- Astra
- Astral
- Aubrey
- Ava
- Bailey
- Beanie or Bean
- Bebe
- Betty
- Betty Boop
- Beyonce
- Black Diamond
- Black pearl

- Cecilia
- Chanel
- Ciara
- Cruella
- Darla
- Doris
- Dot
- Electra
- Elvira
- Estella
- Fawn
- Gypsy
- Harlequin
- Iris
- Kat

- Lamya
- Lana
- Lena
- Leyla
- Lil
- Lily
- Lylah
- Mi Mi
- Mila
- Mily
- Missy
- Misty
- Mittens
- Monkey
- Morticia

- Nessie
- Nila
- Phoebe
- Pipa
- Piper
- Pippin
- Pipsy
- Pita
- Queenie
- Raisin
- Sandy
- Sasha
- Saskia
- Serena
- Sileni

- Sky
- Skylar
- Sonya
- Stella
- Tabatha
- Tika
- Tilly
- Tina
- Toto
- Ursula
- Vixen
- Witchy
- Yasmin
- Yaz
- Yuri
- Za Za
- Zara
- Zulu

Black Dog Names for Boys
We can’t forget about the boys.
- Ace
- Angus
- Apollo
- Ares
- Asher
- Ashton
- Axle
- Bandit
- Beau
- Beetle
- Binx
- Black
- Blackie
- Bond
- Bronson

- Bruno
- Brutus
- Bullet
- Chase
- Chief
- Coffee
- Coley
- Colton
- Cosmo
- Cub
- Dade
- Damien
- Danger
- Darcy
- Dark Angel

- Delano
- Diesel
- Django
- Duke
- Duncan
- Dusky
- Felix
- Gabe
- Goliath
- Grease
- Grizzly
- Gunnar
- Haze
- Hunter
- Jackal (Jack for short)

- Jasper
- Jessie
- Jethro
- Judas
- Ken
- Kev
- King
- Kingston
- Knight
- Kol
- Kolby
- Latte
- Leo
- Louis
- Lucifer

- Mack
- Max
- Merlin
- Miguel
- Mike
- Milo
- Minnie (Minnie Mouse)
- Morris
- Mustang
- Nero
- Ninja
- Oden
- Odie
- Olive
- Opal

- Opie
- Oscar
- Oz
- Ozlo
- Panda Bear
- Pengu
- Penguin
- Phantom
- Pluto
- Poe
- Polo
- Pongo
- Poppy
- Prince
- Quill

- Racer
- Razor
- Renegade
- Rex
- Rick
- Roadster
- Rocky
- Sable
- Salem
- Sarge
- Scar
- Slater
- Smokey
- Soldier
- Spot

- Spy
- Styx
- Sullivan (or Sully!)
- Sylvester
- Tank
- Taz
- T-Bone
- Ted
- Teddy
- Terminator
- Tint
- Toby
- Toots
- Tootsie
- Trooper

- Tundra
- Tux
- Tuxedo
- Uno
- Vanish
- Vlad
- Zorro
Not what you are looking for?
Check out more dog name posts:
- Big Dog Names: 300+ From the Classic to the Unique
- Unique Dog Names: Plus How to Pick One
- Flower Names For Dogs: Plus Nature Inspired Dog Names
- Norse Dog Names: Viking Names for Your Dog
- Australian Dog Names: 200 Dog Names to Choose From
- French Dog Names
- 550 British Dog Names: You Will Want to Use
- Scottish Dog Names: 500 Names to Choose From
- White Dog Names: 375+ Names for White Dogs