Skip to Content

Black Dog Names: 435+ Names for Black Dogs

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.

Black Dog Names: 435+ Names for Black Dogs - Happyoodles.com

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 BreedDog Breed
AffenpinscherLabrador Retriever
Afghan HoundLancashire Heeler
Appenzeller SennenhundLhasa Apso
Bearded CollieManchester Terrier
BeauceronMountain Cur
Belgian SheepdogMudi
Black and Tan CoonhoundNewfoundland
Black Russian Terrier Norwich Terriers
Bohemian SheperdOtterhound
BorzoiPlott Hound
Border CollieThe Pointer
Boston TerrierPolish Lowland Sheepdog
Bouvier des FlandresPoodle
BriardPortuguese Sheepdog
Brussels GriffonPortuguese Water Dog
Cane CorsoPuli
Cesky TerrierPumi
Cocker Spaniel  Rat Terrier
Croatian SheepdogRottweiler
Curly-Coated RetrieverSchipperke
DachshundScottish Terrier 
Doberman PinscherShikoku
Dutch ShepherdSiberian Husky
English Springer SpanielSkye Terrier
Entlebucher Mountain DogSlovensky Kopov
Finnish LapphundStabyhouns
Flated Costed RetrieverStaffordshire Bull Terrier
Giant SchnauzerSwedish Lapphund
Gordon SetterTaiwan Dog
Great DaneThai Ridgeback
Greater Swiss Mountain DogTibetan Mastiff
HoawartTibetan Terrier
JagdterrierTransylvanian Hound
Karelian Bear DogWetterhoun
Kerry Blue TerrierWorking Kelpie
Black Dog Names: 435+ Names for Black Dogs - title pin with black Newfoundland puppy on front.
Pin me!

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:

Black Cocker Spaniels

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.
appenzeller Sennenhund

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
Black Dog Names: 435+ Names for Black Dogs - Affenpinscher

Bird Inspired Names

  • Ani
  • Coot
  • Crow
  • Falcon
  • Grackle
  • Kite
  • Magpie
  • Myna
  • Noddy
  • Rooster
  • Swan
  • Swift
  • Vulture
  • Rook
Labrador Retriever Puppy

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
Afghan Hound
  • Eclipse
  • Electric
  • Ember
  • Flash
  • Flint
  • Fog
  • Foggy
  • Graphite
  • Hole
  • Indigo
  • Ink
  • Inky
  • Iron
  • Jet
  • Lava
Black Dog Names: 435+ Names for Black Dogs - Border Collie
  • Lead
  • Lightning
  • Luna
  • Magma
  • Metallica
  • Mica
  • Midnight
  • Miner
  • Mink
  • Mist (Misty)
  • Mountain
  • Mud
  • Muddy
  • Night
  • Nightfall
Beauceron
  • Nightshade
  • Nova
  • Oil
  • Onyx
  • Ore
  • Orion
  • Pearl
  • Pit
  • Pitch
  • Puma
  • Satin
  • Shade
  • Shadow
  • Shady
  • Skye
Black Russian Terrier
  • 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

Black Lab puppy

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.

Black Dog Names: 435+ Names for Black Dogs - Chien De Berger Belge

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
Portuguese Water Dog
  • 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.

NameMeaning
Adrian Black in Latin
Adrien French for Dark
Aka Black in Uzbek
Azur Meaning black in Egyptian
BellinarFrench for Beautiful and dark person
BismanIndian Black; Dark Blue
Choccy Australian for Chocolate
Corbin Meaning Raven in French
Dee Dark in Welsh
DonelleElfin Girl who has Dark haired
DuffGaelic for dark
Fia Dark in Gaelic
HeraGoddess
Hercules
JettaJet Black in Latin
NameMeaning
KeiraCeltic meaning Little Dark-haired Woman
Kuro Japanese
MarliBlack Swan (Noongar) – Name
Melanie Greek French for blackness
Musta Black in Finnish
Nisha Night in Sanskrit
Noche Night in Spanish
NoirBlack in French
Noire Black in French
Nuit The Egyptian goddess of the Night Sky
Oso Meaning Bear in Spanish
PretaBlack in Portuguese (F)
Preto Black in Portuguese (M)
RevnaNorse – Raven
Schwarz Black in German
Sheba African Queen
SvartNorwegian
SwartBlack 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

Black Dog Names: 435+ Names for Black Dogs - Newfoundland

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
mini Schnauzer

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
Black Dog Names: 435+ Names for Black Dogs - Black German Sheperd
  • Fefe
  • Galaxy
  • Gizmo 
  • Goth
  • Grim
  • Groucho
  • Gucci
  • Hex
  • Ink Spot (nickname Spot)
  • Magic
  • Murk
  • Mystery
  • Nebula
  • Nike
  • Nyx
Great Dane - Black
  • 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 poodle

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
Two black poodles
  • Cecilia
  • Chanel 
  • Ciara
  • Cruella
  • Darla
  • Doris
  • Dot
  • Electra
  • Elvira
  • Estella
  • Fawn
  • Gypsy
  • Harlequin
  • Iris
  • Kat
Black Dog Names: 435+ Names for Black Dogs - Kerry Blue terrier
  • Lamya
  • Lana
  • Lena
  • Leyla
  • Lil
  • Lily
  • Lylah
  • Mi Mi
  • Mila
  • Mily
  • Missy
  • Misty
  • Mittens
  • Monkey
  • Morticia 
Giant Schnauzer
  • Nessie
  • Nila
  • Phoebe
  • Pipa
  • Piper
  • Pippin
  • Pipsy
  • Pita
  • Queenie
  • Raisin
  • Sandy
  • Sasha
  • Saskia
  • Serena
  • Sileni
Black English Springer Spaniel
  • Sky
  • Skylar
  • Sonya
  • Stella
  • Tabatha
  • Tika
  • Tilly
  • Tina
  • Toto 
  • Ursula
  • Vixen
  • Witchy
  • Yasmin
  • Yaz
  • Yuri
  • Za Za
  • Zara
  • Zulu
Black Lhasa Apso

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
Beauceron Brown and black
  • Bruno
  • Brutus
  • Bullet
  • Chase
  • Chief
  • Coffee
  • Coley
  • Colton 
  • Cosmo
  • Cub
  • Dade
  • Damien
  • Danger
  • Darcy
  • Dark Angel
Black Scottish Terrier
  • Delano
  • Diesel
  • Django
  • Duke
  • Duncan
  • Dusky
  • Felix
  • Gabe
  • Goliath
  • Grease
  • Grizzly
  • Gunnar
  • Haze
  • Hunter
  • Jackal (Jack for short)
Curly Coated Retriever
  • Jasper
  • Jessie
  • Jethro
  • Judas
  • Ken
  • Kev
  • King
  • Kingston
  • Knight
  • Kol 
  • Kolby
  • Latte
  • Leo
  • Louis
  • Lucifer
tibetan terrier - Black and white
  • Mack
  • Max
  • Merlin
  • Miguel
  • Mike
  • Milo
  • Minnie (Minnie Mouse)
  • Morris
  • Mustang
  • Nero
  • Ninja
  • Oden
  • Odie
  • Olive
  • Opal
Border Collie
  • Opie
  • Oscar
  • Oz
  • Ozlo
  • Panda Bear
  • Pengu
  • Penguin
  • Phantom
  • Pluto
  • Poe
  • Polo
  • Pongo
  • Poppy
  • Prince
  • Quill
Black Briard
  • Racer
  • Razor
  • Renegade
  • Rex
  • Rick
  • Roadster
  • Rocky
  • Sable
  • Salem
  • Sarge
  • Scar
  • Slater
  • Smokey
  • Soldier
  • Spot
Wetterhoun
  • Spy
  • Styx
  • Sullivan (or Sully!)
  • Sylvester
  • Tank
  • Taz
  • T-Bone
  • Ted
  • Teddy 
  • Terminator
  • Tint
  • Toby
  • Toots
  • Tootsie
  • Trooper
Boston Terrier
  • Tundra
  • Tux
  • Tuxedo
  • Uno
  • Vanish
  • Vlad
  • Zorro

Not what you are looking for?

Check out more dog name posts: