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 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

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:

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.