Looking for name inspiration? Ben Nour hunts down popular puppy names from around the world.
Bringing home a puppy for the first time is an exciting occasion for everyone in the family — chances are parent and child alike will be arguing over whose turn it is to cuddle their new canine companion!
One particular issue that can lead to heated discussion is a decision familiar to all mothers and fathers — what to name your new dog!
Dogs Life has looked at the most interesting and amusing names from around the world, along with their meaning and origin, to help you and your family decide upon a name that suitably reflects the personality of your newest addition to the family.
Australia
Max
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Max is the short form of Maximilian, which is derived from the Latin word Maximus meaning “greatest”.
Sam
Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Short form of Samuel or Samson, which respectively means “name of God” or “heard of God” and “sun”.
Chloe
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Chloe was one of the names of the Greek goddess Demeter, and means “green shoot”, referring to green foliage.
Bonnie
Origin: Scottish, French
Meaning: “Pretty” from the Scottish word bonnie, derived from Middle French bon “good”.
Charlie
Origin: German
Meaning: The short form of Charles, which is derived from a Germanic word meaning “man”.
USA
Rocky
Origin: German
Meaning: Short form of Rocco, a Germanic name derived from an element (a piece of an individual name) meaning “rest”.
Daisy
Origin: English
Meaning: From the English word for the flower, Daisy also is derived from an Old English word meaning “day eye”.
Cooper
Origin: English
Meaning: “Barrel maker” from a Middle English surname.
Molly
Origin: English
Meaning: Short form of Mary, whose meaning is unclear but reputed to be “rebelliousness”, “wished for child” or “beloved lady”.
Buddy
Origin: English
Meaning: “Friend”.
Brazil
Fausto
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Fausto is the Italian, Spanish and Portuguese form of Faustus, meaning “auspicious, lucky” in Latin.
Sofia
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Form of Sophia, which means “wisdom” in Greek.
Rico
Origin: German, English
Meaning: Short form of Ricardo, the Spanish and Portuguese form of Richard, which means “brave power”.
Pedro
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Spanish and Portuguese form of Peter, which is derived from a Greek word meaning “stone”.
Rita
Origin: Italian, Greek, Latin, Sanskrit.
Meaning: Short form of Margherita, the Italian form of Margaret which comes from a Greek word meaning “pearl”.
Sweden
Ludde
Origin: German
Meaning: Short form of Ludvig, which is derived from a Germanic name meaning “famous warrior”.
Nova
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “New”.
Freja
Origin: Norse
Meaning: Comes from the Old Norse word meaning “lady”.
Saga
Origin: Norse
Meaning: Possibly “seeing one” in old Norse, and in Swedish means “story, fairy tale”.
Stella
Origin: Latin
Meaning: “Star”.
Japan
Takashi
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Noble, prosperous” or “reverence”.
Shinju
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Pearl”.
Haruki
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Clear up” or “sun, sunlight” with “radiance, shine” or “life”.
Makoto
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Sincerity”.
Isamu
Origin: Japanese
Meaning: “Courage, bravery”.
Russia
Boris
Origin: Turkic
Meaning: From the Turkic name Bogoris, perhaps meaning “short” or “wolf”.
Lev
Origin: Russian
Meaning: “Lion”.
Vassily
Origin: Greek
Meaning: Comes from the Russian form of Basil, which comes from a Greek name meaning “king”.
Ludmilla
Origin: Czech, Russian
Meaning: “Favour of the people”.
Svetlana
Origin: Slavic
Meaning: “Light, world”.
Africa
Simba
Origin: Swahili
Meaning: “Lion”.
Asha
Origin: Swahili
Meaning: “Life”.
Kagiso
Origin: Swahili
Meaning: “Peace”.
Lerato
Origin: Sotho
Meaning: “Love”.
Amara
Origin: Igbo
Meaning: “Grace”.
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