No, not Bingo.
Definitely not Coco.
And you’re not going anywhere near Bella.
You’ve recently adopted the cutest dog and you want a female dog name that’s as unique as she is. One that makes people go: “Oh, that’s an unusual name. What does it mean?”
You’ll find it fulfilling to tell people the meaning of your dog’s name and why you picked it, as well as how it suits your dog’s personality, origin, or appearance.
I’ve been there. It can be difficult to decide on that spectacular name. To make the process easier for you, I listed 64 unique English and foreign female dog names. I’ve even included the story behind a few!
RELATED: Looking for names for boy dogs? We have those too.
The icing on the cake? A short, but creative guide to making a choice.
Fun, right?
Foreign and English Names for Brave Female Dogs
Your dog is the feisty type.
Following you around the house, helping with chores. Running into the woods looking for God-knows-what. Even saving you from a fall or other mishap.
She’s a brave one, your little girl. And her name should reflect her courage. Here’s a list of foreign female dog names for brave dogs.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Carla | Warrior | German |
| Araminta | Protector | English |
| Yi | Resolute | Chinese |
| Bree | Power/upbeat | Irish |
| Etana | Strength | Swahili |
| Fiadh | Wild | Irish |
| Ember | Burning coal | English |
| Anala | Fire | Hindu |
| Geesi | Bold | Somali |
| Fiamma | Flame | Italian |
| Millie | Determined | Latin |
| Courage | Having a tendency to take risks | English |
| Edan | Fiery | Irish |
| Eloisa | Warrior | French/German |
| Potentia | Power | Latin |
| Fuego | Fire | Spanish |
| Athne | Fire | Irish |
| Kalama | Flaming torch | Hawaii |
| Meja | Strong | Swedish |
| Valor | Courage | English |
| Aria | Lion | Hebrew |
Fast Fact: The German Shepherd is one of the bravest dog breeds there is.
Soft Foreign Names for Female Dogs
Lovey-dovey. Affectionate. Gentle. That’s your dog’s personality.
Here are some foreign names that will reflect her gentle nature:
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Pronunciation |
| Faye | Faith | Old French | Fe |
| Azure | Sky blue | Spanish | Ah-szure |
| Esme | Beloved, esteemed | French | Ehz-me |
| Ilda | Friend | Inuit | Eel-dah |
| Farrah/Farah | Joy | Arabic | Far-rah |
| Joli | Attractive | French | Joh-lee |
| Atasi | Blue flower | Indian | Atta-see |
| Lynn | Lake | Welsh | Leen |
| Gwin | Wine | Welsh | Gwihn |
| Elke | Noble | German | Eelke |
| Astra | Star | Hindu | Aes-trah |
| Davina | Beloved | English | |
| Noche | Night | Spanish | No-che |
| Viatrix | Voyager | Latin | Vee-a-trix |
| Fera | Beast | Portuguese | Feh-rah |
| Souzan | Passionate | Persian | Soo-zanne |
| Perrine | Rock | Greek/French/English | Pehriyn |
| Cymru | Friends | Welsh | Kum–ree |
| Masiwa | Islands | Comorian | Mah-see-wah |
| Vimala | Pure | Hindu | Vee-mah-lah |
| Grazyna | Beautiful | Polish | |
| Macedonia | Tall ones or Highlander, suitable for giant dogs | Greek | Maa-cee-doh-nia |
| Araminta | Protector | English | Aa-R-aa-MIHNTaa |
Fast Tip: Picking a name that sounds like a command could go wrong. For instance, the name “May” sounds like “Stay.” You don’t want to confuse your dog.
Creative English Female Dog Names
Widget not in any sidebars
English is not a boring language. Here are some creative English names for your new pup:
| Name | Meaning |
| Petrichor | The smell of the dry land after it rains |
| Raindrops | Condensed liquid water |
| Wild | Risk taker, unrestricted |
| Dazzle | To shine |
| Pop | A loud explosive sound |
| Galaxy | The milky way |
| Candy | A sweet treat |
| Puzzles | A logical game |
| Nasa | Abbreviation for National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Suitable for dogs who like to wander or stare into space |
| Daffodil | Types of flowers |
| Daisy | |
| Rainbow | An arc of seven colors usually seen after it rains |
| Bliss | A season of utmost happiness |
| Biscuit | A light snack |
| Coffee | A brewed drink |
| Freckles | Light spots on the human body, usually the face |
| Bloom | Of a flower; to open up attractively. Most suitable for cheerful female dogs |
Fast Fact: Different dog breeds have their origin in various nations. It’s easy to guess where the German Shepherd originates, for instance. Here’s a tip: name your dog according to the country its breed originates from. Imagine calling your Havanese pup “Cuba.”
Female Dog Names With Interesting Stories
Stories give life to a name. The history, the origin, the culture behind it.
Maybe you don’t want to look lost when somebody probes about your dog’s name. Here are a few names with their accompanying stories:
Maeve: From the Story of Queen Maeve of Connacht
Origin: Irish
Meaning: Intoxicating
Queen Meadhbh is a character in Irish Mythology. She was a prominent warrior in first Century Ireland who had a gracious height, light skin, and was all around attractive.
She is famous for the Tain Bo Cuailnge, where she led a troop of warriors into Ulster to steal a bull.
Her name is derived from “mead,” a type of honey wine made in ancient times. It was originally spelt Meadhbh but today, Americans spell it as Maeve. The Irish, on the other hand, go for Meabh.
Suitable For: This name will reflect strong-willed dogs. Queen Maeve was determined and always went for what she wanted. She initiated the Tain Bo Cuailnge to prove a point to her husband. Queen Maeve was also the jealous type. If your dog is protective, this is a suitable name.
Alma: The Story of the Alma River
Origin: Latin
Meaning: Nurturer
In 1854, there was a battle between the Ottoman, British, French, and the Russian Empire.
They fought the battle near the Alma River in the Crimean Peninsula. Since then, people have begun using the name Alma to celebrate the British and French victory.
The name is derived from the Latin word “almus” which means to nourish. We also seen Alma in the Bible in various forms:
- To connote a maiden
- The name of a prophet
- One of the lost books of the Bible
Suitable For: Because of its meaning, this name will fit dogs that enjoy looking out for people.
Winn-Dixie: Based on the Movie, Because of Winn-Dixie
Origin: A Supermarket in Florida, a book and movie adaptation.
Meaning: A combination of “Winnie” and “Dixie.” While Winnie is Welsh for “fair one,” Dixie is a slang for the southern U.S.
Because of Winn-Dixie is a story about a special Berger Picard and his owner, Opal. Although Winn-Dixie is male, the name isn’t really gendered and can be used for female pups too.
Because of the dog, Opal assumes more responsibility and opens her heart to love. In three instances, she fights for Winn-Dixie:
- When she first finds the dog, Winn-Dixie iss homeless, so Opal adopts him against all odds;
- When the landlord wants to send Winn-Dixie to the dog pound;
- When Winn-Dixie runs away during a thunderstorm
Suitable For: Winn-Dixie is a friendly dog that gets along with everyone. As Winn-Dixie learns to love, he opens up his owner’s heart to do so, too. This name is suitable for dogs that enjoy making new friends.
Azer: From The Land of Fire
Origin: Persian
Meaning: Place of fire
The Republic of Azerbaijan is Persian for “home of sacred fire.” It was formerly known as Aturpatakan.
Why was the country given this name?
According to Greek mythology, Prometheus, now the god of fire, stole fire from the gods. As a result, Zeus chained him to the Caucasus Mountains. To date, fire seeps from the mountains, although it is largely tamed by Soviet exploitation.
Suitable For: This name is best for dogs that are feisty, strong and insisting. You can give her the full name, Azerbaijan, and then make nicknames out of it. Azer, Bail, A.Z or Az would be both unique and cute.
Let Your Dog Pick Her Name
We know that this is a long list of names.
Maybe you’ve been able to shortlist your top 10. Or even a top 5.
But what happens when you’re staring at two names you adore, and don’t know which to settle on?
Let your dog pick her name. Yes, we said that. Dogs know what they want and are more intelligent than we can imagine. Research has proven that dogs have some cognitive and even metacognitive skills.
We let two homeless puppies select their own names; Max or Riley? Look how that turned out:
If you don’t have treats to use as we did, you could label food bowls with your shortlisted names and see which one she’ll go for.
Dogs may be unable to read, but if they say that’s their name, then so be it.
Fast Fact: The poodle isn’t all hairs and adorable. According to the American Kennel Club, poodles are one of the smartest dog breeds.
She Shall be Called…
Picking a creative name is not all there is to raising dogs. You’ll still need to attend to your new puppy’s training, grooming and health. It’ll be like raising a baby! And Rocky Kanaka is willing to keep you enlightened through the process.
And when you consider adopting another pet to keep your dog company, we’ll know where you can find one.
You might even fall in love with one of the pets on our YouTube Channel.
We’re on a mission to take American dogs off the streets. And we’d love it if you join us on this journey.
