by Daniela Lopez, | September 27, 2023
Michelle Edmonds / Stocksy
Adopting a dog elicits all kinds of feelings, from nerves about training or introducing your new pet to your resident family members to excitement about bonding with your new friend. One of the most fun parts about welcoming a new four-legged family member, however, is getting to choose their name. And if your new dog has a black coat, a whole new world of possibilities is thrown into the mix.
From some fan-favorite black dogs in pop culture to delicious black treats, we have 150 suggestions for names that nod to your dog’s beautiful dark coat. Check out the guide to our favorite names for black dogs below.
Sometimes, it just feels right to really lean into one of your dog’s defining characteristics when naming them. For those of you going on the nose, consider the following:
Obsidian
Flint
Noir
Ebony
Ink
Jet
Cinder
Shadow
Charcoal
Pepper
Night
A wink and a nod toward your dog’s coat may be better suited for some pet parents. No matter your dog’s gender, these names honor their beautiful coats a bit more subtly.
Kodiak
Indigo
Stormy
Thunder
Boomer
Anise
Twilight
Denali
Dusk
Fog
For pet parents of female dogs who want to honor their gender and dark coats, we suggest the following:
Artemis
Astra
Dahlia
Elvira
Luna
Amaya
Devaney
Deva
Umbra
Jade
Eve
Aurora
Ember
Leila
Nerissa
Male dogs with dark coats may be best suited for these more masculine names:
Angus
Ash
Maverick
Kylo
Orpheus
Caligo
Cole
Bran
Obscurio
Blackjack
Darth
Colby
Dante
Jasper
Sable
If your black dog has some white fur in the mix, there are a number of ways to honor the unique blend in their name.
Oreo
Skunk
Dice
Domino
Checkers
Tux
Snoopy
Penguin
Panda
Orca
Few things are darker than outer space. What better comparison to draw between your dog’s black coat than to the great beyond (or the bright lights that break through)?
Cosmo
Midnight
Stardust
Badar
Comet
Big Bang
Draco
Galaxy
Stellan
Stella
Nova
Orion
Vega
Eclipse
Nebula
Plenty of beloved foods are black, and who can resist the delicious comparison between your favorite snack and your favorite pup?
Blackberry
Caviar
Chocolate
Licorice
Nori
Shiitake
Stout
Truffles
Porter
Bean
Soy
Sesame
Fig
Hershey
Fudge
Balsamic
Chia
Pepper
Juniper
Olive
If a food name isn’t your style, consider naming your black dog after a similarly dark drink.
Pepsi
Coke
Dr. Pepper
Mr. Pibb
Java
Coffee
Arabica
Kona
Guinness
Lapsan
Yes, your new pet may technically be a canine, but perhaps they remind you of another black-coated species, like some of the following:
Bat
Bear
Crow
Raven
Panther
Black Beauty
Black Swan
Mamba
Wolf
Starling
Multi-lingual pet parents might consider honoring their other tongues by naming their black dog the word for black in another language. Or maybe your dog’s breed hails from another part of the world, and you'd like to honor that heritage. Here are just a few words for “black” in other languages:
Kala
Preto
Svart
Siyah
Musta
Schwarz
Hei
Kuro
Mávros
Sort
Who doesn’t love a good pop culture reference? Name your dog after one of these famous “dark” characters, and you’ll be sure to bring a smile to the face of everyone you introduce them to.
Beetlejuice
Maleficent
Grim
Sirius
Toto
Morticia
Wednesday
Cruella
Fang
Batman
It’s also always a fun idea to think outside the box with names that are a little bit out there:
Soot
Slate
Iron
Pitch
Tar
Marble
Spade
Knight
Pawn
Nocturne
Enigma
Spot
Ninja
Smoke
It’s important to keep training in mind when choosing your dog’s name. Some trainers recommend keeping your dog’s name to one or two syllables so they can easily learn and identify their name. You should also avoid names that sound like words that will be key to training — for example, the name “Beau” sounds a lot like “No” and could confuse your pup during training.
Avoid dog names that would make others uncomfortable. You should also avoid any names that are racial or cultural slurs, could be interpreted as such, or are offensive to others. Don’t choose a name that will make you uncomfortable to say.
Try to select a name that will grow with your pet. If you’re adopting a puppy, they won’t stay small forever, so choose a name that matches their personality rather than their size.
“Black Dog Syndrome” is a phenomenon that refers to a pattern animal rescue and shelter workers have observed over time that black dogs are more frequently passed over for adoption than their counterparts with lighter coats. Just as other types of dogs, including Pit Bulls or other “Bully breeds,” are considered by many to be less adoptable based on largely unfair and unfounded stereotypes, so are black dogs considered less adoptable based on myths — specifically that black dogs have often been portrayed as “hellhounds” or omens of death in mythology and pop culture. Some have also suggested Black Dog Syndrome may be linked to black dogs not always photographing as well as lighter-coated dogs.
If you have yet to adopt a dog (black or otherwise!), you can search Adopt A Pet for available dogs near you.
Here are a few more dog name lists with even more options.
Daniela Lopez is the content manager at Adopt a Pet. As a content strategist, she has previously contributed to The Bark, The Wildest, and more. She has volunteered for several non-profits, including the Alameda Animal Shelter and Lost Our Home Pet Rescue, and is currently a foster for her local SPCA. In her free time, she has two mixed-breed rescue dogs keeping her on her toes.
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