Top dog names in Ireland

Author picture Jessica  - updated: 29/01/2021

What are the top dog names in Ireland?

Charlie, Lola, Molly and Bailey are four of the most popular dog names in Ireland, according to our database of several thousand furry friends. They are followed closely by Bella, Alphie, Daisy and Buddy.

Have you adopted a furry friend and need some ideas? It’s important to choose a name that suits your dog’s personality as well as your own, and we hope these lists bring inspiration to new pet parents out there. 

Puppy in owner's arms

Human-inspired names are always the favourite among pet owners, which is likely because of the growing humanisation of our precious pets.

Evidence of this can be found in the way we interact with and care for our fur kids: from home-cooked doggy meals and dog play-dates to doggy birthday parties and outdoor adventures. Pets aren't just pets anymore, they really are our fur-kids.

The top 20 dog names in Ireland are: 

  • Charlie
  • Lola
  • Molly
  • Bailey
  • Bella
  • Alfie
  • Daisy
  • Buddy
  • Max
  • Luna
  • Coco
  • Teddy
  • Millie
  • Oscar
  • Poppy
  • Ruby
  • toby
  • Milo
  • Bonnie
  • Lucy

Top dog names by gender

Are you adopting a male or female dog? These lists might help inspire a suitable name, many of which work well with both genders. Or, mix it up completely - you can make your own rules to pick the perfect name!

Top 10 female dog names

  • Lola
  • Molly
  • Bella
  • Daisy
  • Luna
  • Millie
  • Coco
  • Poppy
  • Ruby
  • Bailey

Top 10 male dog names

  • Charlie
  • Alfie
  • Max
  • Buddy
  • Teddy
  • Oscar
  • Toby
  • Milo
  • Ted
  • Bailey

Dog with lady

What are the most unusual top dog names?

Many dog owners love to have fun choosing a name, and the more unique, the better! Pop culture always has an influence on pet names, as do historical and political figures.

We loved exploring the weird and wonderful names on our database, and can’t wait to hear some of these at the local dog park.

Top Food-Inspired Dog Names

  • Baguette
  • Blueberry
  • Cheddar
  • Hotpot
  • Lambchop
  • Lamington
  • Merlot
  • Omelette
  • Pistachio
  • Satay

Top Fictional Character Inspired Dog Names

  • Alexis Rose
  • Batman
  • Elsa
  • Moira Rose
  • Mr Meowgi
  • Murphy Brown
  • Obiwan
  • Olaf
  • Snoopy
  • Tigger

Top Funny Dog Names

  • Toby Wan Kenobi
  • Sir Lick-a-lot
  • Sir Charles Barkley
  • Sinead O’Dogger
  • Freddy Mercury
  • Mr Darcy
  • Slim Shady
  • Trashgremlin
  • Muck Muck
  • Lord Benedict Cumberbum

Top Historical-Figure Dog Names

  • Caesar
  • Apollo
  • Elvis
  • Bronte
  • Chopper
  • Hercules
  • Merlin
  • Brutus
  • Ringo
  • Victoria

Tips for choosing a dog name

While it may seem exciting to give your dog a name that is just as special as them, it’s also important to consider how it will sound out loud - especially for dogs. Names that are too long or hard to pronounce can cause confusion with your dog and for anyone who may be looking after them!

A good way to choose a name is to test it out with your dog. Try calling out to them aloud - does it roll off the tongue easily? Do your dog’s ears perk up? You’re on the right track! 

Short, clipped names are generally agreed to be best for training a dog. Make sure their name doesn’t rhyme with a common command, like ‘sit’ or ‘here’.

And lastly, if your heart is set on a longer name, try abbreviating it to something shorter (for example, Isobella could become ‘Izzy’, or Genevieve could become ‘Jenny’).