80 UNIQUE GERMAN DOG NAMES
Awesome and Pretty Dog Names from Germany and Austria that will make you stand out at the dog park
Unique dog names
Unique dog names that will stand out at the dog park are not easy to come by when even names like Kilo, Odin, Loki or Penny are now used all over the dog community. As naming your dog is an important part of bonding with your new pet, it gives you the opportunity to be a lot more creative than if you were to name a child. It can also be a lot more stress than naming a baby, though.
If you’re a lover of German culture and/or German breeds you might ask “What should I name my dog?”
It took us almost a week to decide on Missy’s name. The first 6 days we called her puppy, doggy, baby and “hey you”. Don’t pressure yourself! You can change the name if you realise after a bit that it doesn’t fit after all. Just make sure you reinforce the name with positive rewards.
Yes, we are your typical German girls….in Dirndl and Lederhosen!
What to consider when naming your German dog:
A dog’s name is best short and precise with a maximum of two syllables. Make sure the dog name ends with a vowel. And consider the cues you want to teach your dog. If you will teach “NO”, please don’t name your dog “PO”. I know a Po at our dog park so I can attest to that! It is clear this dog does not know what neither No nor Po is LOL.
I found this wonderful post about renaming your dog that I find very helpful. In case you are worried about the process of renaming your pet, definitely give this a read!
While there are many reasons you should give your dog a German name in particular, the most important one is probably that they kick ass! German dog names are unique and can honor your dog’s breed’s ancestry. Of course, you can give your dog a German dog name without being an originally German dog breed. A Louisiana Calhoun is just as cute a Heidi as a Beagle could be a Schröder.
I knew a Boxer named Pax (as in latin. peace), but Gretchen would be cute too!
German dog names, the expert (self proclaimed)
What does this chick know about German dog names anyway, you might be thinking now! EVERYTHING. Not only am I German and spent most of my life in the land of Sauerkraut und Biergarten, my first family wirehair dachshund was actually called WALDI. Waldi is the most old school dog name you can think of!
I bet this Dachshund is called Waldi. The most German Dachshund name there is.
In my years in Germany I have pet many, many dogs and know a thing or two about the good old German pooch, mainly the rural Bavarian dogs. So, here’s my list of a big mix of dog names that are so cute, and also work as baby names if you want to. However, Don’t call your baby Waldi, though!
Pro tip: there might be 3 names of old boyfriends that made it on my dog name list. The first one to guess the 3 names correctly and put them in the comments will get a little surprise!
German Male Dog Names
Waldi - The ultimate bad ass German dog name, typically a Dachshund’s name. Fun fact: The first Olympic Mascot for the 1972 games in Munich was a Dachshund called Waldi!
Hasso - Is a bigger dog’s name and probably comparable with the use of Rover in the US.
Karl - Like Charles it means Strong and sound like a name I would give my buddy: “Karl, come here, get a treat, Karl!”
Rex - A German Shepherd is a Rex. That’s a fact. Especially since the very popular K9 police show with German Shepherd Kommisar Rex set in Vienna, Rex is a staple of German Shepherd names and for other doggies of course too.
Schröder - Even before the German chancellor Gerhard Schröder, Schröder was a popular pets name.
Otto - You can’t go much “Germaner“ than this
Kurt - Same, fun fact, also my great uncles name.
Lumpi - While this is a fixed name, this also works perfect as a nickname of endearment.
Fritz- Originally the short form of Friedrich. I feel this is especially cute for any small terrier
Wuschel - If you are fluffy, you are wuschelig. So Wuschel is like “Fluff” or “Fluffy”
Bello - While this resonates with Spanish: Bella or Bello, this is actually meant as a pun to “bellen” ,“er belt” which means barking. So it could be translated to Barky.
Brutus - Et tu Brutus? Most famous last words in world history…Maybe more Latin, this is definitely still a popular dog name in Germany
Gustav - From the Medieval Slavic words gosti ("guest") and slava ("glory") this name is widely known in Germany and the most famous Gustav is probably Gustav Gans, the German Gladstone Gander.
Eike - So nordic and strong. Either from the word for oak or a pointed sword in old high German. Both impressive enough.
Ludwig - Famous and War are at the core of this name and of course it’s the name of many German Regent’s. A regal name for a fancy Doberman perhaps?
Konrad - The bold ruler, sounds very sophisticated, I think. I see a Great Dane with that name.
Kaspar - Be quick with this one. While its origins are said to be Swedish as well as Persian (remember the three wise men!) a Kaspar is also widely known as the children’s Jasper from a widely known hand muppet show.
Carsten - Can be traced back to a version of “Christian”. Very northern.
Wolfgang - Love this for a wolf kinda dog like Husky, Malamut etc. short: Wolfi.
Struppi - If you know the Adventures of TinTin, his dog’s name (Snowy in English and Milou in French) was Struppi in German. The books were called Tim und Struppi.
Rüdiger (Old High German) hruod (fame) and ger (spear) - This is a name, likely shortened to Rüdi, and I’d like to see a gracious Weimaraner with that name. Adorable
Hans - Or Hänsel (the small Hans), known from Hänsel and Gretel.
Günther - In the 1920’s, this was the most popular boy’s name. Don’t underestimate the charge of this name though, a compound of old high German “gund” for Fight and Army
Wauzi - German children call dogs either Wauwau (that’s the children’s onomatopoeia -wauwau is “woof woof”) or Wauzi for short.
Burschi - good for Dachshunds. Translates the endearment form for boy or lad
Sepp - short for Joseph, this is super Bavarian.
Poldi - Short for Leopold and I think super cute…
Weber - A weaver actually, to me it sounds like a more distinguished name
Wagner - A regular German last name, most notable is probably Richard Wagner who is considered one of Germany’s greatest composers and still honoured with its annual Wagner Festspiele in Bayreuth.
Schäfer - Shepherd in German and the German Shepherd is Schäferhund. So a perfect name for a GSD
König - Literally King. What a beautiful name for a royal dog.
Schubert - We continue with the composers..
Klein - Like Calvin Klein, this means small and could definitely be used for a itty bitty pooch.
Jäger - The Hunter. A great hunting dog name.
Moritz - One of Germany’s most popular boy names and regularly in the top 20 of baby name listings. This is also a very old name deriving from Saint Mauritius. However, Moritz is especially popular in regards to an old German children’s book of Max & Moritz, two naughty boys that always got into trouble.
Klaus - Yes, like Santa Claus.
Werner - The defender in old German. It may be the name of a mid-aged grandpa, your dad would be a Werner, but I feel this name could be a kick ass mutt’s name.
Holger - Old Norse for fighter from the island. Though originally and most popular in Denmark, this name is highly popular in Germany, and Wikipedia will tell you that most famous people with that name are from Germany.
Donner - As in Thunder - might remind you of the reindeer, but this guy ain’t fooling in any reindeer games.
Blitz - Some know Blitz as an NFL tactic. Blitz literally means lightning and is used for example in Blitzschnell. “Fast as lightning”, great name if you want to honour Odin or Zeus without the overused names.
Don’t let the name fool you! The Great Dane is originally from Germany. In German called Deutsche Dogge.
German Female Dog Names
Engel - This means Angel. This fits to any dog, doesn’t it?
Liebe, Liebelei - Love or Love Affair, how beautiful!
Susi - Fun fact: Lady and the Tramp was called Susi and Strolch in German! A Cocker would fit perfectly for this name.
Trixie - Cute, isn’t it?
Heidi - “Nuff Said”
Senta - Senta Berger was a big movie star in the 60’s and 70’s and beyond. Fun fact: Our very first American family dog (pre my existence) was called Senta.
Irma - This is the original old high German name for Emma and means world.
Gesine - Strength of a Speer (yes, we love the war names).
Hilde - Wilde Hilde, I’d love to see a Boxer with this name.
Gina, Regina - Latin. Queen Gina is the short version and pronounced with a hard G. As in Gidget.
Birte - A Swedish form of Birgit, this name is widely popular in the north of Germany and means something like newer times.
Almut - Of distinguished conviction, this name is perfect for a distinguished looking dog. I see a cutie with Heterochromia, two different coloured eyes with this name.
Franka - Old high German: free and open, I love this name! You may remember the actress Franka Potenta from “The Bourne Identity/Supremacy” and “Blow”
Linda - Short for Sieglinde or Gerline and on the list because my great grandmother’s name was Linda.
Helga - Whose grandma is not called Helga? Kind of a renaissance name I think. I see a beagle with this one.
Hedwig or Hedi - Blending of two words meaning battle and fight. Harry’s Owl was indeed a fighter, wasn’t she?
Hildegard - Like so many old high German words, there’s a lot of fight, battles and war in this name. Used in short: Hilde to make it super cute.
Lisbeth - Short for Elizabeth.
Jutta - This name goes back 1,000 years and means child or descendent. I don’t know about you but my fur baby is definitely my descendant.
Waltraut - The Ruler of Strength, this name is super old but deserves to be brought back…could be a Waldi too?
Beate - Derived from Latin Bea, meaning blessed, any dog deserves that kind of name!
Liselotte - Combination of Elisabeth and Charlotte, this name was ranked amongst the most popular girls names in the first half of the 20th century. Time for a come-back I think!
Lotte - Short for Charlotte.
Lotti - Cute version of Lotte.
Lütte - This is a word of endearment up north for a young girl
Brunhilde - From a very famous 12th century German tail the Nibelungen Lied, Brunhilde was the original German OG having a guy killed for cheating in a contest for her hand that meant to outperform her in strength and courage (she was an amazon like queen bad ass).
Please do note the Bunhilde in Django unchained, however.
Minnie (Wilhelmine) - Minnie apparently ranked high in the US up until the 1940’s (think Minnie Mouse), and lost in popularity, probably due to Minnie Mouse stealing her thunder. I still love Minnie.
Traudl - Strong spear - that sounds like a name I want to give my Schnauzer or Dachshund, looks more like a Speer :-)
Sissi - Like the Austrian empress Sissi, short for Elisabeth, who was actually from Bavaria and married Prinz Friedrich of Austria and was made immortal through the 1950’s movie trilogy “Sissy with Romy Schneider” (probably had a similar iconic status as America’s Gone with the Wind (which is also iconic in Germany, though). A beautiful Chihuahua should be a Sissi, I think.
Vroni - Short for Veronica, this name is iconic if you ask me.
Glöckchen - This means small bell and is actually Tinkerbell’s German Name. Name for a poodle, maybe?
Mathilda - “Mighty Battle” and well known in the English speaking world due to a certain movie…
Fräulein - You all know this one. The German Fräulein is well known and means “Miss”. While it is not used as much anymore and considered demeaning by some people today. I call Missy Fräulein when she was naughty. Funny habit. My dad already did that when I was a girl. Also, waitresses would be called Fräulein.
Gretchen - Endearment form for Greta, short for Margareta, greek for Pearl. A big doggy would be cute with this. Maybe a Rottweiler? Would make her sound super soft and loveable.
Marlene - Think Marlene Dietrich. A combination of Maria and Helena, or Magdalena (depending on what source you believe) this will give your doggy instant classic Hollywood glam.
Silke - Though derived from Cecilia (Latin. heavenly) Silke it is pronounced Silk-eh
Stark - While I hate to promote a name familiar for its appearance in Game of Thrones, this name means strong and is a bad ass name for a girl puppy, I think.
Freya - The old Norse goddess that would be considered today as a party girl, was a real player. However, she enjoyed pleasure in all its many forms. Best for a doggy that knows what she likes.
Anka - These two syllables are the ideal combo for a dogs name, ending in an open vowel, with a hard consonant in the middle.
Jule - A version of Julia, this name is short and precise, perfect for recall.
What is your favorite name from this list? Any favorite German Names I may have missed? Let me know in the comments or drop me a line in my IG post here!
