From Snoopy and Scooby-Doo to Slinky in Toy Story, animated dogs have one thing in common with our real life buddies who bark: they all give us permission to unleash our playful inner child. If you are a new pet parent who is looking for a fun moniker for your fur baby, why not pay tribute to a favorite cartoon dog whose antics have made you laugh? See if you can find a name that you’re drawn to from the ones we’ve fetched!
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A
Annette — A name meaning “grace,” Annette was one of the three Cocker Spaniel mix daughters of the pair of protagonists with paws in the 1955 Disney classic Lady and The Tramp.
Apollo — Named after the Greek god of sun and light, this Bull Terrier superhero saves the day in the fictional TV series loved by the four-legged members of Paw Patrol.
Arrow — If you are a baby boomer, you might want to name your new canine companion after the faithful four-legged friend of Oblio, the only person with a round head in a town populated by those with cone-shaped domes in the 1971 animated TV movie The Point!, which spawned the Harry Nilsson hit single “Me and My Arrow.”
Astro — Do you want an out-of-this-world name for your dog? You might want to bestow your new barking bestie with the name of The Jetsons’ canine companion!
Augie Doggie — Dog devotees who grew up watching the antics of Hanna-Barbera’s coterie of cartoon characters might remember this adorable Dachshund, who starred alongside his Doggie Daddy in The Quick Draw McGraw Show.
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Balto — The film that bears his name tells the true tale of a Siberian Husky who gained fame in 1925 as the leader of a pack of sled dogs that charged through treacherous conditions on the last leg of a life-saving mission.
Bandit — The protagonist’s Bulldog buddy in the Saturday morning cartoon The Adventures of Jonny Quest.
Barkley — If you were a child of the 70s you might remember a Rover-fied cartoon depiction of All in The Family known as The Barkleys.
Barky Marky — A canine character from Tiny Toon Adventures, Barky Marky’s voice was provided by Frank Welker, who fans of classic Saturday morning cartoons might know as the voice of Fred from Scooby-Doo!
Barney — Fido-loving Anglophiles might want to name their new pal with paws after the titular canine character from the British children’s series Barney. The moniker of the Old English Sheepdog (who also entertained little ones in the US on The Disney Channel) means “defender.”
Beegle Beagle — Marty Ingels provided the voice of a purple primate’s pal with paws in the 70s Hanna-Barbera cartoon The Grape Ape Show.
Binky Barnes — A bully Bulldog with a surprisingly sensitive spirit, Binky is one of the anthropomorphic animals from the PBS children’s series Arthur.
Bitzer — A four-legged defender of a flock of sheep, Bitzer the Sheepdog is one of the main characters from the popular British stop-motion animated children’s series Shaun The Sheep.
Blue — Puppy-loving preschoolers love to embark on adventures by following the aqua-colored animated canine’s pawprints on Blue’s Clues.
Bodi — Luke Wilson lent his voice to a Tibetan Mastiff who would rather play the guitar than guard his village in the computer-animated comedy Rock Dog.
Bolt — In Bolt, John Travolta provided the voice of the pseudo-superhero who truly saves the day when he fears that his favorite human is in trouble.
Boris — A Borzoi who was among the pack of pooches in the pound in the Disney classic Lady and The Tramp. The name Boris means “wolf.”
Brain — Inspector Gadget’s pal with paws in the 1980s cartoon.
Brandon — The cartoon version of Punky Brewster’s canine companion in the 1982 cartoon It’s Punky Brewster.
Brandy — Animal-loving A-lister Kaley Cuoco spoke for the pampered mixed breed pup who finds herself stranded in the Amazon with a jumpy rabbit in the cartoon series Brandy & Mr. Whiskers.
Brian — You could name your new four-legged family member after Stewie’s literature-loving barking buddy on Family Guy.
Bruno — Are you looking for a fairy tale-inspired name for your new tail-wagging chum? Bruno was the Bloodhound who temporarily transformed into a footman so Cinderella could go to the ball in the classic 1950 Disney film.
Buster — Slinky may have been a plaything, but Buster the Dachshund was Andy’s real playmate with paws in Pixar’s Toy Story.
Butch — A Bulldog who was Pluto’s adversary in classic Disney shorts and the CGI series Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
Buttons — A canine character from the Steven Spielberg-produced animated series Animaniacs.
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CatDog — If you’re looking for a mystifying moniker for your new canine companion, how about the name of the conjoined canine and kitty siblings in the Nickelodeon series CatDog?
Chief — The slobbering St. Bernard brings the silly to the FOX adult animated series Housebroken.
Cleo — A Poodle with purple fur, Cleo (whose name means “pride” or “glory,”) is one of the cartoon companions of a colossus canine in the children’s series Clifford The Big Red Dog.
Clifford — Actor John Ritter provided the voice of everyone’s favorite canine, who made the leap from Scholastic children’s books to the small screen in the PBS animated series Clifford The Big Red Dog. The name Clifford means “ford by a cliff.”
Collette — The daughter of the doggie duo of Lady and The Tramp, the name Collette means “people of victory.”
Colonel — The stout-hearted Old English Sheepdog who helps to save a plethora of puppies from the clutches of Cruella deVille in One Hundred and One Dalmatians.
Copper — The hunting dog who becomes pals with his prey in Disney’s The Fox and The Hound.
Courage — Sci-fi fans may want to name their canine companion after the pup who frequently finds himself in paranormal peril in the cartoon series Courage The Cowardly Dog.
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Dachsie — The Dachshund was among the pack of pooches in the pound in the Disney movie Lady and The Tramp.
Danielle — A name which means “God is my judge,” Danielle was one of Lady and Tramp’s three pups.
Dante — Named in honor of Dante Alighieri,who penned “The Divine Comedy” (an epic poem which takes its reader from Hell to Heaven), the Xoloitzcuintli travels with his human pal Miguel through The Land of The Dead in the Pixar film Coco.
Deputy Dawg — Those with a sentimental streak might want to name their dog after the laugh-inducing law enforcement Fido from The Deputy Dawg Show, which aired in the early 1960s.
Desoto — A dastardly Doberman in the Disney flick Oliver & Company.
Diablo — Far from a “devil,” as his name implies, Diablo is the OCD-suffering Airedale Terrier on the FOX adult animated comedy series Housebroken.
Dinah — If you are a devotee of all things Disney you might want to name your new four-legged friend after Pluto’s Dachshund girlfriend.
Dino — Perhaps he isn’t technically a dog, but we couldn’t resist adding The Flintstones‘ pre-historic pup to our list!
Dodger — Dog lovers in a Dickensian frame of mind might want to consider the name of the Jack Russell Terrier in Oliver & Company whose moniker was inspired by The Artful Dodger from Oliver Twist.
Doogal — Although this canine-centric adventure was panned by critics, the 2006 film boasts the voices of such stars as Ian McKellen, Dame Judi Dench, Chevy Chase, Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Stewart and Kevin Smith.
Dollar — A dog who’s friendship is priceless, Dollar the Dalmatian (or rather, a “Dollarmatian”) is the barking buddy of the world’s wealthiest kid, Richie Rich, who made the leap from comic book to small and big screen success.
Dougal — Fido-loving Anglophiles might want to name their new furry family member after the dog in the popular British children’s show The Magic Roundabout.
Droopy — If your dog is a bit lackadaisical, you might want to name him after the sluggish canine who began appearing in MGM animated shorts back in 1943.
Duchess — A French Bulldog with a cute canine crush on Mike the Pug in the CGI cartoon Mighty MIke.
Dug — The Golden Retriever whose collar allows him to converse in the uplifting Disney Pixar flick Up.
Duke — The massive mixed breed dog who turns Max the Jack Russell Terrier’s life upside down in the computer animated comedy The Secret Life of Pets.
Dynomutt — The canine sidekick of The Blue Falcon, the robotic Rover wowed kids in the 70s when they gathered around the TV set on Saturday morning to watch The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour.
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Einstein — Although some people might think that you’ve named your new barking buddy after the greatest theoretical physicist the world has ever known, devotees of dogs and Disney will recognize Einstein as the name of the Great Dane in the 1988 musical adventure film Oliver & Company.
Elsa — A smarty-pants/service dog, Elsa the Corgi in the animated FOX comedy Housebroken is brought to life on the small screen thanks in part to the voice of actress Clea Duvall. The name Elsa means “pledged to God.”
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Fern Walters — Is your new fur baby shy, intelligent and talented? Then she possesses the same traits as this anamorphic dog from the popular PBS cartoon Arthur.
Fifi — In earlier Mickey Mouse cartoons, Fifi the Pekingese was the four-legged girlfriend of Pluto. In the movie Open Season 2, the name was given to a Toy Poodle voiced by actor Crispin Glover.
Francis — The name of Oliver & Company‘s British Bulldog with discriminating taste means “Frenchman” or “free man.”
Freckles — One of Pongo and Perdita’s passel of pups in One Hundred and One Dalmatians.
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Georgette — Bette Midler, The Divine Miss M herself, provided the voice of the vain Poodle in the Disney flick Oliver & Company. The name Georgette is a feminine equivalent of George, which means “farmer.”
Gigdet — A nickname for a small girl, Gidget was the perky Pomeranian who helped to save the day in The Secret Life of Pets.
Gondo — Actor Harvey Keitel helped to bring tough tail-wagger Gondo to life in Wes Anderson’s stop animation Fido-themed film Isle of Dogs.
Goofy — Although the actor who provided his voice has stated that he is not, in fact, a dog, we think that Mickey Mouse’s pal with paws (who starred on TV in Disney’s Goof Troop) deserves a spot on our list!
Gromit — A claymation canine who has captured the hearts of both UK and US fans, Gromit is a Beagle and bestie of his human pal Wallace, with whom he has many adventures in a series of Wallace & Gromit short films and a well-received motion picture. Gromit’s name is a take on the word “grommet.”
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Harry — The Bulldog buddy of protagonist Stanley Griff in the Disney Playhouse series Stanley, the name Harry means “home ruler.”
Honey — As the voice of the Standard Poodle in the FOX animated series Housebroken, actress Lisa Kudrow has found a whole new pack of “Friends”!
Hong Kong Phooey — Pet parents can name their new barking buddy after the kung fu-fighting canine from the 70s cartoon series, or keep his superhero identity secret by naming their pup after Hong Kong Phooey’s secret self, Penrod “Penry” Pooch.
Huckleberry Hound — If you were a kid who watched cartoons in the late 1950s you’ll remember this blue-hued Southern animated canine of the Emmy Award-winning series The Huckleberry Hound Show.
I
Iris — The animated object of Mike the Pug’s affection in the cartoon Mighty MIke, the name of the Chinese Crested powderpuff means “rainbow.”
Itchiford — The voice of Dom DeLuise helped to bring Dachshund Itchiford (also known as Itchy) to life in the 1989 animated dramedy All Dogs Go to Heaven.
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Jenna — The late Hollywood icon Audrey Hepburn served as an inspiration for Balto’s girlfriend in the 1995 animated true tale of a Siberian Husky who saved the lives of little ones suffering from diphtheria in the 1920s.
Jock — The Scottish Terrier with a heart of a hero in Lady and the Tramp.
Jupiter — One of the stop motion Spots who inhabit Trash Island in the Wes Anderson movie Isle of Dogs.
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K-9 — Marvin the Martian’s pea green pal with paws in a series of Looney Tunes shorts.
King — A faithful Fido in the Wes Anderson stop motion animated adventure Isle of Dogs.
Krypto — It’s been said that a dog is man’s best friend. Well, Krypto is Superman’s best friend! Making his debut in 1955 alongside Superboy in a DC Adventure Comics storyline, in 2005 the pup with superpowers had his own cartoon series (Krypto the Superdog) on Cartoon Network and can be seen in the web TV series Titans, where he is portrayed by canine actors Digby, Lacy and Wrigley.
L
Lady — The uptown Cocker Spaniel who falls for a stray in Lady and The Tramp. Pet parents who name their dog after the character might also call their new canine companion “Pidge” (short for Pidgeon), just as The Tramp did in the 1955 Disney classic.
Ladybird — Named in honor of former First Lady “Lady Bird” Johnson, the elderly Bloodhound was the four-legged family member of the Hill family on the sitcom King of the Hill.
Lafayette — Although history buffs (and Hamilton fans) may think that you’ve named your new pal with paws after the French officer who fought in the Revolutionary War, Disney devotees will be able to discern that your dog was named after the Basset Hound in The Aristocats.
Little Brother — Another adorable Disney dog, Little Brother is Mulan’s barking buddy.
Lucky — As you are fortunate to have your new fur baby in your life, why not name your canine companion Lucky, the name that was given to the Dalmatian puppy in One Hundred and One Dalmatians with a horseshoe-shaped pattern of spots.
Luiz — Is your dog a drooler who loves to party? You might want to name him after the Carnival-crazy Bulldog from Rio and Rio 2.
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Marmaduke — A name meaning “leader of the seas,” Marmaduke is the leader of the pack when it comes to animated canines! Starting out as a comic strip back in 1954, the adorable Great Dane has gone on to entertain young TV viewers in segments of the 80s cartoon Heathcliff and film fans through the 2010 live action family-friendly comedy that bears his name.
Max — A noble name which, when referring to the moniker’s elongated version Maximillion, means “greatest,” Max is the Jack Russell Terrier who is none too eager to share his human with a new dog in the Pixar presentation The Secret Life of Pets. (Fun fact: Universal Studios Hollywood is poised to launch The Secret Life of Pets: Off The Leash, a ride that will promote pet adoption!)
Mike — Protecting his pet parents’ home from a pair of mischievous raccoons while attempting to court the cute canine next door, MIke (a name which means”gift from God”) is a playful Pug in the cartoon Mighty Mike.
Mr. Peabody — History’s smartest dog began entertaining little ones in the late 1950s on The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends, before stepping into the limelight in a comedic cartoon of his own, Mr. Peabody and Sherman.
Mr. Peanutbutter — Admirers of animation aimed at adults might want to name their new pal with paws after the yellow Labrador Retriever in the Emmy-nominated Netflix series BoJack Horseman.
Mumbly — Fans of 70s shows will remember the Columbo-esque canine detective from the Hanna-Barbera creation The Mumbly Cartoon Show and Laff-A-Lympics.
Muttley — If you grew up in the 1960s you’ll probably remember the snickering sidekick of Dick Dastardly in the Hanna-Barbera cartoons Wacky Races and Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines.
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Nana — A proud pet parent to a Saint Bernard named Porthos at the time he penned the tale about the boy who wouldn’t grow up, Peter Pan creator J.M. Barrie would later immortalize his dog Luath in the beloved tale of the boy who wouldn’t grow up by making the character of Nana a Newfoundland. A sweet name for a dog of any breed, the name of the Darling children’s canine caretaker means “grace” in Hebrew, “Lady” in Swahili and “spring” in Japanese.
Napoleon — While there will be those who assume that a dog dubbed Napoleon was named after French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, film-loving fans of felines will know Napoleon as the comedic Bloodhound in the 1970 Disney flick The Aristocats.
Newt — Although some may think that you’ve named your dog after a salamander or the little girl in Alien, cartoon fans will know that your four-legged friend refers to the Dachshund in Animaniacs.
Nutmeg — Scarlett Johansson helped to bring former show dog Nutmeg to life in the stop-motion Wes Anderson movie Isle of Dogs.
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Oddball — One of Pongo and Perdita’s pletora of pups in Disney’s One Hundred and One Dalmatians.
Odie — A Terrier/Wirehaired Dachshund with a name inspired by a car dealership commercial, Odie is Garfield’s goofy pal in the comic strip, cartoon and live-action movie about a lasagna-loving orange tabby.
Olive — Not only did actress Drew Barrymore provide the voice of the Jack Russell Terrier who helps Santa Claus in the 1999 computer-animated TV special Olive, The Other Reindeer, she also chose the name for her first daughter.
Oracle — We predict that your dog would love to have the same name as that of the prognosticating Pug in the stop-motion animated movie Isle of Dogs.
Ozzi — The one-eyed, tri-pawed Pug from the 2013 computer animated tale Epic.
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Pal — Pup-loving little ones who watch PBSKids will recognize the name of aardvark Arthur Read’s erudite dog from the series Arthur.
Patch — An independent pup, Patch (whose name comes from a distinctive dark spot of fur encircling one eye) was one of Pongo and Perdita’s pack of puppies in One Hundred and One Dalmatians.
Patou — The Basset Hound was the barking buddy of a crooning rooster named Chanticleer in the 1991 animated musical comedy Rock-A-Doodle.
Pedro — A crooning Chihuahua who was part of the pound hounds in Lady and The Tramp.
Peg — Named in honor of Peggy Lee, the entertainer who provided her voice in Lady and Tramp, Peg was a Pekingese who crooned the tune “He’s A Tramp.”
Penny — One of the litter of Pongo and Perdita’s pups in One Hundred and One Dalmatians.
Percy — Named in honor of colonist George Percy, the Pug is one of the stars of the animated Disney movie Pocahontas.
Perdita — The name of the beloved four-legged member of the Darling household and mother to a brood of 15 pups, Perdita’s name– which means “lost”– was perhaps a prediction of the peril that her pups would find themselves in in One Hundred and One Dalmatians.
Pluto — Mickey Mouse’s pal since 1930, Pluto was once known as Rover.
Pongo — The proud Poppa of a pack of pups in the tale of One Hundred and One Dalmatians.
Pooka — The dog who befriends an amnestic Grand Duchess in the 1997 animated movie Anastasia.
Porkchop — The adventurous animated four-pawed pal of the main character in the cartoon series Doug.
Pudgy — The name of Betty Boop’s barking buddy.
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Raggs — The animated antics of a pack of puppies entertained pre-schoolers watching PBSKids in the late 2000s.
Ren — The hyper Chihuahua from the 90s cartoon with a cult following, The Ren & Stimpy Show. The name Ren means “water lilly” and “lotus.”
Rex — Meaning “king,” Rex was an appropriate name for the computer-animated canine in the Belgian comedy The Queen’s Corgi.
Rita — A name meaning “pearl,” Rita was a Saluki in the Charles Dickens-themed Disney film Oliver & Company.
Roscoe — The Doberman Pinscher who, along with his partner DeSoto, acted as Fagin’s henchmen in the Dickens-inspired Oliver & Company.
Rover — A classic moniker for a dog, the name was also used for the 1991 musical comedy Rover Dangerfield, with iconic comic Rodney Dangerfield providing the voice of a Basset Hound.
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Santa’s Little Helper — He came in last at the racetrack in the first episode of The Simpsons, but the Greyhound has held first place in the collective heart of the cartoon’s fans since 1989.
Scooby-Doo — If you decide to name your new barking buddy after everyone’s favorite mystery-solving Fido, you could also call him by Scooby’s nickname “Scoob” or by the Great Dane detective’s formal name, Scoobert! (Fun fact: The name Scooby was inspired by none other than Frank Sinatra! The creator of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? misheard Ol’ Blue Eyes croon “doobie doobie-doo” on his classic rendition of “Strangers in The Night,” and the rest is cartoon history.
Scrappy-Doo — If your new fur baby has plenty of “puppy power,” you might want to name him after Scooby-Doo’s feisty nephew.
Scraps — The high-spirited dog skeleton in Tim Burton’s stop-animated film Corpse Bride.
Scud — Sid’s sinister sidekick who helped his human destroy playthings in the popular Disney Pixar flick Toy Story.
Slinky — An expandable pup from the Toy Story franchise, devotees of the Dachshund can ride the Slinky Dog Dash roller coaster at Disney’s Hollywood studios.
Snoopy — Here’s a fun fact: Charlie Brown’s Beagle buddy, who can be seen on the small screen every year in such classics as It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Christmas, was almost called Sniffy! The name was already taken, however, by another comic strip canine. Another fun Snoopy fact: everyone’s favorite Peanuts pup was inspired by Charles Schulz’s childhood dog, Spike. (A name which was later used for one of Snoopy’s relatives!)
Snowy — This Wire Fox Terrier is the tail-wagging chum of a teenage adventurer in The Adventures of TinTin.
Snuffles — This cartoon Bloodhound captured the hearts of TV viewers as he helped to capture bad guys in the classic Saturday morning Hanna-Barbera series The Quick Draw McGraw Show.
Spike — A popular name for cartoon pups, Spike was the name of the Pickles’ pup in Rugrats, as well as Snoopy’s big brother in the Peanuts comic strip and several TV specials, including It’s the Girl in the Red Truck, Charlie Brown, Snoopy’s Getting Married, Charlie Brown and I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown.
Spot — Another classic canine moniker, Spot was the name given by British author Eric Hill to his creation, a small yellow dog who appears in 47 children’s books. The dog leapt from the page to the small screen in Disney’s short film series The Adventures of Spot.
Suki — An Alaskan Malamute with a name that means “beloved,” Suki is Molly Mabray’s canine companion on the PBSKids cartoon series Molly of Denali.
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Thunderbolt — The heroic heartthrob from Pongo and Perdita’s pups’ favorite television series in 101 Dalmations.
Tito — Are you a new pet parent to a tiny dog with a big personality? You might want to name him after the tough Chihuahua in the 1988 animated feature Oliver and Company.
Toby — A Basset Hound who resides with Sherlock Holmes at 221B Baker Street, Toby was a mystery-solving dog in the 1986 Disney flick The Great Mouse Detective.
Toughy — One of the pound dogs who befriends Lady in the 1955 Disney version of Lady and The Tramp.
Towser — A Bloodhound who helps to pass along the news that 15 puppies had been stolen in the 1961 Disney version of One Hundred and One Dalmatians.
Tracker — A Chihuahua who charges in to save the day on Paw Patrol.
Tramp — The protagonist with paws in Lady and The Tramp.
Trusty — A Bloodhound sans his sense of smell, Trusty– who once helped to track down criminals– was a friend of Lady in Lady and The Tramp.
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Underdog — “There’s no need to fear! Underdog is here!” This rhyming Rover saved the day each Saturday morning from 1964 to 1973.
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Winston — The antics of a Boston Terrier puppy (whose name means “joyful stone,”) helped the comedy short Feast win an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
Wishbone — A Jack Russell Terrier named Soccer portrayed barking bibliophile Wishbone in the beloved PBS children’s series.
Wylie Burp — In his final role, silver screen legend Jimmy Stewart provided the voice of the Great Dane who helps Feivel the mouse in An American Tail.
Z
Zero — Jack Skellington’s spectral dog in The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Zuma — Rounding out our list of TV Rovers is Zuma, the heroic Chocolate Labrador Retriever rescue dog in the cartoon series PAW Patrol.