Originally hailing from the Shetland Islands in the United Kingdom, Shetland Sheepdogs (usually called Shelties), were once used as herders of sheep, ponies, and even poultry. Bred to be smaller than their Collie cousins, these pups have a thick double coat to keep them cozy in harsh climates, and an ingrained sense of loyalty to their loved ones.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), Shelties are incredibly obedient, intelligent, and eager to please. They also make wonderful family pets because they are affectionate and sensitive to their “people”, but cautious of strangers—making them great watchdogs, despite their diminutive size. We’ve rounded up the most popular Sheltie names of the year from our enormous Rover.com database of dog names nationwide. Yes, these are real names given by Sheltie owners, ranked in order of popularity. Did your dog’s name make the list?
Looking for a dog name for your new puppy or adopted family member? Have fun, use your imagination, and be sure to check out other ideas from our wide selection of dog name lists.
Via Pixabay/Mr_niceshoot
The 124 Most Popular Sheltie Names
- Bella
- Max
- Daisy
- Sadie
- Buddy
- Lucy
- Tucker
- Penny
- Molly
- Charlie
- Bentley
- Piper
- Luna
- Maggie
- Bailey
- Beau
- Lexi
- Roxy
- Sophie
- Cooper
- Jake
- Ollie
- Riley
- Jackson
- Toby
- Abby
- Stella
- Winston
- Bailey
- Milo
- Leo
- Sammy
- Jasper
- Lady
- Ginger
- Zoe
- Gracie
- Charlie
- Bonnie
- Nala
- Honey
- Ellie
- Ruby
- Coco
- Lily
- Nash
- Brady
- Maverick
- Copper
- Baxter
- Kobe
- Sam
- Bear
- Ace
- Harley
- Teddy
- Tj
- Gus
- Willow
- Allie
- Skye
- Misty
- Lola
- Ivy
- Athena
- Callie
- Sassy
- Pippa
- Layla
- Sissy
- Rosie
- Chloe
- Ella
- Jax
- Boomer
- Dakota
- Wally
- Shadow
- Otis
- Oliver
- Koda
- Oakley
- Cody
- Apollo
- Chase
- Walter
- Rudy
- Reggie
- Parker
- Phoebe
- Kaya
- Dakota
- Winnie
- Cassie
- Nessie
- Rajah
- Mindy
- Holly
- Beacon
- Shelby
- Minnie
- Gigi
- Panda
- Cecilia
- Lacey
- Oakley
- Bubbles
- Pearl
- Blu
- Angel
- Iris
- Snickers
- Summer
- Foxy
- Samantha
- Lillie
- Mya
- Leia
- Harley
- Nova
- Isla
- Kiwi
- Ebony
- Bear
Top 10 Female Sheltie Names
Names with an asterisk (*) are not in the top 10 for all dogs nationwide
- Bella
- Daisy
- Sadie
- Lucy
- Penny*
- Molly
- Piper*
- Luna
- Maggie
- Bailey
Top 10 Male Sheltie Names
Names with an asterisk (*) are not in the top 10 for all dogs nationwide
- Max
- Buddy
- Tucker
- Charlie
- Bentley*
- Beau*
- Cooper
- Jake*
- Ollie*
- Riley*

Via Pixabay/congerdesign
Sheltie Name Trends
It seems that this breed’s undeniable good looks have had an impact on the names that are chosen for them by their families. As you peruse the list, you’ll see that there are a plethora of names that reference their distinctive coats and other physical attributes, including Ginger, Honey, Copper, and Coco. You’ll also find an assortment of retro names that perhaps represent the Shelties’ “classic beauty”, like Sophie, Stella, Winston, Oliver, and Ruby—which all seem like appropriate names for this classy, timeless breed.
We also see an influx of adorable animal names as well, probably because this breed is so soft, fluffy and cuddly looking. Some of our favorite ones include Teddy, Panda, Foxy, and Bear.
Sheltie Name Advice
If you’re having trouble deciding, keep in mind that great Sheltie names can come from many different sources of inspiration, such as your favorite cocktail, literary characters, celebrities, your heritage, or even historical figures. For example, your puppy might sport a tasty cocktail name like Martini or a literary character-themed moniker like Holden.
Another consideration when choosing your Sheltie’s name? Dog training. This is of particular importance for puppies. When you’re teaching your new dog to respond to commands like sit, stay, or come, you’ll want to be sure their name isn’t a source of confusion. In other words, avoid puppy names that sound like a common dog training cue, such as “Bit,” which could easily be misheard as “sit.”
Of course, what matters most is that the dog name you choose rolls off your tongue. The best Sheltie names will make you happy. We’re fans of the “backdoor test” for dog name selection. It’s pretty much what it sounds like: stand at the back door and call out your new dog‘s potential name. Saying “Rosie, it’s time for dinner!” or “Bentley, leave it!” helps take the name out of your imagination and into reality.

Via Pixabay/brunkehh
All Dog Names, All the Time
As dog lovers through and through here at Rover, we find dog names absolutely fascinating, and we love searching our data on the topic to discover hot trends, quirky choices, and unique twists on classics. Over the years, we’ve compiled plenty of names for you to peruse—and we keep our lists updated with new data each year.
To start, check out our list of the most popular names of 2020, and then jump over to unique dog names to see the contrast. But that’s only the beginning. We’ve got articles covering top creative choices, love-inspired dog names, Mexican dog names, and popular names for nerdy dogs, brown dogs, French Bulldogs, and many more.