Once used by German nobles to hunt wild boar, the Great Dane is a breed that’s been around for awhile, officially gaining recognition by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1887. Another interesting fact? The Dane actually has zero known connection with Denmark, despite their moniker.
Though they’re obviously a large breed, they’re considered true “gentle giants” with friendly, loving personalities—though Great Danes can be very protective of those they love. Plus, their immense size take the responsibility of owning one to a new level, meaning that it’s a commitment that should not be entered into lightly. We’ve rounded up the most popular Great Dane names of the year from our enormous Rover.com database of dog names nationwide. Yes, these are real names given by 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/mtajmr
The 126 Most Popular Great Dane Names
- Luna
- Duke
- Bella
- Zeus
- Moose
- Thor
- Diesel
- Stella
- Athena
- Hank
- Lucy
- Willow
- Lily
- Apollo
- Charlie
- Max
- Daisy
- Harley
- Scooby
- Winston
- Jax
- Lola
- Pepper
- Sadie
- Gunnar
- Tucker
- Zoe
- Maggie
- Ellie
- Blu
- Zeke
- Odin
- Beau
- Harley
- Atlas
- Gus
- Titan
- Tank
- Cooper
- Brutus
- Piper
- Bailey
- Blu
- Maverick
- Molly
- Ruger
- Rocky
- Penny
- Kane
- Loki
- Gracie
- Nala
- Rosie
- Nova
- Bruce
- Cash
- Bentley
- Mia
- Louie
- George
- Murphy
- Lincoln
- Bruno
- Lady
- Fiona
- Kona
- Finn
- Buddy
- Henry
- Dexter
- Oliver
- Samson
- Pluto
- Harlow
- Olive
- Minnie
- Roxy
- Millie
- Ruby
- Charlie
- Callie
- Remi
- Bear
- Prince
- Leo
- Dozer
- Lulu
- Annie
- Pearl
- Gypsy
- Quinn
- Xen
- Sampson
- Toby
- Tux
- Raven
- Hazel
- Georgia
- Winnie
- June
- Phoebe
- Penelope
- Layla
- Mana
- Juno
- Sophie
- Arlo
- Ollie
- Waylon
- Sam
- Achilles
- Otis
- Jake
- Harvey
- Paisley
- Kora
- Belle
- Frankie
- Izzy
- Khaleesi
- Storm
- Duchess
- Harper
- Iris
- Ivy
- Bubba
Top 10 Female Great Dane Names
Names with an asterisk (*) are not in the top 10 for all dogs nationwide
- Luna
- Bella
- Stella*
- Athena*
- Lucy
- Willow*
- Lily*
- Daisy
- Harley*
- Lola
Top 10 Male Great Dane Names
Names with an asterisk (*) are not in the top 10 for all dogs nationwide
- Duke
- Zeus*
- Moose*
- Thor*
- Diesel*
- Hank*
- Apollo*
- Charlie
- Max
- Scooby*
Via Pixabay/mtajmr
Great Dane Name Trends
It seems that the size and strength of this breed has had an impact on the names that are chosen for them by their families. As you can see, there are a plethora of names that touch upon their power, including Zeus, Athena, Bear, and Titan. These names speak to the breed’s smart, independent streak and seem wholly appropriate considering their oversized personalities (and bodies!).
We also see some popular character-inspired names, like Scooby, Pluto, and Khaleesi, that show the fun and free-spirited side of this breed—and the personalities of the people that love them.
Great Dane Name Advice
If you’re having trouble deciding, keep in mind that wonderful Great Dane names can come from many different sources of inspiration, such as your favorite books, musicians, your favorite television shows, or even dog breed history. For example, your puppy might sport a famous author’s name like Jane Austen or a tv show-inspired moniker like Lassie.
Another consideration when choosing your Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 “Winnie, it’s time for dinner!” or “Nala, leave it!” helps take the name out of your imagination and into reality.
Via Pixabay/mtajmr
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 French choices, male dog names, female dog names, and popular names for Harry Potter fans, brown dogs, white dogs, Alaskan dogs, and many more.