Considered one of the world’s oldest breeds, the Chow Chow has a long and fascinating history. They’ve served as hunters and guardians, companions to royalty, and even sporting dogs in ancient China. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), their image has even been spotted in a bas-relief dating back to the Han Dynasty (150-200 BC).
These days Chows are popular in many modern homes—though training and socializing them is essential, as they’re often wary of strangers, and stubborn if they aren’ taught proper behavior early on. But Chows are generally loyal and loving, and they’re also known to be fastidiously clean (for a dog). We’ve rounded up the most popular Chow Chow names of the year from our enormous Rover.com database of dog names nationwide. Yes, these are real names given by Chow 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.
The 129 Most Popular Chow Chow Names
- Bear
- Bella
- Stella
- Luna
- Nala
- Charlie
- Max
- Roxy
- Koda
- Lucy
- Daisy
- Bailey
- Cooper
- Chewy
- Zoe
- Milo
- Rocky
- Teddy
- Lola
- Kona
- Winston
- Rex
- Toby
- Shep
- Simba
- Leo
- Oliver
- Bear
- Honey
- Lexi
- Koda
- Chloe
- Duke
- Blu
- Maddie
- Harley
- Millie
- Lily
- Ellie
- Sadie
- Jack
- Loki
- Shadow
- Roscoe
- Thor
- Hazel
- Ginger
- Buster
- Rusty
- Ruger
- Gunnar
- Archer
- Rudy
- Buddy
- Jasper
- Luke
- River
- Jackson
- Baxter
- Brutus
- Hunter
- River
- Shadow
- Arya
- Layla
- Abby
- Penny
- Maggie
- Athena
- Sasha
- Rosie
- Willow
- Maple
- Riley
- Ruby
- Oso
- Levi
- Bentley
- Bodhi
- Ranger
- Ziggy
- Riley
- Heidi
- Bonnie
- Josie
- Holly
- Piper
- Gracie
- Cleo
- Maya
- Hannah
- Coco
- Cookie
- Aspen
- Roo
- Cocoa
- Khaleesi
- Blu
- Brownie
- Molly
- Koda Bear
- Zelda
- Marley
- Pepper
- Mia
- Mocha
- Floyd
- George
- King
- Ace
- Bandit
- Henry
- Denver
- Tank
- Jax
- Yogi
- Fred
- Walter
- Ghost
- Oakley
- Rufus
- Griz
- Remi
- Beaux
- Franklin
- Finn
- Colton
Top 10 Female Chow Chow Names
Names with an asterisk (*) are not in the top 10 for all dogs nationwide
- Bella
- Stella
- Luna
- Nala*
- Roxy*
- Lucy
- Daisy
- Bailey
- Zoe*
- Lola
Top 10 Male Chow Chow Names
Names with an asterisk (*) are not in the top 10 for all dogs nationwide
- Bear
- Charlie
- Max
- Koda*
- Cooper
- Chewy*
- Milo
- Rocky
- Teddy*
- Winston*
Via Pixabay/Jochen_Schaft
Chow Chow Name Trends
It seems that the unique, fluffy appearance of this breed clearly has 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 good looks, including Simba, Bear, Teddy, Chewy, and Oso. Names that associate them with big (fluffy) forest animals seem to be the most popular.
We also see a big influx of color-inspired names, probably because this breed has such a beautifully-hued coat. The most prominent ones include Ginger, Rusty, Brownie, Maple, Cocoa, and Mocha.
Chow Chow Name Advice
If you’re having trouble deciding, keep in mind that great Chow Chow names can come from many different sources of inspiration, such as your favorite cocktail, movies, celebrities, your favorite vacation destination, or even dog breed history. For example, your puppy might sport a special drink’s name like Fizz or a vacation-themed moniker like Maui.
Another consideration when choosing your Chow Chow 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 Chow Chow 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 “Shadow, leave it!” helps take the name out of your imagination and into reality.
Via Pixabay/Konevi
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, nerdy dog names, funny dog names, popular names that mean love, and names for tough dogs, white dogs, Australian shepherds, Boxers, and many more.