Our Favorite Names for Southern Dogs

Sophisticated Dog Bed
Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Naming your pup is one of the most important steps to take when adopting your new family member, allowing you to start bonding and begin the training process as they adjust to their new environment, "Tanner, no!"

Research shows that dog names need to be two syllables. With that in mind, we decided to take a gander at our 100 super-Southern dog names with two or more syllables. Plus, we organized our favorite Southern dog names by gender, foodie names, regional names, hunting names, and famous Southerner names, and included pup-naming tips.

Funny, friendly, or ferocious? Here's a list of names for our favorite furry friends.

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Dog Naming Tips

When Do Dogs Stop Growing?
Ron Levine/Getty Images

There's a common misconception that in the South, our dogs ride around in the backs of trucks and always have a dead duck in their mouths. In truth, we treat our dogs a lot like Ouiser treats Rhett in "Steel Magnolias"—we take them everywhere no matter their size or temperament. They've become best friends. They wait in the car while you run errands. You take them on walks to the park. They sleep beside you.

If you're going to spend this much time with any living thing, then you best love the name that you choose for them and understand the method that goes into dog naming. It needs to be a dog name you like saying over and over again and one that is suitable for your dog's personality.

Short, clear names with one to two consonants also work better than a lengthy name. For example, getting out a name like Genevieve in a hurry over and over again, is going to get old, but you can shorten Genevieve to Genny if you're dead set on the elaborate name. If you're adopting a dog (good for you!) and want to rename the dog, you should try and keep the new name as similar sounding to the old one as possible—i.e., you should rename an old Shelly into a Shelby.

Before you start naming your puppy, take a look at these most popular Southern dog names to see if any of them are a good fit for your puppy.

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Addy

Jane Schwab porch with Beagle
Laurey W. Glenn

Meaning: Noble

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Amelia

yorkie dog on leash
Van Chaplin

Meaning: Diligent, hardworking, industrious

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Annabel

Dog in flower field

Meaning: Lovable

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Annie

Black lab laying down
Robbie Caponetto

Meaning: Grace, favor, beautiful

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Atlanta

Happy Puppy
Gary Clark

Meaning: Fast-footed maiden

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Bacon

White Bulldog
Gary Clark

Meaning: Back; salted, smoked meat from the back and sides of a pig

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Bailey

Chocolate Spaniel Outside
Courtesy Dawn Crites

Meaning: Governor; outermost wall of a castle

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Bandit

Pack of Dogs Playing
Beth Hontzas

Meaning: An outlaw or robber

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Barry

David Ringelstein Curb Appeal
Laurey W. Glenn

Meaning: Spear

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Basil

Beagle sleeping outside
Gary Clark

Meaning: Kingly, royal

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Boudreaux

Fluffy dog walking on farm

Meaning: Farmer

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Bennet

Dog playing in stream
Cary Jobe

Meaning: Blessed herb

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Birdie

lab on boat
Art Meripol

Meaning: Small bird

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Biscuit

Golden Retriever
Scott Suchman

Meaning: A roll-like quick-bread; cookie

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Bourbon

Bar with dog and bed underneath
Laurey W. Glenn

Meaning: Whiskey made in the U.S. mainly from corn

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Buddy

Dog on beach with sunset
Gary Clark

Meaning: Friend

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Butter

wet white lab on dock
Jennifer R. Davick

Meaning: Yellow, smooth fat from churned cream

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Captain

black dog with blue and yellow eyes
Jennifer R. Davick

Meaning: Chief, leader, commander; important military officer

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Charlie

Hound Dog
Gary Clark

Meaning: Free man; army warrior

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Charlotte

Daschund in store with shoes
Art Meripol

Meaning: Petite; feminine

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Cody

english pointer hunting dog
Art meripol

Meaning: Helpful

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Colonel

Golden retriever with stick
Gary Clark

Meaning: Title of respect for distinguished, elderly man; honorary title; high-ranking military officer

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Cooper

black and white dog with toy
Gary Clark

Meaning: Barrel maker

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Cricket

Pug in store
Mary Margaret Chambliss

Meaning: Creak, rattle, cackle; staff, stick

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Daisy

poodle in halloween costume
Robbie Caponetto

Meaning: Days eye; a white and yellow wildflower

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Dallas

Weimaraner puppy chewing raw-hide
Sharon Montrose

Meaning: Meadow, valley; house

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Daphne

French Bulldog on moss lawn
Ralph Anderson

Meaning: Laurel

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Dolly

King Charles Spaniel
Van Chaplin

Meaning: God's gift; sorrows; word for doll

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Dottie

puppy learning to sit
Gary Clark

Meaning: God's gift

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Eli

Weimaraner in garden
Ralph Anderson

Meaning: Ascension; my God

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Elly

beagle sleeping in chair
Charles Walton

Meaning: My God is an oath

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Eloise

shaggy dog on the sand
Robbie Caponetto

Meaning: Healthy and wide

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Elvis

dog wearing sunglasses
Van Chaplin

Meaning: All wise

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Emma

two dogs on golf cart hilton head
Laurey W.Glenn

Meaning: Whole, universal

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Faulkner

Interior of Cure bar showing yorkshire terrier standing on bar counter.
Art Meripol

Meaning: Falconer

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George

black lab at baseball park
Art Meripol

Meaning: Farmer; tiller of the soil

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Georgia

dog by tree in fall
Ralph Anderson

Meaning: Farmer; agriculture

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Ginger

golden puppy in basket
Mary Britton Senseney

Meaning: Ginger root; red-haired person; maid, virgin

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Gracie

bulldog with toys on dog bed
Laurey W.Glenn

Meaning: Divine grace

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Gumbo

Square Root restaurant dog
Art meripol

Meaning: A soup from Louisiana sometimes thickened with okra. The West African word for okra is "ki ngombo."

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Gunner

dog standing outside
Beth Hontzas

Meaning: Warrior

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Hannah

corgi eating food
Laurey W Glenn

Meaning: Favor; grace

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Harley

Slate Hill Farm dog with goats
Laurey W. Glenn

Meaning: Meadow in the woods

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Harper Lee

two dogs on pet bed
Van Chaplin

Meaning: Harp player

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Henry

After: Stable Overhaul Living Room
Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Meaning: Home ruler

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Honey

bernese mountain dog smiling
Gary Clark

Meaning: Nectar; sweet

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Hudson

White lab smiling
Gary Clark

Meaning: Son of Hudde

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Hugo

dog sitting in grass
Beth Hontzas

Meaning: Mind

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Hunter

King Charles Spaniel near doggie door
Laurey W. Glenn

Meaning: One who hunts or pursues

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Jackson

two golden retrievers in baby pool
Scott Suchman

Meaning: Son of Jack

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Khaki

poodle smiling
Gary Clark

Meaning: A strong fabric in a beige color, often used in military uniforms

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Kiki

white dog wearing sunglasses in car
Cary Jobe

Meaning: Nickname for many "K" names

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Laverne

daschund with christmas scarf collar
Will Dicky

Meaning: Of Spring; alder

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Lela

Husky laying down on couch
Jennifer R. Davick

Meaning: Night

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Leroy

two dogs playing with toy
Scott Suchman

Meaning: The king

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Lexie

three corgis dressed for christmas
Robbie Caponetto

Meaning: Protector, defender

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Lucy

Smiling Yellow Labrador dog
sanjagrujic/Getty Images

Meaning: Of light

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Madison

gray shaggy dog
Gary Clark

Meaning: Son of Maude

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Maggie

westie outside
Van Chaplin

Meaning: Pearl

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Magnolia

lab on pontoon boat
Cary Jobe

Meaning: White blooms from the flowering tree, named for French botanist Pierre Magnol

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Maisie

two dogs with cupcakes
Courtesy of Andy Estill

Meaning: Pearl

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Major

gray dog laying down
Art Meripol

Meaning: Council spear

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Memphis

Golden retriever with tennis ball
Gary Clark

Meaning: Enduring beauty

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Millie

English pointer hunting dog in field
Art meripol

Meaning: Gentle strength; strong in work

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Mollie

shepherd dog laying down
Gary Clark

Meaning: Beloved; rebelliousness; wished for child

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Moses

wet lab on dock
Jennifer R. Davick

Meaning: Son; draw out

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Myrtle

white dog in living room
Laurey W. Glenn

Meaning: Nickname from an evergreen, flowering shrub Myrtus

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Nellie

chocolate puppy in basket
Mary Britton Senseney

Meaning: Shining light

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Oliver

yellow lab outside

Meaning: Olive tree

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Oscar

Brown and white dog holding head out of window of parked automobile.
Chris Rogers

Meaning: Friend of deer

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Parker

2014 Palmetto Bluff Idea House, back porch cover try with and without Harley the dog.
Laurey W. Glenn

Meaning: Keeper of the park; park keeper

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Peaches

Bunny and dog sleeping by christmas tree
Laurey W. Glenn

Meaning: Persian apple

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Pepper

small dog sitting on person's lap
Van Chaplin

Meaning: Spice made from peppercorns, dried berries from the black pepper plant

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Percy

white german shepherd
Robbie Caponetto

Meaning: Hero; slayer of monsters

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Popcorn

two dogs standing on deck.
Gary Clark

Meaning: Snack made from heated, popped corn kernels

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Ranger

Spaniel with boy in courtyard
Laurey W Glenn

Meaning: Forest guardian

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Remi

Entlebucher Swiss Mountain Dog Standing in Water on Beach
Getty/Purple Collar Pet Photography

Meaning: Oarsman, rower

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Rocket

Lake House Mudroom
Laurey W.Glenn

Meaning: Bobbin or little spindle

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Rocky

two dogs withing for man in cowboy hat to drop food
Robbie Caponetto

Meaning: Rest

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Roscoe

Terrior dog in clothing store
Art Meripol

Meaning: Doe wood

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Rosemary

golden retriever on stoop
Laurey W. Glenn

Meaning: Dew of the sea

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Rosie

puppy eating dog treat
Joe De Sciose

Meaning: Famous type; the rose flower

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Ruby

dog in christmas collar
Joe De Sciose

Meaning: Red; red gemstone

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Sadie

yellow lab laying on deck

Meaning: Princess

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Sally

king charles spaniel puppy
Van Chaplin

Meaning: Princess

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Savannah

dog walking through doggie door
Ralph Anderson

Meaning: Large, grassy plain

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Sawyer

Middleburg Hunt Christmas Parade hunting dogs
Robbie Caponetto

Meaning: One who saves wood

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Shadow

lab on dock
Jennifer R. Davick

Meaning: Dark area where light is blocked

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Shelby

puppy on stack of dog beds
Ralph Anderson

Meaning: From the farm of willows

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Sonny

two dogs in dog house
Ralph Anderson

Meaning: Son; sun

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Spottswood

white puppy with spotted ear

Meaning: A surname from Scotland

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Sterling

spaniel with toy at bar
Robbie Caponetto

Meaning: Excellent; little star; sterling silver

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Sugar

sleeping bichon frise
Laurey W. Glenn

Meaning: Ground or candied sugar; sweet

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Tanner

Sophisticated Dog Bed
Laurey W. Glenn

Meaning: Leather maker

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Teddy

two westies in front of christmas tree
Beth Hontzas

Meaning: Rich guard, wealthy protector; gift of God

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Trixie

dog in succulent roof dog house

Meaning: Traveller; blessed, happy; noble

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Truman

two king charles spaniels on bed
Laurey W. Glenn

Meaning: Trusty man

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Tyson

terrier sleeping on dog bed
Charles Walton

Meaning: Firebrand

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Whiskey

dog playing on beach
Mary Margaret Chambliss

Meaning: Water of life

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Willie

Library Dog
Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Meaning: Vehement protector

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Male dog names

Madcap Cottage Design Small Blue Christmas Tree
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Design: John Loecke and Jason Oliver Nixon; Styling: Kendra Surface

Bailey
Bandit
Barry
Bennet
Boudreaux
Buddy
Captain
Charlie
Cody
Colonel
Cooper
Eli
Elvis
George
Gunner
Henry
Hugo
Hunter
Jackson
Leroy
Major
Moses
Oliver
Oscar
Ranger
Rocket
Rocky
Roscoe
Spottswood
Sterling
Tanner
Teddy
Truman
Tyson

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Female dog names

Guest of Honor
Photo: Katherine O'Brien

Addy
Amelia
Annabel
Annie
Atlanta
Charlotte
Daisy
Daphne
Dolly
Dottie
Elly
Eloise
Emma
Georgia
Ginger
Gracie
Hannah
Harper Lee
Honey
Kiki
Laverne
Lela
Lexie
Lucy
Madison
Maggie
Magnolia
Maisie
Millie
Mollie
Myrtle
Nellie
Peaches
Rosemary
Rosie
Ruby
Sadie
Sally
Savannah
Sugar
Trixie

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Unisex dog names

Greenery Wreath
Photo: Sara & Rocky

Bacon
Basil
Birdie
Biscuit
Bourbon
Butter
Cricket
Dallas
Faulkner
Gumbo
Harley
Hudson
Khaki
Memphis
Parker
Pepper
Percy
Popcorn
Sawyer
Shadow
Shelby
Sonny
Whiskey

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Regional Dog Names

Savannah
Darrell Gulin/Getty Images

Atlanta
Charlotte
Dallas
Georgia
Jackson
Memphis
Savannah

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Foodie Dog Names

Dog Eyeing Popcorn
Brandi Thompson / EyeEm / Getty Images

Bacon
Basil
Biscuit
Bourbon
Butter
Ginger
Gumbo
Honey
Peaches
Pepper
Popcorn
Rosemary
Sugar
Whiskey

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Hunting Dog Names

Labrador Colors
lizcen / Getty Images

Bandit
Bourbon
Birdie
Captain
Colonel
Gunner
Hunter
Khaki
Major
Ranger
Remi
Whiskey

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Famous Southerners

Dolly Parton Yellow Top and Hat
Stacie Huckeba // Courtesy of Butterfly Records

Dolly—Dolly Parton, born in Tennessee
Elvis—Elvis Presley, born in Mississippi
Faulkner—William Faulkner, born in Mississippi
Harper Lee—Harper Lee, born in Alabama
Spottswood—William Robinson Spottswood III, born in Virginia

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