Chihuahua Names
The Chihuahua is the smallest recognized dog breed and one of the oldest in the Americas — it takes its name from the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where the modern breed was first documented in the mid-19th century, and it likely descends from the ancient Techichi dogs of the Toltecs. That heritage, plus a famously outsized personality, makes naming one a lot of fun.
We’ve collected 110+ Chihuahua names, from Mexican names and Aztec-inspired picks to sassy names for girls, hilariously oversized names for boys and names for the tiniest pups. Want more ideas for pocket-sized pets? Browse our small dog names or the complete dog names collection.
Mexican and Spanish Chihuahua names
A nod to the breed’s homeland. See our Spanish dog names for many more.
| Name | Meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Paco | Nickname for Francisco, “Frenchman, free” | Boy |
| Pepe | Nickname for José | Boy |
| Tito | Nickname for Alberto, Roberto and others | Boy |
| Chico | “Boy, small one” | Boy |
| Pancho | Nickname for Francisco | Boy |
| Diego | Spanish form of James | Boy |
| Chiquita | “Little one” | Girl |
| Chula | “Cute, pretty” (Mexican slang) | Girl |
| Lupita | Nickname for Guadalupe | Girl |
| Pepita | “Little Pepa”; also a pumpkin seed | Girl |
| Rosita | “Little rose” | Girl |
| Paloma | “Dove” | Girl |
| Estrella | “Star” | Girl |
| Mija | “My daughter” (term of endearment) | Girl |
| Frida | After the painter Frida Kahlo; Germanic, “peace” | Girl |
| Chispa | “Spark” | Either |
| Poquito | “Little bit” | Either |
| Nieve | “Snow” | Either |
| Sol | “Sun” | Either |
| Bonita | “Pretty” | Girl |
| Luna | “Moon” | Girl |
| Manny | Nickname for Manuel, “God is with us” | Boy |
| Chuy | Nickname for Jesús | Boy |
| Lucha | “Fight”; think lucha libre wrestling | Either |
| Güero | “Blond, fair” (Mexican slang) | Boy |
| Canela | “Cinnamon” | Girl |
| Coqueta | “Flirty” | Girl |
| Flaco | “Skinny” | Boy |
| Coco | Classic nickname; also Pixar’s Día de Muertos film | Either |
Aztec and Nahuatl-inspired Chihuahua names
Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, is still spoken by more than a million people in Mexico today. These names honor the breed’s ancient roots.
| Name | Meaning / reference | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Xolo | Short for Xoloitzcuintli, the Mexican hairless dog | Pronounced “SHO-lo” |
| Techichi | The ancient Toltec dog, ancestor of the Chihuahua | A perfect history nod |
| Tonatiuh | Aztec sun god | Pronounced “toh-NAH-tee-oo” |
| Itzel | Maya, “rainbow lady” or “dewdrop” | Pretty girl name |
| Citlali | Nahuatl, “star” | Pronounced “see-TLAH-lee” |
| Xochitl | Nahuatl, “flower” | Pronounced “SO-cheel” |
| Nayeli | Zapotec, often translated “I love you” | Sweet girls |
| Tlaloc | Aztec god of rain | Dogs who hate getting wet |
| Quetzal | The sacred bird; Nahuatl, “precious feather” | Bright, bold dogs |
| Maya | The Maya civilization; also Sanskrit, “illusion” | Clever girls |
| Azteca | The Aztec people | Proud little dogs |
| Cacao | The sacred bean of the Aztecs | Chocolate-colored coats |
Sassy girl Chihuahua names
For the tiny queen who runs the house. Also try our cute girl dog names.
| Name | Inspired by | Personality |
|---|---|---|
| Diva | Italian, “goddess”; a star performer | Demands the spotlight |
| Princess | A royal daughter | Lap-dog royalty |
| Duchess | A noble title | Refined and bossy |
| Gidget | The 1959 surf film heroine; also the Taco Bell dog of the late ’90s | Energetic girls |
| Tiara | A jeweled crown | Pampered princesses |
| Bella | Italian, “beautiful” | Classic lap-dog pick |
| Lulu | Nickname for Louise, “famous warrior” | Bubbly girls |
| Lola | Nickname for Dolores, “sorrows” | Showgirls |
| Roxy | From Roxanne, “dawn” (Persian) | Bold girls |
| Cleo | Short for Cleopatra | Regal attitude |
| Zsa Zsa | After actress Zsa Zsa Gabor | Glamour girls |
| Coco Chanel | The French designer | Fashionable pups |
| Beyoncé | The superstar singer | Divas who own the stage |
| Gigi | French nickname for Georgina or Gisele | Chic little dogs |
| Sassy | Bold and cheeky | Exactly that |
| Ruby | The red gemstone | Red or fawn girls |
| Bijou | French, “jewel” | Tiny treasures |
Big, tough names for tiny Chihuahua boys
Nothing gets a laugh like a four-pound dog named Tank. Borrow more from our badass dog names.
| Name | Why it’s funny | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bruiser | The famous Chihuahua of Legally Blonde | Ironic from the start |
| Tank | Armored war machine | Weighs less than a backpack |
| Rambo | Sylvester Stallone’s action hero | Fierce defender of the couch |
| Hulk | Marvel’s green giant | Tiny, but angry |
| Goliath | The biblical giant (1 Samuel 17) | David would be more accurate |
| Kong | King Kong | Ruler of the dog bed |
| Rocky | The boxer from Philly | Scrappy fighters |
| Tyson | After boxer Mike Tyson | Punchy little guys |
| Brutus | Latin, “heavy” | Anything but heavy |
| Thor | Norse god of thunder | Loud barks |
| Zeus | King of the Greek gods | Commands the household |
| Diesel | Big-rig fuel | Runs on treats |
| Maximus | Latin, “greatest” | Gladiator in miniature |
| Godzilla | The giant movie monster | Destroys chew toys |
| Butch | Tough-guy slang | Small but bossy |
| Moose | The largest deer | Five pounds of attitude |
Names for the tiniest Chihuahuas
Teacup-sized dogs deserve teacup-sized names.
| Name | Meaning / idea | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Peanut | The little legume | Newborn-sized pups |
| Pixie | A small mischievous fairy | Tiny girls |
| Bean | Small and cute | Micro pups |
| Squirt | Something small and quick | Zippy boys |
| Nugget | A small lump of gold | Golden coats |
| Tiny | Exactly what it says | Tongue-in-cheek |
| Button | Small and round | Button-nosed dogs |
| Mouse | Small and quiet | Shy pups |
| Pebble | A tiny stone | Grey or tan dogs |
| Twiggy | Thin as a twig; the 1960s model | Leggy girls |
| Minnie | Minnie Mouse; “small” | Petite girls |
| Gizmo | A small gadget; the Mogwai in Gremlins | Big-eared pups |
| Sprout | A new shoot | Growing puppies |
| Dot | A tiny point; nickname for Dorothy | Smallest of the litter |
| Pip | A small seed | Teacups |
| Teacup | A tiny cup | The very smallest |
| Shrimp | A small crustacean | Pink-skinned or fawn pups |
| Morsel | A tiny bite | Foodie pups |
Mexican food names for Chihuahuas
Tasty names with a nod to Mexico. More on our food dog names page.
| Name | Food | Coat it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Taco | Folded tortilla with fillings | Tan and fawn |
| Burrito | Wrapped tortilla | Dogs who love blankets |
| Nacho | Tortilla chips with cheese | Golden-orange |
| Churro | Fried cinnamon-sugar pastry | Cinnamon or tan |
| Tamale | Masa steamed in a husk | Cream or yellow |
| Chalupa | Fried tortilla boat | Chubby dogs |
| Salsa | Tomato-chile sauce | Red or spicy personalities |
| Queso | Cheese dip | Pale yellow coats |
| Jalapeño | The green chile | Hot-tempered pups |
| Tortilla | Flatbread | Light cream |
| Chimichanga | Fried burrito | Nickname “Chimi” |
| Mole | Rich chocolate-chile sauce | Dark brown coats |
| Horchata | Rice-cinnamon drink | White or cream |
| Tostada | Crisp flat tortilla | Crunchy characters |
Famous Chihuahuas
The breed has had its share of celebrities, both real and fictional.
| Name | Famous as | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tinker Bell | Paris Hilton’s Chihuahua in the 2000s | A reality-TV celebrity pet |
| Chloe | Star of Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008) | Pampered white girl |
| Papi | Chloe’s love interest in the same film | Voiced by George Lopez |
| Ren | Half of The Ren & Stimpy Show | A hot-headed cartoon Chihuahua |
| Bruiser Woods | Elle Woods’s dog in Legally Blonde | Pink-clad icon |
How to name a Chihuahua
- Embrace the attitude. Chihuahuas are confident and loyal, often bonding with one person — a bold or sassy name fits the breed’s personality.
- Short and bright is best. Their big ears catch high, crisp sounds; names like Pip, Tito or Coco are easy for them to recognize.
- Consider coat and hair length. Long-haired Chihuahuas suit fluffy names (Pixie, Bijou); smooth coats suit sleek ones (Xolo, Ruby).
- Pair it with the ironic option. A tough-guy name on a tiny dog is funny, but make sure you’ll enjoy saying it at the vet.
- Honor the heritage. A Spanish or Nahuatl name is a thoughtful nod to the breed’s Mexican roots — check pronunciation first.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good name for a Chihuahua?
Popular Chihuahua names include Taco, Coco, Luna, Pepe, Chico, Chiquita, Bella, Peanut and Tito. Spanish and Mexican food names are especially popular for the breed.
Where does the name Chihuahua come from?
The breed is named after the state of Chihuahua in northern Mexico, where American visitors first encountered and bought the dogs in the 19th century.
What is a funny name for a Chihuahua?
Big, tough names are a classic joke on a tiny dog: Tank, Hulk, Goliath, Kong, Godzilla or Bruiser.
What is a good girl Chihuahua name?
Chiquita, Chula, Frida, Lola, Gigi, Pixie, Bijou and Paloma are all lovely for female Chihuahuas.
How big do Chihuahuas get?
The breed standard calls for dogs no heavier than 6 pounds, and most weigh between 3 and 6 pounds, which is why tiny names are so popular.