Labrador Names
Labrador retrievers have been America’s favorite family dog for decades, and it’s easy to see why: they’re loyal, goofy, food-motivated and always ready for a swim. Despite the name, the breed’s ancestors came from Newfoundland, where the St. John’s water dog helped fishermen haul nets and fetch fish from icy water. British breeders refined them into the Lab we know today.
Because Labs come in three distinct colors, many owners start there. Below you’ll find more than 100 Labrador names grouped by coat color, heritage and job, each with a short note on meaning. For breed cousins, see our golden retriever names; for color-themed lists, try black dog names and brown dog names.
Black Lab names
Sleek black coats call for dark, glossy names. Our black dog names list has many more.
| Name | Meaning / inspiration | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Onyx | Black banded gemstone | Unisex |
| Raven | Glossy black bird | Girl |
| Midnight | The darkest hour | Unisex |
| Jet | Black fossil stone | Boy |
| Shadow | A dark shape | Unisex |
| Ebony | Black hardwood | Girl |
| Licorice | Black candy | Girl |
| Coal | Black fuel | Boy |
| Pepper | Black spice | Girl |
| Ink | Writing ink | Unisex |
| Panther | Black big cat | Boy |
| Stout | Dark Irish beer | Boy |
| Nyx | Greek goddess of night | Girl |
| Bruno | Germanic, “brown” or “armor” | Boy |
| Guinness | Famous Irish stout | Boy |
Yellow Lab names
Yellow Labs range from pale cream to fox red. Try these warm, sunny names. More in yellow color names.
| Name | Meaning / inspiration | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Sunny | Sunshine | Unisex |
| Butter | Pale yellow | Unisex |
| Blondie | Blond-haired | Girl |
| Goldie | Golden | Girl |
| Honey | Golden sweetener | Girl |
| Buttercup | Yellow wildflower | Girl |
| Lemon | Yellow citrus | Unisex |
| Banjo | Bright, twangy instrument | Boy |
| Mango | Orange-yellow fruit | Unisex |
| Rusty | For fox-red Labs | Boy |
| Marigold | Orange-gold flower | Girl |
| Nacho | Cheesy snack | Boy |
| Dune | Sand hill | Unisex |
| Apricot | Pale orange fruit | Girl |
| Wheaton | “Wheat town” | Boy |
Chocolate Lab names
Rich brown Labs practically name themselves. See also our food dog names.
| Name | Meaning / inspiration | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Cocoa | Chocolate powder | Girl |
| Hershey | The chocolate company | Unisex |
| Mocha | Chocolate coffee | Girl |
| Fudge | Brown candy | Unisex |
| Truffle | Chocolate truffle | Girl |
| Java | Coffee | Boy |
| Espresso | Strong coffee | Boy |
| Brownie | Chocolate square | Girl |
| Nutella | Hazelnut spread | Girl |
| Kona | Hawaiian coffee region | Unisex |
| Cinnamon | Red-brown spice | Girl |
| Walnut | Brown nut | Boy |
| Hazel | Hazelnut tree | Girl |
| Moose | Big brown deer | Boy |
| Kahlua | Coffee liqueur | Girl |
Famous Labradors
Labs have starred in bestsellers, served presidents and worked as heroes.
| Name | Claim to fame | Coat |
|---|---|---|
| Marley | <em>Marley & Me</em>, John Grogan’s memoir | Yellow |
| Buddy | President Bill Clinton’s dog | Chocolate |
| Sully | President George H.W. Bush’s service dog | Yellow |
| Vincent | The island dog on TV’s <em>Lost</em> | Yellow |
| Endal | British service dog famed for helping his veteran owner | Yellow |
| Lucky | Pirated-DVD sniffer dog, Malaysia | Black |
| Flo | Lucky’s DVD-sniffing partner | Black |
| Salty | Guide dog who led his owner down the World Trade Center on 9/11 | Yellow |
| Roselle | Guide dog who led her owner from the North Tower on 9/11 | Yellow |
Newfoundland and Canadian names
A tribute to the breed’s birthplace on the rugged North Atlantic coast.
| Name | What it is | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Newfie | Nickname for a Newfoundlander | Friendly and fun |
| Avalon | Peninsula where St. John’s lies | Also Arthurian legend |
| Gander | Newfoundland town famous for hosting 9/11 flights | A male goose, too |
| Harbour | Fishing harbors of the coast | Canadian spelling |
| Cabot | John Cabot, explorer who reached Newfoundland in 1497 | Boy |
| Dory | Small fishing boat | Girl |
| Cod | The fish that built Newfoundland | Boy |
| Puffin | Newfoundland’s provincial bird | Girl |
| Tern | Seabird | Girl |
| Skipper | A ship’s captain | Boy |
| Labrador | The region on the mainland | Nickname “Labby” |
| Bonavista | Cape and town, “good view” | Girl |
Hunting and field dog names
Labs are still one of the most popular gun dogs in the world. These names suit a retriever with a job to do.
| Name | Meaning / inspiration | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Remington | Classic American firearms maker | Hunting companions |
| Beretta | Italian gunmaker | Sleek field girls |
| Drake | A male duck | Duck-hunting dogs |
| Teal | Small dabbling duck | Marsh girls |
| Gunner | Someone who shoots | Eager field dogs |
| Decoy | Wooden duck lure | Blind companions |
| Hunter | One who hunts | Classic field-dog name |
| Ranger | Guardian of the land | Outdoor adventurers |
| Scout | One sent ahead to explore | Clever girls |
| Marsh | Wetland | Waterfowl dogs |
| Timber | Forest; wood | Upland hunters |
| Tracker | One who follows a trail | Nose-to-the-ground dogs |
Popular Labrador names for boys and girls
Easygoing everyday names that fit the Lab’s all-American personality.
| Name | Meaning / origin | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Bear | The animal | Boy |
| Duke | Latin <em>dux</em>, “leader” | Boy |
| Murphy | Irish, “sea warrior” | Boy |
| Tucker | English, “fabric pleater” | Boy |
| Buster | American slang, “fellow” | Boy |
| Jake | Pet form of Jacob | Boy |
| Sam | Pet form of Samuel, “God has heard” | Boy |
| Biscuit | Baked treat | Unisex |
| Maple | The maple tree | Girl |
| Sadie | Pet form of Sarah | Girl |
| Bella | Italian, “beautiful” | Girl |
| Maggie | Pet form of Margaret | Girl |
| Lucy | Latin, “light” | Girl |
| Molly | Pet form of Mary | Girl |
| Charlie | English, “free man” | Unisex |
| Cooper | English, “barrel maker” | Boy |
| Max | Latin, “greatest” | Boy |
| Rocky | English, “rock” | Boy |
| Zeus | King of the Greek gods | Boy |
| Ellie | Pet form of Eleanor | Girl |
| Daisy | Old English, “day’s eye” | Girl |
| Rosie | From the rose | Girl |
| Penny | From Penelope; the coin | Girl |
| Stella | Latin, “star” | Girl |
How to pick the perfect Lab name
- Plan for a big, strong adult. Labs grow to 55–80 pounds, so choose a name that works for the full-grown dog as well as the pup.
- Use a crisp recall name. Labs love to run off after ducks and sticks; a short, sharp name like Duke or Jet carries across water and fields.
- Link it to the coat. Color names are a Lab tradition, and they help you pick fast when you’ve fallen in love with a litter.
- Think about food. Labs are famously food-obsessed, which makes treat names (Biscuit, Nacho, Truffle) feel just right.
- Keep it upbeat. Labs respond to an enthusiastic tone, so choose a name that you enjoy saying cheerfully.
Frequently asked questions
What are good names for a black Lab?
Popular black Lab names include Onyx, Raven, Midnight, Jet, Shadow, Pepper, Guinness and Coal.
What are good names for a chocolate Lab?
Cocoa, Hershey, Mocha, Fudge, Java, Kona, Truffle and Moose are favorite chocolate Lab names.
What are good names for a yellow Lab?
Try Sunny, Butter, Goldie, Honey, Banjo, Marigold, Mango or Rusty for a fox-red Lab.
Where does the Labrador retriever come from?
Despite the name, Labs descend from the St. John’s water dog of Newfoundland. They were developed into the modern breed in Britain in the 1800s.
What is a famous Labrador’s name?
Marley from Marley & Me is probably the most famous Lab. Others include Sully, George H.W. Bush’s service dog, and Buddy, Bill Clinton’s chocolate Lab.