Poodle Names
The poodle is France’s national dog, but the breed actually began in Germany as a water retriever. The word comes from the German Pudel, from pudeln, “to splash in water,” and that fancy show clip was originally designed to keep a working dog’s joints warm while it swam. Today poodles come in toy, miniature and standard sizes, and they’re famously smart, athletic and a little bit dramatic.
This list offers more than 100 poodle names to match that blend of brains and glamour, grouped by style, with meanings. For more Gallic flair, browse our French names; for tiny toy poodles, see small dog names; and for fluffy white poodles, try our white dog names.
French names for poodles
A French name is the classic choice for a poodle. For even more, see our French girl names and French boy names.
| Name | Meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Fifi | Pet form of Joséphine | Girl |
| Gigi | Pet form of Georgette or Gilberte | Girl |
| Bijou | “Jewel” | Girl |
| Fleur | “Flower” | Girl |
| Belle | “Beautiful” | Girl |
| Colette | Pet form of Nicole, “victory of the people” | Girl |
| Amélie | From Amalia, “work” | Girl |
| Margaux | French form of Margaret, “pearl” | Girl |
| Céline | From Latin <em>caelum</em>, “heaven” | Girl |
| Pierre | French form of Peter, “stone” | Boy |
| Louis | “Famous warrior” | Boy |
| Henri | “Home ruler” | Boy |
| Jacques | French form of James | Boy |
| Philippe | “Lover of horses” | Boy |
| Rémy | “Oarsman,” from Latin Remigius | Boy |
| Beau | “Handsome” | Boy |
| Marcel | From Latin Marcellus, “little warrior” | Boy |
Parisian and French place names
Name your poodle after a corner of France. Our French names have more inspiration.
| Name | Place | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Paris | Capital of France | Glamorous girls |
| Sorbonne | Historic university | Brainy poodles |
| Montmartre | Artists’ hill in Paris; nickname “Monty” | Bohemian |
| Seine | The river through Paris | Water-loving poodles |
| Rivoli | Famous Paris street | Chic |
| Provence | Sunny southern region | Laid-back girls |
| Nice | Riviera city (say “neece”) | Beachy |
| Lyon | France’s food capital | Big-appetite boys |
| Bordeaux | Wine region | Red and brown coats |
| Cannes | Film-festival town | Movie-star poodles |
| Versailles | The royal palace | Pampered princes |
| Giverny | Monet’s garden village | Artistic girls |
Fancy and elegant poodle names
Poodles carry off a grand name better than almost any other breed.
| Name | Meaning / inspiration | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Duchess | Noblewoman of high rank | Girl |
| Countess | Wife of a count | Girl |
| Monsieur | French for “mister” | Boy |
| Baron | Nobleman | Boy |
| Majesty | Royal dignity | Unisex |
| Tiffany | Greek, “manifestation of God”; the jeweler | Girl |
| Chanel | The Paris fashion house | Girl |
| Dior | The Paris fashion house | Unisex |
| Givenchy | The Paris fashion house | Unisex |
| Audrey | Old English, “noble strength”; Audrey Hepburn | Girl |
| Grace | Grace Kelly, princess of Monaco | Girl |
| Winston | English, “joy stone” | Boy |
| Sterling | Fine silver; “excellent” | Boy |
| Champagne | The sparkling wine region | Girl |
| Cartier | Famous jeweler | Boy |
Names for poodle coat colors
Poodles come in more official colors than most breeds, including apricot, silver, blue, café au lait and red.
| Name | Coat | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Apricot | Apricot | Official poodle color |
| Café | Café au lait | French for “coffee” |
| Latte | Café au lait or cream | Soft and cozy |
| Silver | Silver | Poodles are born dark and fade to silver |
| Platinum | Pale silver | Glam girls |
| Cognac | Deep amber-brown | For brown poodles |
| Truffle | Chocolate brown | French delicacy |
| Crème | Cream | French for “cream” |
| Blanc | White | French for “white” |
| Noir | Black | French for “black” |
| Cinnamon | Red-brown | Spicy reds |
| Rouge | Red | French for “red” |
| Merle | Marbled coat | Parti and merle poodles |
| Parti | White with colored patches | From “parti-colored” |
Fluffy, curly and cute poodle names
Curly coats and pom-pom tails beg for bouncy names. See our cute girl dog names and cute boy dog names too.
| Name | Why it fits | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Pom Pom | The classic poodle tail tuft | Girl |
| Curly | Tight curls | Unisex |
| Cotton | Soft white fluff | Unisex |
| Meringue | Whipped white topping | Girl |
| Cloud | Fluffy white sky puff | Unisex |
| Poof | A puff of fur | Unisex |
| Ruffles | Frilly edges | Girl |
| Macaron | Pastel French cookie | Girl |
| Soufflé | Airy French dish | Girl |
| Croissant | Flaky French pastry | Boy |
| Brioche | Buttery French bread | Unisex |
| Éclair | French pastry | Girl |
Famous poodles
Poodles have lived with writers, presidents and movie stars.
| Name | Owner or story | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Charley | John Steinbeck’s standard poodle in <em>Travels with Charley</em> | Road-trip companion |
| Rufus | Winston Churchill’s brown poodle | A statesman’s dog |
| Basket | Gertrude Stein’s white standard poodle | Literary and quirky |
| Georgette | Prize poodle in Disney’s <em>Oliver & Company</em> | Diva energy |
| Honey | Priscilla Presley’s poodle, a gift from Elvis | Sweet and golden |
Names for doodles and poodle mixes
Labradoodles, goldendoodles, cavapoos and other poodle crosses are some of America’s most popular family dogs. Their teddy-bear coats suit playful, cuddly names.
| Name | Why it fits | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Doodle | The obvious and adorable choice | Any doodle |
| Teddy | Teddy-bear looks | Fluffy boys |
| Waffles | Wavy coat texture | Goldendoodles |
| Scribbles | A doodle of a doodle | Messy coats |
| Moppet | Old word for a child or rag doll | Shaggy little dogs |
| Bear | Big, round and cuddly | Standard doodles |
| Pudding | Soft and sweet | Cavapoos |
| Ollie | Pet form of Oliver | Friendly boys |
| Nugget | Small golden treasure | Mini goldendoodles |
| Marley | Easygoing, like the famous Lab | Labradoodles |
| Sherpa | Fleece fabric; Himalayan people | Bernedoodles |
| Fozzie | The fuzzy Muppet bear | Shaggy goofballs |
| Wally | Pet form of Walter, “army ruler” | Laid-back boys |
| Maple | Warm red-gold | Red doodles |
| Zoodle | Zucchini noodle, a pun | Silly pups |
Smart names for a brainy breed
Poodles are consistently ranked among the most intelligent dog breeds. Honor that with a clever name.
| Name | Who / meaning | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Einstein | Albert Einstein, physicist | Boy |
| Curie | Marie Curie, physicist and chemist | Girl |
| Darwin | Charles Darwin, naturalist | Boy |
| Sage | Wise; also the herb | Unisex |
| Minerva | Roman goddess of wisdom | Girl |
| Socrates | Greek philosopher | Boy |
| Ada | Ada Lovelace, early computing pioneer | Girl |
| Tesla | Nikola Tesla, inventor | Unisex |
| Sherlock | The fictional detective | Boy |
| Hypatia | Philosopher of Alexandria | Girl |
How to name your poodle
- Match the size. A standard poodle can carry a stately name like Versailles; a toy poodle might suit Bijou or Pom Pom.
- Go French for fun, simple for training. Longer French names are charming, but pick a call name with one or two syllables (Montmartre becomes Monty).
- Use the coat. Poodle puppies often change color as they mature, especially silvers and blues, so wait a bit before committing to a color name.
- Remember they’re athletes. Standard poodles excel at agility and dock diving — a sporty name suits them just as well as a fancy one.
- Poodle mixes count too. Doodles like Labradoodles and Goldendoodles look great with fluffy food names such as Brioche or Latte.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good name for a poodle?
Classic poodle names include Fifi, Gigi, Coco, Bijou, Pierre, Beau, Chanel and Duchess, while fun modern picks include Latte, Brioche and Pom Pom.
Is the poodle French or German?
The breed developed in Germany as a water retriever (the name comes from German pudeln, “to splash”), but it became so popular in France that it is now France’s national dog.
What was the name of Steinbeck’s poodle?
Charley, a standard poodle, rode across America with John Steinbeck and starred in the 1962 book Travels with Charley.
What are good names for a white poodle?
Try Blanc, Crème, Meringue, Cloud, Cotton, Pearl or Soufflé for a white or cream poodle.