Small Dog Names
Small dogs have a talent for being the biggest personality in any room. A Yorkie will bark down a Great Dane, a Chihuahua runs the household from a pillow, and a pug can clear a sofa of humans in seconds. Their names can lean into that tininess — or hilariously ignore it.
Here are more than 100 names for little dogs, from itty-bitty picks to mighty monikers and a few royal lap-dog classics. Each comes with a meaning or the reason it works. For breed-specific ideas, see our Chihuahua names, dachshund names and French bulldog names. Just brought home a baby? Our puppy names list has more.
Tiny names for tiny dogs
Names that celebrate how small your dog really is.
| Name | What it means | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Peanut | The little legume | Pocket-sized pups |
| Bitsy | From “itty-bitsy” | Toy breeds |
| Pip | A small seed | Quick, bright dogs |
| Pixie | A small mischievous fairy | Pointy-eared girls |
| Squeak | A tiny high sound | Vocal little dogs |
| Thimble | A sewing finger-cap | Teacup breeds |
| Dot | A tiny mark | Spotted minis |
| Shrimp | The little crustacean | Pink-nosed pups |
| Tater Tot | Bite-sized potato | Round little boys |
| Acorn | The oak’s small seed | Brown dogs |
| Pebble | A small stone | Grey dogs |
| Morsel | A small bite | Food lovers |
| Smidge | A tiny amount | Runts of the litter |
| Tidbit | A small, tasty piece | Treat-motivated dogs |
| Mini | Small | Miniature breeds |
| Sprout | A young shoot | Growing puppies |
| Button | Cute as a button | Button-nosed pups |
| Nibbles | Small bites | Snack-obsessed dogs |
| Chickpea | A small round legume | Cream-colored pups |
Big, bold names for little dogs
Few things are funnier than a five-pound dog with a heavyweight name. More ideas in our big dog names.
| Name | Why it’s funny | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Goliath | The biblical giant (1 Samuel 17) | Boy |
| Tank | An armored vehicle | Boy |
| Bruiser | A tough fighter; <em>Legally Blonde</em>’s Chihuahua | Boy |
| Moose | The largest deer | Boy |
| Titan | Greek giants | Boy |
| Kong | Giant movie ape | Boy |
| Hulk | Marvel’s green giant | Boy |
| Beast | A huge wild animal | Unisex |
| Thunder | A huge noise | Unisex |
| Rambo | Film action hero | Boy |
| Godzilla | Giant movie monster | Unisex |
| Duchess | For a very big attitude | Girl |
| Queenie | The boss of the house | Girl |
| Brutus | Latin, “heavy” | Boy |
Sweet names for small female dogs
Soft, pretty names for lap dogs and little ladies. More on our cute girl dog names page.
| Name | Meaning / origin | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Bijou | French, “jewel” | Precious and petite |
| Coco | French-style nickname | Chic little dogs |
| Lulu | Pet form of Louise | Pomeranians and poodles |
| Minnie | Pet form of Wilhelmina | Toy breeds |
| Bella | Italian, “beautiful” | Classic for Maltese |
| Tinkerbell | Peter Pan’s fairy | Tiny and sparkly |
| Gigi | Pet form of Georgette | Parisian flair |
| Rosie | From the rose | Affectionate cuddlers |
| Pippa | Pet form of Philippa | Bouncy British pups |
| Zoe | Greek, “life” | Lively girls |
| Poppy | The red flower | Red Pomeranians |
| Birdie | A little bird | Chirpy dogs |
| Violet | The small purple flower | Shy sweethearts |
| Daisy | Old English, “day’s eye” | Cheerful minis |
| Kiki | Pet name found in many languages | Energetic girls |
| Suki | Japanese, “beloved” | Shih Tzus and Japanese Chins |
| Penny | From Penelope; the coin | Red and copper coats |
Cute names for small male dogs
Friendly, spunky names for little boys. See our cute boy dog names for more.
| Name | Meaning / origin | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Gizmo | A gadget; the <em>Gremlins</em> Mogwai | Fluffy little boys |
| Ziggy | Pet form of Siegfried | Zippy energy |
| Milo | Germanic, possibly “merciful” | Friendly lap dogs |
| Ollie | Pet form of Oliver | Sweet and simple |
| Louie | Pet form of Louis | Charming little guys |
| Buster | American slang, “buddy” | Spunky terriers |
| Rocco | Italian, “rest” | Tough little guys |
| Oscar | Irish, “deer lover” | Dachshunds |
| Frankie | Pet form of Francis | Friendly pugs |
| Toby | Pet form of Tobias | Gentle boys |
| Benji | Pet form of Benjamin; the famous movie dog | Scruffy mutts |
| Teddy | Pet form of Theodore | Fluffy boys |
| Pickles | Silly and sour | Wiry terriers |
| Gus | Pet form of Augustus | Chunky boys |
| Ozzy | Pet form of Oswald or Osborne | Rock-and-roll terriers |
| Bingo | The game, and the song about a dog | Playful pups |
| Chip | A small piece; also Chip ’n’ Dale | Quick little boys |
Royal and aristocratic lap-dog names
Small dogs have been royal favorites for centuries, from Queen Victoria’s spaniel Dash to Marie Antoinette’s little dogs. See our queen names and king names.
| Name | Meaning / story | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| Dash | Queen Victoria’s beloved King Charles spaniel | Boy |
| Princess | Daughter of a monarch | Girl |
| Prince | Son of a monarch | Boy |
| Contessa | Italian countess | Girl |
| Duke | Latin <em>dux</em>, “leader” | Boy |
| Majesty | Royal dignity | Unisex |
| Marquis | French nobleman | Boy |
| Regina | Latin, “queen” | Girl |
| Rex | Latin, “king” | Boy |
| Countess | A noble title | Girl |
| Baron | A nobleman | Boy |
| Sir Winston | Knight’s title plus Churchill | Boy |
Sweet treat names for little dogs
Small dogs and bite-sized snacks make a natural pair. More on our food dog names page.
| Name | Coat it suits | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Mochi | White or cream | Round and squishy |
| Biscuit | Tan | Warm and homey |
| Cupcake | Any | Party-sized sweet |
| Muffin | Brown | Classic pet name |
| Jellybean | Any | Small and colorful |
| Nugget | Golden | Tiny treasure |
| Sprinkles | Spotted | Cheerful |
| Cannoli | Cream with dark ears | Italian flair |
| Cocoa | Brown | Cozy |
| Truffle | Dark brown | Fancy chocolate |
| Macaron | Pastel | Fancy French cookie |
| Gumdrop | Any | Bouncy candy |
Famous small dogs
From movie stars to advertising icons, these little dogs made big names for themselves.
| Name | Where from | Breed |
|---|---|---|
| Toto | <em>The Wizard of Oz</em> | Cairn terrier |
| Gidget | Taco Bell ads (“¡Yo quiero Taco Bell!”) | Chihuahua |
| Eddie | <em>Frasier</em> | Jack Russell terrier |
| Wishbone | PBS’s <em>Wishbone</em> | Jack Russell terrier |
| Frank | <em>Men in Black</em> | Pug |
| Asta | <em>The Thin Man</em> films | Wire fox terrier |
| Doug | “Doug the Pug,” internet star | Pug |
| Bullseye | <em>Oliver Twist</em>; Target mascot | Bull terrier |
| Fala | President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s dog | Scottish terrier |
| Chloe | <em>Beverly Hills Chihuahua</em> | Chihuahua |
| Checkers | Richard Nixon’s famous “Checkers speech” | Cocker spaniel |
How to pick the right name for a small dog
- Choose big-or-small on purpose. A tiny name like Pip is sweet; a giant name like Goliath is funny. Both work — just pick your joke.
- Keep it crisp. Small dogs often live 15 years or more, so you’ll say the name a lot. One or two syllables is easiest for everyone.
- Think about the vet and groomer. Small breeds visit groomers often; pick a name you won’t mind hearing in the waiting room.
- Play with breed heritage. Spanish names suit Chihuahuas (see our Spanish dog names), while French names suit Frenchies and papillons.
- Don’t let the size fool you. Small dogs need training too; a clear, easy name helps with recall and good manners.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good name for a small dog?
Popular small dog names include Peanut, Coco, Milo, Bella, Gizmo, Lulu, Teddy, Pip and Biscuit.
What are funny names for small dogs?
Ironic big names are a classic: Goliath, Tank, Moose, Titan, Godzilla or Brutus for a dog that weighs less than a bag of flour.
What are good names for a small girl dog?
Bijou, Pixie, Tinkerbell, Lulu, Gigi, Minnie, Poppy and Birdie all suit small female dogs.
What was the Taco Bell Chihuahua’s name?
The Taco Bell Chihuahua was played by a dog named Gidget, who starred in the chain’s ads from 1997 to 2000.