Wolf Names
Wolves have been naming inspiration for as long as people have been naming anything. Germanic warriors built “wolf” into names like Wolfgang, Rudolph and Randolph; the Irish had Faolán; the Hebrew name Zev literally means wolf. Today the same names are used for huskies and wolfdogs, fantasy characters, role-play packs and the occasional baby.
Below you’ll find more than 90 wolf names, starting with real names that mean “wolf” and moving through legendary wolves, alpha names, coat colors and names under the moon. For she-wolves, see our full list of female wolf names. Naming a wolf-like dog? Our husky names and German shepherd names pair well with this list.
Wolf Names: browse all lists
Names that mean “wolf”
Real given names and words for wolf from around the world. Many come from the wolf’s central place in Germanic and Celtic warrior culture. For more, see names that mean wolf.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Faolán | Little wolf | Irish |
| Phelan | Wolf (anglicized from Faolán) | Irish |
| Conan | Little hound or wolf | Irish |
| Lowell | Little wolf | Anglo-Norman |
| Lupin | Wolfish, from Latin lupus | French / Latin |
| Lupo | Wolf | Italian |
| Lobo | Wolf | Spanish |
| Ulric | Wolf power, wolf ruler | Germanic |
| Wolfgang | Wolf path | German |
| Randolph | Shield wolf | Germanic |
| Rudolph | Famous wolf | Germanic |
| Ralph | Counsel wolf | Norse / Germanic |
| Ulf | Wolf | Old Norse |
| Varg | Wolf | Swedish |
| Zev | Wolf | Hebrew |
| Velvel | Little wolf | Yiddish |
| Vuk | Wolf | Serbian / Croatian |
| Vilkas | Wolf | Lithuanian |
| Blaidd | Wolf | Welsh |
| Bleiz | Wolf | Breton |
| Lycus | Wolf | Greek |
| Ōkami | Wolf (狼) | Japanese |
Legendary and famous wolves
Wolves are central characters in Norse myth, Roman legend and some of the best-loved stories in fiction. Many more mythic names are in our Norse god names.
| Name | Where it’s from | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Fenrir | Norse mythology | Giant wolf fated to swallow Odin at Ragnarök |
| Sköll | Norse mythology | Wolf who chases the sun |
| Hati | Norse mythology | Wolf who chases the moon |
| Geri | Norse mythology | One of Odin’s two wolves; “the ravenous one” |
| Freki | Norse mythology | Odin’s other wolf; “the greedy one” |
| Lupa | Roman legend | She-wolf who nursed Romulus and Remus |
| Romulus | Roman legend | Wolf-raised founder of Rome |
| Akela | The Jungle Book | Lone-wolf leader of the Seeonee pack; Hindi for “alone” |
| White Fang | Jack London’s White Fang (1906) | Part-wolf, part-dog hero |
| Ghost | A Song of Ice and Fire | Jon Snow’s silent white direwolf |
| Grey Wind | A Song of Ice and Fire | Robb Stark’s direwolf |
| Summer | A Song of Ice and Fire | Bran Stark’s direwolf |
| Blanca | Lobo’s white mate in Seton’s “Lobo, the King of Currumpaw” | Based on a real New Mexico wolf pair |
| Journey | Real wolf OR-7 | First known wild wolf in California in nearly 90 years (2011) |
| Balto | Real sled dog and 1995 film | Portrayed as part wolf in the movie |
Strong alpha wolf names
Bold, hard-edged names for a pack leader, a big wolfdog or a lead character. For more power names, see names that mean warrior.
| Name | Meaning / origin | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha | First letter of the Greek alphabet | The leader |
| Koda | Often said to mean “friend” (from Dakota/Lakota kola) | Loyal pack member |
| Maximus | Latin, “greatest” | Imposing |
| Titan | Giant Greek deities | Huge wolves |
| Kodiak | Alaskan island and its bears | Big and rugged |
| Ragnar | Norse, “warrior of the gods’ counsel” | Viking wolf |
| Odin | Chief Norse god, master of wolves | Wise leader |
| Rogue | Lone wanderer | Independent spirits |
| Blade | A sharp edge | Fast hunters |
| Kane | Irish, “warrior” | Short and punchy |
| Atlas | Titan who held up the sky | Strong and steady |
| Maverick | Independent-minded | Lone wolves |
| Ranger | One who roams | Wide-ranging wanderers |
| Chief | The head of a group | Pack leaders |
| Brutus | Latin, “heavy” | Muscular males |
Wolf names by coat color
Grey wolves aren’t always grey: coats range from pure white in the Arctic to jet black in Yellowstone. Let the fur decide. See also our white dog names and black dog names.
| Name | Coat | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | Grey | Metallic sheen on a grey wolf |
| Ash | Grey | Soft, smoky grey |
| Smoke | Grey | Wispy, shifting shades |
| Slate | Dark grey | Cool, stony tone |
| Flint | Grey-black | Hard stone that sparks fire |
| Blizzard | White | Arctic whiteout |
| Frost | White | Icy and silent |
| Glacier | White | Massive and cold |
| Yukon | White or grey | Canada’s wild northern territory |
| Shadow | Black | Stealthy and dark |
| Onyx | Black | Glossy black stone |
| Raven | Black | Ravens famously follow wolves to kills |
| Cinder | Black-grey | Glowing embers in dark ash |
| Rusty | Red wolf | Red-brown fur |
| Copper | Red wolf | Warm metallic red |
Wilderness wolf names from forest, tundra and mountain
Wolves range from Arctic tundra to Rocky Mountain forest, so place and landscape names suit them naturally. For more outdoorsy picks, browse our nature names and mountain names.
| Name | Inspired by | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Timber | The timber wolf, a North American name for the grey wolf | The most classic wolf name of all |
| Tundra | The treeless Arctic plains | Arctic and white wolves |
| Denali | Alaska’s highest peak; Koyukon for “the high one” | Big, majestic wolfdogs |
| Sitka | The Alaskan town and spruce | Short and crisp |
| Juneau | Alaska’s capital | Soft sound, northern roots |
| Aspen | The quaking aspen tree | Pale, silvery coats |
| Cedar | The fragrant evergreen | Warm brown or reddish wolves |
| Canyon | A deep rocky gorge | Southwestern and Mexican wolves |
| Sierra | Spanish for “mountain range” | Female wolves |
| Taiga | The boreal forest belt | Rare, earthy and strong |
| Ridge | A mountain crest | Lean, athletic wolves |
| Hemlock | The conifer of northern forests | Dark, moody characters |
| Boreal | Of the north; from Boreas, the Greek north wind | Arctic packs |
| Kenai | The Alaskan peninsula | Easy two-syllable call |
| Glen | Scottish Gaelic for “valley” | Gentle, calm wolfdogs |
| Yellowstone | The park where wolves returned in 1995 | Grey or black wolves with presence |
Moon and night wolf names
Wolves don’t actually howl at the moon (they howl to communicate, and just tilt their heads up), but the image is irresistible. More in names that mean moon and names that mean night.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Luna | Moon | Latin |
| Selene | Moon goddess | Greek |
| Nyx | Night | Greek |
| Eclipse | A darkened sun or moon | English |
| Midnight | The middle of the night | English |
| Orion | The hunter constellation | Greek |
| Sirius | The Dog Star, brightest in the night sky | Greek |
| Lyra | Lyre; a constellation | Greek |
| Nocturne | A night piece | Latin via French |
| Crescent | The growing moon | Latin |
| Hunter | The Hunter’s Moon of October | English |
| Dusk | Twilight | English |
| Kuu | Moon | Finnish |
How to pick a great wolf name
- Use a real wolf word. Names like Faolán, Lowell, Ulric or Zev mean wolf, which gives them a built-in story.
- Mind the size of the name. For a real wolfdog or husky, one or two syllables (Koda, Ghost, Varg) are easier to call across a field.
- Think pack. Naming several characters or dogs? Use a set: Odin’s wolves Geri and Freki, the Stark direwolves, or Sköll and Hati.
- Match the coat and eyes. Icy blue eyes and white fur suit Frost or Glacier; a dark coat suits Shadow or Raven.
- Look to the female list too. Many of the strongest picks are for she-wolves; browse female wolf names and our werewolf names for fantasy characters.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good wolf name?
Fenrir, Ghost, Akela, Koda, Shadow and Lupin are some of the most popular wolf names. For something with real meaning, try Faolán (Irish for little wolf), Zev (Hebrew for wolf) or Ulric (Germanic for wolf ruler).
What names mean wolf?
Names that mean wolf include Faolán and Phelan (Irish), Lowell (Anglo-Norman), Ulf (Norse), Varg (Swedish), Zev (Hebrew), Vuk (Serbian), Lupo (Italian), Lobo (Spanish) and Wolfgang, Rudolph and Randolph (Germanic, which contain “wolf”).
What are the names of Odin’s wolves?
Odin’s two wolves are Geri and Freki, both names meaning “the ravenous” or “the greedy one.” They eat the food from his table in Valhalla.
What was the name of the she-wolf that raised Romulus and Remus?
In Roman legend she is simply called Lupa, Latin for “she-wolf.” Her statue, the Capitoline Wolf, is a symbol of Rome.
What are the names of the Stark direwolves?
Ghost (Jon), Grey Wind (Robb), Summer (Bran), Shaggydog (Rickon), Lady (Sansa) and Nymeria (Arya).