Welcome to the wonderful world of the gorgeous and affectionate German Shepherds. If you are looking for name ideas for your new furry friend, you are in the right place. There are so many great names to choose from, and it can be a little overwhelming.
From the most popular names, the toughest names, most famous names, to the US’s presidents’ GSD names, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive right in!
How to Pick the Perfect Name for Your German Shepherd?
What you want in a name is something unique and fits your dog’s personality. You also want a name that will stand out among the other dogs at the park. Here are the basics:
Less is better
You’ll want a short and sweet name. A name like “Pocahontas” might seem quaint at first, but how many times are you going to call it out before getting tired of it?
Think of your dog’s personality
What words describe your dog? Unique, one-of-a-kind, different, extraordinary. These are all great words to use when brainstorming names.
Think unique
When choosing a dog name, it is important to find a name that is unique and will stand out. You do not want to choose a common name like Max or Bella, as your dog will likely share his or her name with at least one other dog, potentially leading to some confusion at crowded dog parks or beaches.
When naming your dog, some things are a no-no.
Not sound like commands
Although dogs have superhuman hearing (or is it super-animal hearing?), they can still mistake their name for another commonly spoken word, or worse, a command like “no”, resulting in much confusion and throwing a curveball to your training efforts.
Call a dog “Beau” or “Bo” can end up sounding like “no”, or “Kay” or “Ray” with “stay”.
Not end with a vowel
Names ending with a vowel have a fluctuating tone, making it easier for the dogs to distinguish from other words.
In addition, names that have a long “ah” sound are often good choices. Names that start with a consonant and have a short “uh” sound like “Lucy” also work.
The Most Popular German Shepherd Boy Names
When it comes to naming your pup, there are endless possibilities. But, if you’re looking for something with a bit of flair, we’ve got you covered.
Milo
Frankie
Rocky
Winston
Otto
Hugo
Tucker
Otis
Basil
Champ
Monty
Chip
Charlie
Buddy
Gus
Oscar
Bruno
Archie
Rex
Woody
Charlie
Hank
Hector
Teddy
Kevin
Piper
Nash
Gunner
Max
Remi
The Most Popular German Shepherd Girl Names
Smart, sassy, and loving. Those are German Shepherd girls for you. Here are some ideas of what to name your princess!
Hera
Nala
Lola
Coco
Ruby
Skye
Daisy
Bonnie
Roxie
Cookie
Millie
Honey
Roxy
Ella
Ivy
Freya
Ellie
Sandy
Molly
Jess
Lulu
Molly
Phoenix
Jox
Nova
Luna
Kayla
Bailey
Ava
Zita
The Most Famous German Shepherds Names
Throughout history, German Shepherds have been our best friends and partners. Ever heard of these famous German Shepherds?
Horand Von Grafrath, born in 1891, is the very first (registered) dog of his breed.
It’ll be a good idea to pay tribute to the great-granddaddy of GSD by naming your dog Horand or Von will be awesome.
By CC-Mastermind German Shepherd von Stephanitz gebr 148.(PDF), Public Domain, Link
Strongheart, born as Etzel von Oeringen in 1917, was one of the first dog actors.
Originally born in Germany, trained as a police dog, then went on to be a Hollywood star.
Rin-Tin-Tin was the dog that was saved by an American soldier from Germany during WWI.
Thereafter, Rin-Tin-Tin made his way to become the most famous GSD of all time with his name etched forever on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Bullet is the Wonder Dog starred in a very popular Roy Rogers Show during the 1950s.
Max, better known as Maximillion, he gained stardom in the TV series The Bionic Woman. He was a heroic dog and saved many lives on the show.
Nemo was a sentry dog and served during the Vietnam War. He was shot in the shoulder during a Vietcong attack, but ignored his injury and kept fighting.
Zino (MWD) is another military dog trained to sniff out over 60 compounds that are commonly used in explosives. He served in Afghanistan in 2013.
Buddy is a poor dog is the first canine casualty of COVID-19 in 2020.
Ranger is a tiny dog that has dwarfism and is so cute that he has over 90,000 followers on Instagram.
Name of German Shepherd Heroes (who saved people’s lives)
Dogs are indeed our best friends, willingly throwing themselves in harm’s way for us. Here are some unsung heroes of the canine world.
Luks – In June 1943 Luks sacrificed his life to save the life of the commander of the Yugoslav partisans, Josip Broz Tito.
Buddy ran straight out to find a police officer when his owner’s workshop caught on fire in April 2020.
Rambo – After his owner was struck by lightning and lying unconscious on the floor, Rambo touched him, discharged the electricity from his owner’s body.
Jade saved the life of a newborn baby girl by leading her owner to where she lay abandoned in a park.
Bear was a GSD that detects the seizures of his owner Debbie.
Noah took a bullet for his owner’s kids in January 2015 and sadly, died.
Ape is an FBI dog that got shot and hurt badly during a chase with a criminal that killed four people.
Names of United States Presidents’ German Shepherds
German Shepherds are no strangers in the White house! Here are the names of the GSDs that own by the presidents of the United States.
A German Shepherd named Pat, was among many many breeds of dogs that Herbert Clark Hoover owned.
By Herbert E. French – Photograph by Herbert E. French, via Library of Congress website.
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s German Shepherd, Major was formerly a police dog from the New York State Police.
After a number of White House biting incidents, he was sent to live at Roosevelt’s private residence in Hyde Park, New York.
A true animal lover, John F. Kenney owned ponies, cats and birds, numerous other dogs, and a German Shepherd called Clipper.
By Cecil Stoughton White House Photographs, Public Domain,
Champ and Major was the name of the German Shepherds owned by Joe Biden.
Major was the first rescue dog in the White House, and 13-year old Champ recently passed on in 2021.
In late 2021, the Bidens were given a puppy which they named Commander. Officials later told the press that Major had been rehomed to a quieter environment following a series of biting incidents.
German Shepherd Name Ideas After Famous People or Brands
Give your dog some of your personality and name him or her after one of your favorites!
Einstein – Famous theoretical physicist born in 1879.
Gibson – Famous guitar used by countless musicians.
Picasso – Who doesn’t know Picasso and his abstract art?
Ziggy – If you love rock and want to pay tribute to David Bowie, this is the perfect name for you. Derived from his famous album Ziggy Stardust.
Gatsby – The famous flapper movie. This will suit a dog that loves to dance around.
Elvis – Known as the King of Rock and Roll, the name Elvis has become quite popular with dog owners over the years.
Chaplin – Charlie Chaplin was a very famous comedian that was born in The United Kingdom on the 16th of April, 1889. He was very well known for his black bowler hat and a small mustache.
Adonis – Give your German Shepherd a regal name with Adonis, the human lover of the Greek goddess Aphrodite.
Chanel – Designer brand anyone? Coco Chanel was born Gabrielle Bonheur and was a French fashion designer.
Harper – Harper Lee was the author of the very famous book that was later adapted into a movie, “To Kill a Mockingbird”. While Harper is more masculine than feminine, it is very popular for girl dogs as well.
Jolene – Any country music fan would recognize this famous name from the song by Dolly Parton.
Matilda – Another famous literary name from the children’s book “Matilda” by Roald Dahl. Matilda means “battle strength” and will suit a strong girl German Shepherd.
Stella – This name was made famous by the well-known play “A Streetcar named Desire”. It is derived from the Latin word Stella, meaning “star”.
Willow – If you’re a fan of the popular vampire TV series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” you will recognize this name. Willow was the TV show’s white witch and Buffy’s side-kick.
Venus – Not only is this the name of a planet but it was also the name of the Roman goddess of love and beauty.
Name of Celebrities’ German Shepherds
Nash – Reese Witherspoon
Dolly – Jennifer Aniston
Mate – Miley Ray Cyrus
Atticus and Boo Radley – Jake Gyllenhall
Hutch – Ben Affleck
Ero – Nicole Ritchie
Gino – Nick Jonas
Atticus – Kirsten Dunst (She shared this dog with her ex-boyfriend Jake Gyllenhall)
Monty – Tom Hanks
Neika – Leo J. Maloney
Otter, formerly known as Jayjay vom Lundborg – Keifer Sutherland
Max – Tony Stewart
Tessa – Andrew Morley
Tough German Shepherds Names
While German Shepherds are imposing and even intimidating, anyone who knows the breed knows them to be loving, kind, and fiercely loyal. Nevertheless, tough-looking dogs need tough names!
Beast
Basher
Axl
Growler
Brutus
Django
Boss
Bruiser
Brick
Boss
Admiral
Hulk
Wolverine
Goliath
Sentinel
Kong
Godzilla
Thor
Odin
Hera
Rex
Loki
Shredder
Venom
Optimus
Maximus
Wesson
Remington
Tank
Blazer
Razor
Beretta
Caesar
Charger
Dragon
Hawk
Cobra
Fury
Shark
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