Unusual dog names

Names beyond the classics — for dogs you don't meet twice on the same walk.

• Rio

  Spanish for \"river\"

  Adventurous · Nature & mountains

  Short and resonant — carries beautifully on a walk.

• Burza

  Polish for \"storm\"

  Strong · Adventurous

  For a girl who enters the house like a storm front.

• Puszek

  Polish for \"fluff\"

  Cute · Playful

  A classic for a small furball with a soft heart.

• Tytan

  A giant from Greek myth

  Strong

  A name with weight — for a dog who commands respect (and naps on the couch).

• Fasolka

  Polish for \"little bean\"

  Playful · Cute

  Disarms everyone at the park — perfect for a tiny troublemaker.

• Orion

  The hunter constellation

  Adventurous · Elegant

  A starry hunter — for a dog with instinct and class.

• Tofik

  From \"toffee\"

  Cute · Playful

  A caramel name for a little rascal.

• Skała

  Polish for \"rock\"

  Strong · Nature & mountains

  An unshakable companion — the name says it all.

• Iskra

  Polish for \"spark\"

  Strong · Adventurous

  For a girl who lights up the whole house.

• Baca

  A highland shepherd in the Polish Tatras

  Nature & mountains · Playful

  A mountain name for a dog who guards his flock.

• Grom

  Polish for \"thunder\"

  Strong · Adventurous

  A short, mighty boom — a dog who makes an entrance.

• Mgiełka

  Polish for \"mist\"

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  Airy and gentle — for a quiet cuddler.

• Nuta

  Polish for \"musical note\"

  Cute · Elegant

  Small and melodic — for a girl who \"sings\" at the door.

• Wilk

  Polish for \"wolf\"

  Nature & mountains · Strong

  Primal and proud — for a dog with a wolfish gaze.

• Tajga

  The boreal forest

  Nature & mountains · Adventurous

  A northern soul — for a girl born for winter treks.

• Pixel

  The smallest dot of an image

  Playful

  Tiny, but nothing works without him.

• Malina

  Polish for \"raspberry\"

  Cute · Nature & mountains

  Sweet and Polish — a name that smells like summer.

• Zorza

  Polish for \"aurora\"

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  A luminous name for a girl who brightens mornings.

• Granit

  The igneous rock (granite)

  Strong · Nature & mountains

  A hard character, a soft heart.

• Chmurka

  Polish for \"little cloud\"

  Cute · Nature & mountains

  White, fluffy and always hovering near you.

• Turbo

  Latin for \"whirl\"

  Playful · Strong

  Small dog, massive acceleration.

• Lawina

  Polish for \"avalanche\"

  Strong · Adventurous

  Once she moves, nothing stops her — especially near the bowl.

• Bursztyn

  Baltic amber

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  A Polish gem — for a dog with amber eyes.

• Gwiazda

  Polish for \"star\"

  Elegant · Adventurous

  Because she's the center of attention anyway.

• Sarna

  Polish for \"roe deer\"

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  Graceful and gently shy — woodland aristocracy.

• Kometa

  A comet with its tail

  Adventurous · Playful

  Streaks across the yard once per orbit.

• Herbatnik

  Polish for \"tea biscuit\"

  Cute · Playful

  Crisp on the outside, sweet inside.

• Kajtek

  Homely Polish nickname, "little rascal"

  Playful · Cute

  Sounds like mischief — perfect for a small fidget.

• Poziomka

  Polish for "wild strawberry"

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  Woodland, summery and endearing — for the smallest dog in the house.

• Jagoda

  Polish for "berry"; also a given name

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  Works as both a name and a word — a very Polish combination.

• Śnieżka

  Polish for "snowball"; also a Karkonosze peak

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  For a white girl — Polish, not an English calque.

• Wichura

  Polish for "gale"

  Strong · Adventurous

  For a girl who bursts in and rearranges the furniture.

• Wrzos

  Polish for "heather"

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  Spare and Polish — for a dog with a smoky grey coat.

• Sosna

  Polish for "pine tree"

  Nature & mountains · Strong

  Tall, calm, Polish — for a big girl with a gentle nature.

• Bratek

  Polish for "pansy"; echoes "brother"

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  Floral but not saccharine — and instantly sounds like family.

• Filuś

  From "filut" — a sly little trickster

  Playful · Cute

  A name that announces the dog's character up front.

• Bobik

  Homely Polish nickname, from "bób" (broad bean)

  Playful · Cute

  Soft consonants, plenty of warmth — a mascot of a dog.

• Toffik

  From "toffee"

  Cute · Playful

  One of the most popular Polish names for small dogs.

• Kluska

  Polish for "dumpling"

  Playful · Cute

  Affectionately teasing — for a dog of rounded proportions.

• Karmel

  Polish for "caramel"

  Cute · Elegant

  A warm colour and a warm sound — fits a golden coat.

• Pączek

  Polish for "doughnut"

  Playful · Cute

  Very Polish and very affectionate — disarms everyone on a walk.

• Krówka

  Polish fudge sweet, "krówka"

  Cute · Playful

  The iconic Polish sweet — great for a black-and-white girl.

• Sernik

  Polish cheesecake

  Playful · Cute

  Homely and disarming — a name that tells a story.

• Oliwka

  Polish for "olive"; echoes the name Oliwia

  Elegant · Nature & mountains

  Works as a name and a word — subtle, not sugary.

• Miodek

  Polish diminutive of "honey"

  Cute · Nature & mountains

  Golden and tender — for a honey-coloured dog to match.

• Nala

  African for "gift"; the Lion King heroine

  Adventurous · Elegant

  Open vowels carry far — excellent for recall.

• Rocky

  English for "rocky"; the film boxer

  Strong · Adventurous

  A hard "k" in the middle — easy to shout outdoors.

• Coco

  French nickname; also Chanel

  Elegant · Playful

  A repeated syllable — the easiest sound pattern for a dog.

• Figa

  Polish for "fig" — and a gesture of cheek

  Playful · Nature & mountains

  A Polish word with a wink — for a contrary little girl.

• Lucky

  English for "lucky"

  Playful · Adventurous

  A frequent pick for rescue dogs — a name with its own story.

• Diego

  Spanish form of James

  Adventurous · Elegant

  Vivid and spirited — for a dog with a southern temperament.

• Olaf

  Norse for "ancestor's descendant"

  Strong · Adventurous

  Nordic and quietly strong — fits a big, composed dog.

• Eryk

  Norse for "eternal ruler"

  Strong · Adventurous

  The final "k" closes the call — excellent for recall.

• Kordian

  From Latin "cor" — heart; a Słowacki drama

  Elegant · Adventurous

  Rare, Polish and literary — distinctive without being odd.

• Mateo

  Italian/Spanish form of Mateusz

  Adventurous · Elegant

  A southern temperament in Polish surroundings — it sounds warm.

• Julek

  Polish diminutive of Julian

  Cute · Playful

  Light and boyish — for a small dog in constant motion.

• Bruniek

  Polish diminutive of Bruno

  Playful · Cute

  The tender version of a classic — for a soft-hearted brown dog.

• Tymek

  Polish diminutive of Tymoteusz

  Playful · Cute

  Bouncy and short — fits a dog that cannot sit still.

• Gabryś

  Polish diminutive of Gabriel

  Cute · Elegant

  Ends in a soft "ś" — it sounds like a hug.

• Kacperek

  Polish diminutive of Kacper

  Cute · Playful

  A three-syllable diminutive — for a shamelessly spoiled dog.

• Kamyk

  Polish for "pebble"; echoes the name Kamil

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  Works as a nickname and a word — small, hard, stubborn.

• Benek

  Polish diminutive of Beniamin

  Playful · Cute

  Short, jokey, and it sticks immediately.

• Róża

  Polish for "rose"; also a given name

  Elegant · Nature & mountains

  The Polish "ż" gives it a character English "Rose" lacks.

• Malwina

  Celtic for "smooth brow"

  Elegant · Nature & mountains

  Floral without sugar — mature and soft at once.

• Gaja

  Greek goddess of the Earth

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  Short and mythological — for a girl at home outdoors.

• Rita

  Short for Margarita, "pearl"

  Elegant · Playful

  The hard "t" gives it claws — it isn't saccharine.

• Lila

  Persian for "lilac"; also the colour

  Cute · Elegant

  Fluid and floral — for a delicate, light-coated girl.

• Lara

  Latin for "famous"

  Adventurous · Elegant

  Decisive and modern — for a girl who walks in front.

• Frania

  Polish diminutive of Franciszka

  Playful · Cute

  The female counterpart to Franek — ideal for a pair of dogs.

• Wicher

  Polish for "gale, rushing wind"

  Strong · Adventurous

  For a dog that runs faster than your eyes can follow.

• Szron

  Polish for "hoarfrost"

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  Cool and beautiful — for a dog with a silvering muzzle.

• Tęcza

  Polish for "rainbow"

  Nature & mountains · Playful

  Joyful and unmistakably Polish — hard to beat for warmth.

• Zamieć

  Polish for "blizzard"

  Strong · Nature & mountains

  For a white girl who bursts in at full speed.

• Bryza

  Polish for "sea breeze"

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  Light and coastal — it sounds like a walk on the beach.

• Halny

  The warm Tatra mountain wind

  Nature & mountains · Strong

  Highland and deeply Polish — for a restless-natured dog.

• Jutrzenka

  Polish for "dawn, morning star"

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  Poetic yet plain — the Polish alternative to "Aurora".

• Świt

  Polish for "daybreak"

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  One syllable, a purely Polish sound — short and distinct.

• Kropla

  Polish for "droplet"

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  For the smallest girl in the litter — tender without excess.

• Sopel

  Polish for "icicle"

  Nature & mountains · Playful

  Wintry and playful — for a dog born in January.

• Strumyk

  Polish for "brook"

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  Lively and warm — for a dog that never stands still.

• Potok

  Polish for "mountain stream"

  Nature & mountains · Adventurous

  A hard "k" ending — a name that calls well in the mountains.

• Fala

  Polish for "wave"

  Nature & mountains · Adventurous

  Two open syllables — among the easiest names to call.

• Zatoka

  Polish for "bay"

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  Sheltered and safe — the meaning fits a cuddler.

• Bałtyk

  The Polish name for the Baltic Sea

  Nature & mountains · Adventurous

  Cool, northern and ours — for a big, thick-coated dog.

• Bystra

  Polish for "swift" — of water and of wits

  Nature & mountains · Adventurous

  A double meaning: fast and clever. Ideal for a border collie.

• Brzoza

  Polish for "birch"

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  White bark, slender frame — for a pale, tall girl.

• Wierzba

  Polish for "willow"

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  Soft and weeping — fits a dog with a long, falling coat.

• Leszczyna

  Polish for "hazel"

  Nature & mountains

  A nutty colour and woodland feel — warm and homely.

• Jeżyna

  Polish for "blackberry"

  Nature & mountains · Playful

  Thorny and sweet at once — like a contrary little girl.

• Borówka

  Polish for "bilberry"

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  For a small, dark girl — Polish and endearing.

• Konwalia

  Polish for "lily of the valley"

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  Delicate and May-like — for a small, white girl.

• Stokrotka

  Polish for "daisy"

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  The Polish "Daisy" — the same warmth, in its own language.

• Fiołek

  Polish for "violet"

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  A floral name that actually works on a dog — a rare trick.

• Rumianek

  Polish for "chamomile"

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  Soothing and warm — for a dog you rest beside.

• Lawenda

  Polish for "lavender"

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  Calm and fragrant — for a gentle-natured girl.

• Mięta

  Polish for "mint"

  Nature & mountains · Playful

  Fresh and short — as brisk as a puppy looks.

• Szałwia

  Polish for "sage"

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  Silvery leaves — a name for an ash-coated girl.

• Piwonia

  Polish for "peony"

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  Lush and stately — for a girl with an abundant, fluffy coat.

• Irys

  Polish for "iris"; Greek for "rainbow"

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  Short, floral and surprisingly masculine in sound.

• Wrzosek

  Diminutive of "heather"

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  The diminutive of a classic — warmer and more dog-like.

• Agat

  Polish for "agate", the banded stone

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  Short and hard — for a brindle-coated dog.

• Onyks

  Polish for "onyx"

  Elegant · Strong

  Deep black in a single word — for a black dog with class.

• Szafir

  Polish for "sapphire"

  Elegant · Nature & mountains

  For a dog with striking pale-blue eyes.

• Rubin

  Polish for "ruby"

  Elegant · Strong

  A warm red tone — for a chestnut-coated dog.

• Turkus

  Polish for "turquoise"

  Elegant · Nature & mountains

  Unusual and colourful — distinctive without being odd.

• Kwarc

  Polish for "quartz"

  Nature & mountains · Strong

  One syllable, pure rock — for an immovable dog.

• Głaz

  Polish for "boulder"

  Strong · Nature & mountains

  For a dog that lies down once and stays until evening.

• Srebro

  Polish for "silver"

  Elegant · Nature & mountains

  For a grey, gleaming coat — Polish and elegant.

• Miedź

  Polish for "copper"

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  A red metal — the aptest name for a copper-coloured dog.

• Krzemień

  Polish for "flint"

  Strong · Nature & mountains

  It strikes sparks — for a hard, persistent character.

• Tatra

  Poland's high mountain range

  Nature & mountains · Adventurous

  For a big white girl — an echo of the Tatra Shepherd.

• Giewont

  The famous peak above Zakopane

  Nature & mountains · Strong

  The sleeping knight of legend — for a big, calm dog.

• Turnia

  Polish for a rocky Tatra crag

  Nature & mountains · Strong

  Highland and sharp — a climber's name, not a couch dog's.

• Puszcza

  Polish for "primeval forest", as in Białowieża

  Nature & mountains · Strong

  Wild and stately — for a big, wolf-like girl.

• Wydma

  Polish for "dune"

  Nature & mountains · Adventurous

  Sandy and Baltic — for a pale, sand-coloured dog.

• Gaik

  Diminutive of "gaj" — a little grove

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  Soft and woodland — a Polish diminutive nobody has claimed yet.

• Grań

  Polish for a sharp mountain ridge

  Nature & mountains · Strong

  One syllable, Tatra pedigree — short and demanding.

• Ryś

  Polish for "lynx"

  Nature & mountains · Strong

  A silent, watchful predator — and also short for Ryszard.

• Żbik

  Polish for "wildcat"

  Strong · Nature & mountains

  Wild and untamed — for an independent character.

• Sokół

  Polish for "falcon"

  Adventurous · Strong

  Speed and eyesight in one word — for a hunting dog.

• Kruk

  Polish for "raven", the clever black bird

  Nature & mountains · Strong

  Black and piercingly clever — for a dog that watches and thinks.

• Sójka

  Polish for "jay", the noisy woodland bird

  Nature & mountains · Playful

  Chatty and colourful — for a girl who comments on everything.

• Borsuk

  Polish for "badger"

  Nature & mountains · Playful

  A black-and-white face and pure stubbornness — apt for many breeds.

• Kuna

  Polish for "marten"

  Nature & mountains · Playful

  Nimble and mischievous — for a girl who gets in everywhere.

• Jeżyk

  Polish diminutive of "hedgehog"

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  For a dog with bristling fur — tender and apt.

• Łoś

  Polish for "elk"

  Nature & mountains · Playful

  For a huge, long-legged dog with a gentle disposition.

• Zięba

  Polish for "finch"

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  Tiny and songful — for the smallest, loudest girl.

• Promyk

  Polish for "little sunbeam"

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  Warm and bright — for a dog that lifts the mood by existing.

• Zenit

  Polish for "zenith"

  Elegant · Adventurous

  Short and precise — modern without pretension.

• Meteor

  Polish for "meteor"

  Adventurous · Strong

  For a dog that streaks through the flat once an hour.

• Wega

  One of the brightest stars in the sky

  Elegant · Nature & mountains

  Short, stellar and feminine — without the sugar.

• Zorzanka

  Diminutive of "zorza" (aurora)

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  The tender version of Zorza — for a small, russet-tinged girl.

• Śmiałek

  Polish for "the bold one"

  Adventurous · Strong

  A name that compliments — it says exactly what you mean.

• Bystrzak

  Polish for "clever clogs"

  Playful · Adventurous

  For the dog that solved the fridge latch — said with a wink.

• Chytrus

  Polish for "sly one"

  Playful

  An affectionate word for the dog who always finds the treats.

• Śmigły

  Polish for "swift, nimble"

  Adventurous · Strong

  For sighthounds and every dog built to run.

• Hałas

  Polish for "noise"

  Playful · Strong

  An honest joke about a dog that barks at everything.

• Łobuz

  Polish for "rascal"

  Playful

  It calls a spade a spade — and everyone at the park understands.

• Kudłacz

  Polish for "the shaggy one"

  Playful · Nature & mountains

  Descriptive and warm — for a dog you can never fully brush.

• Puchatek

  Polish for "fluffy"; also Winnie the Pooh

  Cute · Playful

  Disarming, and known to every Polish child.

• Grzmotek

  Diminutive of "thunderclap"

  Playful · Strong

  Small dog, big noise — the name gets it exactly right.

• Pikuś

  A homely Polish nickname; "a trifle"

  Cute · Playful

  "To pikuś" means "no big deal" — perfect for a tiny dog.

• Ciapek

  From "ciapa" — for a gentle klutz

  Cute · Playful

  An affectionate word for a dog that trips over its own paws.

• Gapcio

  From "gapa" — a scatterbrain

  Playful · Cute

  For the dog that misses the ball right under its nose.

• Kropka

  Polish for "dot"

  Cute · Playful

  For a girl with one distinct spot — simple and exact.

• Plamka

  Polish for "little patch"

  Cute · Playful

  Descriptive and tender — the Polish habit of naming by markings.

• Kudłatek

  Diminutive of "shaggy"

  Playful · Cute

  Warm and descriptive — for a dog that always looks tousled.

• Dropsik

  From "drops" — a boiled sweet

  Cute · Playful

  A retro Polish sweet — an eighties name, charming again now.

• Bączek

  Polish for "spinning top" / "little bumblebee"

  Playful · Cute

  Spins like a top — for a puppy with no brakes.

• Bąbel

  Polish for "bubble"; affectionately, a toddler

  Playful · Cute

  What Poles call the littlest ones — it works on a dog too.

• Kicek

  From "kicać" — to hop like a hare

  Cute · Playful

  For a dog that doesn't run so much as bounce.

• Sułtan

  A ruler's title; a traditional big-dog name

  Strong · Elegant

  Stately and old-fashioned — for a dog that rules itself.

• Kajtuś

  A diminutive; Korczak's "Kajtuś the Wizard"

  Cute · Playful

  From Polish children's literature — tender and a little magical.

• Smok

  Polish for "dragon"; the Wawel Dragon of legend

  Strong · Adventurous

  A Kraków legend — for a big dog with a theatrical streak.

• Kmicic

  The hot-headed hero of "The Deluge"

  Adventurous · Strong

  A hothead with a good heart — apt for a lot of dogs.

• Góral

  Polish for "highlander"

  Nature & mountains · Strong

  A hard man of the mountains — for a thick-coated, stubborn dog.

• Ciupaga

  The Tatra highlander's axe-staff

  Nature & mountains · Strong

  Hard and regional — from Podhale, not from a catalogue.

• Wisełka

  Diminutive of the Vistula

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  The tender version of the river — for a small, restless girl.

• Hetman

  A commander of armies in old Poland

  Strong · Elegant

  A commander — for the dog that organizes the rest of the pack.

• Karmelek

  Diminutive of "caramel"

  Cute · Playful

  The warmer version of Karmel — for a golden-coated puppy.

• Kremówka

  The Polish cream cake, famous from Wadowice

  Cute · Elegant

  White, fluffy and sweet — for a small, cream-coated girl.

• Piegus

  Polish for "freckled"; also a poppy-seed cake

  Playful · Cute

  Perfect for a speckled dog — it describes and amuses at once.

• Beza

  Polish for "meringue"

  Cute · Elegant

  White, light and crisp — for a white, fluffy girl.

• Ptyś

  Polish for "cream puff"

  Cute · Playful

  Round, puffy and soft — four letters, plenty of affection.

• Wafelek

  Diminutive of "wafer"

  Cute · Playful

  Crunchy and cheerful — for a small dog of endless energy.

• Karpatka

  A Polish cake with a mountain-like crust

  Cute · Nature & mountains

  Named for the Carpathians — sweetness with a mountain note.

• Faworek

  The crisp Polish carnival pastry

  Playful · Cute

  Light, twisted and crisp — like a puppy in constant motion.

• Landrynka

  The colourful Polish boiled sweet

  Cute · Playful

  Colourful and retro — for a lively little girl.

• Cukierek

  Polish for "sweet, candy"

  Cute · Playful

  The simplest possible declaration of love for a dog.

• Eklerka

  Polish for "éclair"

  Elegant · Cute

  Long and elegant — for a dachshund or a slender girl.

• Rodzynek

  Polish for "raisin"; also "the one special one"

  Playful · Cute

  Polish idiom for "the odd one out" — for an only-dog household.

• Migdałek

  Diminutive of "almond"

  Cute · Elegant

  Almond eyes — for a dog with a long, gentle gaze.

• Orzeszek

  Diminutive of "nut"

  Cute · Nature & mountains

  Small, hard and brown — three traits in one name.

• Makówka

  Polish for "poppy head"

  Nature & mountains · Playful

  An affectionate, slightly cheeky word for a dog's head.

• Śliwka

  Polish for "plum"

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  Dark and round — for a small, blue-black girl.

• Wiśnia

  Polish for "sour cherry"

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  Red and vivid — for a girl with an intense personality.

• Czereśnia

  Polish for "sweet cherry"

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  Summery and sweet — Wiśnia's gentler sister.

• Morela

  Polish for "apricot"

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  Exactly the colour most small dogs actually are.

• Gruszka

  Polish for "pear"

  Nature & mountains · Playful

  The shape says it all — an affectionate word about a dog's build.

• Jabłuszko

  Diminutive of "apple"

  Cute · Nature & mountains

  Round and rosy — the fondest Polish fruit diminutive.

• Cytrynka

  Diminutive of "lemon"

  Playful · Nature & mountains

  Sharp and lively — for a tart, contrary little girl.

• Pyza

  A round Polish dumpling; also "chubby-cheeked"

  Playful · Cute

  For a girl with a round, chubby face — very Polish.

• Ogórek

  Polish for "cucumber"

  Playful · Nature & mountains

  A long green joke — excellent for a dachshund.

• Buraczek

  Diminutive of "beetroot"

  Playful · Nature & mountains

  Dark red and round — fondly, for a stocky ginger dog.

• Parówka

  Polish for "frankfurter"

  Playful

  Teasing and fond — for a dog that would sell its soul for one.

• Serek

  Diminutive of "cheese"

  Cute · Playful

  Short, soft and disarming — it sticks at once.

• Masełko

  Diminutive of "butter"

  Cute · Playful

  Golden and soft — for a butter-coloured coat.

• Maślanka

  Polish for "buttermilk"

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  Creamy and rustic — for a pale, gentle-natured girl.

• Kawka

  Diminutive of "coffee"; also a jackdaw

  Playful · Nature & mountains

  Two meanings, both black — for a small, dark girl.

• Thor

  The Norse god of thunder

  Strong · Adventurous

  One syllable, maximum gravity — for a dog that impresses by standing there.

• Loki

  The Norse trickster god

  Playful · Adventurous

  The god of mischief — no better name for a schemer.

• Odin

  The chief Norse god

  Strong · Elegant

  Stately and severe — for a big dog with a solemn gaze.

• Nemo

  Latin for "nobody"; also the captain and the fish

  Adventurous · Playful

  Known to children, short and cheerful — great for a small dog.

• Simba

  Swahili for "lion"; the Lion King hero

  Adventurous · Strong

  Instantly recognizable — for a ginger dog with a lion's mane.

• Teddy

  English for "teddy bear"

  Cute · Playful

  For a dog that looks exactly like a plush toy — and knows it.

• Jasper

  Persian for "treasurer"; also the stone jasper

  Elegant · Nature & mountains

  Stony and elegant — for a mottled coat.

• Gucio

  Polonized nickname for Gustaw

  Cute · Playful

  A foreign name reshaped in Polish — exactly how we like it.

• Rambo

  The film commando

  Strong · Playful

  Tongue in cheek — best on a dog that isn't remotely fierce.

• Zorro

  Spanish for "fox"; the masked hero

  Adventurous · Playful

  For a dog with a dark mask — apt and funny.

• Pablo

  Spanish form of Paul

  Adventurous · Elegant

  Southern and vivid — the open "o" carries well.

• Vito

  Italian for "life"

  Elegant · Strong

  Short and characterful — for a dog with quiet authority.

• Rico

  Spanish for "rich"; short for Ricardo

  Playful · Adventurous

  Two syllables with a hard "k" — easy to shout at the park.

• Finn

  Irish for "fair, white"

  Adventurous · Nature & mountains

  Short, modern and confident — good for a pale dog.

• Duke

  English for "duke"

  Strong · Elegant

  A title instead of a name — for a dog that acts like one anyway.

• Elvis

  The king of rock and roll

  Playful · Elegant

  For a dog with a lavish quiff — a name with a flourish.

• Ozzy

  Short for Oswald; also the rock singer

  Playful · Strong

  Short, loud and cheerful — for an explosive temperament.

• Rusty

  English for "rust-coloured"

  Nature & mountains · Playful

  An exact description of a ginger coat — English but instantly clear.

• Spike

  English for "spike"

  Strong · Playful

  For a dog with bristling fur — the hard "k" calls well.

• Tango

  The Argentine dance

  Elegant · Playful

  Rhythmic and two-syllable — for a dog that moves with grace.

• Chico

  Spanish for "boy, little one"

  Playful · Cute

  Warm and small — it suits the tiniest breeds.

• Sonny

  English for "sonny, little son"

  Cute · Playful

  Familial and warm — it says plainly what the dog is at home.

• Kai

  Hawaiian for "sea"; also a Nordic name

  Adventurous · Nature & mountains

  Three letters, one syllable — the shortest call possible.

• Bandit

  English for "bandit"

  Playful · Adventurous

  For a masked dog — with a habit of stealing sandwiches.

• Balu

  The bear from The Jungle Book

  Cute · Adventurous

  Big, lazy and good-natured — apt for a huge cuddler.

• Lola

  Spanish diminutive of Dolores

  Playful · Elegant

  A repeated syllable — the easiest sound pattern for a dog.

• Daisy

  English for "daisy"

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  One of the most-chosen names for female dogs in Poland.

• Lily

  English for "lily"

  Elegant · Nature & mountains

  Delicate and high-pitched — it carries through noise.

• Chloe

  Greek for "young green shoot"

  Elegant · Nature & mountains

  Vernal and light — for a small, restless girl.

• Ruby

  English for "ruby"

  Elegant · Playful

  A red stone — for a girl with a gleaming ginger coat.

• Rosie

  English diminutive of Rose

  Cute · Nature & mountains

  Warm and rosy — the "ie" ending is caught instantly.

• Maya

  Sanskrit for "illusion"; also the month of May

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  Known in Poland as Maja — foreign and familiar at once.

• Freya

  The Norse goddess of love

  Adventurous · Elegant

  Nordic and soft at once — rare on Polish dogs.

• Astrid

  Norse for "divine strength"

  Elegant · Strong

  Cool, northern and stately — for a big, calm girl.

• Willow

  English for "willow"

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  Slender and soft — the English counterpart to our Wierzba.

• Olive

  English for "olive"

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  Understated and unobvious — for an olive-grey coat.

• Poppy

  English for "poppy"

  Nature & mountains · Playful

  The doubled "p" sounds cheerful and cuts through.

• Frida

  Germanic for "peace"; also Frida Kahlo

  Elegant · Playful

  Artistic and characterful — for a girl with a vivid personality.

• Kira

  Slavic/Greek for "ruler"

  Strong · Adventurous

  A hard "k" and a short form — excellent for a working dog.

• Lana

  Hawaiian for "calm water"; also "wool"

  Elegant · Nature & mountains

  Two open syllables — among the easier names to call.

• Pippa

  English diminutive of Philippa

  Playful · Elegant

  Bouncy and short — it sounds exactly like a small dog running.

• Tilly

  English diminutive of Matilda

  Cute · Playful

  A cheerful "y" ending — caught by a dog at once.

• Winnie

  English diminutive; also Winnie the Pooh

  Cute · Playful

  Soft and universally known — for a small, cuddly girl.

• Roxy

  Persian for "bright"; short for Roxana

  Playful · Strong

  The hard "x" gives it claws — for a girl who doesn't back down.

• Penny

  English for the small copper coin

  Playful · Cute

  A copper colour in a small format — apt for a ginger tiny dog.

• Holly

  English for "holly"

  Nature & mountains · Cute

  Wintry and festive — for a girl born in December.

• Cookie

  English for "cookie"

  Cute · Playful

  Sweet and international — understood in Poland without translation.

• Gigi

  French diminutive of Georgette

  Elegant · Playful

  A doubled syllable — the sound pattern dogs catch fastest.

• Amber

  English for "amber"

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  The English Bursztyn — for a honey-clear coat.

• Zara

  Arabic for "blossom, radiance"

  Elegant · Adventurous

  A vivid "z" up front — it grabs attention immediately.

• Ivy

  English for "ivy"

  Nature & mountains · Elegant

  Three letters and a botanical root — minimal and green.