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Black dog names: 160+ dark names for boys and girls

174 names · Updated · By The Nomezo Editors · Save to Pinterest

The best black dog names sound dark, glossy or a little mysterious, like Pitch, Gloaming and Little Black Dress. Night words, dark berries, coffee and black stones all suit a black coat, and so do the shaggy black hounds of British folklore.

Below are 160+ names for black dogs and black puppies in eleven groups: the most-used picks, classics, dark names for females, names for males, words for black and night in other languages, famous black dogs and folklore hounds, black dog breeds, black birds and animals, coffee and dark foods, black and white dog names, and funny names. Every name has a short note, with the meaning or a pronunciation where it helps.

Can't decide? Shuffle 6 random picks

  • Noite

    Portuguese for night; say NOY-chee

  • Heiye

    Mandarin for dark night; say HAY-yeh

  • Snowflake Obsidian

    Black volcanic glass dotted with white flower shapes

  • Bouvier

    French for cowherd, a big shaggy Belgian farm dog; say boo-VYAY

  • Black Bean Burger

    For a veggie-loving dark dog

  • Goth

    For a moody pup with a dark wardrobe

Dog name tools

Check a name against the commands and names in your home, see how popular it is, and pick one short call name for a long name.

Commands and housemates

  • About 1 syllable: short and easy to call.
  • Kit rhymes with "Sit". Say them side by side; if they blur, keep looking.
  • Sounds different from Max, Mia.

How popular is it?

  • No. 9 in AKC girls 2025

These lists are company data from the AKC, pet insurers, Chewy and Rover, not official counts.

One call name

Call nameSnow

AKC papers: the format is allowed

Use the same short name every time. In a noisy park, dogs in one study picked out their name only when it was as loud as the noise around them.

Want endless ideas? Try the dog name generator and generate new names in one click.

The black dog names most people use

The classic picks for a black coat. Bear is also one of the most popular dog names in the US.

  1. Shadow: Always one step behind you
  2. Midnight: For the darkest hour of the night
  3. Onyx: A black banded stone
  4. Jet: A glossy black fossil wood, and fast
  5. Coal: Black, warm and full of energy
  6. Raven: A clever black bird of myth and poetry
  7. Ebony: A dense black wood
  8. Sable: An old word for black in heraldry
  9. Inky: For a pup as black as ink
  10. Licorice: Black and sweet, like the candy
  11. Bear: Big, soft and black; one of the most popular US dog names
  12. Panther: Sleek and black, the big cat's name

Classic black dog names

Simple, dark names that suit a glossy coat and are easy to call at dusk.

  1. Pitch: The sticky tar of old ships, and the darkest dark
  2. Murk: For a dog who melts into the shadows
  3. Night: Short, strong and easy to call at dusk
  4. Char: For a dog the color of a well-toasted log
  5. Carbon: The element behind coal, graphite and diamonds
  6. Vinyl: Glossy, black and full of good grooves
  7. Moonless: For a pup as dark as a sky with no moon
  8. After Dark: For a dog who comes alive in the evening
  9. Witching Hour: The spooky middle of the night, when ghost stories begin
  10. Darkling: A poetic old word meaning in the dark
  11. Gloaming: An old word for twilight, kept alive in Scots
  12. Bogwood: Ancient wood stained dark by peat bogs
  13. Peat: Dark and earthy, for a muddy pup; it rhymes with treat, so say it clearly
  14. Bog: For a dark dog who never met a puddle he did not like
  15. Vantablack: A brand of one of the blackest materials ever made
  16. Lampblack: A soot pigment used for ink since ancient times

Dark dog names for females

Dark flowers, berries and elegant heroines for a girl with a glossy coat.

  1. Little Black Dress: The timeless outfit that goes with everything
  2. Holly Golightly: Truman Capote's free spirit, played on film in a little black dress
  3. Black Iris: A dramatic, nearly black garden flower
  4. Black Tulip: A rare dark flower, and a novel by Alexandre Dumas
  5. Black Orchid: An exotic, velvety bloom for an elegant girl
  6. Black Rose: A deep, dark bloom for a romantic girl
  7. Black Raspberry: A sweet, dark berry also called a blackcap
  8. Black Cherry: Dark, sweet and a little bit tart
  9. Damson: A small, dark plum; say DAM-zun
  10. Concord Grape: The purple-black grape of jelly and juice; keep real grapes away from dogs
  11. Blackcurrant: A tart, dark berry loved in British candies and drinks
  12. Crowberry: A shiny black berry of cold northern heaths
  13. Aronia: A dark, tart berry also called chokeberry
  14. Kohl: Ancient dark eyeliner, bold and dramatic
  15. Mascara: For a girl with long, dark lashes
  16. Melanippe: Greek for black mare, a name from myth; say meh-LAN-ih-pee
  17. Nocturna: A dreamy invented name from the Latin for night
  18. Twyla: A soft name with a twilight feel
  19. Mab: The tiny fairy queen of dreams in Romeo and Juliet

Black dog names for males

Dark surnames, black-clad heroes and black stones for a strong, steady boy.

  1. Duane: Irish, from Dubhán, built on dubh, meaning dark
  2. Dunn: Old English for dark, or Gaelic for brown; it sounds like done, a common release word
  3. Blackstone: After Sir William, the great English legal scholar
  4. Black Prince: Edward of Woodstock, the warrior son of King Edward III
  5. Black Knight: The mysterious armored rider of Arthurian tales
  6. Black Watch: A famous Scottish regiment with a dark tartan
  7. Man in Black: Johnny Cash's nickname, for a dog who only wears black
  8. Black Forest: Germany's deep, dark woodland of fairy tales
  9. Black Hills: Pine-dark mountains of South Dakota and Wyoming
  10. Black Sea: A great inland sea between Europe and Asia
  11. Gabbro: A dark, coarse rock formed deep underground
  12. Schorl: The most common tourmaline, always black; say SHORL
  13. Magnetite: A black mineral that is naturally magnetic
  14. Carbonado: A rare black diamond, tougher than most
  15. Dark Star: For a dog who shines in his own mysterious way

Words for black and night in other languages

Black and night from Turkish to Hawaiian. Short ones are easy to call at the park.

  1. Siyah: Turkish for black; say see-YAH
  2. Aswad: Arabic for black; say AS-wad
  3. Geomeun: Korean for black; say GUH-mun
  4. Mweusi: Swahili for black; say mweh-OO-see
  5. Mnyama: Zulu for black or dark
  6. ʻEleʻele: Hawaiian for black; say EH-leh-EH-leh
  7. Mangu: Māori for black; say MAH-ngoo
  8. Itim: Tagalog for black; say ee-TEEM
  9. Hitam: Malay and Indonesian for black; say HEE-tahm
  10. Svartur: Icelandic for black; say SVAR-tur
  11. Chorny: Russian for black; say CHOR-nee
  12. Černý: Czech for black; say CHAIR-nee
  13. Beltz: Basque for black; say BELTS
  14. Shachor: Hebrew for black; say shah-KHOR
  15. Nacht: German for night; say NAHKHT
  16. Noche: Spanish for night; say NO-cheh
  17. Noite: Portuguese for night; say NOY-chee
  18. Caligo: Latin for mist or darkness
  19. Obscura: Latin for dark or hidden
  20. Dorcha: Irish for dark; say DUR-uh-khuh
  21. Skotos: Ancient Greek for darkness or gloom
  22. Heiye: Mandarin for dark night; say HAY-yeh

Famous black dogs and folklore hounds

Oz's little black dog, a White House Scottie, a Welsh hero and the ghostly black dogs of British legend.

  1. Toto: Dorothy's little black dog in Baum's 1900 Oz book
  2. Barney: The Bushes' black Scottish Terrier, star of the White House Barney Cam videos
  3. Black Dog: A sinister pirate who visits Billy Bones in Treasure Island
  4. Swansea Jack: A black retriever said to have saved 27 people from Swansea's docks in the 1930s
  5. Barghest: A monstrous black hound of Yorkshire folklore
  6. Church Grim: A folklore dog said to guard old graveyards
  7. Gytrash: A shape-shifting spirit of northern England that Jane Eyre fears on a lonely road
  8. Moddey Dhoo: Manx for black dog, a ghost said to haunt Peel Castle
  9. Hairy Jack: A shaggy black dog of Lincolnshire legend, sometimes a protector
  10. Skriker: A Lancashire black dog, often unseen, known for its shriek

Black dog breed names

Breeds that often come in black, borrowed as names for a dog of any background.

  1. Labrador: The classic retriever, loyal and lovable
  2. Newfie: The gentle, giant water rescue dog of Newfoundland
  3. Schipperke: A little black Belgian dog once kept on canal barges; say SKIP-er-kee
  4. Groenendael: The all-black Belgian Shepherd, named for its breeder's château; say GROH-nen-dahl
  5. Scottie: The plucky Scottish Terrier, often jet black
  6. Flat-Coat: A cheerful, glossy retriever who never stops wagging
  7. Affenpinscher: German for monkey terrier, a scruffy little charmer
  8. Cane Corso: A powerful Italian guard dog, often black
  9. Bouvier: French for cowherd, a big shaggy Belgian farm dog; say boo-VYAY
  10. Briard: A shaggy French herding dog, often black
  11. Bergamasco: An Italian sheepdog whose gray or black coat forms flat mats
  12. Kerry Blue: An Irish terrier born black that turns soft gray
  13. Xolo: Mexico's ancient hairless dog, often black or slate; say SHOW-lo

Black bird and animal names

Crows, cormorants and bears for a dog who belongs in the wild.

  1. Crow: Clever, bold and always up to something
  2. Jackdaw: A small, clever crow with pale gray eyes
  3. Grackle: A glossy blackbird that shines purple in the sun
  4. Blackbird: Europe's blackbird, with a golden bill and a lovely song
  5. Merula: Latin for blackbird, a sweet singer
  6. Ouzel: An old English word for blackbird; say OO-zul
  7. Mynah: A glossy dark bird that can mimic speech
  8. Cormorant: A sleek diving bird that dries its wings in the sun
  9. Coot: A round black waterbird with a white bill
  10. Chough: A crow with a bright red bill; say CHUFF
  11. Black Swan: An elegant Australian waterbird, and a byword for a rare surprise
  12. Frigatebird: A black seabird with a red throat pouch
  13. Anhinga: The snakebird, which swims with only its neck showing
  14. Black Bear: North America's most common bear, though not every one is black
  15. Bear Cub: For a fluffy black puppy who tumbles everywhere
  16. Gnu: The black wildebeest's other name, for a big, bearded dog
  17. Mink: A sleek, dark little hunter with a glossy coat

Coffee and dark food names

Strong coffee, dark berries and sweet treats. Several of the real foods are risky for dogs; the notes say which.

  1. Black Coffee: Strong, simple and ready before sunrise
  2. Cold Brew: Smooth, dark and very cool
  3. French Roast: A very dark, bold roast, shiny with oil
  4. Americano: Espresso stretched with hot water
  5. Java: Old slang for coffee, from the Indonesian island
  6. Robusta: A strong, hardy coffee bean for a sturdy pup
  7. Coffee Bean: Small, dark and full of energy
  8. Black Tea: Strong, warming and ready every afternoon
  9. Lapsang: A smoky Chinese black tea; say LAP-sang
  10. Black Garlic: Bulbs aged until they turn dark, sweet and soft
  11. Black Olive: Small, glossy and good on pizza
  12. Blackberry Jam: Sweet, dark and great on toast
  13. Peppercorn: A tiny dark spice with a big kick
  14. Raisin: Small, dark and sweet, for a tiny puppy; real raisins are toxic to dogs
  15. Currant: A tiny dark dried fruit for a tiny dark dog; keep real currants away from dogs
  16. Prune: For a wrinkly-faced pup with a sweet heart

Black and white dog names

For a black dog with white trim, or a white dog with black patches.

  1. Pilot: Mr. Rochester's black and white dog in Jane Eyre
  2. Cadejo: In Central American legend, one spirit dog is white and one is black
  3. Houndstooth: A black and white check named for a dog's tooth
  4. Panda Pup: For a pup with dark patches around the eyes
  5. Landseer: The black and white Newfoundland, named for a painter
  6. Boston Terrier: The tuxedo-wearing American Gentleman of dogs
  7. Belted Galloway: A Scottish cow, black with a white belt around the middle
  8. Pepper Mill: For a speckled dog who adds a little spice
  9. Marble Rye: A bread swirled light and dark
  10. Whoopie Pie: Two dark cakes hugging a white cream filling
  11. Snowflake Obsidian: Black volcanic glass dotted with white flower shapes
  12. Dalmatian Jasper: A pale stone with black spots, named for the spotted dog
  13. Piebald: Patches of black and white, as on a horse or dog

Funny black dog names

Puns and silly ideas for a dog you can never find in the dark.

  1. Power Outage: For a dog you cannot see when the lights go out
  2. Hockey Puck: Small, round, black and always sliding across the floor
  3. Bowling Ball: For a round pup who knocks everything over
  4. Remote: Dark, small and always lost in the couch cushions
  5. Night Mode: For a dog who switched to dark settings at birth
  6. Black Belt: For a pup who has mastered sit, stay and shake
  7. Burnt Marshmallow: Dark outside, soft and sweet inside
  8. Well Done: Like a steak left on the grill a little too long
  9. Black Sheep: For the lovable rebel of the family
  10. Goth: For a moody pup with a dark wardrobe
  11. Emo: For a sensitive dog with dark, floppy bangs
  12. Count Barkula: A spooky pun for a dog who sleeps all day
  13. Barkness: For a pup who rules the night, one woof at a time
  14. Labracadabra: For a black Lab who makes snacks disappear
  15. Pupsidian: A glossy pun on the black volcanic glass
  16. Muttnight: For a mixed-breed pup as dark as the late hours
  17. Black Bean Burger: For a veggie-loving dark dog
  18. Wagyu: For a pampered pup, after Japan's famous black cattle
  19. Turntable: For a dog who spins in circles before lying down
  20. Eyeliner: For a pup with dark rims around her eyes
  21. Blacktop: For a dog who loves a long walk around the block

How to pick the right name

Think about the shine

Some black dogs are glossy, some are dusty charcoal and some fade to brown in the sun. Vinyl and Grackle suit a shiny coat, while Peat or Bogwood suit a warmer, earthy black.

Make it easy to hear outdoors

A black dog is hard to spot at dusk, so you will call the name a lot. Char, Mab or Siyah carry across a park and do not sound like No, Sit or Treat.

Keep a short version handy

Trainers, the AKC among them, suggest a call name of one or two syllables, so give a long pick an everyday form: Holly Golightly becomes Holly, and Count Barkula becomes Count.

Use the markings

Plenty of black dogs have a white blaze, chest or paws. Those dogs can borrow a black and white name like Pilot, Houndstooth or Whoopie Pie.

Black dog names: 174 ideas from Nomezo

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Black dog names: the one on the popularity charts, what shelters found about black dogs, and why two black dogs can have yellow puppies

By The Nomezo Editors · Updated October 25, 2026 · How we research names

Bear is the black-coat name on the charts: No. 6 for boy dogs in the AKC's 2025 list and No. 11 in U.S. News's 2026 study. Black dogs are not the hard sell many people think, either: in a study of about 16,700 shelter dogs, black dogs were adopted slightly faster than average.

The kit above checks how a name sounds next to commands like No and Treat, and finds a short call name for a long one. The tables below cover coat color and which treat names are risky as real food.

  1. Step 1Pick a styleNight, coffee, stones or folklore.
  2. Step 2Test it against commandsCrow rhymes with No; Peat with Treat.
  3. Step 3Know the coatDominant black, and the yellow surprise.
  4. Step 4Mind the treat namesRaisin and Coffee are names, not snacks.

Are black dogs adopted less?

  • Not in the biggest study. At two Pacific Northwest shelters, about 16,700 dogs over four years, black dogs left in 6.5 days against a 7-day average at one shelter and in 9 days against 10.5 at the other; age and breed group mattered more than color (ScienceDaily).
  • Not at two New York shelters either. A 2013 study found that neither coat color nor sex affected how long dogs waited (Europe PMC).
  • On the charts. Bear was No. 6 for boy dogs in the AKC's 2025 list (AKC) and No. 11 in U.S. News's 2026 study (NBC), and it is a baby name too: 286 US boys in 2025, up from 6 in 2000 (Social Security data).

Why is my dog black?

How dogs get a black coat
What happensWhy
Most black dogsDominant black, the K^B variant at the K locus: one copy is enough for a black coat
Two black dogs, yellow puppiesA puppy with two copies of e at the E locus is red to yellow, whatever its other genes
A rarer recessive blackComes from the agouti gene, and only in a handful of breeds

Source: Wikipedia: Dog coat genetics. That is why two black Labradors can have a yellow litter.

Treat names that are risky as real food

Food names on this page, and the real foods
NamesThe real food
Raisin, Currant, Concord GrapeGrapes, raisins and Zante currants can cause kidney injury in dogs
Black Coffee, Cold Brew, Americano, Black Tea and the other coffee and tea namesCaffeine is dangerous to dogs
Black GarlicGarlic can damage a dog's red blood cells
Whoopie PieChocolate is toxic to dogs

Sources: Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine; ASPCA. The names are fine; just keep the snacks out of reach.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

What is a good name for a black dog?

Shadow, Bear, Pitch, Jackdaw and Gloaming are fun picks. Night, coffee, berry and stone names all suit a black coat, and words for black in other languages, like Siyah or Mweusi, make short, unusual choices.

What are good dark dog names for females?

Little Black Dress, Black Iris, Damson, Kohl and Mab are elegant choices for a girl. Dark berries and flowers, like Black Raspberry and Black Tulip, give a softer feel.

What are good black dog names for males?

Duane, Black Prince, Black Watch and Gabbro all have a strong, dark sound. For a laid-back boy, try Black Coffee or Labracadabra.

What are good names for black and white dogs?

Pilot, Landseer, Houndstooth, Panda Pup and Whoopie Pie all suit a two-tone coat. Pilot was Mr. Rochester's black and white dog in Jane Eyre.

Why are there so many black dogs in folklore?

Phantom black dogs appear in legends across Britain and beyond, from the Barghest of Yorkshire to the Moddey Dhoo of the Isle of Man. Some were feared as omens, while others were said to guard lonely travelers.

Is black dog syndrome real?

The larger studies do not support it. In a study of about 16,700 dogs at two shelters, black dogs were adopted slightly faster than average, and a 2013 study at two New York shelters found coat color made no difference. Age and breed mattered more.

Can two black dogs have yellow puppies?

Yes. A dog that inherits two copies of the e variant at the E locus has a red or yellow coat whatever its other genes, so two black parents that each carry e can have yellow puppies. It happens often in Labradors.

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