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80 Old-Fashioned Dog Names Around The World, As Shared By People In This Online Thread

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Whether one is a fan of classic Russian literature or not, at least a few should be familiar with the stray dog named Sharik (translates as a "small ball") from Bulgakov's novel "Heart of a Dog." Sharik, together with Argos ("The Odyssey") and Lassie ("Lassie Come-Home"), and many more literary puppers, belong to classic dog names from literature. Interestingly, while today it's unlikely to meet a young person with a 'vintage' name, it's not uncommon for owners to call their puppers classic, old-fashioned dog names. Hence, we can only imagine many Shariks, Lassies, and Argos running around somewhere!

In America, for example, we have classic dog names like Buck, Buddy, Rex, and Spot, which, despite being called old-fashioned dog names, are still quite common and well-liked. However, do other countries also have their own equivalents of vintage dog names? Have you ever thought about this? Well, Old Reddit user Dr_Edge_ATX did. They asked, "Non-Americans, does your culture have "old-fashioned" dog names like we do in America, such as Fido, Rex, Spot, Rover, etc., and what are some?" As was revealed by the answers left under the thread, non-Americans surely do!

Below, we've compiled some of the best answers from the thread, revealing non-American equivalents of classic, old-fashioned names for dogs in the rest of the world. Like any of the names? Let us know by giving them an upvote! Also, do you know any more cute old-fashioned dog names like the ones below? Let us know in the comments!

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#1

"Swedish kindergarten kid to other swedish kindergarten kid:

"Are you a boy or a girl?"

"I don’t know."

"What is your name?"

"Måns"

"Oh, then you are a cat.'"

conan_keating Report

23points

Sally Close 1 year ago

That is hilariously cute

1point

#2

"In Singapore, male dog: Boy Boy. Female dog: Girl Girl. We’re not a creative people."

parisbear92 Report

16points

JoinMeZoe 1 year ago

You can say that again.🙄

3points

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#3

"Well, in Chile there's a lot of dogs named Cholo or Cholito, which is a word meaning mestizo (mixed race' or crossbreed in English) so it's a name given to most strays, or even just a term to refer to strays in general. There's also a law called Ley Cholito made for responsible pet ownership inspired by a dog who was named that."

Katzimir_Malevich Report

14points

Carito alias La Cototina 1 year ago

Kiltro o Quiltro meaning mongrel. Cachupin iscanother very famous Chilean dog name.

1point

#4

"Musti (Blackie). Finland. It's considered a classic but I've never actually met a dog with that name."

reddit.com Report

13points

JoinMeZoe 1 year ago

Me neither

2points

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#5

Serend1ppa said:
"Tuzik, Bobik (Russian), Sirko (Ukrainian). No one gives them to dogs any more but they are still used in pet-related jokes."

svartalf replied:
"And Sharik also."

Serend1ppa , svartalf Report

13points

#6

"Hachi in Japan."

13points

StrangeTrout 1 year ago

Hachi means Eight in Japanese, but I don't know in what context this is used in this post.

0points

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#7

Lumppu said:
"Rekku."

nouveauspelaea replied:
"A variation of Rex."

Lumppu , nouveauspelaea Report

12points

#8

le_yellowrat said:
"Solovino."

bizcho replied:
"For the non-Spanish speakers solovino sounds like a Spanish name but it came from the frase "solo vino" or "he came alone" meaning the dog was probably a stray dog and the family adopted it."

le_yellowrat , bizcho Report

12points

Pablo Ramos 1 year ago

Solovino means "Came alone" or "Wine only". Isn't Spanish great?

3points

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#9

"Pochi in Japan. Also I work at a vet clinic and there are way too many small white dogs named Lucy. And they’re always mean."

animestory99 Report

12points

Grudge-holding Treefrog 1 year ago

My family used to have a calico cat named Lucy. She hated everything and almost died 6 times before she actually died

3points

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#10

"New Zealand. All dogs are named Jim."

bw0404968 Report

12points

StrangeTrout 1 year ago

So, if you call for your dog do 15 come running up expecting good boy treats?

2points

#11

"In Hungary we have:

Csibész (Rascal)

Morzsa / Morzsi (Crumbs)

Fickó (Guy / Lad)

Cézár (Caesar)"

LatkaXtreme Report

12points

Chewie Baron 1 year ago

Cézár, ruler of Ancient Rome, and in the future the new name for Mr Dog, a dog food for small yappy-type dogs.

0points

#12

"(Thai) Top of my head: Daang ("Spots"), Toob (for floppy-eared), Ouan ("Fat"), Foofoo ("Fluffy"), Toong ngern ("Bag of silver"), Toong tong ("Bag of gold"), and a lot of times we just call them by their colors like Dum for black, Dang (red) for orange-brown, or Khow for white."

HBry1004 Report

11points

StrangeTrout 1 year ago

Ouan, love that. Although I have a sneaking suspicion that if I used it for my own floof he'd understand and start plotting revenge at the top of the stairs.

1point

#13

"Simba is lion in Swahili."

11points

A Wild Bean 1 year ago

And Pumbaa is warthog, etc (most of the names in the movie are just the name of the animal in Swahili)

2points

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#14

RoryRabideau said:
"My neighbors are from Ireland, their dogs name is Cú. Said it's some mythical/historical name and super common."

ebeth_the_mighty replied:
"It means dog or hound in Irish."

RoryRabideau , ebeth_the_mighty Report

11points

StrangeTrout 1 year ago

Are you sure they're from Ireland or just of Irish descent and not quite understanding the language?

0points

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#15

"Lucky, Baby, Snowy - white dog, Blackie - black dog, Xiao bai - little white, Xiao hei - little black is extremely common. Cause we Chinese like simple English names and telling it like it is. P.S. was not trying to be racist, apologies in advance if I offend.

I noticed that all the Chinese names for dogs are almost all either a) colour related or b) luck related. The reason for b) is cause of the (bazi, or eight characters), because we Chinese are superstitious as hell, feel that you need to give a lot of meaning in naming a baby or a pet. It sort of sets your whole life’s journey, like e.g. getting rich or wiser when you get older. And a) is maybe cause they just basic, lol."

strawharts Report

11points

#16

"Wang Wang - I’ve met so many dogs in China named this, which is just a Chinese onomatopoeia to the “woof” sound dogs make."

reddit.com Report

11points

hungryghost 1 year ago

Great, now my mind goes to dawang from dianxi xiaoge

0points

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#17

"Australia has Dusty, Sheila, Max, Dog and Bluey."

smileedude Report

10points

StrangeTrout 1 year ago

Aus does tend to go with what works and stick to it.

1point

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#18

"In Denmark: Buster, Bølle, Basse, Charlie, Molly."

Mariakatss Report

10points

Bjarne McDonald 1 year ago

Kvik!

0points

#19

"Zeus, Amora, Nega on Brazil."

10points

#20

"I think Totó is the name most associated with dogs in Brazil even though is not that usual anymore."

ChesterCopperPot72 Report

10points

Ace 1 year ago

"I've a feeling we're not in Kansas any more."

2points

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#21

"In Croatia, we mainly just name every animal Fifi."

reddit.com Report

10points

Mila Preradović 1 year ago

Old fashioned Croatian dog names: Medo (Bear), Žućo (Yellow)

1point

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#22

"Cerberus (Or Kerberos), was the name of the three headed dog that guarded the underworld in Greek Mythology. It literally means spotted."

notagoodboye Report

9points

StrangeTrout 1 year ago

I didn't know that, that's wonderful!

1point

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#23

"If it's a black dog Kolur or Tinna. But it's our horses which have the most classical names. There is even a department that oversees horse names so they can't get unusual names."

9points

StrangeTrout 1 year ago

Where are you? I have to know which country has a horse name register!

2points

#24

"Oso - means bear in Spanish."

reddit.com Report

9points

#25

"I'm not a non-american, since I'm actually native american, but I have a few interesting ones from my tribe (Mohawk) that are most common. Okwari - bear, pronounced oh-gwa-lee. Okwaho - wolf, pronounced oh-gwa-ho. Kahontsi - black, pronounced gah-hoon-jee."

reddit.com Report

9points

LoneTomato 1 year ago

I love that they gave pronunciation too!

1point

#26

"My two chihuahuas are Osito and Beaner."

home_cheese Report

8points

#27

"Chucho! My dog's name is Odín but my dad always call him Chucho."

MayraHope Report

8points

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#28

"Bobi in Portugal."

jfredsilva Report

8points

#29

"In Croatia really old ones are Garo and Zućo, maybe Riki and Floki. Rex and Aron I hear a lot nowadays, maybe Luna and Maks."

TheIdiotSandwitch Report

8points

Mila Preradović 1 year ago

Garo means Black so I like when someone names a white dog Garo😁

0points

#30

"Common one for France is Medor."

8points

#31

"In Korea Badook-ee means spotty."

valmonds Report

8points

#32

ZanyDelaney said:
"In Italy Fido."

Mumofalltrades63 also said:
"Fido is Latin for “I am faithful”."

ZanyDelaney , Mumofalltrades63 Report

8points

StrangeTrout 1 year ago

Here in GB too, although not given often. My favourite was Norman for a German Shepherd.

1point

#33

"Here in India, people usually give their dogs some western sounding name. This is because only rich people used to own purebreed dogs and they would give them fancy names like that too. But some old fashioned names do exist like Karuppi means blackie , Raja means king , Tomy, Mani and so on."

8points

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#34

"In Hungary Füles - one with big ears."

LatkaXtreme Report

8points

StrangeTrout 1 year ago

Love this, will remember for when I next have to name an animal friend.

0points

#35

"In Romania Și Fetița means little girl."

pandraxar Report

8points

#36

"In the Philippines Bantay means guard."

thisizmark24 Report

8points

StrangeTrout 1 year ago

Top name for a floof

0points

#37

"In the Philippines Batik means spot."

thisizmark24 Report

8points

#38

"Brownie, Tagpi (Patchwork), and Rambo In Philippines."

kwaichangcame Report

8points

#39

"Karabash means black head Turkey."

virile_rex Report

8points

StrangeTrout 1 year ago

Ooo, too many other connotations . . .

1point

#40

"In Norway: Tassen, Fant, Bajas, Doffen."

EscaRavien Report

8points

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#41

"In Scotland Fraoch means heather."

maggie_reeroo Report

8points

StrangeTrout 1 year ago

Intact dogs don't like running through heather, it's spiky and their balls contract every time they make contact. Bloody funny for those of use following though.

0points

#42

"In Israel it will be Roky, everyone called their dog that in the 80s."

8points

#43

"For Dutch I would say Fikkie and Rakker."

pm_me_ur_bookcase Report

8points

#44

"I'm Sicilian. My grandfather named his dog Ignazio. It means fiery."

ItaliaGirl75VA Report

8points

#45

"In Scotland there are Max, Dafty, Kinny and Baker."

reddit.com Report

8points

#46

"I'm from Poland. "Old-fashioned" dog name is Azor."

LordVivecIsMyWaifu Report

8points

Seval 1 year ago

The other traditional Polish names for dogs are Fafik and Reksio (from Rex). For cat it is Mruczek (=Purr)

2points

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#47

"In Iceland Snati, Sámur, Hvutti."

7points

#48

redditor said:
"Canelo."

lilylakai replied:
"Our family dog’s name is Canelo, he’s a chocolate lab, and of course we’re Mexican."

reddit.com Report

7points

#49

ramonortiz55 said:
"Firulais."

FlakZak replied:
"Firulais is the name of the dog in the "Rugrats" tv show. I don't know if that is the definitive origin of the name but that's how I know it."

ramonortiz55 , FlakZak Report

7points

#50

ee-z said:
"Manchas también."

Nathan_graves replied:
"It literally means "spots", as in a dog who is spotted. "

ee-z , Nathan_graves Report

7points

#51

"I have a dog named Spot. He’s pure white. I wanted to give him a complex."

vengefulmuffins Report

7points

StrangeTrout 1 year ago

Snork! Dalmations are born without spots so they may develop and then the laugh will be on you.

0points

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#52

"We got my childhood dog from a Russian lady and the dogs name was Mishka. I’m told it means little bear."

tdrichards74 Report

7points

Huddo's sister 1 year ago

I went to school with a girl named Mishka

0points

#53

Valdrax said:
"Pochi and John serve this purpose in Japan, but much like Spot, they're pretty much only reserved for dogs that an author didn't want to spend any effort naming. You almost never see actual dogs named either."

ee-z replied:
"Shiro for white dogs, Kuro for black ones."

Valdrax , ee-z Report

7points

#54

"I always remember dogs in Japan being named what they thought were common American names: John, Bob, etc."

DetBabyLegs Report

7points

#55

"Pantufa, goes for cats and dogs and it literally means house shoe."

niceonshrooms Report

7points

StrangeTrout 1 year ago

My cat is now renamed, I love this although it will probably end in my murder by said cat.

0points

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#56

"Reksio, Fafik in Poland."

bakubakunyanyaa Report

7points

#57

"Burek is typical in Poland."

7points

#58

"In India Bhaloo means bear."

thestorys0far Report

7points

#59

"Rafiki (the monkey) means friend."

PestilenceandPlague Report

7points

StrangeTrout 1 year ago

I lived next door to a dog named Monkey when I was a child. Gorgeous name for a dog.

1point

#60

"In India Lalu is the generic name for the street dog that is kinda everyone's pet."

Tahoma-sans Report

7points

#61

weedsmokingscientist said:
"I had a German landlord with a dog called Hundi."

JustMeLurkingAround- replied:
"Hundi is basically doggy."

weedsmokingscientist , JustMeLurkingAround- Report

7points

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#62

"In Ireland, the typical dog name is Bran after the legendary hero Fionn MacCumhaill's hound. Rover is also an old one."

Donncadh_Doirche Report

7points

#63

"Over the course of 50 or 60 some odd years on my moms family farm in Cork, if you were male dog, your name was Shep, if you were a female dog, your name was Lassie."

reddit.com Report

7points

StrangeTrout 1 year ago

Down Shep!

1point

#64

"In Hungary, we have Morzsi/Morzsa it means crumb and Buksi it means head."

AshCrowley Report

7points

#65

"In Korea Nurung-ee means yellowish doggy."

valmonds Report

7points

#66

"Kvik, which kind of means fast/smart/sharp is one."

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7points

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#67

"Balo, Lesi in Albania."

7points

#68

"Bobiță in Romania."

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7points

#69

"Haiduc is another classic in Romania."

decebalvs Report

7points

#70

"My dad who is Brazilian only calls my dog Tico."

little_chungles Report

7points

#71

"Here in Canada, on my reserve, they name their dogs after other animals. Bear, moose, etc."

okchristiannn Report

7points

Luanda Moura 1 year ago

I'm Brazilian, 37 yo, but I've never heard a dog called Tico.

0points

#72

"In Czech Punťa - spot."

DefenestrationPraha Report

7points

#73

"In Scotland Dìleas means loyal."

maggie_reeroo Report

7points

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#74

"Karo in Sweden."

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7points

#75

"Czechia - Alík, Flíček."

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7points

#76

"Here in South Africa you'll hear many dogs being called Sasha, or Sheba, for some reason.."

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Yup, my Pa had a dog named Sheba. She was a queen though, absolutely beautiful.

0points

#77

"Peluche. (Spanish culture) means teddy bear."

7points

#78

nashitasalman said:
"Indians - Moti and Hira (pearl & diamond). There's also Sheru (tiger) ."

TakenbyLiamNeeson replied:
"In the South, people also name their dogs: Jimmy & Tommy, and pandu (fruit), kanna (little/tiny), and local variations for the word "golden"."

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6points

#79

"In India every 3rd dog is a Tommy, Jimmy, Brownie, Snowy, Snoopy or Scooby."

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#80

"In Vietnam Mực - black ink, Đốm - spot."

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6points

Eligijus Sinkunas

I’m a visual editor for Bored Panda, trying to find and select high-quality images to enhance articles across different formats. With a keen eye for detail, my goal is to ensure that each picture helps to attract readers into captivating visual experiences. As a freelancer, I’m also working as a video editor for a YouTube channel that makes music games. After work, I like to play with guitar, go to karate classes or just relax at home at play video games.

I’m a visual editor for Bored Panda, trying to find and select high-quality images to enhance articles across different formats. With a keen eye for detail, my goal is to ensure that each picture helps to attract readers into captivating visual experiences. As a freelancer, I’m also working as a video editor for a YouTube channel that makes music games. After work, I like to play with guitar, go to karate classes or just relax at home at play video games.

Violeta Lyskoit

Violeta is an SEO Editor at Bored Panda. She has completed her higher education at Northumbria University with a bachelor's degree in Media & Journalism.

Violeta is an SEO Editor at Bored Panda. She has completed her higher education at Northumbria University with a bachelor's degree in Media & Journalism.

What do you think ?

sturmwesen 1 year ago

Here 10% of the males are Balou (when we got ours we shortened it to Lou). The females are mostly Luna or Mila with the occasional Diva.

1point

Mila Preradović 1 year ago (edited)

Wut, Mila?😳 where is that? You sound German 🧐😊

0points

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sturmwesen 1 year ago

Here 10% of the males are Balou (when we got ours we shortened it to Lou). The females are mostly Luna or Mila with the occasional Diva.

1point

Mila Preradović 1 year ago (edited)

Wut, Mila?😳 where is that? You sound German 🧐😊

0points

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