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The cutest dog name trends for 2026

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woman holding her dog
When you bring a puppy into your home, there is immediately a kind of pressure on your shoulders. You not only get older with a little dog that decides at 03:17 that the night is over and interprets “sit” mainly as a suggestion, but you also have to come up with a name. A name that you will be calling out everywhere for the next fifteen years. Bella and Buddy just don’t cut it anymore. But how do you capture that sparkling puppy personality in a first name? These are the trends for 2026.

dog

Too cute old Dutch names

Where a few years ago we stuffed every name with as many vowels and Greek y’s as possible (the more “ae” and “ey”, the better), we are now completely back to basics. No more Luna, Hayley, or Summer, but just: Willem or Noor. That’s what my cousins named their beige labradoodle Gijs. And I find that so cozy. As if he peels potatoes weekly with grandma at the old kitchen table. Another name that I really like is Guus. Or if it’s a girl: Guusje. Everything you make smaller sounds cute anyway. I like Baukje and Keesje too. But not everything needs a -je at the end to work. Billie, Jop, and Ollie are also too adorable. I can already see the shiny puppy eyes looking at me insistently while the little creature waits for kibble.

Things from your living room as dog names

Another trend I see more often is dogs being named after things. It reminds me of the moment Enzo Knol named his cat Sok. A name I still like and also works well for a dog. I think Mok has something too. I immediately picture a white dog that matches my simplistic mug collection. And how perfect is Spijker for a dog that isn’t afraid of mischief. Knoop for a dog with long locks because they always get tangled. And Jean sounds nice and French and chic, even though it just means jeans. The name Teddy, derived from teddy bear, can’t be missing either. Even though it’s a bit basic, the dog name remains a hit.

Puppy

Names to eat

Naming dogs after food is of course an age-old tradition. We all know a dog named Oreo. Or Cookie. Or Brownie. But by now we can do better than that. From Eastern dishes, I get the names Miso, Nori, and Bou. And with the name Chai, I immediately see an enthusiastic little creature with an orange coat. Ginger, named after ginger, is also a good name. And just picture a chocolate brown labrador. Now think of the name Truffle. Absolutely perfect, right? Or what about Ravi, derived from ravioli, for a tough dog.

Whether you go for an ancient Gijs, a cute Knoop, or a tasty Miso, it ultimately doesn’t matter. Because no matter how carefully you choose a name, within a week you’ll be saying ‘Moppie’, ’Snoesje’, or ‘Hey! Don’t do that’.

Image: chloehayward