Introduction
Bullmastiffs originated in England and were first trained to become guard dogs. This British dog breed is known to be broad, massive, and powerful. The size and build of Bullmastiffs may establish an intimidating facade, but in actuality, they’re loving and gentle giants. They’re normally calm and good-natured dogs, but at the same time they are serious and alert. They are patient around children and fearless around predators. Despite being good-natured, Bullmastiffs are in need of a master who is assertive, consistent, and can carefully conduct obedience training. This breed may not be your usual first choice for a house pet, but they are great companions and loyal guard dogs. Moreover, with adequate training and proper socialization, they can make for the perfect family pet.
Bullmastiff Dog Names in Pop Culture
The Bullmastiff has a decent amount of appearance on films and literature. The breed has made its way into Hollywood and made a mark in the people’s heart. Bullmastiffs have been featured in plenty of films including the famous See Spot Run, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Frank and Fancy Pants. But the reason why Bullmastiffs are well-acknowledged and recognized by the public is mostly because of the breed’s appearance in the Rocky franchise.
In the film Rocky, a fawn-coated Bullmastiff played the role of Butkus, the pet of fictional boxer Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone). What new fans may not know is that Butkus is actually Stallone’s pet in real life. The story of Stallone’s relationship with his dog Butkus is both heartwarming and tear-jerking.
During the filming of Rocky, the prominent action star Sylvester Stallone was very poor and was still a nobody. He was struggling so much that he could hardly afford to buy food for himself. He ended up selling Butkus to a different owner for a mere $40. However, upon screenwriting, Stallone realized that he needed a pet for the film. As a result, Stallone begged the new owner to give Butkus back to him. The new owner agreed to return Butkus in exchange for $15,000, which Stallone paid for after the screenplay of Rocky did well in terms of sales. Since then, the action star never let go of his Bullmastiff again. Butkus can be seen alongside Stallone in both the first and second installment of the Rocky series.
Sylvester Stallone refers to his Bullmastiff as “his best friend, his confidant”. When Stallone was only 26, he was totally broke and unknown. He claims that he used to only own two pairs of pants that hardly fit him, and that his life was seemingly on a downward spiral. The only thing he had was his best friend, Butkus. According to an Instagram post by Stallone, Butkus “always laughed at my jokes, and put up with my moods, and was the one living thing that loved me for who I was”. Stallone heavily relied on Butkus’ companionship during the creation of Rocky. It’s safe to say that Butkus made Stallone’s tough and excruciating ordeal worthwhile. Unfortunately, Butkus suffered a heart attack in 1981, which is why a different dog is shown in the third and final installment of Rocky.
Sylvester Stallone may be the superstar of the Rocky films, but he wasn’t the only one who got a moment under the spotlight and won the hearts of the audience. To this day, Butkus is remembered by many as the large, goofy dog in Rocky. As a matter of fact, there is a good number of Bullmastiff owners who chose to name their Bullmastiffs after Butkus.
Bullmastiff Dog Name Considerations
Naming dogs is a vital step to fully welcoming them into your home. Naturally, dog owners, especially first-timers, want a special and noteworthy name that best suits their furbabies. One good tip for naming a dog is to avoid a name that sounds similar to a relative's name or that of another pet. This can help prevent confusion with your new dog.
Also, in naming a Bullmastiff, choose a name that reflects the traits of the breed. As previously mentioned, they are mild-mannered and serious at the same time. They can be the sweetest and most loving dog, and they can also be the most protective. So a name that represents the following attributes would be fitting.
Since the Bullmastiff originated in an English-speaking country, an English name would also do. But, if you’d like to get a little more creative and different, you can always choose names that are of another language.
Apart from the dog's traits, you may also opt to choose a name based on your dog’s physical appearance. Bullmastiffs are a large and strong breed. Additionally, the coat colors of the breed are fawn, brindle, and red. You can choose to name your dog after its size, in which case a name that expresses strength and power would be appropriate. Another alternative would be to simply name your dog after the color of their coat.
Male Bullmastiff Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
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1 |
Baron
A member of British nobility
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1 |
Adar
Means “fire” in Hebrew; good for red-coated Bullmastiffs
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1 |
Amos
Means “strong” and “brave” in Hebrew
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1 |
Bailey
An English name that means “trusted guardian”
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0 |
Kratos
The god of power and strength in Greek mythology
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0 |
William
An English name that means “determined protector”
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Leon
Means “brave as a lion” in French
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Garrett
Means “brave” in English
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0 |
Alvaro
A German name that means “noble guardian”
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Duke
An English name that means both “leader” and “ruler”
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Hank
Means “ruler of the home” in English
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Henri
Means “home ruler” in German
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Hero
Someone who is acknowledged for being courageous
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Liam
A German name that means “resolute defender”
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Bernard
Means “brave as a bear” in French
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Albert
English name that means both “bright” and “noble”
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Casey
Means “brave” in Celtic
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0 |
Favio
Means “a man who is brave” in Latin-America
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Ames
Means “companion” in French
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SIrius
The name of the faithful dog and hunting companion of Orion in Greek mythology
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Darrell
Means “darling” in French
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Armand
An English name that means “soldier”
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Argos
The name of the faithful dog of Odysseus in Greek mythology
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Aden
Means “the fiery one” in Arabic; good for red-coated Bullmastiffs
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0 |
Fred
Means “peaceful ruler” in English
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-1 |
Butkus
Name of Sylvester Stallone’s Bullmastiff, also the name of the Bullmastiff in the film Rocky
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-1 |
Champ
Short for the English word Champion, which means “defeater of all opponents”
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-1 |
Earl
An English name that means “noble”
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-1 |
Iggy
Means “fiery one” in English; good for red-coated Bullmastiffs
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-2 |
Alexis
Means “defender” in Greek
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Female Bullmastiff Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
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0 |
Hera
Means “protectress” in Greek
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0 |
Blaze
A bright flame or fire; good for red-coated Bullmastiffs
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0 |
Victoria
The Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death
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Edana
Means “fiery” in Gaelic; good for red-coated Bullmastiffs
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0 |
Hazel
An English name that means “powerful”
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Dulce
Means “sweet daughter” in Spanish
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Tracy
Means “warrior” in French
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Cherry
A fruit that is red in color; good for a dog with a brindle or red coat
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Briana
An English name that means both “strong” and “virtuous”
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Esme
Means “beloved one” in French
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Regina
Means “queen” in English
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Arya
A prominent character in the TV Series “Game of Thrones”; the boldest of the Stark siblings
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Ruby
A precious stone that is color red; fitting for sable, brindle or red coat
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Chantal
Means “tough like a stone” in French
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0 |
Storm
A disturbance in the atmosphere, usually accompanied by strong rain and wind
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Rika
German name that means “powerful protector”
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Sunny
Means bright with sunlight; can be a fitting name for fawn-coated Bullmastiffs
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Hettie
Means “ruler of the household” in French
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Minne
Means “love” in German
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Lela
Means “faithful” in French
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Cerise
Means “cherry red” in French; good for red-coated Bullmastiffs
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Matilde
German name that means “strong fighter”
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Erma
Means “warrior” in German
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Sandy
An English name that means “defender of the people”
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Tora
Means “tiger” in Japanese; good for brindle-coated Bullmastiffs
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Rose
A flower plant that is usually red in color; good for red-coated Bullmastiffs
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Alaska
The largest state in the US; a good name for big dogs
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Audrey
An English name that means “noble strength”
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Carla
Portuguese name that means “one who possesses strength”
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Tilda
Means “mighty woman” in French
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