Introduction
Dog Names Meaning Water in Pop Culture
Famous dogs, like former U.S. President's dog Bo, or the Disney classic dog, Red, or Blue from Blue's Clues, are all famous dogs in pop culture with names that mean water. Some are subtle, like Bo, which means wave. Red may refer to the Red Sea or Blue as the perceived color of water, though it is really transparent. However, when it comes to pop culture icons bearing a water-themed name, none stands taller than Ren Hoek, the asthmatic Chihuahua from the 1990s cartoon show, Ren and Stimpy.
The Ren and Stimpy show was one of the first three cartoon shows on Nickelodeon during the channel's debut of Nicktoons, alongside Doug and Rugrats. The show plays a pivotal one as it first introduced adult themes into children's programming and helped inspire adult-themed cartoon shows such as South Park on Comedy Central and Beavis and Butthead on MTV. However, the Ren and Stimpy show was not intended for the adult audience. As Nickelodeon grew in popularity, executive management deemed the show too controversial for young viewers and canceled it.
Ren, which is a water-themed name, means water lily. The water little is a lovely flower that grows in the water; however, Ren the dog is probably the farthest thing from a lovely little water lily. Ren, from Ren and Stimpy, is an emotionally unstable Chihuahua who often resorts to violence against his dim-witted cat friend, Stimpy. The choice of the Chihuahua breed partly relates to that dog's sometimes short, feisty temper but the creator of Ren got his inspiration for the character in a pop culture photograph. Creator John Kricfalusi saw a photograph of a Chihuahua in a sweater and remarked that it appeared like a "psychotic-looking monster in a cute sweater." Kricfalusi also felt that such a small breed should not usually inspire such ferociousness as Ren so plainly has in the show. It is pretty clear from the creator's perspective on Ren that this character's name was not inspired by the beauty of a water lily. Nonetheless, Ren is a water-themed moniker that dog owners may choose. The impact that Ren the ferocious and emotionally unstable Chihuahua has had on pop culture and subsequent cartoon programming since the 1990s is also undeniable.
Dog Names Meaning Water Considerations
Male Dog Names Meaning Water
Votes | Name | Vote |
---|---|---|
9 |
River
A large flow of water
|
|
7 |
Laiken
Gaelic for lake
|
|
4 |
Neptune
The Roman God of the Sea
|
|
4 |
Reef
A ridge of coral and rock just below the surface of the water
|
|
3 |
Splash
Making waves in the puddles is a pastime of some dogs
|
|
3 |
Kawai
Meaning water
|
|
2 |
Brooks
Small flowing arteries of water
|
|
2 |
Rio
Spanish for river
|
|
1 |
Zale
Meaning strength of the sea
|
|
1 |
Ren
Meaning water lily
|
|
1 |
Jordan
Meaning flowing down
|
|
1 |
Maxwell
A great stream and the most popular male dog name
|
|
0 |
Bo
Meaning wave
|
|
0 |
Caspian
After the Caspian Sea
|
|
0 |
Wade
A move through shallow water
|
|
0 |
Marlin
A large saltwater fish
|
|
0 |
Morgan
Meaning a sea circle
|
|
0 |
Ox
Short for an oxbow lake, which is a complete ring
|
|
-1 |
Blue
The associated color of water
|
|
-1 |
Red
After the Red Sea
|
|
-1 |
Brine
The salty foam of the sea
|
|
-1 |
Dylan
Meaning of the sea
|
|
-1 |
Jorah
An autumn rain
|
|
-1 |
Marlow
Meaning drained lake
|
|
-1 |
Ross
Another word for peninsula
|
|
-1 |
Irving
Meaning green water
|
|
-1 |
Dover
Another word for water
|
|
-1 |
Calder
Meaning stream
|
|
-1 |
Mariner
A professional of the sea
|
|
-5 |
Duck
Whether hunting, chasing, or barking at them, dogs love the aquatic duck
|
Female Dog Names Meaning Water
Votes | Name | Vote |
---|---|---|
5 |
Aquarius
The Zodiac sign associated with water
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|
4 |
Brook
A small artery of water
|
|
4 |
Moana
Meaning deep ocean in Hawaiian
|
|
3 |
Maya
A Hebrew work meaning brook
|
|
3 |
Talise
Meaning lovely water
|
|
2 |
Aqua
A blue color associated with the sea
|
|
2 |
Altanta
A reference to the Atlantic Ocean
|
|
2 |
Spring
A natural well of water
|
|
2 |
Rain
Drops of water from the sky
|
|
2 |
Maris
Meaning of the sea
|
|
2 |
Misty
Fine droplets of water that hang in the air
|
|
2 |
Storm
Sometimes a fierce show of water's power
|
|
2 |
Nixie
A sea nymph
|
|
1 |
Kai
Basque for the pier
|
|
1 |
Laguna
Spanish for lagoon
|
|
1 |
Nerissa
A Greek sea nymph
|
|
1 |
Tulia
A heavy rain
|
|
0 |
Agua
Spanish for water
|
|
0 |
Ocean
A large body of salt water
|
|
0 |
Pacifica
A reference to the Pacific Ocean
|
|
0 |
Cordelia
Daughter of the Sea
|
|
0 |
Hali
From the Greek word meaning sea salt
|
|
0 |
Hydra
Latin for water
|
|
0 |
Kairi
Japanese for relating to the water
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|
0 |
Mizuko
Meaning water child
|
|
0 |
Neredia
A sea nymph
|
|
-1 |
Aphrodite
Meaning sea foam
|
|
-2 |
Anat
A water spring
|
|
-2 |
Darya
A variant of the Persian word for sea
|
|
-2 |
Indra
Possessing drops of rain
|
Community Dogs With Names Meaning Water

We live near the ocean and wanted to share our lives with a puppy. We named him Fisher for the dog who loves where the Fish are important.