New York Dog Names

Introduction

New York is so much more than just the city. It's a large state with a long history. Dog owners and potential dog owners living in New York who wish to give their dog a New York inspired name have many options. Some of these options are obvious references to the state or city whereas others are more subtle. People who wish to give their dog a New York-themed name do mostly because they self-identify as New Yorkers. New Yorkers are one of those rare breeds of Americans that identify as New Yorkers, not Americans. Whether living in the state of New York or transplanted elsewhere, once a New Yorker, always a New Yorker and paying homage to their home state by giving their dog a New York inspired name is where it's at for them.

New York Dogs in Pop Culture

Featured Famous Dog with a New York Name

Max and Gidget

New Yorkers have long loved the name Max for a male dog. The name tops the list every year as the most popular. For female dogs, Bella is number one. So when Illumination Entertainment, the creators of the Despicable Me franchise, produced The Secret Life of Pets, it was only fitting that the lead male dog's name is Max. The movie takes place in New York City, where a Jack Russell named Max resides with his human owner, Katie, in a Manhattan apartment. The movie, which came out in 2016, has re-inspired the name in New York City and Max topped the list in 2017. The name Max is well-suited to just about any dog breed and is not confined to the males. Females dogs in New York can also easily go by the same name. However, Gidget is Max's counterpart, in a way, in the movie.

Gidget is a small white Pomeranian who lives in the lap of luxury. She is one pampered pooch and demonstrates how New Yorkers take pains to provide safe, luxurious homes for their four-legged companions. Gidget appears to both Max and at first, audiences, as a high maintenance, yappy, and annoying dog with no backbone and completely spoiled. However, her New York attitude and love for Max bring the feisty fighter out of this seemingly docile dog. She goes to lengths to find and save Max from harm and help him reunite with Duke, his adopted dog brother, and Katie after he gets lost. Gidget proves that you can't judge a book by its cover and that she is one fierce New York dog.

If you're looking for a real-life New York dog celebrity to inspire your dog's name, you can turn to Hamilton Pug. Hamilton Pug lives in New York and keeps everyone up-to-date on all the latest Pug-related fun in the city. Hamilton has a rags to riches story. The Pug was a shelter dog who was rescued in Ohio. He was missing a lot of his coat and in desperate need of tender loving care. Thankfully, the Pug met his human companion just in time to move the Big Apple, the city of dreamers, where he became the most famous Pug of all.

Hamilton is an excellent name to give any New York dog. Historically, Hamilton refers to Alexander Hamilton, an American Revolutionary and Founding Father from New York. Hamilton served New York well and was an integral part of business in the state, having also founded the Bank of New York. Hamilton's life ended when he spoke out against Vice President Aaron Burr who was running for governor of New York state. Burr challenges Hamilton to the famous duel that mortally wounded Hamilton, who died the following day. The ever-popular hit Broadway musical, Hamilton, has also rekindled interest in this name.

New York Dog Name Considerations

New York has a reputation of having hard-nosed, quick-tongued people with dry intellectual wit. The overactive, space-loving Border Collie might not exactly epitomize the self-confident, sagacity of a New York dog. You also want to consider the size and breed of your dog when choosing a New York inspired name. Apple, for example, is a great companion and small dog name for a female where Bomber seems more appropriate for a larger male. Bethel, which refers to the town of the historic and epic music festival, Woodstock, seems more appropriate for long-haired dogs whose bangs cover their faces or even scruffy looking, beatnik-looking dogs that might remind you of a music and poetry-loving hippie. Smooth coated and sleek-looking dogs, like Doberman Pinschers, are more suited to names like Lex or Madison while small, companion dogs, like the Maltese or Pekingese, can enjoy names such as Lolita and Rico. However, no one breed or type of dog captures quintessential New York. Any dog, of any breed, color, or size can be named a New York inspired names. Choosing the best name for your dog is a big deal and considering New York locations, interests, and history can help guide you in choosing the right name for your four-legged friend.

Male New York Dog Names

Votes	Name	Vote
7	Mickey A popular Mafia name for Michael
6	Hampton A Long Island beach town getaway
6	Woody Woody Allen is a New York write, actor, and comedian whose career spans six decades
6	Coney A world famous entertainment neighborhood in Brooklyn
5	Gatsby A reference to F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece of the same name
5	Hamilton A New York politician and Founding Father
5	Max The most popular male dog name in New York in 2017
4	Ellis Reference to Ellis Island, an immigration gateway
4	Franklin Franklin D. Roosevelt, another American president and New York from Hyde Park
3	Bomber The nickname for the New York Yankees
3	Bogart Humphrey Bogart was a famous actor from New York
3	Carnegie A famous venue in Midtown Manhattan
3	Bleeker Famously known as Manhattan's nightclub district
2	Rocko A subtle reference for Rockefeller, a New York magnate and considered the wealthiest man in history
2	Teddy Theordore Roosevelt was a New Yorker
2	Riff Leader of the Jets in a West Side Story
2	Knickerbocker A pseudonym of Washington Irving, New York author of Rip Van Winkle
1	Ranger A New York professional hockey team
1	Hudson A major river in New York, connecting Upstate to the city
1	Troy A city in New York
0	Dutch New York was once owned by the Dutch and many towns still bear Dutch names and culture
0	Lawerance Reference to the Saint Lawrence River in Buffalo, NY
0	Lex Refers to Lexiington Ave
0	Rip Reference to Rip Van Winkle, a fictional character who well asleep in the Catskill Mountains in New York and woke up many years later
-1	Jet One of the football teams in New York
-1	Woodstock A three day epic music festival held in 1969
-1	Harlem A jazz Mecca and home to deep rooted African American heritage
-2	Sammy Reference to Sammy Davis Jr., a famous singer, dancer, and actor from Harlem, New York
-2	Rico A large Puerto Rican population lives in New York
-3	Blue The field color on the New York state flag

Female New York Dog Names

Votes	Name	Vote
7	Chelsea A Manhattan neighborhood home to over 200 art galleries
7	Laurel Wild Mountain Laurel is abundant in New York
7	Samantha The second most popular Sex and the City name for your dog
6	Liberty Lady Liberty will take your tired, your poor; your huddled masses yearning to breathe free
6	Elmira A New York town on the Pennsylvania border
5	Carrie The main character in Sex and the CIty
4	Aurora A town in Erie Country, New York
4	Alicia Alicia Keys is another famous New York resident musician and entertainer
4	Lena The quirky Lena Dunham lives, writes, and acts in New York
4	Dolly Reference to the hit musical, Hello Dolly
3	Seneca A small town in Ontario County, New York
3	Lolita A district in New York known for its kitschy Japanese fashion
3	Patti Reference to great Patti Smith, New York resident musician
2	Niagara Considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world, Niagara Falls is located in western New York
2	Brooklyn A borough of New York
2	Daisy The love of Gatsby's life
2	Gidget A fictional Pomeranian from the movie, The Secret Life of Pets, living in New York
2	Waverly A narrow street in Greenwich Village named after Sir Walter Scott's 1833 novel, Waverly
2	Bette Bette Midler is a long time Broadway star and New York favorite
1	Bethel The town where historic Woodstock took place
1	Rose The New York State flower
0	Apple New York's fruit and symbol for New York City
0	Beca Reference to Tribeca, a hip industrial district in New York with cobblestone streets
0	Laguardia An airport in Queen, NY
0	Tioga A very small town on the south central border of New YOrk
-1	Brook The Brook Trout is New York State's official fish
-2	Madison A reference to Madison Avenue and New York's advertising industry
-2	Sandy Hurricane Sandy was a deadly storm that impacted New York in 2012
-2	Geneva A city on the northern part of Lake Seneca in New York
-3	Leyna As in "All for Leyna", a Billy Joel song

Written by Alyssa Watt

Published: 01/12/2018, edited: 07/27/2020

Introduction

New York Dogs in Pop Culture

New York Dog Name Considerations

Community Dogs with New York Names

You May Also Like