Introduction
Presidential Dog Names in Pop Culture
As popular dog names go, Duke is a classic name and not just considered a presidential dog name. However, U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes named his English Mastiff Duke. At the time of Hayes's presidency, the English Mastiff was not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club and Duke was most likely one of the first English Mastiffs seen by Americans. Duke was one of many family pets in The White House during Hayes's presidency, which began in 1877. The English Mastiff was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 and Duke is one of the first famous English Mastiffs on American soil. Duke's name was very appropriate for his breed, being the world's largest dog by weight, he was massive and powerful but gentle and loving to his family. He is a special part of U.S. history as the First Family was a term coined during Hayes's presidency and included the family pets. From that point on, all American presidents, whether they kept a dog or not, would be expected to have a pet that would be recognized by the Nation.
Duke as a dog's name continues in popularity from early 20th Century popular culture comics like Penrod by Booth Tarkington, which was a comic book featuring a boy similar to Tom Sawyer and his dog, Duke, to Jed Clampett's Bloodhound, named Duke, in the Beverly Hill Billies. Duke was also the name of the Golden Retriever who maintains the Bush's Baked Beans secret family recipe. More recently, the name Duke for a dog emerged in the 2016 Illumination Entertainment animated feature, The Secret Life of Pets. Duke was the name of the large Mongrel dog that joined Jack Russell Terrier, Max and owner Katie in their Manhattan apartment. In all cases, Duke is a strong personality and a leader of his pack, which is true to the origins of the name.
Duke is derived from Latin and means leader, and is a fitting name for large dogs who can offer protection and watchdog duties as well as family affection. The popularity of the name may be more historical due to the commonality of the term Duke, which refers to a person of nobility who rules over a geopolitical region. However, the name Duke will always be considered classic for any dog, especially those of large stature.
Presidential Dog Name Considerations
Male Presidential Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
---|---|---|
3 |
Lincoln
The Emancipator and 16th U.S. President
|
|
2 |
Jefferson
A Founding Father and 3rd U.S. President
|
|
2 |
Duke
One of the first English Mastiffs in the U.S. and Rutherford B. Hayes's dog
|
|
1 |
Blackjack
President Theodore Roosevelt's Manchester Terrier
|
|
1 |
Bo
President Obama's Portuguese Water Spaniel
|
|
1 |
Washington
The first American President
|
|
1 |
Dwight
A reference to Dwight D. Eisenhower, American President
|
|
1 |
Ike
President Eisenhower's nickname
|
|
1 |
Chief
A reference to Herbert Hoover's nickname, The Chief
|
|
0 |
Vulcan
Another one of George Washington's American Foxhounds
|
|
0 |
Punch
A Toy Terrier belonging to James Buchanan
|
|
0 |
Major
President FDR's German Shepherd
|
|
0 |
Rex
President Reagan's Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
|
|
-1 |
Barney
One of Present George Bush Sr.'s Scottish Terriers
|
|
-1 |
Ranger
Another one of President George Bush Sr.'s dogs
|
|
-1 |
Tricky Dick
Richard Nixon's nickname
|
|
-1 |
Dubya
President George W. Bush's nickname
|
|
-1 |
Gripper
President Reagan nickname from his screen acting days
|
|
-1 |
Dutch
Another one of President Reagan's nicknames
|
|
-1 |
Buck
James Buchanan's nickname
|
|
-1 |
Old Hickory
President Andrew Jackson's nickname
|
|
-2 |
Scentwell
One of George Washington's American Foxhounds
|
|
-2 |
Shep
One of Rutherford B. Hayes's hunting dogs
|
|
-2 |
Dash
President William Henry Harrison's Collie
|
|
-2 |
Skip
A Mongrel dog kept by Theodore Roosevelt
|
|
-2 |
Roose
A shortened variation of Roosevelt
|
|
-2 |
Old Boy
President Warren Harding's English Bulldog
|
|
-2 |
Laddie Boy
Warren Harding's Airedale Terrier
|
|
-2 |
Yukonan
President Herbert Hoover's Malamute
|
|
-2 |
Him
One of President Lyndon B. Johnson's pair of Beagles and the mate to Her
|
Female Presidential Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
---|---|---|
1 |
Rosie
Ulysses S. Grant's dog
|
|
0 |
Lady Bird
A reference to Lady Bird Johnson, First Lady
|
|
0 |
Edith
Woodrow Wilson's wife and First Lady
|
|
0 |
Carter
A reference to President Jimmy Carter
|
|
0 |
Lucky
Ronald Reagan's Bouvier des Flandres dog
|
|
-1 |
Dot
Rutherford B. Hayes's Cocker Spaniel
|
|
-1 |
Juno
Another one of Rutherford B. Hayes's many dogs
|
|
-1 |
Prudence Prim
President Calvin Coolidge's dog
|
|
-1 |
Calamity Jane
One of Calvin Coolidge's sheepdogs
|
|
-1 |
Bessie
A white Collie kept by Calvin Coolidge
|
|
-1 |
Fala
President FDR's Scottish Terrier
|
|
-1 |
Heidi
President Eisenhower's Weimaraner
|
|
-1 |
Pushinka
A female puppy of Russian Cosmo-Dog Strelka that was gifted to President JFK by Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev
|
|
-1 |
Her
LBJ's female Beagle and the mate to Him
|
|
-1 |
Eleanor
A reference to First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt
|
|
-1 |
Liberty
President Ford's Golden Retriever
|
|
-1 |
Millie
President George W. Bush's Springer Spaniel
|
|
-1 |
Hillie
A reference to Hillary Clinton
|
|
-1 |
Sunny
President Obama's other Portuguese Water Spaniel
|
|
-1 |
Martha
The first American First Lady
|
|
-1 |
Abby
A reference to First Lady Abigail Adams
|
|
-1 |
Madison
In honor of President James Madison
|
|
-1 |
Mamie
A reference to Mamie Eisenhower
|
|
-1 |
Betty
Betty Ford, First Lady
|
|
-1 |
Poppy
One of George Bush Sr.'s nicknames
|
|
-1 |
Lil Jemmy
President James Madison's nickname
|
|
-1 |
Barbie
A variation of Barbara, as in Barbara Bush
|
|
-1 |
Nancy
A reference to Nancy Reagan
|
|
-1 |
Jackie O
A reference to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
|
|
-1 |
Dolley
A reference to First Lady, Dolley Madison
|
Community Dogs with Presidential Names
My dad likes presidents