Shiba Inu Dog Names

Introduction

If you’re thinking of, or have decided to buy a Shiba Inu, initially from Japan, then this guide is certainly for you. This gorgeous breed is wolf-like, but as it’s small, some sources have also compared this as being similar to a fox. Naming your Shiba Inu requires a lot of thought and this guide will inspire you by looking at both popular and original names that might suit your cute canine. This lovable dog is great with children and the American Kennel Club ranks it as the 44^th most popular breed in America. That suggests that this breed is a popular choice!

Shiba Inu Dog Names in Popular Culture

Featured Famous Dog with a Shiba Inu Name

Sandy

The Shiba Inu originates from Japan and has a similar appearance to a wolf or fox. The American Kennel Club say that this breed is attentive, active and alert. On the whole this means that your Shiba Inu is intelligent and will require a lot of exercise and attention. This breed is said to be great with children; however, supervision is suggested with other dogs and the Shiba should be socialized and supervised with other pets.

There are some celebrities out there who have a Shiba Inu as a pet, but as celebrities have such busy life styles, this is not always the breed of choice. Ariana Grande has a Shiba Inu named Fawkes Kitty, but sources suggest that this dog lives with her friend, due to Fawkes not getting along with her other dogs. Kelly Osbourne is also noted to have a Shiba Inu named Sandy and this is our spotlight dog name for the Shiba Inu breed. The inspiration for the name Sandy could have been inspired by the color, as Kelly Osbourne’s four-legged friend is a light brownish red Shiba. Some might even go as far as saying that Sandy, is a sandy colored pooch. Sandy is a soft, calm, name that certainly suits this breed. The name Sandy is said to derive from the name Sandra or Alexandra. The name Alexandra has a Greek mythology history as this means the Mycenaean epithet of the goddess Hera, and of course Hera, was the wife of Zeus.

The Shiba was originally bred as a hunting dog, but its origins date back to ancient times. It is said to be able to brave treacherous mountain areas that people were unable to travel. In 1936, this breed was actually declared as a natural product of Japan under the Cultural Properties Act but after World War II, the Shiba was close to becoming extinct. In Japanese, the name Shiba Inu is said to mean small dog, because this breed is smaller than other Japanese breeds of similar appearance. The American Kennel Club recognized the Shiba Inu in 1992, and has categorized this breed as non-sporting.

Sources suggest that without a confident owner, this dog will try to become the leader, or in wolf-terms, the Alpha. On the plus side, this breed is said to train easily, but remember to be firm and keep this intelligent breed active in both mind and body!

Shiba Inu Dog Name Considerations

As with any breed, there are some considerations to make when naming your Shiba Inu. Being that this is a Japanese breed, you may want to give it a traditional Japanese style name like Akira or Fuji. Color can also influence your choice with this canine and you may decide to name your Shiba Inu based on whether they are black or light brownish red. Names like Shadow are popular for the darker colored dogs, whereas names like Biscuit might be used for those who are lighter in color. Appearance is also something to consider here. Many sources suggest that this breed is either wolf-like or fox-like in appearance. There are similarities to both! This means that we may be inspired to choose wolf inspired names; for example there are werewolves in the TV show Shadow Hunters. From this show, you could choose a name like Alaric or Leila if you are a fan of the show or werewolves in general. Temperament is also another consideration. If you’ve not had your pup very long, and discover he is very energetic you might pick a name like Dart or Nipper. This guide takes these considerations into account to give you the best names based on these different factors, so check out the name suggestion list below. Ensure you make notes on your favorites, so that you can go back to them and determine which name your Shiba Inu suits the most.

Male Shiba Inu Dog Names

Votes	Name	Vote
5	Bandit A robber or outlaw belonging to a gang
5	Shogun A commander in chief in Japan
5	Blitz This is an intensive attack usually by the military
5	Fuji In Japanese, fuji means wisteria
4	Alaric Inspired from the TV show Shadow Hunter; Alaric is a werewolf
4	Oz Inspired by the lovable werewolf in Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show
4	Ruri Means emerald; an emerald is symbolic to protect you from evil
4	Sparta This word originates from ancient Greece
4	Izumi This means spring or fountain in Japanese
4	Katsumi This means victory, prevail or win in Japanese
3	Maximus A Roman Gladiator; just the name for the tough pooch
3	Beta The Beta wolf is the second in command
3	Koto From a Japanese musical instrument like a Harp
2	Milo German meaning miles; ideal for the energetic Shiba Inu
2	Rocky For the tough Shiba Inu
2	Harlan A lovely two syllable name for your Shiba
2	Dart Running somewhere at speed
1	Lycan Inspired by the lycan in the movie Underworld
1	Bugsy Typically meaning crazy
1	Bear Meaning a large omnivorous creature
0	Baloo Inspired by the bear from Disney's The Jungle Book
0	Beast A scary and fearless creature
-1	Joey A cute name deriving from the Bible name Joseph
-1	Theo A shortened name taken from Theodore
-1	Shadow This could be color inspired by the darker breed of Shiba
-1	Alpha The Alpha is the leader of the wolf pack
-2	Bruno German name meaning armour or protection
-2	Zoom If your Shiba loves to zoom around
-2	Hiroshi This means generous in Japanese
-3	Fawkes Ariana Grande's Shiba who lives with her friend

Female Shiba Inu Dog Names

Votes	Name	Vote
8	Pepper Another name that could be inspired by color
7	Glimmer Your Shiba Inu is a glimmer of hope
7	Tala Meaning a red wolf or stalking wolf
6	Ruby Ruby means red; fitting name for the brown/red colored Shiba Inu
6	Foxy The brownish red colored Shiba Inu has appearance similarities to a fox
6	Akira Japanese meaning bright
5	Dixie A cute name for your adorable pup
5	Belle For the beautiful female Shiba
5	Mei Mei Mei means bud; because your Shiba is a blossoming bud
5	Kita Japanese name meaning north
4	Amber Orange/yellow colored gem stone
4	Yuki Can mean happiness or snow in Japanese
4	Sandy The name of Kelly Osbourne's Shiba Inu
3	Cheri Deriving from French word Cherie meaning darling
3	Gretel Inspired by the werewolf character in the TV show Shadow Hunters
2	Mari Mari means genuine; because your Shiba is genuine and loyal
2	Ocean Your dog might have eyes as deep as the ocean
2	Larentia The she-wolf who nursed Romulus and Remus
1	Autumn A fab name for your reddish brown Shiba
1	Suki This is the Japanese form of the verb like
1	Zia Arabic word deriving from Ziya and meaning splendour
0	Dakota A popular female dog name
0	Leila Inspired by Shadow Hunters; Leila is a werewolf
0	Accalia Latin, meaning she-wolf
-1	Nikko In Japanese Nikko means daylight
-1	Kitty Inspired by Ariana Grande's Shiba Inu, Fawkes Kitty
-2	Suri Suri is a Yiddish form of Sarah; also daughter of Katie Holmes
-2	Misty Meaning to see unclear
-2	Maya A Native American culture
-3	White Fell Inspired by Clemence Housman's 1896 story The Werewolf