Introduction
If you’re looking to give your dog a skateboarding-inspired name, chances are you’re either a skateboarder yourself or at least have appreciation for the type of guts it takes to know you may be thrown into a hard object at a high rate of speed at any moment. Although skateboarding has only been in existence for around half a century, it has certainly defined itself between the big banks, gaps, rails, and ramps that are central to its field and the tricks that are pulled on them. And while there may be little crossover between the sport and dogs, the most defining characteristic of both categories are their the big personalities, those that throw themselves into whatever they do with equal parts skill, passion, and reckless abandon — which is why giving your dog a skateboard-inspired name is the perfect way to both honor and define them.
Skateboarding Inspired Dog Names in Pop Culture
When many people think of sports that owners and dogs can do together, the first one that likely comes to mind is tennis, as the little yellow balls have become almost universally synonymous with dog toys and play time. But like most other sports, such as golf, football, baseball, and basketball (barring the amazing talents of Air Buddy), very few have true accessibility in terms of actual play — most dogs prefer the allure of the balls over the rigidness of the rules.
Strangely enough, it took an ‘extreme’ sport to truly blur the line — skateboarding. Although very few dogs, if any, can truly perform anything but the most basic of tricks, there is one thing that many have shown a great capacity to do, and that’s ride, the most quintessential element. But credit shouldn’t be given for simple participation; there are plenty of things owners can get their dogs to do if coerced, such as holding a mini golf club or tennis racket. The special aspect of skateboarding is the willfulness and motivation to participate.
If anyone needs any clearer example, consider Tillman the skateboarding bulldog, who was well-known for bombing around both the flat, cemented beach areas of the Los Angeles and its nearby skateparks. While owner Ron Davis did admit it took hundreds of hours for Tillman to get good at it, the dog’s interest was clearly genuine, as he would hop on the board at will and learn to push himself around, eventually mastering turning, the dynamics of push-and-ride, and even taking ramps and mini-bowls. If his adventurous and fun-loving attitude didn’t make him adored enough, he quickly rocketed upwards as the subject of a video that went viral on YouTube, of which several more soon grew from. Today, between his Guinness World Record videos (of which he holds the record for the fastest skateboarding dog over 100 meters), fan videos, and those from Davis himself, Tillman has gotten more than 10 million views.
Unfortunately, Tillman passed away in 2015, but fortunately, for the rest of the skateboarding-dog-loving fans worldwide, there are numerous others who have also shown that their canine build won’t keep them from keeping up with their humans. Otto, another skateboarding bulldog has also shown his unique ability to ride and steer with considerable skill. Extreme Pete took it even further, learning how to ride down stairs and catch air off ramps. Even Eric, the skateboarding French Bulldog, received some publicity when he got to skateboard with the legendary Tony Hawk.
While skateboarding dogs may still be few and far between, it’s still undoubtedly fun to watch them actively participate in a nontraditional activity, as it shows that it’s only a matter of time before we can truly learn their full mental and physical capacities that prove they go far beyond simple pets.
Skateboarding Inspired Dog Name Considerations
Especially for those familiar with skateboarding, there are a lot of elements you can play off of in efforts to come up with a name, both within the sport and with your dog. On the skateboarding side, you could name them after your favorite skater, brand, trick, or skate spot. With your dog, keep in mind their looks and personality, as those are usually the easiest to define and work with.
Personality, quirks, and habits are all a great foundation to work from. For instance, if your dog is considerably dexterous, Mullen or Song, after Rodney Mullen and Daewon Song, who were both revered technical skaters, would be appropriate. If they love to leap around and fly off of things, maybe Hawk or Chief would be better, as Tony Hawk was well-known for his monstrous air, and Jamie Thomas, also known as The Chief, was notorious for trying to hit the biggest gaps possible. If they are particularly goofy or reckless, then Bam or Margera would be perfect fits.
But it doesn’t just have to work with famous skaters either. If your dog has a defined hitch in their walk or always moves into a certain position when you scratch their bellies, try looking at different styles of grabs or tricks that may be similar, such as a Benihana or Jitsu, that may describe their goofy ways.
Looks can be another way to go, as skaters throughout history have always had their own defined looks. If you’ve got a dog with a fair amount of extra skin, like a Pug or Shar Pei, consider naming them after one of the big skaters from the 90s, as excessively baggy clothes were still in style. If you have a long-haired, light-colored dog such as an Afghan Hound or Yorkshire Terrier, consider the names Muska or Haslam after Chad Muska and Chris Haslam, who both sported long hair and bushy beards for quite a time.
But remember, don’t limit yourself. There tons of ideas even outside of these that you can roll with. With any luck, you’ll find the perfect fit and give your dog a name that will stick as well as any of the pros stick their tricks.
Male Skateboarding Inspired Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
---|---|---|
1 |
Rodney
After Rodney Mullen, credited with being one of skateboarding's true pioneers
|
|
1 |
Hawk
After Tony Hawk, likely the most famous skateboarder in history
|
|
1 |
Lance
After Lance Mountain, skateboarding pioneer, part of Bones Brigade
|
|
1 |
Rails
As in hand-rails, a popular thing to grind
|
|
1 |
Bench
Like a picnic or metal seating bench, popular for slides, grinds, and manuals
|
|
1 |
Hubba
After the Hubba Hideout, one of the most famous skate spots, pedestrian walk way with two huge ledges
|
|
1 |
Flip
The basis of "flip tricks" or tricks that force the board to flip and turn
|
|
1 |
Casper
Either a flip or slide, both skateboarding tricks
|
|
-1 |
Bucky
After Bucky Lasek, one of the most tenured and consistent vert skaters in history
|
|
-1 |
Burnquist
After Bob Burnquist, famed Brazilian-American vert skater; 30 X-Games medals, 14 gold
|
|
-1 |
Birdman
After Tony Hawk, aka the Birdman; skateboarding pioneer; first to land a 900
|
|
-1 |
Bam
After Bam Margera, who quickly became as well-known for his skateboarding ability as his TV-worthy personality
|
|
-1 |
Dyrdek
After Rob Dyrdek, who was an accomplished street skater before his career took off on television
|
|
-1 |
Gonz
After Mark Gonzales, called the "Most Influential Skateboarder of All Time", massively influenced street skating in the early 80s
|
|
-1 |
Rodriguez
After Paul Rodriguez, a highly-accomplished street skater with 8 X-Games medals, 4 gold
|
|
-1 |
Rowley
After Geoff Rowley, English, punk rock style with a penchant for street skating; previous co-owner of Flip
|
|
-1 |
Kirchart
After Heath Kirchart, well-respected and accomplished street skater
|
|
-1 |
Templeton
After Ed Templeton, gap-loving street skater and founder of Toy Machine
|
|
-1 |
Blender
After Neil Blender, skateboard artist, well-known in the earliest days of the sport
|
|
-1 |
Mountain
After Lance Mountain, famous 80s skater, founded The Firm
|
|
-1 |
Chief
After Jamie Thomas, aka The Chief, known for his endless daring, including attempting the Leap of Faith (18-foot gap/drop)
|
|
-1 |
Caballero
After Steve Caballero, known as "The Skater of the Century", inventor of numerous vert tricks
|
|
-1 |
Sheckler
After Ryan Sheckler, 8-time X-Games medalist, original member of Almost
|
|
-1 |
Ladd
After PJ Ladd, considered an East Coast legend
|
|
-1 |
Guerrero
After Tommy Guerrero, prominent and talented member of Bones Brigade
|
|
-1 |
Burnside
After Cara-Beth Burnside, has 16 career skateboarding titles, one of the best of all-time
|
|
-1 |
Ledges
As it sounds, usually made of cement, popular for slides and grinds
|
|
-1 |
Arco
After the famed ARCO rails, one of the most iconic skate spots
|
|
-1 |
Bones
After the skateboarding team Bones Brigade
|
|
-1 |
Benihana
A skateboarding grab/air trick
|
Female Skateboarding Inspired Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
---|---|---|
0 |
Mullen
After Rodney Mullen, "The Godfather of Street Skating" who invented some of the sport's most essential tricks
|
|
0 |
Lasek
After Bucky Lasek, who has won 12 X-Games medals, 6 of which were gold
|
|
0 |
Koston
After Eric Koston, widely considered one of the best in history, highly-influential to other skaters
|
|
0 |
Margera
After Bam Margera, a tenured and respected street skater who found early fame on TV's Jackass
|
|
0 |
Hosoi
After Christian Hosoi, decorated contest-winning skateboarder from the Powell Peralta era and beyond
|
|
0 |
Peralta
After Stacy Peralta, pioneer, influencer, one of the earliest pros, was part of the Z-Boys, Powell-Peralta, and the Bones Brigade
|
|
0 |
Daewon
After Daewon Song, one of the best technical skateboarders of the modern era
|
|
0 |
Song
After Daewon Song, famed partner and mentee of Rodney Mullen
|
|
0 |
Vallely
After Mike Vallely, 80s skateboarding pioneer and now lead-singer of Black Flag
|
|
0 |
Penny
After Tom Penny, British skateboarder with contest-winning ability in street skating
|
|
0 |
Duffy
After Pat Duffy, known as a prolific handrail skater
|
|
0 |
Muska
After Chad Muska, highly-esteemed pro street skater who went from homeless beach bum to near-legend
|
|
0 |
Cardiel
After John Cardiel, who was well-known for his street ability but had his career derailed by injury
|
|
0 |
Natas
After Natas Kaupas, one of the first true professional skateboarders
|
|
0 |
Kaupas
After Natas Kaupas, highly-influential pioneer in the early 80s
|
|
0 |
Alva
After Tony Alva, one of the most influential of all time, founding member of the Z-Boys
|
|
0 |
Berra
After Steve Berra, accomplished and respected street skater
|
|
0 |
Carroll
After Mike Carroll, accomplished skater and co-owner of Girl Skateboards
|
|
0 |
Way
After Danny Way, one of the sport's most daring, including helicopter drop-in, mega ramps, and skating the Great Wall of China
|
|
0 |
Patti
After Patti McGee, a pioneer for both men and women in the 1960s
|
|
0 |
Bufoni
After Laticia Bufoni, one of the best modern female skateboarders
|
|
0 |
Steamer
After Elissa Steamer, first official female professional skateboarder
|
|
0 |
Hawkins
After Lyn-Z Hawkins, highly-accomplished and awarded vert skater
|
|
0 |
Oki
After Peggy Oki, skateboarder and surfer who ran with the Z-Boys in the 70s
|
|
0 |
Torres
After Vanessa Torres, first-ever female skateboarder to gold at X Games
|
|
0 |
Banks
Short for embankments, popular skate spots
|
|
0 |
Gaps
Any gap in space between skate-able surfaces that can be used to air over
|
|
0 |
Ollie
A basic skateboarding move
|
|
0 |
Zee
After the Z-Boys of the 70s
|
|
0 |
Indy
The name of a grab/air skateboarding trick
|