Sounds Inspired Dog Names

Introduction

When it comes to naming your dog, few things are often as easy and suitable as giving them a name based on sounds they often make, whether they emit them or just create them with the environment around them. If you think that’s a little unusual, think again. Scientists have been giving animals common names by using the same technique for years. Bobolinks, Macaques and Chipmunks were all named after their sounds, as were a variety of birds. While you may not want to name your dog something as novel as Bark or Woof, there are certainly plenty of other options that will playfully suit their personality just as well, all without being so obvious.

Sounds Inspired Dog Names in Pop Culture

Featured Famous Dog with a Sounds Inspired Name

Boo

When it comes to dogs going viral, very have rivaled the one who has been coined by his owner and nearly every other to see him as “the cutest dog in the world”: Boo.

If you’re not familiar, feel free to do a search for those words exactly. Chances are that his pictures will be some of the very first on almost every search engine’s image results. It’s clear to see why. The little fluff ball not only looks like the softest thing in the world, but between his coloring, face, haircut and adorable expressions, he looks almost surreal, as if someone had infused life into well thought-out stuffed animal — and since he went viral, he’s actually become an official stuffed animal as well.

But unlike most other viral dogs, Boo did have a leg up from his owner, who despite avoiding the limelight for years after crafting his multi-million views Facebook page, actually turned out to be Irene Ahn, a finance lead at Facebook who came over from Yahoo! In 2008 — yes, we know, that’s a pretty huge leg up to be the equivalent of a canine social media insider. But his advantages aside, it’s nearly impossible for most people to deny his outright cuteness, and the hype around him proves it.

Born in 2006, the perfectly groomed Pomeranian didn’t become a sensation until a few years later, when his owner set up a Facebook page for him that came with the simple phrase “My name is Boo. I am a dog. Life is good.” along with a good handful of some perfectly staged, heart-melting photographs. His rise to stardom happened nearly in tandem with another young talent on the rise: Kesha. Just five years into her musical career it took off, and with it, the fluffy little pooch who, in 2010, was mentioned by Kesha to be her “new boyfriend” with a link to his page.

By the following year Boo had 5 million Facebook fans and his owner was then approached by Chronicle Books, who suggested he be the subject of one. The title ended up being Boo: The Life of the World’s Cutest Dog, and it eventually needed to be published in ten different languages due to its extreme popularity.

He went on to be featured in a total of four books, was featured as an official Fund stuffed animal, and was even named the Official Pet Liaison of Virgin Airlines in 2012, shortly before having his owner outed as a Facebook employee later that year, creating a massive stir of controversy.

Sounds Inspired Dog Name Considerations

Unlike other themed names where it’s most appropriate to consider all of your dog’s characteristics, giving them a sound inspired name all comes down to anecdotes, quirks and personality. Make some quick notes about the traits that stick out the most to you before taking a look at our list, as it should help provide shortcuts to which ones will be most suitable. Then consider which sounds best compliment their character or tendencies.

For instance, if you have a dog that is regularly clumsy and runs into things a lot, names like Bonk, Plunk, Thud and Thump would all be appropriate. If they’re more of a high speed variety and tend to take things out at top speed, a name that implies a larger impact, such as Bang, Bash, Bam, Crash, Wham or Whallop, would likely be more suitable.

Of course, you can play off the noises they actually emit themselves as well. Any dog that is prone to sudden outbursts (aren’t they all though?) would be aptly set with a name like Blurt or Guffaw while a dog that tends to more quietly grumble would be better suited with a name like Croak, Grunt, Gurgle, Mutter or Murmur.

If you still need inspiration, spend a bit of extra time with them when you have some free time and make sure to minimize other noises in the house. You may be surprised what kind of noises they make when nothing else obscures them.

Male Sounds Inspired Dog Names

Votes	Name	Vote
1	Bonk A cartoonish sound of two things hitting, especially with a head involved
1	Chomp To bite down with excessive force
1	Flop To plop down with little coordination
1	Munch The low to midrange crunch of eating
1	Splash The sound of something breaking the plane of a water surface with force
1	Woof A low huff of air, usually made by a dog
0	Bang A loud, sudden, explosive noise
0	Bash To strike with a blow
0	Bam A loud thud of two things colliding
0	Blurt To say something impulsively
0	Boom A thunderous exploding noise
0	Buzz A humming or vibrating sound
0	Clash A loud, often harsh noise
0	Clunk A knocking noise usually low end
0	Croak A low, harsh and raspy sound like a frog
0	Grunt A low-end and ill-defined noise
0	Gurgle A bubbling noise with a low end hum or rumble behind it
0	Mutter To say something low and nearly inaudible
0	Rip A tearing sound
0	Rumble A low end, undefined hum mixed with a rattle
0	Screech A high end, piercing cry
0	Slash To cut through something with little effort or resistance
0	Thud The low, dull sound of two objects colliding
0	Thump A low, dull colliding sound
0	Whallop A dull, low end strike
0	Whip A light, airy sound often accompanied by a snap
0	Whizz A high end, nearly vibratory buzz
0	Zap A vibratory noise ending a loud snap
0	Zoom To move suddenly/quickly with a humming sound
-1	Crash A cacophonous smashing noise of two high speed objects

Female Sounds Inspired Dog Names

Votes	Name	Vote
1	Boo A spooky "ooo" noise ghosts make
1	Bubble To form spherical shapes
1	Flick The sound derived from a momentary and quick strike with light to mild force
1	Jingle A high end tinkering
1	Plunk A lower end clinking noise
1	Poof A fluff of air
1	Sniff The light, airy sound of inhaling
1	Squeak A very high pitched noise that changes in pitch slightly
1	Squish The light sound of something wet being compressed
1	Waffle A consistent grid-like noise
1	Whirr A midrange to high end hum
1	Zing A metallic ringing noise
1	Zip A sudden mid to high end hissing with a definite end
0	Bawl To cry out or wail
0	Blare Making an exceptionally loud sound or series of sounds
0	Bump A dull knocking sound of two objects colliding
0	Chatter Rapid, near-clicking noises
0	Clatter An inconsistent rattling sound
0	Fizz A hissing or sputtering sound
0	Flip To turn over
0	Flutter Rapid but somewhat light flapping
0	Guffaw Sudden, loud, burst of unrestrained laughter
0	Jangle A midrange clanking or rattle
0	Murmur A low, undefined and continuous sound
0	Plink A mid to high end clinking noise
0	Pow A loud and sudden strike
0	Rattle A continuous, nearly vibratory noise
0	Sizzle A hissing sound accompanied by tiny bubbling
0	Twang A plucky, curling sound
0	Wham A loud, nearly explosive sound caused by impact