Introduction
When it comes to picking a movie-themed dog name, you can’t do much better than starting with The Godfather. Outside of it’s heaving list of awards for everything from acting and adaptation to music and direction, The Godfather has routinely crowned the top of critics’ lists as one of the greatest of all time, sharing space with the likes of Citizen Kane and Casablanca as a pinnacle of the medium in every facet of its creation. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have a fantastic cast of characters to bring the words and actions straight from the page out into a world so tangible you can smell the olive oil, garlic, and tomatoes straight through the screen — especially when they’re equipped with some of the most classic Italian names in history. So without further ado, it’s our pleasure to offer you a list you can’t refuse.
The Godfather Inspired Dog Names in Pop Culture
Much like many other famous films and television shows throughout history, making a hit also means providing fodder, willingly or otherwise, to the forces that be: parody.
The Godfather is so big even people who have never seen the film know where several of its most famous lines come from, such as “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse,” and “Leave the gun, take the cannoli.” Of course, not all references are so blunt. Numerous pop culture references have existed since the film’s initial release in 1972 and it’s been one of the most popular to reference over the last nearly 50 years.
While those references may be most obvious in shows like The Sopranos, which owes much of its success to its cinema-counterpart and predecessor, or a repeated scene in Get Shorty, many others have flown under the radar, such as Princess Leia garroting Jabba the Hutt and simulating the demise of Luca Brasi, let alone the litany of orange references (oranges are always bad news) scattered throughout history in everything from The Simpsons to Lost to Point Break.
But one show didn’t wait long. In fact, it appeared just two years after the original film hit theaters and before either of the sequels were anywhere near audience-ready: The Dogfather (1974).
The Dogfather was a series of animated shorts initially released from 1974 to 1976 and, like it sounds, was basically a parody of The Godfather but instead featured a cast of dogs playing individually adapted parts based on those in the original film. Originally created on their own, the show was soon included as part of The Pink Panther and Friends, one of NBC’s Saturday morning cartoon series.
While the characters were almost immediately identifiable, the storylines were a far cry from the film’s plot, although occasionally the two would overlap. Instead, many of the show’s 17 episodes ended up being remakes of old Looney Tunes episodes that had aired in the 1940s and 1950s. The series ended up spanning about two years but featured less than 20 episodes and never really garnered the attention the creators had initially sought, even with the significant commercial success the film had garnered, though much of that could be blamed on recycled storylines and the limited availability of subject matter similar to the original.
The show may have ended up being a short run, but still stands as a significant testament to the type of fanfare and influence the original film inspired. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
The Godfather Dog Name Considerations
Let’s be honest, not all the names on this list are particularly flattering. Some characters are weak-willed, some overaggressive, some only minor. The point is finding them a name that’s both clever and suitable even if they are tied to not-everyone’s-favorite character.
You’re welcome to take it at the surface as well, since all of these names are strongly Italian and will aptly fit either an Italian breed or an Italian family/owner. But if you want to dig a bit deeper, take some time to map out what your dog’s most unique and quirky traits are so you can try to match them up with someone similar from the film trilogy.
For instance, if your dog happens to be patriarchal, stubborn, or walks around like they own everything, then Don, Corleone, Barzini, or any of the other five family names would be apt fits. If they tend to act like guards of the house or of you personally, then a name after any one of numerous bodyguards would be suitable, such as Fabrizio, Calo, Roberto or Mosca.
There are plenty of other ways you can base your name choices as well, such as other personality traits, physical similarities, voices/barks, or behaviors in certain situations. Choose something that best suits both you and your dog and don’t forget: Love the fun and take the cannoli.
Male The Godfather Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
---|---|---|
1 |
Clemenza
A longstanding associate of Vito, great chef, among others
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1 |
Rocco
After Rocco Lampone, one of Michael's capos/captains
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0 |
Vito
After Don Vito Corleone, the head of the Corleone family
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0 |
Willie
After Willie Cicci, a one-time Corleone soldato
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0 |
Francesco
After Francesco Barzini, a high-ranking member of the Barzini family
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0 |
Harrison
After BJ Harrison, Michael's lawyer and CFO
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0 |
Squigliaro
After Anthony Squigliaro, AKA Zasa's "bulldog"
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0 |
Don
The crowning title; the boss
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0 |
Mario
After Mario Puzo, who wrote the books and helped to write the films
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0 |
Puzo
After Mario Puzo, author, screenwriter, journalist
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0 |
Ford
After Francis Ford Coppola, a famous Italian-American director
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-1 |
Hagen
After Tom Hagen, the Corleone family's attorney
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-1 |
McClusky
After Captina McClusky, a crooked policeman
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-1 |
Woltz
After Jack Woltz, the crass Hollywood producer
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-1 |
Sollozzo
AKA "The Turk" who is backed by Barzini
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-1 |
Carlo
Connie's betraying husband
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-1 |
Cuneo
After Carmine Cuneo, head of the Cuneo family
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-1 |
Paulie
After Paulie Gatto, Clemens's right hand man
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-1 |
Greene
After Moe Greene, a well known Jewish mobster
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-1 |
Bruno
After Bruno Tattaglia, the youngest son of Don Philip
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-1 |
Mancini
After Vincenzo, the illegitimate son of Michael and Lucy Mancini
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-1 |
Brando
After Marlon Brando, who played Don Vito
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-1 |
Fabrizio
Don Tommasino's bodyguard
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-1 |
Tommasino
After Don Tommasino, an old friend of Vito's
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-1 |
Hyman
After Hyman Roth, the antagonist of the second film
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-1 |
Roth
After Hyman Roth, investor and business partner of Vito
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-1 |
Lampone
After Rocco, who quickly rose in the Corleone family
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-1 |
Genco
One of Vito's first advisors and a childhood friend
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-1 |
Roberto
After Roberto Nolenza, one of Michael's bodyguards
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-1 |
Merle
After Merle Johnson, one of Connie's flings
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Female The Godfather Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
---|---|---|
2 |
Luca
After Luca Brasi, one of Vito's most faithful enforcers
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1 |
Brasi
After Luca Brasi, who has a notorious reputation
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0 |
Corleone
After Vito Corleone, the main protagonist of The Godfather trilogy (at least the first film)
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0 |
Sonny
After Sonny Corleone, Vito's reckless eldest son
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0 |
Barzini
The head of another crime family
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0 |
Tessio
A member of the Corleone family who (spoiler) betrays Michael
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0 |
Fredo
Vito's weak middle son
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0 |
Fontane
After Johnny Fontane, the famous singer and actor
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0 |
Gatto
After Paulie Gatto, a made man
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0 |
Bonasera
After Amerigo Bonasera, the funeral parlor owner
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0 |
Neri
After Al Neri, Michael's head of security
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0 |
Tattaglia
One of the five families
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0 |
Nazorine
A childhood friend of Don Corleone
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0 |
Lucy
After Lucy Mancini, Connie's maid of honor and mother to Vincenzo
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0 |
Apollonia
After Apollonia Vitelli, Michael's first wife
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0 |
Calo
One of Don Tammosino's bodyguards
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0 |
Vitelli
After Signor Vitelli, Apollonia's father
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0 |
Frankie
After Frank Pentangeli, one of Vito's most trusted associates
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0 |
Pentangeli
After Frankie Pentangeli, whose plot line actually took over for the part of Clemenza
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0 |
Fanucci
A freelance extortionist
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0 |
Ola
After Johnny Ola, Roth's right hand man
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0 |
Cicci
After Willie Cicci, who eventually became Frank Pentangeli's right hand man
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0 |
Altobello
After Don Altobello, an old friend of the Corleones
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0 |
Zasa
After Joey Zasa, the antagonist of the third film
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0 |
Gilday
After Archbishop Gilday
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0 |
Mosca
A bodyguard of Don Ciccio
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0 |
Spara
Mosca's right hand man
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0 |
Ant
After Anthony Squigliaro, an enforcer of Joey Zasa
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0 |
Francis
After Francis Ford Coppola, who directed the trilogy
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0 |
Coppola
A name that now shares two famous directors, Francis and Sofia
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