Introduction
If you’re looking to give your dog a top video game name, you’re likely either a long-tenured gamer or at least an addict or appreciator of a particular game or series. Either way, giving your dog a top video game name is a great way to honor both them, with the name of something you enjoy, and the game, by giving one of it’s character’s names to something you love and interact with on a day to day basis. Plus, if it’s obvious enough, calling their name in public will be an easy way for others to identify your appreciation for well-made video games.
Video Game Inspired Dog Names in Pop Culture
Like video games themselves, dogs have come a long way in being tied into our digital pastimes, but they may have culminated with Dogmeat of Fallout fame.
Dogmeat has been featured in at least some facet throughout the entire Fallout series, but he truly hit his stride in Fallout 2, when players were first allowed to recruit him as a companion, otherwise known as a non-player character who can be given orders to execute such as fetching loot or attacking enemies. He was given a bit of a backstory as well, fleshing out his character on the whole and even setting up a prime meeting in the second game of the series, when he recognizes the player from his Vault Dweller jumpsuit.
Considering the limited interaction most dogs had in video games previously, the newest generations of game designers are finally giving canines a more prominent role in storytelling, ones they know they can use to tug at the heartstrings of most players, especially with the modern level of interactivity that allows players to do more than just look at them.
But that’s not to say notable dogs didn’t exist in video games prior. For instance, who could forget the timeless giggle of Duck Hunt Dog when you missed too many shots? Of course, dogs have been featured in some capacity since 1984 when Duck Hunt was released, but many of them have largely been anthropomorphic versions like 1992’s Wonder Dog. Until the early 2000s, dogs had largely been side characters or digital pets like Nintendogs, but since around 2003, when Dog’s Life came out for Playstation 2 and allowed players to control a dog as a protagonist, game creators seem to be taking dogs a bit more seriously.
Parts of Call of Duty, Kane and Lynch 2, Resident Evil 4 and Metal Gear Solid all featured dogs for a small part of their storyline, but other games such as Fable 2 and Grand Theft Auto V actually let players interact with their canine companions, the latter including the ability to invite them to ride along in your car, play fetch and even attack people if the player chose to do so.
If nothing else, even if players aren’t given complete command over a main-character-like dog, at least they’re being incorporated with more consistency and depth. And what’s more, is that allowing players to do so has created a demand for even more interactivity and control, leaving the door open and a crowd waiting for the next savvy game developer to take advantage of the fact that some of their most popular characters and previous games may finally be able to make the leap to fully-functioning protagonist.
Video Game Inspired Dog Name Considerations
There is certainly a lot to consider when attempting to pick a name, the first being whether you have a favorite game or character, as that’s the simplest place to start. If you don’t or just don’t feel like that character’s name is a good fit for your dog, start taking notes on your dog’s looks and personality as well as what titles and types of games you are most fond of, then start trimming away the excess and attempt to combine elements from both lists.
Looks are usually an easy way to go, as many video game characters and dogs can have relatively unique features. For instance, if your dog has a particularly strong mustache game, both Mario and Luigi are good options. If they are mostly one color besides having white on their lower jaw, belly, and saddle, maybe Yoshi is a good fit. If they are all white, Boo would certainly be an apt choice.
Of course, not all dogs have outstanding physical features, so you can easily work with personality as a basis as well. If you have a somewhat dainty dog, Peach and Daisy would work great. If you have a dog that grunts or makes a funny little noise every time they jump up, there’s another opportunity for naming them Mario. If they are endlessly curious explorers, Croft or Drake would be perfect.
Whatever you choose, do your best to make sure the name truly highlights who they are or at least a strong or memorable element. That way, every time you think of, see, or play that character, you’ll forever have the memory of your canine companion as well.
Male Video Game Inspired Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
---|---|---|
6 |
Link
Protagonist of the Legend of Zelda series
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2 |
Chief
After Master Chief of Halo
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1 |
Phoenix
After Paul Phoenix from Tekken series
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1 |
Ash
After Ash Ketchum from the Pokemon games
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1 |
Atlas
One of Bioshock's main characters
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0 |
Chrono
Main character of Chrono Trigger
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0 |
Shepard
After Commander Shepard, protagonist of first three Mass Effect games
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-1 |
Kong
After Donkey Kong
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-1 |
Bowser
The ultimate boss from Super Mario Bros.
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-1 |
Koopa
After King Koopa, another timeless boss from Super Mario Bros.
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-1 |
Marston
After John Marston, protagonist of Red Dead Redemption
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-1 |
Miles
After Desmond Miles, one of the main characters from the Assassin's Creed series
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-1 |
Ezio
After Ezio Auditore da Firenze, one of Assassin's Creed's main characters
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-1 |
Drake
After Nathan Drake, protagonist of Uncharted series
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-1 |
Alucard
Main character of Castlevania
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-1 |
Rizer
After Bill Rizer, one of the heroes from Contra
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-1 |
Qbert
After the puzzle classic Qbert
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-1 |
Bruiser
After one of two Bruisers, both main bosses in Super Punch Out
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-2 |
Mephisto
One of three main demons of the Diablo series
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-2 |
Deckard
After Deckard Cain, main storyline character in Diablo series
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-2 |
Cain
After Deckard Cain, Diablo series
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-2 |
Gordo
After Eddie Gordo from the Tekken series
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-2 |
Redfield
After Chris Redfield, storied character from multiple Resident Evil games
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-2 |
Sonic
From the Sonic the Hedgehog series
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-2 |
Lawson
After Miranda Lawson, notable character from Mass Effect 2
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-2 |
DeSanta
A main character of Grand Theft Auto V
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-3 |
Luigi
Secondary protagonist of the Super Mario Bros. franchise
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-3 |
Denton
Protagonist of Deus Ex
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-3 |
Croft
After Lara Croft of Tomb Raider, main character
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-3 |
Snake
After one of several Snakes, main characters of Metal Gear Solid series
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-4 |
Mario
Protagonist of Super Mario Bros. franchise
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Female Video Game Inspired Dog Names
Votes | Name | Vote |
---|---|---|
5 |
Zelda
Princess of the Legend of Zelda
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1 |
Marle
Another main character of Chrono Trigger
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1 |
Blanka
Memorable favorite from Street Fighter
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1 |
Samara
After Samara, notable character in Mass Effect 2
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1 |
Tails
Sonic the Hedgehog's partner
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1 |
Inky
The blue ghost from Pac-Man
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1 |
Rayne
Main character/protagonist of BloodRayne
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1 |
Myst
After the point and click classic puzzle game
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0 |
Glados
Character from Portal 2
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0 |
Ryu
Crowd favorite from Street Fighter
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0 |
Blinky
Red ghost character from Pac-Man
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0 |
Lone
After Lone Wanderer, the title given to the main character in Fallout 3
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|
-1 |
Peach
Princess from the Super Mario Bros. franchise
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-1 |
Wheatley
Character from Portal 2
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-1 |
Samus
Protagonist of Metroid series
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-1 |
Yoshi
Secondary character in multiple Super Mario Bros. franchise
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-1 |
Baal
One of three main demons of the Diablo series
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-1 |
Cloud
After Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII
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-1 |
Kennedy
After Leon Kennedy of Resident Evil 4
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-1 |
Brigid
After Brigid Tenenbaum, one of Bioshock's main characters
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-1 |
Birdo
Egg-shooting boss from Super Mario Bros.
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-1 |
Daisy
A princess from the Super Mario Bros.
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-1 |
Boo
The ghost from Super Mario Bros.
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-1 |
Claudia
After Claudia Auditore da Firenze, Ezio's sister and main character in Assassin's Creed
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-1 |
Chloe
After Chloe Frazer, main storyline character in Uncharted
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-1 |
Bean
After Lance Bean, one of the heroes from Contra
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-1 |
Elika
Deuteragonist of Prince of Persia
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-1 |
Farah
Main storyline character of Prince of Persia
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|
-1 |
Rikku
One of Final Fantasy X's main characters
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|
-2 |
Cortana
Female AI that helps players through Halo series
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Community Dogs with Video Game Inspired Names
My moms friend gave us this dog, he has lit up our life ever since