Dogs Getting Started Dog Names

150 Mythical Dog Names

Dog naming inspiration from the stories of history

Mythical Names for Dogs

 The Spruce / Hilary Allison

If your dog has a personality as big as the heavens, then it deserves a name equally heavenly. Mythical dog names often have a story to tell. From ancient Greek, Roman, or Norse gods and goddesses to honored heroes, there are many mythical options from long-ago times to choose from, including top contenders Thor, Loki, Zeus, and Aphrodite.

Like the figures they represent, mythical names speak to the human experience going back through time, with many of them imparting lessons of strength, glory, and bravery—and often a bit of mischief, too. If you are looking to name your new dog after a Greek or Roman god, or another figure from ancient mythology throughout the world, here are 150 of our favorite mythical dog names to inspire and help you out.

Top Mythical Dog Names

The word “mythology” comes from ancient Greece, combining mythos (story of the people) with logos (words, speech, or reason). All civilizations have had their myths and folktales, complete with supernatural humans and animals whose experiences are thought to have shaped the world as we know it. Often, the same story can be found across many cultures, with varying details that suggest their origins. By choosing a mythical name for your dog, you tap into this storied past, with names that can say a lot about who your pup is and what makes them special. And these popular mythical dog names are a great place to start.

  • Achilles (hero of Homer’s The Iliad)
  • Athena (goddess of wisdom)
  • Atlas (leader of the Titans)
  • Fauna (Roman goddess of animals)
  • Hera (the highest of the goddesses)
  • Hercules (god of strength and power)
  • Juno (queen of heaven)
  • Loki (a mischievous god of fate and chaos)
  • Luna (Roman goddess of the moon)
  • Odin (Norse mythology’s most important god)
  • Odysseus (hero of Homer’s The Odyssey)
  • Phoebe (Titan associated with the intellect)
  • Pluto (Greek god of the underworld)
  • Victoria (Roman goddess of victory)
  • Zeus (the highest of the gods)

Tips For Naming Your Dog

There are no definitive rules when it comes to naming your dog, but there are some general guidelines that you should follow so that you choose a name that isn’t confusing for your pup. Whether you go with inspiration from mythology or not, picking a name for your dog is a big deal, and it’s going to be with them for life.

Here are some important tips to keep in mind when you’re naming your dog:

  • For training purposes, a name that starts with a hard letter such as S, T, or R might be easiest for your dog to pick up on.
  • Try to keep your dog’s name to one or two syllables, which will help them understand what their name is. If you prefer a longer name, keep that name on paper but have a shorter nickname that you use day-to-day.
  • Names that rhyme with key commands, such as May (“stay”), Bo (“no”), and Kitt (“sit”) could get confusing for your dog, so keep that in mind when making your choice.
  • Don’t pick a name you’ll be embarrassed to say out loud. While it may seem silly at the moment, keep in mind that whatever name you choose for your dog is one that you’ll have to call out regularly, including in public places like the vet and dog park.
  • It’s okay to change your dog’s name if you don’t like it after a couple of days! Pick a name, try it out, and see how you like it—as well as how your dog responds. If the name seems off, it’s better to switch it than stick with it.

Female Mythical Dog Names

Mythology is full of strong, powerful women who rivaled their male counterparts—and often bested them, too. Choosing a mythical dog name for your female pup is an excellent way to celebrate her spirit and to ensure she’s always viewed as the celebrated being that she is.

  • Aphrodite (goddess of love and beauty)
  • Artemis (goddess of the hunt)
  • Asteria (goddess of the stars)
  • Atlanta (female hunter from Greek mythology)
  • Aura (goddess of the breeze)
  • Aurora (Roman goddess of the dawn)
  • Branwen (Celtic goddess of love)
  • Calliope (muse of epic poetry)
  • Calypso (sea nymph from Odysseus)
  • Cassandra (priestess of Apollo)
  • Cerridwen (Celtic goddess of magic and the moon)
  • Circe (Greek goddess of magic)
  • Clemencia (Roman goddess of forgiveness)
  • Clio (muse of history)
  • Coventina (Celtic goddess)
  • Daphne (daughter of the river god)
  • Demeter (goddess of agriculture)
  • Dianmu (Chinese goddess of lightning)
  • Diana (Roman name for Artemis)
  • Echo (a magical wood nymph)
  • Electra (goddess of storm clouds)
  • Elli (Norse goddess who beat Thor at wrestling)
  • Enyo (Greek goddess of war)
  • Eos (Greek goddess of the dawn)
  • Freya (Norse goddess of love)
  • Frigga (Norse goddess of the home)
  • Fuji (ancient Japanese goddess of fire)
  • Gaia (mother goddess over Earth)
  • Harmonia (Greek goddess of harmony)
  • Hathor (Egyptian goddess of dancing and music)
  • Helen (daughter of Zeus)
  • Hella (Norse goddess of the underworld)
  • Henwen (Norse goddess of fertility)
  • Inanna (Sumerian goddess of love and war)
  • Iris (goddess of the sea and sky)
  • Ishtar (Mesopotamian goddess)
  • Isis (Egyptian goddess of birth and death)
  • Kali (Hindu goddess of destruction and rebirth)
  • Maat (Egyptian goddess of truth)
  • Macha (defender of women in Celtic mythology)
  • Mazu (Chinese goddess of the sea)
  • Melaina (black or dark)
  • Minerva (Roman goddess of wisdom)
  • Morrigan (Celtic goddess associated with war)
  • Nemesis (Greek goddess of retribution)
  • Nike (Goddess of victory)
  • Nut (Egyptian goddess of the sky)
  • Nuwa (Chinese goddess who created human beings)
  • Nyx (goddess of the night)
  • Oya (West African goddess of weather)
  • Pandora (the first human woman)
  • Pax (Roman goddess of peace)
  • Pele (Hawaiian volcano goddess)
  • Penelope (devotion and fidelity)
  • Persephone (Greek queen of the underworld)
  • Phaedra (bright)
  • Pomona (Roman goddess of fruit trees)
  • Rhea (goddess of fertility and motherhood)
  • Selene (goddess of the moon)
  • Seshat (Egyptian goddess of libraries, mathematics, and architecture)
  • Styx (goddess of the river Styx)
  • Tara (Buddhist goddess)
  • Thalia (joyous)
  • Tiamat (Babylonian dragon goddess)
  • Urvasi (Hindu goddess of the dawn)
  • Venus (Roman goddess of beauty and love)
  • Vesta (Roman goddess of the home)
  • Yemonja (West African goddess of the ocean)

Male Mythical Dog Names

The male characters of mythology are some of the most well-known figures of all time. Embrace history with one of these impressive male mythical dog names.

  • Adonis (Greek god of beauty)
  • Ajax (hero of the Trojan War)
  • Amun (Egyptian god of the sun)
  • Anu (Mesopotamian god of the sky)
  • Anubis (Egyptian dog-headed god of the dead)
  • Apollo (Greek god of music, art, and the sun)
  • Aquarius (water bearer in Babylonian mythology)
  • Ares (Greek god of war)
  • Argos (Odysseus's dog)
  • Argus (watchful guardian)
  • Asgard (Norse home of the gods)
  • Aten (Egyptian sun god)
  • Bacchus (Greek god of wine)
  • Bragi (Norse god of poetry)
  • Brontes (thunderous)
  • Cerberus (Three-headed dog that guards Hades)
  • Chaos (Greek god who existed before time)
  • Chronos (Greek god of time)
  • Cupid (Roman god of love)
  • Dagon (Mesopotamian god of fertility)
  • Damon (trust and loyalty)
  • Dionysus (Greek god of wine)
  • Enki (Mesopotamian god of mischief and creation)
  • Evander (Greek cultural hero)
  • Eros (love)
  • Fenrir (giant wolf in Norse mythology)
  • Forseti (Norse god of justice)
  • Hades (Greek god of the underworld)
  • Hati ( a wolf in Norse mythology)
  • Hector (brave warrior in Trojan war)
  • Heimdall (Norse guard of the gods)
  • Heka (Egyptian god of creation)
  • Helios (god of the sun)
  • Hermes (god of trade and travel)
  • Horus (Egyptian god of sun and sky)
  • Hyperion (Titan god of light)
  • Hypnos (Greek god of sleep)
  • Janus (Roman god of beginnings)
  • Jason (leader of the Argonauts)
  • Jupiter (Roman king of the gods)
  • Kek (Egyptian god of chaos)
  • Khonsu (Egyptian god of the moon)
  • Kratos (Greek god of power)
  • Leander (lion man)
  • Linus (leader of lyric song)
  • Magni (son of Thor who will inherit his hammer)
  • Mars (god of war)
  • Mercury (Roman god of travelers, thieves, and messengers)
  • Montu (Egyptian god of war)
  • Morpheus (god of dreams)
  • Neptune (Roman complement of Poseidon)
  • Orion (mythological hunter)
  • Orpheus (musician who traveled to the underworld)
  • Osiris (Egyptian judge of the dead)
  • Pan (god of the wild)
  • Perseus (destroyer)
  • Poseidon (Greek god of the sea)
  • Prometheus (brought fire to humankind)
  • Saturn (Roman god of time)
  • Set (Egyptian god of war)
  • Shamash (Mesopotamian god of the sun)
  • Shezmu (Egyptian god of wine)
  • Sigurd (brave Norse warrior)
  • Theseus (Athenian king)
  • Thoth (Egyptian god of writing)
  • Triton (Greek demigod of the sea)
  • Vali (Norse god of archery)
  • Vulcan (god of fire)

Other Dog Name Ideas

Looking for even more dog naming inspiration? Take a look at these other helpful roundups: