Pet Names: Do We?

Do we do…pet names? Well, let’s see if we do or not!

Katie writes:

I know this is not really what you do, but I’m done having kids. So now it is on DOG NAMES! I was wondering if you and your readers could help us. We are getting a West Highland Terrier (Westie) and need some suggestions. The good news: it doesn’t need to match a middle name (unless we want to) and it doesn’t really matter how it sounds with our last name. Our names are Katie, Matt, Zoë, Aynsley, and Camden – so that is our only stipulation, it can’t sound too much like any of those. We don’t know if it will be a girl or a boy.
Thanks for you help!

Well, the first thing I did was go online and find a picture of West Highland Terriers:

Screen shot 2014-06-16 at 2.31.28 PM

And that was also the last thing I did, because I’m not up to speed on puppy names. I don’t hang out with a lot of young dogs, so I don’t know which names are the Hot Trends, or which ones are So Last (Dog) Year.

But I’ll bet we’ve got some puppy name enthusiasts among us. Go ahead! Name that puppy!

14 thoughts on “Pet Names: Do We?

  1. Clarabella

    I grew up with two Westies. The first was named Puff, the second Darla (we had a Scottie named Alfalfa). I don’t know if you want a “person” name for your puppy or a “resemblance” name (like Puff), but my mom always said if we’d gotten another, she’s have named it Cotton, and I thought that was pretty damn cute.

    Reply
  2. Luna

    When I was growing up, we had neighbours with a Westie named Mac. Very appropriate for Scottish breed!
    I would be tempted to use something typically Scottish, but I’m coming up blank with other suggestions. Maybe google could help?

    Reply
  3. sdh

    My aunt had a Westie named Wesley and another one named Angus. I agree with the above poster to use a Scottish name!

    Reply
  4. Nerida

    I agree with some of the earlier posts that sticking to a scottish sounding name would suit.

    I’ve always loved Douglas for a boy or Isla for a girl.

    Reply
  5. Jodi

    Definitely a Scottish name, but a Scottish surname might be even better (especially a Mc- one!) I love McDuff!

    Other ideas: Hamish, Dougal, Murray, Finlay.
    Girls: Iona, Ailsa, Lorna, Fiona

    Or maybe have a look at a map of the West Highlands – there are some fabulous placenames up there, but I’m blanking on what they are :)

    Reply
  6. Rayleen

    My mother-in-law used to raise Westies, before I met the hubbie. They all had scottish sounding names like Angus or Jock.

    Reply
  7. Elizabeth

    Best dog name ever: Overheard on the street, when a mother asked her little girl what they should name their new puppy:
    “Basker. You know, like Hound of the Baskervilles?”
    I just love that.

    Reply
  8. Steph the WonderWorrier

    I love the idea of using a Scottish name! McDuff is SO CUTE. If you get a male, I totally think McDuff is the most awesome name EVER.

    For female Scottish names I like:

    Elspie
    Kenna
    Kenzie
    Maisie
    Netta

    (I used a Scottish baby name website and those were names that I thought would be really cute for a dog).

    One suggestion: Try picking a name that ends with the -ie sound at the end (or use a nickname with that sound, like Duffy for McDuff). Dogs respond quite well to names like these, because they can seldom be said without an upbeat inflection at the end, and it creates a more positive reaction to the dogs ears. :-)

    Best of luck with your new baby(puppy)!

    Reply
  9. Anonymous

    I say always go with a people name. And I like ones that end in an ‘I’ sound. Molly, Bailey, Sophie, etc.

    Or you could name it for a favorite place. I named a cat Hilton after the place where my favorite basketball team plays.

    Reply
  10. Anonymous

    I love naming dogs after places that carry meaning for you. I can’t really make any suggestions, as I don’t know what places mean something to you. But for example, my husband and I went to school, met, and fell in love in the city of Boston. So, we named our dog “Copley” after Copley Square in Boston. Think of a place you love and name your dog that! (Within reason of course….)

    Reply
  11. Anonymous

    OMG….I was going to suggest McDuff because my last name is McDuffee and very Scottish. I just love it. You could call him Mac or Duff or Duffy for short. If you have children, they would enjoy reading the books about McDuff, “their dog”.

    I like Steph’s list for girl names, especially Maisie.

    Reply
  12. drowninginlaundry

    We have a 4 year old Westie and named her after a character on ABFAB in the UK.

    Saffron Monsoon – to us it is the perfect westie name, of course she is the perfect westie as well…

    I also like Archie for a westie.

    Reply

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