Choosing a fitting name for your male or female hunting dog isn’t easy and requires a lot of time skimming through lists on the internet.
But it’s also a very exciting time and a crucial step when purchasing a hunting breed puppy or rescuing a high prey drive dog.
Whether you are looking for a badass or unique hunting dog name with meaning for your sporting breed, this list will inspire you with 200+ name ideas for Retrievers, Pointers, Hounds, Spaniels, Setters, Terriers, or gun dogs.
I have also researched the meaning behind every single name to make sure that they are hunting, animal, or nature-themed.
It’s beautiful what story you can endow your puppy with just by giving him or her a name.
So make sure that it’s your puppy’s unique story.
Keep in mind that the name should be easy to say and shouldn’t sound like any command or family member’s name.
Recall training is essential in the field so make sure that it’s clear and easy to remember.
Interested in finding out whether or not dogs know their own name?
If you are getting a puppy, consider purchasing this complete puppy planner that will make your life so much easier in the first couple of months!
Sporting Dogs Names
Spaniels, Retrievers, Pointers, and Setters are the four basic types of sporting breeds.
In total, there are over 30 dog breeds that are recognized by the AKC and listed as sporting dogs.
Hunters have used these dogs for decades to track and gather game on land and in water.
Due to their close human working relationship, these dogs have become exceptional companions and are ideal for active owners.
Whether or not you intend on bringing your dog on hunting trips, his prey drive, and vigorous nature are deeply rooted and should be highlighted with a fitting and meaningful name.
These names don’t have to be hunting-related but can also be inspired by wild animals and nature.
Beautiful names that remind you of the night, sun, or dawn or the joy that you experience when hunting may be the perfect fit for your dog.
Hunting dogs are excellent camping companions and thrive in a natural environment.
If you go on regular hiking trips with your dog or just enjoy spending time in nature then this would be a wonderful inspiration for your pup’s name.
| Male Hunting Dog Names | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ace | highest rank, unity |
| Alfred | guide, counselor |
| Ammo | abbreviation for ammunition |
| Angus | one strength, one of excellence |
| Aspen | tree with heart-shaped leaves |
| Artemis | goddess of the hunt and wilderness |
| Bear | strong, brave hunter |
| Blaze | bright flame, fire |
| Blitz | fast mover |
| Buck | male deer |
| Bud | a (hunter’s) companion |
| Bullet | kinetic projectile |
| Champ | warrior, champion |
| Chaser | hunter, huntsman |
| Cliff | ford by a cliff |
| Cody | famous bison hunter William Buffalo Bill Cody |
| Coyote | prairie wolf |
| Dash | spirited warrior |
| Dingo | wild dog |
| Duke | leader |
| Emerson | brave, powerful, force |
| Falco | falcon, hawk |
| Gunner | bold warrior |
| Hunter | seeker, finder |
| Koda | friend, companion |
| Kota | good fortune |
| Legolas | green leaf |
| Levi | joint, attached |
| Magnum | firearm cartridge of a large caliber |
| Mallard | wild duck |
| Milo | soldier, merciful |
| Musket | firearm for infantry |
| Orion | legendary hunter |
| Pistol | handgun |
| Pluto | wealth |
| Radar | sonar equipment, detection |
| Ranger | forest guardian |
| Revolver | handgun with a rotating magazine |
| Rocky | rest |
| Ryder | knight, cavalryman, messenger |
| Sarge | sergeant, officer |
| Scout | first explorer |
| Sounder | fictional hunting dog |
| Tanner | someone who made leather from animal hides |
| Trigger | firing mechanism on a gun |
| Troy | foot soldier |
| Wanderer | explorer |
| Wilder | hunter |
| Wyatt | hardy, brave, strong |
| Yukon | great river |
In my opinion, female nature-inspired dog names sound the most beautiful.
I mean think about Aurora, Dawn, or Meadow.
Calling your dog would always remind you of the beautiful nature that is surrounding you on every walk outside.
When choosing a hunting dog name, keep in mind that you might not want to call your girl Princess to avoid loud guffaws from your hunting pals. It’s your decision though.
| Female Hunting Dog Names | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Anna | grace, favor |
| Alma | nurturing, soul |
| Athena | goddess of wisdom and warfare |
| Aurora | dawn |
| Azalea | flowering shrubs |
| Bailey | berry clearing |
| Bambi | young deer |
| Beretta | Italian firearms manufacturer |
| Bine | bee, understanding |
| Dakota | friend, ally |
| Dawn | first appearance of daylight |
| Doe | female deer |
| Eva | life, living one |
| Georgia | farmer |
| Harbor | shelter |
| Kinsley | king’s meadow |
| Liberty | free, independence |
| Lindy | linden tree |
| Meadow | beautiful field |
| Nyx | goddess of the night |
| Olive | olive tree |
| Olympia | mountain of the gods |
| Payton | fighting man’s estate |
| Pearl | jewel, pearl |
| Powder | gunpowder used in firearms |
| Rogue | proud, haughty |
| Rose | beautiful red flower |
| Sadie | princess |
| Scarlett | courage, force, joy |
| Stella | star |
| Stormy | a tempest; an impetuous nature |
| Victoria | victory |
| Violet | faithfulness, luck |
| Whitetail | Virginia deer |
| Willow | slender, graceful |
Fishing Dog Names
Do you plan on taking your dog to go fishing with you?
Dog breeds like Retrievers have excellent instincts in the water and even water-repellent coats.
They are born to be in the water and share your love for the river, even if you just plan on relaxing near your favorite fishing hole.
Your companion will never leave your side!
So why not give him a fishing-inspired dog name for your shared hobby?
| Water Hunting Dog Names | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Algon (m) | green river |
| Bay (f) | coastal body of water |
| Beck (m) | brook, stream |
| Brooke (f) | water, stream |
| Carolina (f) | after the Carolina rig |
| Cisco (m) | fishing brand |
| Gill (m) | narrow mountain stream |
| Maggie (f) | pearl |
| Maya (f) | water, illusion |
| Moriarty (m) | navigator, seaworthy |
| Murphy (m) | sea warrior |
| Ocean (f) | great sea |
| Pike (m) | spear, fish |
| Riptide (m) | strong, offshore current |
| River (f) | stream of water that flows to the sea |
| Sally (f) | short for salmon |
| Sedge (m) | flowering plants growing in marshy places |
| Summer (f) | the warmest season of the year |
| Tex (m) | after the texas rig |
Pheasant Hunting Dog Names
You can also tailor your dog’s name to a specific hunting skill.
Hunting dogs are excellent at tracking and finding birds in the field.
They can help you to locate downed birds and can even retrieve them for the hunter.
Flushing dogs, like the English Springer Spaniel and Toller, always stay close in range and rush the birds in the air.
Pointers, like the German Shorthair Pointer and Weimaraner, are great at locating and pointing birds.
There are many bird-inspired name options to choose from but you could also go with a name that is inspired by your dog’s field technique and personality.
| Bird Hunting Dog Names | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Aleta (f) | little winged one, truthful |
| Ava (f) | bird, life |
| Birdie (f) | small bird |
| Brant (m) | small goose |
| Bullet (m) | kinetic projectile |
| Buzz (m) | buzzard |
| Cinnamon (f) | after the cinnamon teal |
| Condor (m) | largest flying land bird |
| Dove (f) | bird of peace |
| Hawk (m) | falcon, bird of prey |
| Lark (f) | songbird |
| Loon (m) | group of aquatic birds |
| Scout (m) | first explorer |
| Teal (f,m) | blue-green color of the sea, breed of duck |
| Widgeon (m) | dabbling ducks |
| Windy (f) | friend |
| Wren (f) | small bird |
Hunting Dog Names for Labrador Retrievers
The following names are perfect for yellow, chocolate, and black Labs which are among the most popular hunting dogs (and the most popular dogs in the US year after year).
Whether you have a male or female Labrador Retriever, these ideas will help you to find a name for your hunting companion.
A strong and fierce Lab might be called Bruno while Charlie would be a fitting name for an independent explorer.
| Hunting Dog Names for Labs | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bailey (f) | berry clearing |
| Bruno (m) | armor, protection |
| Cassie (f) | unheeded, strong-willed, purity |
| Charlie (m) | free man |
| Chocolate (f) | sweet-hearted |
| Dandy (m) | man, warrior |
| Dexter (m) | skilled |
| Ella (f) | light, beauty |
| Emma (f) | whole, universal |
| Freya (f) | most beautiful of the goddesses |
| Harley (m) | hare’s meadow |
| Hazel (f) | hazelnut tree |
| Henry (m) | ruler |
| Izzy (f) | my god is an oath |
| Jake/Jakob (m) | to follow, to be behind |
| Kira (f) | female ruler |
| Lucy (f) | graceful light |
| Max(well) (m) | great spring |
| Molly (f) | rebellion, bitter |
| Nala (f) | queen, lion |
| Ruger (m) | tough, manly |
| Sasha (f) | defender of mankind |
| Shadow (m) | shade from the sun |
| Suzie (f) | flower, lily |
| Oliver (m) | olive tree |
| Otis (m) | wealthy |
| Winnie (f) | holy peacemaking, gentle friend |
| Zoey (f) | life |
You might also want to check out my article on 700+ badass working dog names.
One-Syllable Hunting Dog Names
When hunting in the field, it’s extremely important to be able to quickly recall your dog.
This works best with a short and easy name that can be shouted clearly over great distances.
Names with only one syllable are easier to pronounce and your dog will pick up on it faster.
| One-Syllable Hunting Dog Names | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ace (m) | highest rank, unity |
| Ash (f) | ash-tree meadow |
| Baz (m) | king |
| Bear (m) | strong, brave hunter |
| Bliss (f) | supreme happiness, heaven, perfect joy |
| Buck (m) | male deer |
| Chou (f) | butterfly |
| Dot (f) | gift of god |
| Earl (m) | warrior, nobleman |
| Fawn (f) | young deer |
| Fred (m) | peaceful ruler |
| Gil (m) | joy, happiness |
| Greer (m) | watchful |
| Lev (m) | lion |
| Mei (f) | beautiful |
| Mitch (m) | big, large |
| Nell (f) | bright, shining one |
| Ralph (m) | wolf counsel, red wolf |
| Rei (f) | beautiful, lovely |
| Rex (m) | mighty counselor/ruler, king |
| Shaw (m) | wolf |
| Shay (f) | majestic |
| Tess (f) | late summer |
| Vuk (m) | wolf |
| Wren (f) | small bird |
Recommended Reading: 700+ unique female dog names
Here are some of my favorite puppy owner tools
Thanks for reading, I hope you’ve found the perfect name for your pup.
If you’re interested in what I’ve been using as a puppy owner, here are a couple of simple tools to help you navigate life as a dog mom or dad.
These are all products I’ve used and would recommend to my own family.
Name tag: We all hate just thinking about it… But if your pup gets lost, a stainless steel tag is not only a fancy name tag but will also help get your pup back quickly. Here’s a QR code version as a fancier version, not everybody might be able to know how to scan it though.
Playpen and/or crate: If you’re getting a new puppy, you probably need to place him or her into a playpen or crate sooner or later. While playpens are not as secure, they’re good as a safe haven or to play outdoors. Crates are great for getting your pup to sleep at night.
Puppy training treats: Every time you’re using your pup’s name for recall training, leash training, or anything else, you’ll want to pack single-ingredient dog treats. Avoid using multi-ingredient treats with unhealthy additives, just liver is what I’m mostly using for my dog (besides homemade dog treats).
Brian Knutson
Sunday 15th of November 2020
My english setter is named PENDLETON. In the field I call her Penny or Pen, she is a tricolor pup and the brown on her reminds me of a good whiskey. The name Pendleton also comes from an English heritage.
Danielle
Sunday 15th of November 2020
Hey Brian, sounds awesome. You're right, a short name is probably easier for recalls. Dog = good whiskey, I've gotta remember that association! :)