253 Pug Names With Meanings and Popularity Ranks

Bringing a Pug home means inviting a small comedian into the house. The breed held the No. 38 spot on the American Kennel Club’s 2025 popularity list ⁽¹⁾, so your dog will be recognized everywhere and still deserves a name nobody else at the park is shouting.

Below are 253 options split into male, female, and unisex lists, covering courtly human names, food picks, and outright jokes. Where a name also shows up in U.S. birth records, we have added its Social Security Administration rank, so you can see at a glance whether it is a national favorite like Oliver at #3 or a rarity like Barney at #12,274.

The breed gives you plenty to work with. Pugs were bred in China as companions for the wealthy, reached Europe with Dutch traders in the 16th century, and were recognized by the AKC in 1885 ⁽²⁾. The AKC standard still sums them up with the Latin phrase multum in parvo, much in little, which is exactly what you are naming. Worth knowing before you pick a name: Dan O’Neill, associate professor in companion animal epidemiology at the Royal Veterinary College, says “although hugely popular as pets, we now know that several severe health issues are linked to the extreme body shape of pugs that many humans find so cute” (source cited below).

91 Awesome Male Pug Names

These 91 male Pug names run from courtly gentlemen to full-time troublemakers, and where a name also turns up in U.S. birth records we have added its rank, so you can tell a park favorite from a genuine rarity before you commit.

1. Apollo: The Greek god of music, healing, and the sun, worn by a dog who greets every visitor like an audience. It sat at #445 for U.S. babies in 2025.
2. Archer: Sharp and purposeful, good for a pup with keen instincts and a fixed stare at the treat jar. U.S. parents pushed it to a record #98 in 2025.
3. Atticus: Borrowed from the steady lawyer in To Kill a Mockingbird, for the Pug with a thoughtful face.
4. Aslan: The noble lion of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, a big-cat name for a very small chest.
5. Bark Twain: A pun on Mark Twain, made for the Pug who narrates the entire day.
6. Barney: Friendly and a little goofy. It is also the rarest human name on this page in current U.S. use at #12,274 in 2025, so nobody else at the park will turn around.
7. Baxter: Old English for baker, which fits a Pug who supervises every snack.
8. Bear: Cuddly and protective in spirit, if not in size. It ranked #853 in the U.S. in 2025.
9. Brody: A rugged Scottish name meaning ditch. It peaked at #70 in 2008 and has eased back to #236.
10. Bruno: German for brown, a natural for a fawn or brown coat.
11. Buddy: The plain, loyal classic. It was a real baby name once, peaking at #202 in 1935, and now sits at #4,418.
12. Buster: High-energy and a bit cheeky, for the dog who plays until he flops.
13. Casper: The friendly ghost, and a soft fit for a pale fawn Pug.
14. Cesar: Roman in origin, meaning hairy, which any Pug owner with a lint roller will appreciate.
15. Chaplin: For the silent-comedy face. Pugs pull expressions Chaplin would have envied.
16. Chester: English for fortress. It was a U.S. top-60 name back in 1919 and now sits near #1,588, which makes it vintage rather than common.
17. Chewbacca: For the Star Wars household, or the dog who chews everything.
18. Dante: An Italian name meaning steadfast, with a literary weight that a snoring lapdog undercuts nicely.
19. Darwin: For science-minded owners, after the naturalist. It ranked #961 in 2025.
20. Dash: For the rare Pug who actually sprints, usually toward food.
21. Dexter: Meaning skilled, good for a dog with a deep trick repertoire.
22. Diego: Spanish and full of swagger, sitting at #158 in the U.S. in 2025.
23. Doug: A nod to Doug the Pug, the breed’s famous internet celebrity.
24. Duke: Nobility for the Pug who expects to be carried up the stairs.
25. Dusty: Matches a soft, grayish coat, and reads like a name from a 1970s road trip.
26. Elio: Italian for sun, and a quiet climber that reached its best-ever #388 in the U.S. in 2025.
27. Elvis: For the hip-swinging, attention-loving dog with a curled lip.
28. Ernie: Cheerful and slightly rumpled, like the Sesame Street character.
29. Felix: Latin for fortunate or happy, which describes most Pugs by default. It ranked #175 in 2025.
30. Finn: Short, spirited, and easy to shout across a park.
31. Finnegan: Irish, meaning fair or blessed, with Finn waiting inside it as a nickname.
32. Frodo: The brave hobbit, small in stature and stubborn in the best way.
33. Gatsby: Great American Novel glamour for a dog who mostly naps on velvet.
34. Gizmo: After the creature in Gremlins, and a long-standing favorite for Pugs.
35. Gordo: Spanish for fat, an affectionate nod to the round Pug silhouette.
36. Gus: Short and solid, meaning exalted, and easy for a dog to pick out of a sentence.
37. Houdini: For the escape artist who is somehow out of the crate again.
38. Hugo: Germanic for mind or intellect, worn with a completely straight face.
39. Jasper: A gemstone name that says precious without saying it out loud. It ranked #129 in 2025.
40. Jett: Sleek and short, a natural for a black Pug.
41. Jinx: For the pup who finds trouble by accident and looks surprised about it.
42. Kobe: After the basketball great, for a dog with more confidence than vertical leap.
43. Koda: An Algonquin name meaning friend, which is the whole Pug job description.
44. Kuan: Chinese for spacious, a good match for a dog with an outsized heart.
45. Leo: A small lion guarding the couch. It is one of the strongest performers here, ranked #19 for U.S. babies in 2025.
46. Loki: The Norse trickster god, for the Pug who steals socks and shows no remorse.
47. Maverick: English for independent. It sits at #49 in the U.S. in 2025, after a best of #36 in 2024.
48. Max: From Maximus, meaning greatest, and a perennial shortlist name for small dogs.
49. Milo: Latin for soldier, though the only marching involves the food bowl. It hit a best-ever #119 in 2025.
50. Mozart: For the vocal dog whose grumbles almost carry a tune.
51. Murphy: Irish for sea battle, warm and unfussy, and at its best U.S. rank, #397, in 2025.
52. Nico: Short for Nicholas, meaning victory of the people, and easy on the ear.
53. Oliver: Meaning olive tree, and the most common name on this page in U.S. use at #3 in 2025. Charming, but your dog will have company.
54. Orion: The hunter constellation, a large name for a dog who hunts crumbs.
55. Oscar: Irish for deer friend, with an old-fashioned dignity Pugs wear well.
56. Otis: Familiar from the film Milo and Otis, and a longtime favorite for stocky little dogs.
57. Pippin: A cozy, slightly nerdy pick from The Lord of the Rings.
58. Prince: For royal airs, or for fans of the musician. Take your pick.
59. Pugsworth: Absurdly formal, which is exactly why it lands on a snoring gentleman.
60. Rajan: Sanskrit for king, and genuinely rare in U.S. records at #7,559 in 2025.
61. Remy: French and charming, short enough to call twice before he responds.
62. Rocky: For the sturdy little dog with a fighter’s stance and no fight in him.
63. Romeo: For the Pug who greets everyone with kisses, invited or not.
64. Rufus: Latin for red-haired, which suits a warm fawn coat.
65. Sampson: A strong Hebrew name meaning sun, worn with total irony by a lapdog.
66. Sheldon: For the particular, slightly fussy dog, after The Big Bang Theory.
67. Sherlock: For the detective who can find a dropped crumb under the sofa in seconds.
68. Simba: Swahili for lion, familiar from Disney, and comic on a dog this size.
69. Smokey: A classic for a gray or silver-fawn coat.
70. Spock: Logical and unbothered, for the sci-fi household.
71. Sully: A short, warm form of Sullivan that carries well outdoors.
72. Sven: Scandinavian for young warrior, delivered with a flat face and a curly tail.
73. Tao: Chinese for path or way, calm and short.
74. Theo: Gentle and clipped from Theodore, ranked #82 in the U.S. in 2025.
75. Thor: The Norse thunder god, which is either a joke or a description, depending on the snoring.
76. Tito: An Italian and Spanish form of Titus, bouncy to say.
77. Toby: Meaning God is good, sweet without being sugary.
78. Tucker: Funny for a Pug who is tuckered out by the stairs.
79. Ulysses: The Greek hero of the long journey, for a dog whose journey ends at the food bowl.
80. Vader: For a black Pug with a taste for dramatic breathing.
81. Wally: A soft short form of Walter that suits a mellow dog.
82. Walter: The grumpy-old-man name for the grumpy-old-man face. It was a U.S. top-10 name in 1914 and sits at #252 today.
83. Watson: The loyal sidekick, best used alongside a Sherlock.
84. Winston: Dignified and Churchillian, jowls included.
85. Xander: A modern, confident clip of Alexander.
86. Yoda: Wise, wrinkly, and green only in spirit.
87. Zephyr: Meaning gentle breeze, for the calm dog in a loud house.
88. Zeus: Ruler of the Greek gods, and of your armchair.
89. Zheng: A Chinese name meaning righteous, short and firm.
90. Ziggy: Meaning peaceful victory, quirky and fun to shout.
91. Zorro: The masked hero, made for a Pug with a dark face mask.

86 Adorable Female Pug Names

Here are some sweet and sassy names for your little girl Pug.

1. Ada: Vintage and Germanic, meaning noble, and back in U.S. use at #219 in 2025.
2. Angel: Heavenly billing for a dog who is mostly good. It ranked #67 in 2025.
3. Aurora: After the Sleeping Beauty princess, which suits a champion napper. It hit its best-ever U.S. rank, #15, in 2025.
4. Bella: Italian for beautiful, and a longtime favorite for small dogs everywhere.
5. Birdie: Cheerful and free-spirited, and the fastest riser on this page: U.S. use is up about 1,110 percent on the previous decade of births.
6. Bubbles: Bubbly by definition, for the dog who greets you like a party.
7. Callie: A bright short form of Caroline, ranked #175 in 2025.
8. Chloe: Greek for green shoot, timeless and easy to call.
9. Cinnamon: Warm and a little spicy, made for a fawn coat.
10. Cleo: Short for Cleopatra, regal on a dog who already acts the part.
11. Coco: Chic, with a nod to Coco Chanel and a wardrobe of sweaters to match.
12. Daisy: A happy flower name, and a common one in U.S. use at #75 in 2025.
13. Daphne: From Greek mythology, and at its best U.S. rank, #178, in 2025.
14. Delilah: Hebrew for delicate or desired, soft with a touch of drama.
15. Dolly: For country-music households, after Dolly Parton.
16. Effie: Short for Euphemia, a properly vintage choice.
17. Ella: Simple, Germanic, and quick to say twice.
18. Eloise: French for healthy, with a mischievous storybook edge. It reached #49 in the U.S. in 2025.
19. Evie: Meaning to live, lively and small.
20. Fiona: Meaning fair, a good match for a light coat.
21. Flora: The Roman goddess of flowers and spring, for a garden-loving dog.
22. Freya: The Norse goddess of love, worn by a dog who demands affection on schedule.
23. Gemma: Meaning precious stone, for the dog who already knows she is one.
24. Gigi: Fashionable and repeatable, made for a stylish little dog.
25. Ginger: Spunky and spice-inspired, and a classic for a reddish coat.
26. Harriet: Strong and old-fashioned, with Hattie waiting as a nickname.
27. Hazel: The tree, or the light brown color. It ranked #21 in the U.S. in 2025.
28. Isla: Scottish for island, soft and current at #28 in 2025.
29. Isra: Arabic for nocturnal journey, for the dog who patrols at 2am.
30. Ivy: A nature name for steady growth, short and clear to call.
31. Jasmine: The fragrant flower and the Disney princess in one.
32. Juno: The Roman queen of the gods, which reads dry and funny on a Pug.
33. Kaya: A Hopi name meaning pure.
34. Keira: Irish for dark-haired, a natural for a black Pug.
35. Kiki: Playful and high-energy, two syllables that carry across a yard.
36. Kona: Hawaiian-inspired and built for adventure, or the illusion of one.
37. Lacey: Delicate, with a nod to lace.
38. Leia: The Star Wars princess, best paired with cinnamon-bun ear tufts.
39. Leila: Arabic for night, ideal for a dark coat.
40. Lilo: The Hawaiian character whose name means generous one.
41. Lucy: An English form of Lucia, and at its best U.S. rank, #25, in 2025.
42. Lulu: Repetitive, silly, and impossible to say sternly.
43. Luna: The moon, and a name owners of every species reach for. It ranked #27 in the U.S. in 2025.
44. Mabel: Vintage and meaning lovable, back from a 1913 peak at #56 to #201 today.
45. Maggie: Greek for pearl, a classic dog name that has never gone stale.
46. Maisie: A Scottish take on Margaret, at its best U.S. rank, #233, in 2025.
47. Maple: Sweet and golden-brown, like the coat and the syrup.
48. Mei Mei: An endearing Chinese name for a younger sister.
49. Mia: Italian for mine or beloved, and one of the highest-ranked names on this page at #6 in U.S. use in 2025.
50. Miko: Japanese for shrine maiden, short and neat.
51. Molly: Irish for wished-for child, which is how most Pug puppies arrive.
52. Nala: The lioness from The Lion King, scaled down considerably.
53. Nola: Lively, with New Orleans humming in the background.
54. Nova: Latin for new, bright and modern at #46 in 2025.
55. Olive: Quirky and green, and a nice fit beside a food-themed sibling.
56. Pearl: Timeless and pure. It was a U.S. top-60 name in 1913 and now sits at #777.
57. Penny: Copper-toned and cheerful, for a fawn dog.
58. Pippa: Bouncy and quick, with Pip built in.
59. Poppy: After the red flower, cheerful and short.
60. Queenie: For the female Pug who genuinely runs the household.
61. Raina: Sanskrit for queen, with a softer sound than Queenie.
62. Rosie: Rose-adjacent and warm, easy to say in a sing-song.
63. Roxy: Sassy and quick, for a dog with opinions.
64. Ruby: A red jewel name, and one of the names here still inside the U.S. top 100 at #64 in 2025.
65. Sadie: Hebrew for princess, and a familiar pick at #50 in the U.S. in 2025.
66. Sandy: Made for a sandy brown coat.
67. Seraphina: Fiery and elaborate, which is funny on a very small dog. It hit its best U.S. rank, #600, in 2025.
68. Sophie: Greek for wisdom, elegant and gentle.
69. Stella: Latin for star, bright and easy to call.
70. Suri: A Persian name meaning rose.
71. Suriya: Thai for sun, warm and uncommon.
72. Sydney: After the Australian city. It is the steepest faller on this page, down about 64 percent on the previous decade of U.S. births, which makes it feel fresh again on a dog.
73. Tilly: A playful short form of Matilda, at its best U.S. rank, #885, in 2025.
74. Tinkerbell: Whimsical and tiny, for the sassy one.
75. Trixie: Built for a tricky little Pug.
76. Truffle: Luxurious, whether you mean the chocolate or the mushroom.
77. Uma: Sanskrit for bright, two syllables and done.
78. Vega: A bright star, and a rare pick in U.S. records at #4,539 in 2025.
79. Violet: Delicate like the flower, and at its best-ever U.S. rank, #13, in 2025.
80. Vivi: Full of life and fun to repeat.
81. Willow: Graceful and nature-led, ranked #44 in 2025.
82. Winnie: Cuddly and round, like the Pooh bear.
83. Xena: The warrior princess, for a small dog with a large opinion.
84. Yara: Arabic for small butterfly, at its best U.S. rank, #507, in 2025.
85. Zara: Meaning shining or bright, crisp and current.
86. Zoey: Greek for life, playful and quick.

76 Clever Unisex Pug Names

These gender-neutral options work perfectly for any Pug, focusing on food, nature, and fun.

1. Adrian: Sophisticated and even-tempered, ranked #74 in the U.S. in 2025.
2. Avery: Meaning elf ruler, which suits a small dog with big authority.
3. Bao: Chinese for treasure or bun, and both readings fit a Pug.
4. Basil: An herb name for your little sprout, best said the British way.
5. Bean: For a black Pug shaped like a jellybean.
6. Biscuit: Warm, golden, and slightly crumbly around the edges.
7. Blake: Old English for black, a clean fit for a dark coat.
8. Boba: After the tapioca pearls, chewy and round.
9. Brownie: Sweet and chocolate-colored.
10. Bumblebee: Playful and stripey in spirit, or for Transformers fans.
11. Cairo: After the Egyptian capital, striking without being hard to say.
12. Caramel: Sweet, sticky, and roughly the color of a fawn coat.
13. Casey: Irish for vigilant, for the Pug who announces the mail.
14. Charlie: Friendly and universal, and still common in U.S. use at #145 in 2025.
15. Cherub: Angelic, for the one who looks innocent and is not.
16. Chestnut: A classic for a reddish-brown coat.
17. Chewy: For the dog with a permanent appetite.
18. Cocoa: Comforting and warm, a cousin to Mocha.
19. Cookie: Sweet and universally understood, including by the dog.
20. Cosmo: Space-themed and slightly mysterious.
21. Dumpling: The round, squishy name for the round, squishy dog.
22. Drew: Short, snappy, and Greek for manly.
23. Espresso: For the small dog running on far too much energy.
24. Eureka: For the moment of discovery, usually involving your sandwich.
25. Frankie: A lovable nickname for Frank or Francesca, unisex by design.
26. Fudge: Rich, sweet, and fun to say sternly.
27. Harper: Meaning harp player, for a music-loving household.
28. Hong: Chinese for red, short and bright.
29. Indy: Clipped from Indiana Jones, for the adventurer.
30. Jesse: Hebrew for gift, plain and warm.
31. Kieran: Irish for little dark one, made for a black Pug.
32. Kismet: Meaning fate, for the dog who was clearly meant to be yours.
33. Kiwi: Small, fuzzy, and sweet, exactly like the fruit.
34. Lucky: An auspicious name, and a bit of a dare.
35. Ming: A nod to the Chinese dynasty and the breed’s own history.
36. Mocha: For a coffee-colored coat and a caffeinated personality.
37. Mochi: Soft, squishy, and Japanese, which is a Pug in dessert form.
38. Nimbus: Cloud-themed, for the dreamer who naps in sunbeams.
39. Noodle: Captures the wiggly, boneless way a Pug moves.
40. Nugget: Small, golden, and almost edible.
41. Oreo: For a black Pug, or one with white markings.
42. Ozzy: Rock and roll, delivered at high volume.
43. Parker: Preppy and outdoorsy, even if the outdoors is the patio.
44. Peanut: The classic name for the runt of the litter.
45. Peewee: Tiny and playful, and impossible to say without smiling.
46. Pepper: Spicy, and a natural for a black coat.
47. Pickles: Quirky and mischievous, for the dog always in one.
48. Pixel: Tech-inspired and tiny.
49. Plumpkin: A mash-up of plump and pumpkin, which is simply accurate.
50. Pudge: Embraces the cheeks, the belly, and the whole shape.
51. Pugzilla: Godzilla energy in a very small body.
52. Qing: Chinese for pure or clear, soft and short.
53. Quasar: A massive celestial object, much like your Pug’s appetite.
54. Quincy: Latin for fifth, tidy and a little formal.
55. Quinn: Celtic for wise, short and unisex.
56. Reese: After the peanut butter cup, sweet and salty.
57. Riley: Irish for courageous, cheerful to call.
58. Rowan: After the protective tree, calm and grounded.
59. Rui: Chinese for smart, one syllable and done.
60. Saffron: The costly golden spice, for a fawn coat with expensive taste.
61. Sawyer: Adventurous and literary, with Tom in the background.
62. Scooter: Energetic and low to the ground, which is the Pug in one word.
63. Shu: Chinese for kind or gentle, a soft one-syllable call name that carries well in a small house.
64. Skyler: Sky-themed and free, which is ironic for a dog happiest at ground level.
65. Snackmaster: For the professional beggar.
66. Soren: Danish for stern, funny on a face that already looks it.
67. Squishy: An accurate description of a Pug’s face, especially right after a nap.
68. Sunny: Cheerful and bright, and a good match for a fawn coat that looks lit from within.
69. Sushi: Small, neat, and food-inspired.
70. Taco: Spicy, small, and always welcome.
71. Taz: Tasmanian Devil energy in a compact package.
72. Teddy: As cuddly as the bear it borrows from.
73. Wolfie: Ironic for a Pug’s stubby legs, or apt for a silver coat and a big bark from a small body.
74. Ying Yue: Meaning reflection of the moon, quiet and lovely.
75. Yoshi: Japanese for good luck, and the Mario dinosaur.
76. Yuki: Japanese for snow, for a pale coat or a winter puppy.

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