Surprisingly, despite the intimidating size of a Great Dane, this breed of dog has a kind and gentle personality. This affectionate breed of dog happens to be mildly playful and good with children to boot. Great Danes will guard your home expertly. If you have other animals in the house, this breed is known to get along with other animals, particularly if raised with them. However, some dogs within the breed can be unpleasantly aggressive towards dogs they don’t know.
Great Danes typically weigh between 100 and 200 pounds while standing about 34 inches tall. The average lifespan of them is about eight to ten years. But it can be a bit nerve-racking to select the perfect name for your Great Dane pup with countless names to choose from.
Luckily, we have many different rhymes and reasons for you to choose the name that best suits your puppy. So if you’ve just gotten a Great Dane puppy and you’re struggling to find the perfect name, have no fear. We’ve got names based on popularity, size, coat color, and more! You’ll surely find a little inspiration for your trusty sidekick while perusing our lists.
Popular Great Dane Dog Names
If you’ve never dealt with giant breeds of dogs such as the Great Dane, it can be a bit overwhelming to learn all of the ins and outs of taking care of a dog that dwarfs you in size and strength. Moreover, along with their immense size, males are usually more aggressive and bolder when it comes to character. This has more to do with the fact that they have a strong instinct to mark their territory constantly.
Therefore, when it comes to playfulness, males are less gentle than their female counterparts. Despite their less gentle disposition, males are very much eager for affection. They’re prone to snuggle with their owners, and they virtually never tire of attention and physical affection.
The last thing you’ll want to consider in regards to their size is the fact that they consume more food. While this shouldn’t deter you from getting this breed altogether, it’s something you want to consider as it pertains to the fact that it is more costly to feed them over a lifetime when compared to other breeds of dog.
Males can be tougher to train when compared to females. This may have to do with the fact that the females are generally calmer and better focused. For this reason, the consensus is that females are easier to train. Even though females are more gentle and less bold than males, this does not spill over into their instincts to protect. Females can be very protective, and they will defend their homes and families from intruders.
Perhaps due to their inherent motherly instincts, females are awesome with children possessing the uncanny ability to play gently. When it comes to affection, Great Danes are just as affectionate as the males. However, a lot of females like to have periods of downtime. So while you’re deciding on a name, keep these personality traits in mind when you’re going to choose a name for your pup.
Male
| Albert | Murphy |
| Arlo | Ned |
| Beau | Norman |
| Carlton | Orion |
| Colt | Oscar |
| Drake | Parker |
| Dwight | Porter |
| Gunner | Rebel |
| Hooch | Reese |
| Huck | Reggie |
| Hugh | Ringo |
| Hunter | Rocky |
| Jasper | Romeo |
| Jax | Rupert |
| Judge | Rusty |
| Kane | Sampson |
| Koda | Scooter |
| Leo | Von |
| Liam | Walter |
| Luigi | Watson |
| Mario | Wentworth |
| Maverick | Wrigley |
| Max | Wyatt |
| Mickey | Yogi |
| Moose | Yoshi |
Female
| Abbi | Hope |
| Aspen | Jada |
| Basil | Jelly Bean |
| Belle | Kai |
| Bianca | Kallie |
| Brandi | Kamikaze |
| Brooklyn | Khloe |
| Buffy | Kona |
| Candy | Lexi |
| Carmela | Liberty |
| Charlotte | Lilly |
| Coco | Mila |
| Dakota | Minnie |
| Diva | Moxie |
| Doris | Noel |
| Elsa | Olive |
| Eva | Paisley |
| Finley | Pearl |
| Freya | Penelope |
| Gaia | Penny |
| Gemma | Phoebe |
| Greta | Piper |
| Gypsy | Poppy |
| Hazel | Rose |
| Harriett | Sophia |
Coat Color-Based Dog Names
When deciding on a name for your Great Dane, their coat color can be a great place to start. There are names that will suit your dog’s appearance perfectly.
Black
Black is a common color found on the coat of a Great Dane. It’s usually a dark, striking, and glossy color. Here are some cool names for black Danes.
| Male | Female |
|---|---|
| BlackJack | Diamond |
| Dim | Espresso |
| Jet | Indigo |
| Knight | Licorice |
| Onyx | Noir |
| Shadow | Oreo |
| Shady | Pepper |
| Smokey | Raven |
| Storm | Sable |
| Tux | Shady |
| Twilight | Velvet |
Brindle
The Brindle base color is a golden brown, deep golden red, to a pale color with a black tint instead of gold. Moreover, you may have a pup that’s golden-yellow with black markings on its body in the form of a chevron pattern. Here are some names inspired by this pattern and color.
| Male | Female |
|---|---|
| Base | Autumn |
| Blaze | Foxy |
| Brindi | Ginger |
| Camo | Kona |
| Chev | Michele |
| Chili | Reeses |
| Rowan | Sienna |
| Sarge | Spice |
| Stripes | Stipple |
| Tiger | Tootsie |
| Yellow | Truffles |
Fawn
This is a tan color that ranges from light to dark deer-red. Here are some names for dogs with Fawn coats.
| Male | Female |
|---|---|
| Beige | Amber |
| Biscuit | Blondie |
| Butter | Butterscotch |
| Cheddar | Caramel |
| Chestnut | Goldie |
| Peanut | Hazel |
| Red | Honey |
| Sunny | Manila |
| Tanner | Sandy |
| Woody | Tawny |
Mantle
The black and white coat of a Great Dane is also known as Mantle. Predominantly they have a black coat with whites spots around their chest and neck area. Their markings are similar to a Boston Terrier. Below are some great names with this kind of coat.
| Male | Female |
|---|---|
| Dash | Cloudy |
| Dot | Cookie |
| Freckles | Cream |
| Harley | Droplet |
| Patch | Macchia |
| Penny | Manny |
| Pongo | Mucca |
| Puddles | Peppermint |
| Shepherd | Pixie |
| Splash | Puff |
| Spot | Stella |
Blue
You may have a Great Dane with a blue coat. More specifically, it’s a steel-blue. Here are some names inspired by this color of coat.
| Male | Female |
|---|---|
| Azure | Aster |
| Blu | Belle |
| Blue Jay | Capri |
| Blueberry | Cerulean |
| Cobalt | Dory |
| Cyan | Genie |
| Denim | Iris |
| Grover | Lilly |
| Silver | Meena |
| Slate | Sapphire |
| Teal | Skye |
Harlequin
The Harlequin coat describes a white coat with black patches all over the body. Below are names inspired by the Harlequin coat.
| Male | Female |
|---|---|
| Blotch | Creamy |
| Checkers | Doli |
| Dash | Dotty |
| Dip | Flurry |
| Domino | Latte |
| Ink | Majestic |
| Lemur | Marble |
| Mosaic | Orca |
| Skunk | Pie |
| Speck | Poppy |
| Streak | Vanilla |
Merle
If you have a Merle Great, consider yourself lucky! They are a member of a small and select group of giant purebred dogs. The distinct Merle pattern varies from a pale grey to a darker tint. This will be the color of their entire coat, along with some darker splashes. Check out these cool names for your Merle-colored pup.
| Male | Female |
|---|---|
| Ashton | Ambrosia |
| Biru | Ashy |
| Coal | Blurry |
| Dusty | Bootsie |
| Earl | Calypso |
| Foggy | Damsel |
| Haggard | Glory |
| Rush | Spirit |
| Seal | Sprinkles |
| Stormy | Spumoni |
| Wolfe | Tabby |
Breed Size And Physical Trait-Based Dog Names
Did we mention that Great Danes are HUGE?! Well, check out these names for our big furry friends, separated by gender.
| Male | Female |
|---|---|
| Alfie | Amazon |
| Augustus | Baroness |
| Ben | Bear |
| Big Boy | Beastie |
| Boomer | Bertha |
| Bruce | Canyon |
| Brutus | Chunk |
| Champ | Cinder |
| Clifford | Cyclone |
| Drake | Dagger |
| Giant | Diva |
| Glacier | Echo |
| Godzilla | Elektra |
| Goliath | Gamora |
| Hercules | Grande |
| Hooch | Harlow |
| Hulk | Hera |
| Kahuna | Huntress |
| King | Jinx |
| Kong | Justice |
| Legend | Katniss |
| Mack | Kodiak |
| Magnum | Liberty |
| Mountain | Medusa |
| Primo | Muffin |
| Rambo | Ocean |
| Ranger | Panther |
| Rico | Rousey |
| Rocky | Roxy |
| Samson | Sahara |
| Spike | Sheba |
| Sumo | Tiger |
| Tank | Vixen |
| Titan | Xena |
Funny Great Dane Dog Names
There’s just something about going against the norm and naming your Dane something completely counterintuitive. We love that idea! Try ironic and funny names for your dog that are sure to garner some stares and smiles from passersby.
| Baby | Peanut |
| Bean | Peewee |
| Bitty | Pint |
| Button | Pixie |
| Elf | Puny |
| Little | Runt |
| Littlefoot | Shorty |
| Minnie | Shrimp |
| Morsel | Squirt |
| Munchkin | Teensy |
| Nugget | Tiny |
Dog Name Trends
Typically, the most apparent trend when it comes to picking a name for Great Danes has come down to the strength and size that has more often than not been the inspiration an owner needed. It’s a hard characteristic to overlook. There are all kinds of names that embody the sheer power and might of the gentle giant, like Titan, Bear, and so on. These names speak to their stature and aggression at times.
Another trend that people seem to have begun adopting is to name your dog after characters on TV shows and in movies. There’s been an uptick in names like Scooby, Pluto, and more, to showcase your Dane’s personality and your love of that character as well.
Dog Naming Tips
If you still find yourself struggling to settle on a name, remember that this is a part of the process. You could be choosing between some of your favorite book titles, television shows, foods, or your dog’s personal background history and story.
How did you two meet? How did you feel when you first saw them? These are all great sources to choose from.
Another way that owners find names for their furry friends is through dog training. Not only is this super important for pups, but you want to ensure that whichever name you pick won’t be confusing for your dog.
If you’re trying to teach your dog to respond to new commandments such as stay, sit, or come, you may not want to give your dog something like Ray, Bit, or Chum.
They could easily confuse the two, making it hard for them to develop any consistency concerning responding to their name when called or following commands.
The most important factor is that the name you choose seems natural and flows well. They should make you feel happy, and your dog should respond well. Give the “backdoor test” a shot when in doubt. Stand at your back door, and try calling out to your dog with a name you’re interested in. Here are some examples:
“Jennifer, come here, girl!”
“Marlowe, it’s time to eat!”
“Sit, Harper!”
These types of tests may make it obvious to your dog that you’re talking to them and you’re trying to get their attention. Therefore they’re more likely to start responding to this name or being on the lookout when they hear it.
No worries, it’ll come to you, and one day, the name will just stick.
Final Thoughts
Once you’ve gone through this list and hopefully found a few names that you adore, it’s time to start experimenting. Try out your favorite names in different scenarios and see if you and your dog like any of them. You can also include family members and ask them to take a vote.
In the end, your Great Dane will likely gravitate toward one of them, and then you’ll know! Their response will help you out. You’ll help you figure it out in no time.
