Literary Dog Names – 215+ Ideas from Books

Literary dog names are a great choice for a new canine companion. Our comprehensive guide features 215+ awesome ideas to check out.

If you have a love of literature and appreciate a good book, these are the names for you!

Top Literary Dog Names

For bookworms, there’s nothing better than curling up with a good book and going on an adventure from the comfort of your home. And it’s even better when you have a new dog to cuddle up next to you.

If you agree with these statements, you must check out these great literary dog names when naming your puppy.

Literary dog names reflect your interest in reading and may even showcase a particular piece of work you enjoy. And if someone gets the name reference right away, you’ll know you’re with a kindred literary spirit.

These ideas can be a dog name from a book, a name of a human character or city, the name of an author you like or a general reference to writing.

Get ready to discover 215+ names perfect for your new pup!

Famous Literary Dog Names

To start, let’s explore dogs featured in literature throughout the ages. These canine characters appear prominently in published works and provide excellent inspiration for naming your precious pooch.

Here are a few famous dogs from literature you just might recall.

• Argos – the faithful dog in the Odyssey
• Bailey – A Dog’s Purpose
• Baleia – dog companion in Vidas secas
• Bear – A Dog’s Purpose
• Blue – The Sound and the Fury by William Falkner
• Buck – sled dog from Call of the Wild
• Buddy – A Dog’s Purpose
• Bullseye – Bill Sikes’ dog in Oliver Twist
• Carl – Good Dog, Carl
• Charkie – Curious George
• Clifford – the beloved big red dog
• Cujo – from Stephen King’s book
• Einstein – Watchers by Dean Koontz
• Ellie – A Dog’s Purpose
• Fang – the lumbering boarhound in Harry Potter
• Fluffy – from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
• Ghost – Jon Snow’s canine companion in Game of Thrones
• Jip – David Copperfield
• Lad – from the novel Lad, A Dog
• Laska – Levin’s hunting dog in Anna Karenina
• Lassie – Lassie Come Home
• Marley – the mischievous dog in Marley and Me
• Max – How the Grinch Stole Christmas
• Mr. Bones – companion dog in Timbuktu
• Nana – The Darling family’s pet in Peter Pan
• Old Dan and Little Ann – Where the Red Fern Grows
• Old Yeller – Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
• Perdita – The mother dog in 101 Dalmatians
• Pilot – Mr. Rochester’s dog in Jane Eyre
• Pongo – The father in 101 Dalmatians
• Randolph – Labrador Retriever in A Dog About Town
• Ribsy – companion of Henry Huggins
• Ripper – pet dog in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Sharik – from Heart of a Dog
• Shiloh – dog saved from abusive owner in Shiloh
• Snoopy – Beagle from Peanuts
• Snowy – Tintin’s dog in The Adventures of Tintin
• Toby – used by Sherlock Holmes when he needs help sniffing out a clue, also from A Dog’s Purpose
• Tock – watchdog of the Phantom Tollbooth
• Toto – The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
• White Fang and Kiche – White Fang by Jack London
• Winn-Dixie – Because of Winn-Dixie
• Yeller – Old Yeller

Dog Names from Literary Characters

Another idea is to pick the name of a character from a piece of literature you enjoy.

These famous characters have been around for decades. Heck, some have even been on the pages for hundreds of years.

With that in mind, these literary dog names are guaranteed to stand the test of time.

• Alice – Alice in Wonderland
• Anne – Anne of Green Gables
• Arya – Game of Thrones
• Arwen – Lord of the Rings
• Aslan – The Chronicles of Narnia
• Athos – The Three Musketeers
• Atticus – To Kill a Mockingbird
• Augustus – The Fault in Our Stars
• Beatrice – Much Ado About Nothing
• Bella – Twilight
• Bond – James Bond
• Charlie – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• Charlotte – Charlotte’s Web
• Coraline – Coraline
• Cordelia – King Lear
• Daenerys – Game of Thrones
• Daisy – The Great Gatsby
• Darcy – Pride and Prejudice
• Desdemona – Othello
• Dodger – Oliver Twist
• Dorothy – The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
• Emma – Emma
• Falstaff – Henry IV
• Fern – Charlotte’s Web
• Finn – Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
• Gandalf – Lord of the Rings
• Gatsby – The Great Gatsby
• Ginny – Harry Potter
• Gretel – Hansel & Gretel
• Gulliver – Gulliver’s Travels
• Hagrid – Harry Potter
• Hamlet – Hamlet
• Hansel – Hansel & Gretel
• Heathcliff – Wuthering Heights
• Heidi – Heidi
• Hermione – Harry Potter
• Holden – Catcher in the Rye
• Horatio – Hamlet
• Huck – Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
• Jane – Jane Eyre
• Jo – Little Women
• Juliet – Romeo & Juliet
• Katniss – The Hunger Games
• Leopold – Ulysses
• Lisbeth – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
• Lizzie – Pride and Prejudice
• Lucy – The Chronicles of Narnia
• Luna – Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter
• Macbeth – Shakespeare’s Macbeth
• Marlowe – from the Raymond Chandler series
• Matilda – Matilda
• Mercutio – Romeo & Juliet
• Milo – Catch-22
• Moby – Moby Dick
• Oliver – Oliver Twist
• Ophelia – Hamlet
• Othello – Othello
• Padfoot – Harry Potter
• Pip – Great Expectations
• Pippi – Pippi Longstocking
• Prim – Hunger Games
• Puck – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Quixote – Don Quixote
• Ramona – Ramona Quimby
• Raven – The Raven
• Rhett – Gone with the Wind
• Ripley – The Talented Mr Ripley
• Robinson – Robinson Crusoe
• Romeo – Romeo & Juliet
• Sansa – Game of Thrones
• Santiago – The Old Man the Sea
• Sawyer – The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
• Scarlett – Gone with the Wind
• Scout – To Kill a Mockingbird
• Sherlock – Sherlock Holmes
• Sirius – Harry Potter
• Snowball – Animal Farm
• Violet – Lemony Snicket
• Watson – Sherlock Holmes
• Winnie – Winnie the Pooh

You might also enjoy our names from specific books like Harry Potter dog names or Game of Thrones dog names.

Dog Names from Famous Authors

Famous written works wouldn’t exist if not for the authors who penned them. It makes sense then to consider historical writers when looking for literary dog names.

The following are some of the most recognized writers in history.

• Agatha – Agatha Christie
• Austen – Jane Austen
• Bram – Bram Stoker
• Byron – Lord Byron
• Capote – Truman Capote
• Christie – Agatha Christie
• Dickens – Charles Dickens
• Dickinson – Emily Dickinson
• Edgar – Edgar Allan Poe
• Eliot – T.S. Eliot
• Faulkner – William Faulkner
• Fitz – F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Harper – Harper Lee
• Hemingway – Ernest Hemingway
• Homer – author of the Odyssey
• Hunter – Hunter S. Thompson
• Huxley – Aldous Huxley
• Jack – Jack Kerouac
• Joyce – James Joyce
• Jules – Jules Verne
• Kafka – Franz Kafka
• Kerouac – Jack Kerouac
• King – Stephen King
• Langston – Langston Hughes
• Leo – Leo Tolstoy
• Lewis – C. S. Lewis
• London – Jack London
• Maya – Maya Angelou
• Morrison – Toni Morrison
• Orwell – George Orwell
• Oscar – Oscar Wilde
• Poe – Edgar Allan Poe
• Proust – Marcel Proust
• Roald – Roald Dahl
• Salinger – J. D. Salinger
• Shakespeare – William Shakespeare
• Shelley – Mary Shelley
• Seuss – Dr. Seuss
• Steinbeck – John Steinbeck
• Tolkien – JRR Tolkien
• Tolstoy – Leo Tolstoy
• T.S. – T.S. Eliot
• Truman – Truman Capote
• Twain – Mark Twain
• Verne – Jules Verne
• Virginia – Virginia Woolf
• Vonnegut – Kurt Vonnegut
• Wallace – David Foster Wallace
• Walt – Walt Whitman

Another idea: You could also select the name of a lesser-known author you enjoy.

Is there a modern writer you can’t get enough of? Would their name make a cool dog moniker?

Dog Names from Literary Words

If you’re a writer, you might just like these literary dog names that tie in perfectly to the world of writing.

• Ballad
• Dot
• Fable
• Haiku
• Inky
• Jot
• Limerick
• Lyric
• Novella
• Pen
• Poem
• Quill
• Rhyme
• Scribble
• Scribe
• Sonnet
• Stanza
• Syntax
• Verse
• Villanelle
• Writer

Mythical Dog Names

Mythology is also a great source for unique dog names. The names are creative and come with interesting back stories.

• Achilles
• Adonis
• Andromeda
• Apollo
• Aphrodite
• Arcadia
• Aries
• Artemis
• Athena
• Atlas
• Beowulf
• Callisto
• Freya
• Hera
• Hercules
• Hermes
• Icarus
• Loki
• Luna
• Medusa
• Nyx
• Oden
• Odysseus
• Olympia
• Persephone
• Siren
• Sirius
• Spartan
• Titan
• Venus

Discover more mythical dog names.

Learn more about mythological stories and characters.

Final Thoughts: Literary Dog Names

Literature is full of inspiring stories, and as you can see from above, inspiration for dog names.

If you’re a bookworm and love a good read, we highly recommend selecting one of these 215+ literary dog names when you get a new pup. They’re unique, cultured and cool.

With so many great options, though, how do you pick the right one?

To start, take note of any name that catches your eye. Don’t think too hard, just write it down.

Next, remove any name that you don’t absolutely love. Just keep the ones that are your favorites.

And finally, when you get your dog, say the name out loud and see if it’s a fit. You’ll know in your gut when you’ve found the right one!

Discover Even More Dog Names

Looking for more dog name ideas? Our online name generator is a great resource to help you find just the right name for your precious new pup.

To get started, enter your favorite style or styles. For example, you can choose cute, classic, tough, elegant – or all of the above.

The generator provides names that fit your exact criteria.

You can also select your favorite themes that match your interests and hobbies. Categories include movies, TV shows, comics, music, food, history, religion, and so much more.

With so much inspiration, we know you’ll find just the right name for the new addition to your life.

How Do You Pick the Right Name?

Over the years we’ve discovered tips and tricks to help new pup parents find just the right name. It can seem like a daunting process, but by following this three-step list, you’ll hone in on the perfect moniker in no time.

Step 1: Create a List of Ideas

First things first, you’ll need to find ideas. As you search, take note of any names you like. Jot them down in a list for reference.

Next, read through this list and evaluate each name. If there are names you don’t completely love, remove them.

Step 2: Evaluate the Names

Now is the time to test out each name. To start, figure out if the name is easy to say out loud. Sure, some names look great on paper but they could be hard to say in everyday life. Especially for longer names.

Another helpful tip is to call the name in a loud voice. As a pup parent, you’ll need to yell your dog’s name at times. Can you imagine calling for your canine loudly with this name?

Last, but certainly not least, check to see if the name is right for your specific dog. A name may sound great but not be the right fit for their appearance and personality.

Step 3: Finalize the Name

After step 2, you should have a list of 2-4 ideas remaining.

At this point, do a gut check on each idea. Does the name seem right for your dog?

If you have others in your household, include them in the process, too. After all, they’ll be saying the dog’s name day in and day out as well.

5 Easy Steps to Teach a Dog Their Name

Once you’ve finalized your name selection, the next step: Teach it to your dog!

This can sound daunting but it’s actually much easier than you’d think. Just follow these five easy steps.

1. Grab some small treats for positive reinforcement and move to an area free of distractions.
2. Say your dog’s name in a clear and positive voice.
3. When they look at you, say “yes.” Provide them with a treat. This lets them know they’re doing the right thing.
4. Wait until they look away and do it again. Repeat the process 3-5 times.
5. If you play this name game several times a day, they’ll soon know their name and love responding to it!

Other Ideas for Literary Dog Names?

Are we missing any ideas for literary dog names? Please share your ideas in the comments below.

For example, let us know if you have any names we should add, whether it’s a great author, interesting character or a famous dog featured in written works.

Jessi Larson

Jessi is a marketing strategist for Fortune 50 companies who loves to research and write about all things dog. She is the proud mom to Toby, a giant Labrador Retriever who thinks he’s a lapdog. He inspires her to be a better pet parent and to share advice with other dog owners.