Clever Dog Names – 445+ Punny, Funny & Witty Ideas

Clever dog names are fun, witty options when naming your pup. Get ready for 445+ ideas that will instantly bring a smile to your face!

As you look for ideas, we should note that there’s nothing wrong with giving your dog an ordinary name. Plenty of people choose options like Buddy, Rocky, Bella, Lola, Max, and Lucy.

However, clever dog names are always a good option if you want to give your dog a truly unique name. They will make people laugh and add a little bit of joy and humor to the world.

Before we begin, however, let’s define clever.

According to Dictionary.com, clever is defined as “mentally bright; having sharp or quick intelligence; able” and “showing inventiveness or originality; ingenious.”

With this in mind, our list of clever dog names ranges from punny and humorous to inventive and original.

Punny Dog Names For Male Pups

People love funny, entertaining dog names. Pup parents can take it to a whole new level with punny dog names that play on real-life names.

These ideas take a celebrity or character and cleverly replace part of their name with something dog-related. And as you’ll soon find out, the results are hilarious.

Enjoy these super clever names for male dogs.

• 50 Scent
• Al Poo-chino
• Andy War-Howl
• Arfer Fonzarelli
• Arf Vader
• Bark E. Bark
• Bark Griswold
• Bark Obama
• Bark Twain
• Bark Wahlberg
• Beowoof
• Benedict Cumberbark
• Bilbo Waggins
• Bill Furry
• Bite D. Eisenhowler
• Black Labbath
• Bob Scratchit
• Boba Fetch
• Bone, James Bone
• Chewbarka
• Chewy Lewis
• Colin Howl
• Dingo Starr
• Dogstoyevsky
• Droolius Caesar
• Dumbledog
• Fleasy E
• Franz Fur-dinand
• Fresh Prints
• Furcules
• Fur-Dinand 
• Fuzz Alrdrin
• Fyodor Dogstoevsky
• George Bernard Paw
• Groucho Barks
• Hairy Houndini
• Hairy Paw-ter
• Heel Armstrong
• Howly Mandel
• Indiana Bones
• Jabba the Mutt
• Jake Gyllenpaw
• James Earl Bones
• Jimmy Chew
• Jon Bone Jovi
• Jude Paw
• Kareem Abdul Ja-Bark
• Karl Barx
• Kanye Westie
• Lick Jagger
• Little Bow Wow
• L.L. Drool J
• Luke Skybarker
• Mutt Damon
• Muttley Crew
• Nine Inch Tails
• Notorious D.O.G
• Obi Wag Kenobi
• Orville Redenbarker
• Ozzy Pawsborne
• Pablo Escobark
• Paw-casso
• Ron Fleasly
• Ryan Fleacrest
• Salvador Dogi
• Santa Paws
• Sheddy Krueger
• Sherlock Bones
• Sir Arthur Canine Doyle
• Snarls Barkley
• Snoop Doggie Dog
• Spark Pug
• Taylor Pawtner
• The Notorious D.O.G.
• Val Kibble
• William Shakespaw
• Winston Furchill
• Woof Blitzer
• Woofgang Amadeus
• Woofgang Puck

Punny Dog Names For Female Pups

Carrying on the theme, here are female dog names that are both punny and clever. Be prepared to laugh!

Maybe you like the real-life entertainer or character and want to pick a punny dog name in their honor. Or you simply like the funny name combination.

Whatever the reason, these clever dog names are essential to explore.

• Alanis Morissetter
• A-leash-a Keys
• Ally McBeagle
• Angela Bassett Hound
• Barker Posey
• Billie Holidog
• Bone Crawford
• Britney Ears
• Catherine Zeta-Bones
• Christina Waguilera
• Coco Kennel
• Corgi Cox
• Dane Fonda
• Diggy Azalea
• Drool Barrymore
• Eartha Sitt
• Ellen Degeneruff
• Great Dane Judi Dench
• Hairy Underwood
• Helga Hufflepup
• Jane Pawsten
• January Bones
• Jennifer Pawrence
• JK Growling
• Katy Hairy
• Katy Pawry
• Lady Bow Wow
• Lady Dogiva
• Leash Witherspoon
• Ma Barker
• Mariah Hairy
• Mary Puppins
• Pawdrey Hepburn
• Phoebe Ruffay
• Punky Chewster
• Olivia Chewton John
• Queen Elizabark
• Rosa Barks
• Rowena Ravenpaw
• Sarah Jessica Barker
• Sinéad O’Collar
• Tankerbell
• Tina Spay
• Vera Fang
• Virginia Woof
• Waggie Gyllenhall
• Winnie the Pooch
• Woof Bader Ginsburg
• Woofie Goldberg

Funny Male Dog Names

Next up are funny dog names. These ideas are both silly and surreal – a fun combination.

While other dog owners may go with tried-and-true names, you’re clearly looking for a clever option, and these ideas are fun and witty at the same time.

• McGruff
• Spud
• Bubba
• Meatball
• Einstein
• Fabio
• Brando
• Booger
• Homer
• Chewie
• Farley
• Frodo
• MacGyver
• Woofer
• Freud
• Brain
• Ninja
• Butters
• Frito
• Kramer
• Mr. Muggles
• Tater
• Pugsley
• Barkley
• Hodor
• Taco
• Groucho
• Dozer
• Nacho
• Wiggles
• Bacon
• Scooter
• Bullwinkle
• Waldo
• Dogbert
• Hooch
• Gordo
• Wags
• Puck
• Dude
• Byte
• Dogzilla
• King
• Houdini

Funny Female Dog Names

The funny, clever dog names aren’t over yet. So let’s now talk about funny names for female furry friends.

If you’re bringing home a female dog, you should take a look at these entertaining options.

• Giggles
• Princess
• Biscuit
• Twinkie
• Oreo
• Bean
• Pip
• Queenie
• Sheba
• Diva
• Mittens
• Whoopi
• Ladybug
• Tallulah
• Lucy Lu
• Chalupa
• Mouse
• Pickle
• Flo
• Mai Tai
• Tootsie
• Brunhilda
• Foxy
• Button
• Aphrodite
• Puddin
• Olga
• Bingo
• Lady Rover
• Kitty
• Fifi
• Miss Havisham
• Cannoli
• Posh

Clever Dog Names for Big Pups

Another idea for clever dog names is to recognize the physical attributes of the animal. In this case, we’re looking specifically at their size.

For example, if you have a big dog, you could play up their size with a clever name like Colossus or Goliath. It’s a witty way to pay tribute to their substantial stature.

• Shrek
• Clifford
• Hulk
• Giant
• Marmaduke
• Whale
• Maximus
• Burly
• Tank
• Squat
• Kong
• Sarge
• Jumbo
• Bear
• Tex
• Everest
• Rex
• Hercules
• Bull
• Moose
• Goliath
• Zeus
• Mammoth
• Rambo
• Beethoven
• Shamu
• Colossus
• Storm
• Thor
• Rocky
• Attila
• Wolf
• Brawny
• Whopper
• Sumo

Clever Dog Names for Small Pups

On the other hand, you may have a pint-sized pup. In this case, there are plenty of names that cleverly indicate their small size.

These ideas are cute and clever all at the same time.

• Tiny
• Smalls
• Mini
• Shorty
• Dainty
• Hobbit
• Elf
• Pebbles
• Munchkin
• Little
• Bantam
• Teensy
• Peanut
• Junior
• Teensy
• Micro
• Morsel
• Peewee
• Shrimpy
• Squirt
• Smalley
• Pipsqueak
• Minnie
• Sprite
• Sprout
• Teensy Weensy
• Shortstack
• Scant
• Nugget
• Half Pint
• Jellybean
• Puny
• Pixie
• Button
• Runty
• Baby
• Bitty
• Teeny
• Runt

Ironic Dog Names

As a funny twist, you could pick a name for a dog that’s the opposite size of yours. So, for example, if you have a small dog, you’d choose a big dog name, and vice versa.

For example, how funny is a tiny Chihuahua named Hercules? Or a hulking Great Dane named Munchkin?

This clever spin is sure to entertain others and get lots of attention.

Smart Dog Names

Clever can have several meanings, and one is “mentally bright; having sharp or quick intelligence.”

If this is the definition of clever you’re after, you’re in luck. We have tons of options inspired by the Golden’s intellect.

The following ideas are based on the smartest people on the planet, scientific tools, the most renowned schools, and more.

• Dexter
• Genius
• Atom
• Wisdom
• Freud
• Rubik
• Prodigy
• Savant
• Gates
• Watson
• Doogie
• Plato
• Wit
• Yoda
• Beta
• Scholar
• Brain
• Galileo
• Curie
• Doc
• Data
• Princeton
• Sheldon
• Sherlock
• Tesla
• Mensa
• Egghead
• Nobel
• Sage
• Whiz
• Aristotle
• Urkel
• Yale
• Einstein
• Beaker
• Newton
• Socrates
• Da Vinci
• Spock
• Edison
• Darwin
• Smarty
• Pundit
• Guru
• Albert
• Neutron
• Jobs
• Brainy
• Helix
• Havard

Unique Male Dog Names

Another definition of clever is “superficially skillful, witty or original in character or construction.”

If original is what you’re looking for, you’ll enjoy these unique male dog names. It’s almost a guarantee no other dogs you know will have one of these names!

• Adonis
• Anders
• Arnaud
• Blaine
• Blarney
• Casanova
• Chico
• Cyprus
• Dieter
• Duff
• Finnegan
• Flanders
• François
• Fritz
• Gallagher
• Guy
• Kahuna
• Laser
• Laddie
• Marlo
• Neptune
• Nikolai
• Oakley
• Othello
• Paco
• Tarzan
• Wolfgang

Unique Female Dog Names

Continuing the unique and clever dog names, let’s look at ideas for female four-legged friends.

We think you’ll enjoy these distinct and delightful names that will make your dog stand out.

• Aloha
• Bebe
• Callisto
• Chiquita
• Cinnamon
• Cosmo
• Cupid
• Esmerelda
• Flora
• Frida
• Fritzi
• Indra
• Irina
• Leilani
• Maui
• Moana
• Nebula
• Nova
• Penelope
• Saki
• Shandy
• Talullah
• Valentine
• Venus
• Verbena
• Zaki

Humorous Human Male Dog Names

Or as another clever idea, you can give your dog a human name. After all, picking human names for dogs is a trend these days.

There are certain names, however, that are extra humorous when used for a canine companion. Take for example these male names.

• Albert
• Barry
• Bruce
• Clarence
• Cornelius
• Doug
• Ernest
• Frank
• Gary
• George
• Gunther
• Harold
• Harvey
• Hoku
• Hugh
• Jedediah
• Kevin
• Larry
• Mark
• Nelson
• Norman
• Orville
• Ralph
• Randall
• Rodney
• Sheldon
• Stanley
• Todd
• Quentin
• Wilber

Humorous Human Female Dog Names

Humor is subjective, but most people can agree that the following human names are quite humorous for hounds.

A dog named Bertha? That will at least cause people to crack a smile, if not laugh out loud.

• Agatha
• Agnes
• Bertha
• Beverly
• Blanche
• Brenda
• Denise
• Dolores
• Donna
• Dorothy
• Edith
• Edna
• Eunice
• Gladys
• Gloria
• Helga
• Hilda
• Linda
• Marge
• Mildred
• Muriel
• Joyce
• Marge
• Pam
• Rhonda
• Sheila
• Ursula
• Wanda
• Wilma

Other Creative & Clever Dog Names

If the ideas above are just a little too out there for you, don’t worry. There are still other clever dog names that tone it down a bit.

We love these ideas and think they’re classy, cute, and yes, clever.

• Dee-O-Gee – A very clever idea is to phonetically spell out the name of “dog.” Dee-O-Gee. Get it?

Dog in another language

Another option is to say dog in another language. Examples include:

• Perro – Spanish
• Hund – German
• Chien – French
• Cane – Italian
• Pes – Czech
• Koira – Finnish
• Hundur – Icelandic
• Madra – Irish
• Canis – Latin

Final Thoughts: Clever Dog Names

Clever can mean something different to different people.

For some, it’s a witty play on words. That’s where the punny dog names come in.

And for others, clever indicates intelligence. In this case, the smart dog names are a perfect pick.

Clever can also mean creative or unique, and we have lots of name ideas that fit these criteria.

There is one thing to agree on, however: All of the 445+ clever dog names on the list will set your pup apart from the pack!

Find More Dog Name Ideas

If you need additional ideas, our online name generator is a great tool. It allows you to enter your favorite styles and themes and then generates a customized list perfectly designed for your dog.

Styles include cute, tough, elegant, sporty, and more. You can even mix and match to find names that fit multiple categories.

Another option is to search by themes, like music, movies, food, TV shows, history, comics, and lots of other options.

Other Ideas for Clever Dog Names?

Do you have an idea for a clever dog name? If so, leave us a comment below with your thoughts.

Your ideas help keep our content fresh and full of the absolute best dog names out there.

How Do You Pick The Right Name?

Clever Dog Names: Find the Right One

Wondering if you’ve picked the right name for your pooch? These two simple questions will help lead you to the answer.

• Is the name easy to say? Some names look good on paper but are actually quite difficult to say in everyday life. Can you imagine calling this name each and every day?
• Does it fit your dog? Next, see if it matches your dog’s appearance and personality. This is especially important with clever dog names.

If you’ve answered no, then move on to the next name on the list.

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.