300+ Badass Dog Names (With Definitions) for Your Pup

Author:
James Livingood
Updated date:
Apr 5, 2021

James Livingood has been a dog sitter for several years. He has written numerous articles and a book about the topic because he loves dogs.

Why Is a Name So Important?

We all want our canine friends to reflect who we are. Dogs are amazing companions in everyday life and deserve as much respect as we can give them. To that end, here is a list of the most badass dog names. In this article, I also attempt to focus in on what makes a name so cool. My hope is that you can use this list to find the perfect badass dog name.

Badass Dog Names: A-C


Name	Definition
Ace	Playing card
Adena	Variant of Adina
Aella	Whirlwind
Aerona	Varient of Aeron
Agro	Video game expression for Aggression Level from Enemies.
Aife	Character from Irish mythology
Ajax	Greek hero in the Trojan War
Aldo	Old, Nobel
Alpha	First letter of the Greek alphabet
Amir	Title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world.
Ammo	Weapon loads: projectiles, bombs, missiles
Aragorn	Heroic character from The Lord of the Rings
Archer	Using a bow to shoot arrows
Ares	Ancient Greek god of war
Arma	Cedant arma togae - military expression
Artemis	Ancient greek god
Astrid	Divine strength
Athena	Ancient Greek goddess of wisdom and battle strategy
Athos	Easternmost of the three prongs of the peninsula of Chalcidice
Atlas	To endure; collection of maps
Avalanche	Sudden, drastic flow of snow down a steep slope
Axel	Jump performed by a skater
Axle	Central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear
Badge	Accessory with insignia indicating membership, rank or accomplishment
Bandit	The life and practice of bandits
Bane	Fictional character in the DC Comics universe, a supervillain
Banshee	Irish folklore of a spirit in the form of a wailing woman
Barda	District of Azerbaijan
Barrett	Strife in Middle English
Bash	Crushing or smashing blow
Battle	Military engagement
Bear	Family of mammals
Beast	Non-human animal, especially a large animal
Blade	Sharp cutting part of a weapon or tool
Blitz	Weather phenomenon involving electrostatic discharge
Blotch	Spot or spill
Bolt	Cylindrical fastener with an external thread intended to be used together with a nut
Bomber	An airplane equipped to carry and drop bombs
Bones	Endoskeleton of vertebrates
Boomer	Slang for a generation
Boots	Type of shoes
Boss	Manager in a business or event
Brand	Identification for a good or service
Branda	Variant of Brandy
Breaker	Verb of making something not work
Brenda	Old Norse for Sword
Brick	Block or a single unit of a ceramic material used in masonry construction
Brina	Female version of Brin
Bruiser	Strong, tough person
Bruno	Armor or protection
Brutus	Roman politician and assassin of Julius Caesar
Bubba	Slang for brother
Bud	Friend or drug
Bullet	Small metal projectile
Buster	A person who breaks up something
Butch	Shortend version of Butcher
Caden	Son of Cad
Caesar	Roman general and dictator
Cane	Short staff used to assist one in walking
Captain	Title given to a commander
Cersie	Fictional character from TV
Champ	Victor in a challenge, contest or competition
Chief	Head or leader of an organized body of people
Chucky	Longer form of Chuck
Circe	Enchantress in Greek mythology
Colossus	Legendary bronze statue
Cora	Latinized form of Kore
Crash	Loud, clattering noise
Cronus	Ruler of the Titans in Ancient Greek mythology

Badass Dog Names: D-J


Name	Definition
Daga	Mexican professional wrestler
Dagda	God, the chief of the Tuatha De Danann
Dagger	Short, pointed hand-to-hand weapon
Danger	Exposure to harm or injury
Dara	Unisex given name
Dash	Strike or smash violently; run
Deacon	Ministry in the Christian Church
Diesel	Fuel; machine or vehicle powered by a diesel engine
Donovan	Scottish singer, songwriter and guitarist
Dozer	Person who moves through
Dread	Intense feeling of apprehension, anxiety, or inner turmoil
Duke	Noble or royal title in some European countries and their colonies
Durden	Last name of movie character
Eagle	Large carnivore bird
Elda	Italian form of HILDA.
Elma	Short form of WILHELMINE
Enyo	Greek goddess of war and destruction
Eris	Greek goddess of discord
Erma	Female name, varient of Irma
Evanna	Irish actress
Evil	Morally wrong or bad
Evin	Neighbourhood in Tehran, Iran
Falcon	Birds of prey in the genus Falco
Fang	Long, pointed tooth
Fera	Federal Emergency Relief Administration
Fina	Saint Fina, also known as Saint Serafina, was a 13th-century girl from the town of San Gimignano in Italy.
Fire	State, process, or instance of combustion
Fireball	Ball of fire, as the sun; a shooting star
Fury	Unrestrained or violent anger
Gabi	Form of GABRIELE
Gator	Shortend version of alligator
Gauge	Tool to determine the exact dimensions, capacity
General	Military rank
Genghis	Founder and first Great Khan of the Mongol Empire
Gesine	American pastry chef
Ghost	Soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that can appear to the living
Ginti	Economist
Gladiator	Roman combatant for entertainment
Gnasher	Someone who bites down
Goliath	A Philistine giant in the Bible
Grip	Act of grasping
Gruber	Fictional character name
Gunner	Person who operates a gun or cannon
Hades	God of the underworld in Greek mythology
Han	Dynasty in China
Hannibal	Carthaginian general
Harley	Mortorcycle company
Havoc	Great destruction or devastation
Hawk	Any of numerous birds of prey
Heller	Noisy, rowdy, troublesome person; hellion
Helmer	Group of northern European peoples in Roman times
Hera	Goddess from Greek mythology, wife and sister of Zeus
Hercules	A celebrated hero, the son of Zeus
Hilda	Maid of battle
Hitman	Hired killer
Hodor	Fictional character from TV
Hound	Type of hunting dog
Howler	Animal that yells loudly
Hulk	Superhero appearing in Marvel Comics publications and related media
Hund	Hundred; hundreds
Hunter	Searching, pursuing, catching
Hyde	Fictional character name
Idris	King of Libya
Ilma	Genus of insects
Iron	Chemical element with atomic number 26
Jager	Variant of jaeger
Jaws	Movie about shark
Jerri	Type of varient of Jerry
Jett	Derived from Jet aircraft
Jinx	A person, thing, or influence supposed to bring bad luck
Joker	Card; clown
Juno	Youth

Badass Dog Names: K-R


Name	Definition
Kaa	Fictional animal character
Kara	Annual film festival held in Karachi, Pakistan
Karma	Intent and actions of an individual influence the future of that individual
Katana	Samurai sword
Kelley	Variant of Kelly
Kenna	American musician
Kerta	Place in Hungary
Kevlar	Heat-resistant and strong aromatic polyamide fiber
King	Class of male monarch
Knight	An award of an honorary title for past or future service with its roots in chivalry in the Middle Ages
Knuckles	Joint of a finger
Kodiak	Island in the N Pacific
Kojak	American action crime drama television series starring Telly Savalas
Kong	Movie about large gorilla
Kraken	Legendary monster
Kronos	Greek form of CRONUS.
Kurgan	Circular burial mound constructed over a pit grave
Kylie	Boomerang in an Australian Aboriginal language
Lancer	A cavalry soldier armed with a lance
Lecter	Fictional character created by Thomas Harris
Leech	Subclass of parasitic or predatory annelid worms
Lexus	Luxury vehicle division of Toyota
Lobo	Gray or timber wolf
Luana	Bird of Paradise movie character
Lucifer	Name for devil
Lupa	Twin brothers and central characters of Rome's foundation myth
Mafia	Hierarchically structured secret organization allegedly engaged in smuggling, racketeering, and more illegal activities
Magnus	The Great Year
Mags	Short form of magazine
Major	Military rank
Makenna	Varient of McKenna.
Mars	Fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System
Matrix	Math term and movie
Maximus	Architectural structure
Mayhem	Criminal offence consisting of the intentional maiming of another person
Mercy	Wages, Reward
Michonne	Fictional character from The Walking Dead
Mo	Shortened version of multiple names
Mogul	Dynastic empire extending over large parts of the Indian subcontinent
Morana	Death, plauge
Nails	Slender, typically rod-shaped rigid piece of metal
Nina	Russian form of Anna
Nipper	Ankle biter
Nitro	Containing the nitro group; Used in combustion
Nyx	Night in Greek
O.G.	Slang for original person
Omega	Last letter of the Greek alphabet
Orc	Humanoid monster in Tolkien's fiction
Ozzy	English heavy metal vocalist and songwriter
Patron	Regular customer, client, or paying guest
Petak	2013 studio album by Miligram
Phoenix	Mythical bird that rises from its own ashes
Pistol	Type of handgun where the firing chamber is integral to the barrel
Providence	Foreseeing care and guidance of God
Pusher	A promoter of a service or product
Pyro	Rapid oxidation of a material
Quentin	French form of the Roman name QUINTINUS
Quinn	Descendant of CONN
Radon	Chemical element with atomic number 86
Ragna	Advice, counsel
Ragnar	Version of Rayner
Raiden	Thunder or Lightning
Rainier	Volcanic peak in W Washington
Rambo	Fanatically militant or violently aggressive person
Ranger	Person who goes around, especially in wilderness
Raven	Type of bird
Rawhide	Untanned hide or animal skin
Razor	Device to remove body hair
Reaper	Victor in a challenge, contest or competition
Rebel	Refusal of obedience or order
Remo	Italian form of REMUS.
Renegade	Person who deserts a party or cause for another
Rex	Shortened version of Trex
Riker	Fictional character name
Rip	Cut or tear apart
Ripley	Strip of land or clearing
Ritza	1982 film by Joe D'Amato
Rock	Large mass of stone
Rogue	Dishonest, knavish person; scoundrel
Roxie	Opioid medication

Badass Dog Names: S-Z


Name	Definition
Saber	Type of sword, heavy one-edge
Samson	Last of the judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Book of Judges
Sandor	Male given name
Sarge	Military rank
Sasha	Female given name, form of Sandra or Alexandra
Scar	Area of fibrous tissue that replaces normal skin after an injury
Search	Go or look through
Sera	Short form of Seraphina.
Simba	Main character of The Lion King
Sinbad	Fictional sailor
Siren	Sea nymphs, part woman and part bird, who lure mariners
Sirius	Brightest star in the night sky
Skylar	Form of Skyler
Slash	Cut with a violent sweeping stroke
Sledge	Land vehicle used for sliding across snow or ice
Snatch	Sudden effort to seize something
Snipe	Common name for wading birds
Sniper	Highly trained marksman
Sondra	Varient of SAUNDRA
Spartan	City-state in ancient Greece
Spike	Nail-like fastener
Stark	Sheer, utter, downright, or complete
Steel	Metal alloy made by combining iron with other elements
Stone	Hard substance, formed of mineral matter
Storm	State of an astronomical body's atmosphere
Striker	Work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work
Stryker	Type of Armored personnel carrier
Tala	Repeated rhythmic pattern in Indian Music
Talon	A claw, especially of a bird of prey
Talos	Mythological Greek character
Tank	Tracked heavy armored fighting vehicle
Tappaa	Form of a verb which is used in a sentence to modify a noun or noun phrase
Taranis	Thunder or deity
Taz	Cartoon character
T-Bone	Beefsteak cut from the short loin, including a T-shaped bone with meat on each side
Tempest	Like a storm, state of an astronomical body's atmosphere
Thana	Praise in Arabic.
Thanatos	Ancient Greek personification of death
Thor	Hammer-wielding Germanic god associated with thunder
Thunder	Loud, explosive, resounding noise
Timberwolf	Type of grey wolf
Titan	Large, part of mythology
Titus	Roman emperor from AD 79 to 81
Tracker	A structure consisting of a pair of parallel lines of rails
Trailblazer	Person who blazes a trail for others to follow through
Traz	1988 video game
Trigger	Small projecting tongue in a firearm
Trinity	Union of three; Used in Christian doctrine
Trudy	Form of Gertrude
Tumbler	Person who performs leaps, somersaults, and other feats
Turbo	Forced induction device for internal combustion engines
Tyrone	Fictional character name
Tyson	Famous boxer
Ula	Form of Urszula
Ursa	Family of mammals
Vader	Fictional character in the Star Wars franchise
Valda	Italian comune
Vigga	Newspaper
Vinny	Male given name, form of Vincent
Viper	Family of reptiles
Vixen	Small to medium-sized omnivorous mammal belonging to the family Canidae
Vlad	Form of Vladimir; Used often for vampire naming
Vulcan	Ancient Roman god of fire, volcanoes, and metalworking
Ward	Division or district of a city or town
Warg	Wolves in Norse mythology
Wellhard	City in Ontario, Canada
Widow	Woman whose spouse has died
Wilma	Form of Wilhelmina
Wolf	Type of canine
Zao	2014 video game
Zelda	Video game name
Zelma	Version of Selma
Zemsta	1838 play written by Aleksander Fredro
Zeus	Greek god of the sky and king of the gods
Zeva	American writer
Zilla	Extract of word Godzilla
Zod	Extract of word Zodiac
Zoe	Greek word meaning Life
Zoltan	Character from movie
Zorro	Fictional character in black

What Makes a Name Badass?

There are some things that we just know without needing much explanation. However, when we look into why something is the way it is, that explanation because cloudier. For example, we all have a general sense of a "badass", but when we aim to define that, it can get foggy. Let's take a moment to define that term and explain what makes a name badass.

The Definition of "Badass"

The quickest way to define badass is to combine "tough" with "integrity". The way you can see if this definition fits is to compare it against several things that you may consider badass. Clothing that is durable that always holds up to extreme use would count as badass. So would a military officer who can make hard decisions on a regular basis. Some might go and put "humble" in with this definition, but I don't think that's correct. Multiple definitions of badass include the word "intimidating", which is not necessarily a humble attribute.

What Makes a Name Tough?

Let's start with "tough". These kinds of names are derived from strength and flexibility in a situation. That would lead us to move towards names from strong characters or characters that showed ingenuity in a situation. However, simply being smart isn't enough.

Let's get to the second word here: "integrity". That means doing the same way as anticipated. So characters that are super sneaky may not qualify directly for this name. Instead, names that have strength and stability, no matter the circumstance, could be called badass. Let's measure this against the name "storm". We all know the power of a strong storm. A hurricane can wipe out houses in an instant. In addition to this, we all know how a storm works. Storms don't suck up rain back into the sky at an accelerated pace. They are predictable weather patterns, so they have a sense of integrity. By using these two words, you can define if a name is badass.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Comments

The Logician on October 03, 2020:

Great article!

I named my wolf/ German Shepherd Timber. Yeah, he’s part Timber Wolf but actually I named him because he’s like a bull in a China closet, knocks everything over, Timmmber!