Best Roman Dog Names for My Cane Corso

Since the Cane Corso is Italian and has been around since Roman times, there are several great methods of picking a special name for your dog. He can be named after one of the Romans that first used the dogs to serve in times of war, one of the Roman words that will show off his strength, or one of the modern Italians that have developed the breed into what he is today.

Peter Mayle, in his book A Dog's Life, points out that a dog's name lasts a lifetime. Your dog's name should be appropriate, as it is no joke to go through life as an object of ridicule. Take time to name your new Cane Corso. The names on this list will also work great for a Neapolitan Mastiff, of course. You could even use them for a Portuguese Water Dog, but there are plenty of better choices in the list of dog names from Brazil.

Stick to One or Two Syllables

Just another word on naming your new Cane Corso: You can go to several sites and find many more Roman and Italian words and names than I have on this list. That does not make them good dog names. A dog name should be one or two syllables, something the dog can respond to and not confuse with his training commands.

I prefer two-syllable names with strong letters that the dog can respond to. “Cato, come!” works a lot better and can be said more forcefully than “Fernandito, come!” If you choose to pick a word that is not on this list, keep that in mind.

Since the Cane Corso is descended from the Canis Pugnax, the Molossor dogs the Romans used in war, my personal feeling is that you should try for a Roman name. Unfortunately, there are not a lot to choose from. Romans liked long names that are not appropriate for a dog, but here are a few you can choose from. On these lists, I will put the name on the left in bold and its meaning just next to it.

Male Names

If your Cane Corso is a boy, you can call him:

• Albus: White
• Brutus: Heavy. This is a great name—easy to pronounce, easy for others to remember, and a perfect description of a Cane Corso.
• Cato: Wise
• Cesar: Hairy
• Cohort: Roman army unit
• Crispus: Curly-haired. I think this would be better for a Portuguese Water Dog.
• Felix: Happy
• Ludi: The Roman games where gladiators fought.
• Nero: Strong
• Omen: A sign of the future. Not just for Rottweilers!
• Rex: King
• Rufus: Red-haired
• Sextus: The Sixth

Female Names

And if you have a girl, you can try:

• Alba: White
• Drusa: A Roman family name.
• Juno: The Roman goddess of women.
• Porcia: Like a pig, and pronounced like the car. The Cane Corso was used to catch pigs and wild boars, so this is a great name.
• Venus: The Roman goddess of love and beauty.
• Vita: Life

If you didn't find anything you like in the Roman names, there are lots of great choices among the Italian names.

Male Names

If your dog is a boy:

• Aldo: From Aldobrandino, which means “Little Old Sword”.
• Dante: This name is sure to make us all think of the circles of hell!
• Dino: Nickname for Aldobrandino, which means “Little Old Sword”.
• Fredo: Nickname for Alfredo, or “Gods Peace”.
• Gino: Nickname for Ambrogino, or “Little Immortal One”.
• Maso: Short for Tommaso, or “Twin”. This would be great if your Cane Corso comes from a litter of only two.
• Naldo: Nickname for all the Italian names ending in –naldo.
• Nico: Short for Niccolo, or “Victor of the People”.
• Nino: Short form of Gianino, or “God is Gracious”
• Orso: Italian form of the Latin word for bear. This is a great choice for a big Cane Corso or Neapolitan Mastiff puppy.
• Pino: Nickname for Crispino, or the “Curly-headed one”.
• Primo: Italian form of the Latin word Primus, or first.
• Santo: Italian form of the Latin word for holy.
• Sesto: Italian form of the Roman word sextus, the sixth. This is a great name for a puppy from a big litter.
• Terzo: Italian form of the Roman word for third.
• Tino: Any of the Italian names ending in –tino, which stands for tiny. This is the name you want to use if you decide to call your Cane Corso “Tiny”, which is a super name for a 130-pound dog.
• Tito: Italian form of the Roman name Titus, or “Fire”.
• Vanni: Short form of Giovanni, God is gracious.
• Vico: Nickname for the common name Vincenzo, the conqueror.
• Vito: The Italian form of the Roman name Vitus, or “Life”. This will make most people think of The Godfather, of course. It is a great name for a personal protection dog.

Female Names

If your dog is a girl:

• Carla: Feminine form of Carlo, which means man.
• Coco: Cook
• Dona: Short form of Adona, my lord.
• Elma: Feminine form of Elmo, the helmet.
• Fina: Nickname for Serafina, the serpent.
• Gina: Short form for all the names that end in –gina, like Giorgina, the farmer.
• Mimi: Nickname for Maria.
• Mona: Short form for the name Simona, which means “hearkening”. This is the perfect recall name.
• Nora: Short form for all the Italian girls names that end in -nora, like Leonora.
• Sandra: Short form of Alessandra.
• Santa: Holy
• Tecla: Glory of God
• Tina: Short form for all the Italian names that end in –tina.
• Zeta: Little Girl
• Zita: Another way to spell the Italian nickname for "Little Girl".

As soon as you choose a name, get a tag with the puppy's name, your name, and your cell phone number. It may make a big difference. This tag is sturdy, and it's the style that I use for my own dogs.

Also ask your vet about a microchip on your next regular visit.

If you have already brought one of these great dogs home, you should know how to take care of him and what his needs will be in the years to come. Make sure that you use positive training methods and take care of his health needs.

If you are thinking of getting a Cane Corso but still haven't made a final decision, I want to emphasize that they are great but not for everyone.

Discuss all of the pros and cons of the Cane Corso before you bring home a member of this great breed. If you have experience handling a big dog, have the money to take care of his feeding and vet bills, and want a dog that will guard you, lean on you, challenge you, and slobber all over your house, find a good breeder!

A Cane Corso is in your future.