Dr. Mark is a veterinarian. He works mostly with dogs and exotic animals.
Since Lhasa Apsos are a Tibetan breed, why not give yours an authentic Tibetan name?
Lhasa Apso Names
Ready to pick out a great Tibetan name for your new Lhasa Apso? Try to name your new pup something that fits her personality. Lhasa Apsos are often considered great watchdogs, but many are also content to lie around on their favorite lap. In some cases, Lhasas get so used to the lapdog life that they will not get up to bark at anything.
What Are the Characteristics of a Good Dog Name?
All dog names should . . .
- have two syllables (this helps with training).
- be easy to pronounce.
- not sound like the name of another person or pet in the household.
First, try to determine whether your puppy responds better to names that end with vowel sounds or names that end with consonant sounds. Start with a name like “Dorjee” (thunderbolt) or “Karma” (action) for instance, then try “Jalus” (rainbow), and see which one piques your pup's interest. Try to find a name both you and your dog will like, and be sure to have fun!
This adorable Lhasa puppy is too young to be named!
cc-by flickr jdrephotography 8215394170
Tibetan Names for Male Dogs
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
Aku | Uncle |
Apo | Father |
Dawa | Born on Monday |
Dorjee | Thunderbolt |
Kalsang | Good fortune |
Norbu | Jewel |
This Lhasa pup is very protective of her toy.
Tibetan Names for Female Dogs
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
Bumo | Daughter |
Cunu | Baby |
Dalha | Moon goddess |
Diki | Healthy and wealthy |
Jampo | Gentle |
Jaya | Victory (Hindi) |
Young Lhasa Apsos can fit in some tight spaces!
cc-by flickr juliejordanscott 4387815650
Tibetan Animal Names
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
Cilpa | Small bird |
Goba | Eagle |
Kasa | Deer |
Lugu | Lamb |
Tibetan Words for Colors
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
Akar | Crystal |
Bosa | Ivory |
Cintsha | Cinnamon |
Nagbo | Black |
Marmug | Brown |
Marpo | Red |
Mutig | Pearl |
Kabo | White |
Okha | Milk white |
Posi | Amber |
Buddhist Dog Names
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
Choden | The devout one |
Chos | Dharma |
Dharma | The eternal nature of reality |
Jampa | Loving-kindness |
Jinpa | Generosity |
Karma | Action |
Lama | Spiritual teacher |
Las | Another form of karma |
Pema | Lotus |
This Apso is a little too comfy for guard-dog duty.,
Additional Tibetan Names
| Name | Meaning | Name | Meaning | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amra | Gentle | Jetsan | King | Seba | A rose |
Badam | Peanut | Ketu | Shooting star | Shiwa | Peaceful |
Dawa | The moon | Mida | Pistol | Tashi | Prosperous |
Despa | Brave | Namba | Daybreak | Torma | Magic stone |
Duga | Common Tibetan name | Ponya | Angel | Yama | Wrathful god |
Jempa | Clever | Reba | Hope | Zopa | Patient |
Be sure to pick a special Tibetan name for your new puppy and not one of the many overused dog names that have become popular these days. If you do not find a name you like here, try looking for a specific word you like on an online Tibetan dictionary. Do your research—you'll have to use your dog's name for up to 20 years. Be sure to practice any names you are considering with your dog—watch how he responds and choose accordingly!
I am not a native Tibetan speaker, but I have done my best to make sure all of these names are correct. If you are a native speaker and have found any errors here, please let me know in the comments section so that I can correct them.
Additional Dog Naming Resources
- Cool Baby Boomer Dog Names
This article lists great baby-boomer names from TV, cars, and more for your new puppy. It doesn't matter if your dog was born too late to qualify. Go ahead, find something special on this list. - Funny Sitcom Dog Names For A New Puppy
It doesn´t matter if you grew up with Barney Fife, Mork, or Cosmo Kramer—one of these names is bound to be perfect for your new pup.
© 2015 Dr Mark
Comments
Prasadika on April 12, 2017:
As my dog's name is CHIGUE but it is a temporary name so I am going to change its name
Dr Mark (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on November 12, 2015:
Hi Mary, I appreciate it. Researching another language to write a hub like this is a lot of fun. I´m glad you enjoyed it, especially the pictures. (My own rescue Lhasa did not make this hub because he was ugly and would probably scare off any readers even before reading the names! He passed on about 10 years ago and I still miss his scruffy hair and underbite when I step out onto my porch each morning.)
Mary Craig from New York on November 12, 2015:
I thought this was great! All of these names seem suited to a Lhasa Apso if they fit the dog's personality.
The pictures were all adorable and the video too cute!
Dr Mark (author) from The Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil on November 11, 2015:
Funny comment. You should see all the others that I did not include on this list! Some of these are really good, like Rama and Seba, but there were hundreds that were just too hard for a dog to understand.
One of my clients named her new dog Amendoim (Peanut). Can you imagine calling a dog by that name all of the time?
Bob Bamberg on November 11, 2015:
Maybe it's just me, but the Tibetan language doesn't seem well suited for dog names. The words don't seem to flow as smoothly as some of the other languages. But then, I've met dogs whose names didn't flow smoothly, but the word had special meaning to the owners.
Spot. See Spot run. Run Spot, run. Now THAT flows smoothly :)
