Pet Names in Literature: A Roundup

Picking the perfect name for your furry friend can be a challenge. And when there's a challenge, what do we turn to? Good ol' literature. October is Adopt a Shelter Pet Month, so to celebrate, we are giving you nine dog and nine cat names inspired by books to help you figure out what to name that wonderful new pet you’re hopefully bringing home from the shelter!

 

FANG (Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling)

This one is for those HP nerds out there. This could be a great name for a loyal, slightly drool-heavy dog you’ve just brought home.

 

JIP (David Copperfield by Charles Dickens)

The Jip in this story is a little irritable but a lot loyal, so it would make a great name for a pet you’ve just rescued.

 

Kazak (The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.)

Leigh Bardugo fans could nickname this one Kaz and get two literary checks.

Pongo (The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith)

You can’t really go wrong with Pongo when looking for a name for a Dalmatian.

 

Know-Nothing Bo the Non-Wonder Dog (So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish by Douglas Adams)

For those loveable dogs who might be missing a biscuit or two.

 

Mouse (The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher)

For owners who like a little bit of irony.

 

Prince Terrien (Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson)

This is just a fantastic name for a puppy in general, but Prince Terrien is also the court jester of Terabithia, so this would be a wonderful name for a super playful and silly pup. 

 

TOTO (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum)

Perfect for a cute, little black dog to join you on your walks down the Yellow Brick Road!

 

CLIFFORD (Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell)

Did you just adopt the world’s largest dog? This name could be the one you’re looking for.

 

Buttercup (The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins)

Buttercup is overly loyal to Primrose, which would work well for a cat you’ve just rescued.

 

Aristotle (The Nine Lives of Aristotle by Dick King-Smith)

Can you just imagine a cute little kitty named Aristotle? Would be great for a cat with color around his eyes that looks like glasses.

 

Bangs (Sam, Bangs and Moonshine by Evaline Ness)

In the book, Sam pretends that Bangs can talk and they go on an epic adventure together, so this would be the perfect name for an adventurous, curious new cat.

 

Cat (Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote)

For those super straight-forward owners.

 

Church (Pet Cemetery by Stephen King)

Perfect for those horror fans out there, but be sure to keep an eye on your cat to make sure he hasn’t actually just risen from the dead.

 

Dinah (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll)

For the overly pampered, spoiled cat you bring into your life

 

Crookshanks (Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling)

Is your new pet a bit of mischievous, a lot magical? Maybe he’s half-cat/half-Kneazle like Hermione’s Crookshanks, meaning this would be the name for him!

 

Maurice (The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett)

Maurice sounds like an old man’s name, so this could be a good pick if you adopt a cat who might be a little older.

 

Moxie (The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman)

Moxie leads Will to the place where he meets Lyra, and after, Will’s daemon settles as a cat making Moxie even more of an important influence. Plus, a cat with moxie sounds like a fun cat indeed.