A good dog name will reflect the personality of your dog. You may want to take a few days to get to know your newly adopted dog, try out a few names you like, and see which fits them best.
This list has been completely updated for 2024.
Dogs are very adaptable, they don’t care what you name them, just as long as you are consistent once you do choose their name. Choose a name that means something to you, something easy to remember, and easy to say as you will be using your rescue dog’s name a lot throughout their lifetime.
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Meanings of names can vary across cultures and regions, and some names may have multiple meanings. If the actual meaning of the name is important to you, I recommend verifying the specific meaning and cultural context associated with the name you choose.
Some of the names of our foster dogs have been very unique. Fun fact: we have changed every single name of our own adopted dogs (except Symba since he didn’t have a name before we got him). Nala was Midnight, Abby was Angel, JJ was Jeremy, Ginger was Penelope, and Bear was the most unusual… Vince Lombardi (a famous football player).
Teaching a puppy or adult dog their new name is the same as teaching them a new command. In fact, calling their name should be a command for them to look at you. Keep reading below to learn the best way to teach a rescue dog his new name.
Fun rescue dog names
- Angel
- Bingo
- Buddy
- Chance
- Destiny
- Gem
- Gypsy
- Hope
- Lucky
- Romeo
- Shyla
- Tramp
- Zest
Rescue dog names that mean LIFE or NEW
It seems appropriate to choose a name for your dog that you have rescued that has the meaning of life… you did save their life, and maybe they even saved yours!
This list of boy and girl rescue dog names means life, new, saved, or rescued. There are some very unusual names that are unique. Some may be hard to pronounce, so an option would be to shorten the name for everyday use.
If you’re looking for something different, check out our full library of fun dog names grouped by theme.
Name | Gender | Meaning | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
Abella | Girl | Breath, source of life | French, Hebrew |
Achaz | Boy | God’s way of life | Hebrew |
Adamo | Boy | First life | Hebrew |
Adem | Boy | Brave life | Hebrew |
Aisha | Girl | Alive, living | Arabic |
Aizza | Girl | Life | Hebrew, Biblical |
Akiva | Boy | Protect, shelter | Hebrew |
Alba | Girl | Dawn or new life | Spanish, Italian |
Althea | Girl | Healer, wholesome | Greek |
Annabelle | Girl | Favored grace | French |
Anastasia | Girl | Resurrection or new life | Greek, Russian |
Anastasius | Boy | Rebirth or resurrection | Greek |
Ankur | Boy | New life | Hindi |
Antarbhuti | Boy | Life or soul | Indian |
Aoife | Girl | One who gives life | Irish |
Apela | Boy | Breath of life | Hawaiian |
Asha | Girl | Hope or life | Sanskrit, Swahili |
Asher | Boy | Happy life or blessed | Hebrew |
Aurora | Girl | Dawn or new life | Latin |
Ausra | Girl | Dawn or new life | Lithuanian |
Ava | Girl | Life | German |
Avabelle | Girl | Breathing in life | Latin |
Ayelet | Girl | Dawn or new life | Hebrew |
Beata | Girl | Blessed or happy | Latin |
Beathan | Boy | Life or existence | Gaelic |
Beatrix | Girl | Bringer of joy | Latin |
Berhan | Boy | Light or illumination | Canadian |
Bibiana | Girl | Alive | Greek |
Bindhas | Boy | Enjoys life | Indian |
Bion | Girl | Life | Greek |
Bo | Boy | To live | Scandinavian |
Bophelo | Girl | Life | Sesotho |
Calian | Boy | Life warrior | Native American |
Can | Boy | Life or soul | Turkish |
Caner | Boy | Brave man’s life | Turkish |
Cansu | Girl | Water of life | Turkish |
Carma | Girl | Fate | Sanskrit |
Chae-Won | Girl | Beginning | Korean |
Chai | Boy | Life | Hebrew |
Chaim | Boy | Life | Hebrew |
Chance | Boy | Good Fortune | British |
Chayim | Boy | Life | Hebrew |
Chiva | Boy | Life | Cambodian |
Chivy | Girl | Life | Cambodian |
Dagian | Boy | Dawn | English |
Dawn | Girl | Dawn | English |
Daxon | Boy | Life-giving drink | French |
Destiny | Girl | One’s fate | Latin |
Eba | Girl | Life | Hebrew |
Eloma | Girl | Life | Finnish |
Enid | Girl | Soul or life | Welsh |
Ercan | Boy | Brave man’s life | Turkish |
Eshe | Girl | Life | Egyptian |
Ettan | Boy | Breath of life | Indian |
Eva | Girl | Life | Italian |
Evaly | Girl | Living one | Hebrew |
Eve | Girl | Life | Latin, Hebrew |
Evette | Girl | Life | French |
Fajr | Boy | Dawn or new life | Arabic |
Fate | Gender–neutral | Fate | English |
Faustina | Girl | Fortunate or lucky | Latin |
Faustus | Boy | Fortunate or lucky | Latin |
Genesis | Boy | Life | Christian, biblical |
Genoveva | Girl | Fate Weaver | German |
Ha | Girl | Kiss of life | Vietnamese |
Haim | Boy | Life | Hebrew |
Hale | Boy | Healthy in life | English |
Hava | Boy | Breathing, alive or living | Hebrew |
Haya | Girl | Alive | Hebrew |
Hayat | Gender–neutral | Life | Arabic, Turkish |
Hisa | Girl | Long-lasting life | Japanese |
Hiwo | Girl | Life | Amharic |
Hope | Girl | Hopeful | Puritan |
Imara | Girl | Strong | Kiswahili |
Ingrid | Girl | Beautiful | Norse |
Inizio | Boy | New Beginning | Italian |
Jan | Gender–neutral | Life or soul | Indian |
Janus | Girl | First month of the year | Latin |
Jedidiah | Boy | Beloved of the Lord | Hebrew |
Jillian | Girl | Enjoys youthful life | Latin |
Juro | Boy | Longevity of life | Japanese |
Karma | Gender–neutral | Fate, Destiny | Sanskrit |
Kiena | Girl | Divine or heavenly | Hawaiian |
Kismat | Boy | Fate | Indian |
Kismet | Girl | Fate, destiny | English |
Langhuie | Girl | Long life | English |
Liv | Girl | Life | Scandinavian |
Lizette | Girl | Life | Hebrew |
Luljeta | Girl | Flower of life | Albanian |
Mirabelle | Girl | Wonderful life | French |
Navin | Boy | New, fresh | Sanskrit |
Neo | Boy | New or young | Greek |
Nia | Girl | Purpose or intention | Swahili |
Niyati | Girl | Fate | Indian |
Noema | Girl | New moon | Greek |
Nova | Girl | New | Latin |
Nurcan | Girl | Bright soul or light of life | Turkish |
Nyssa | Girl | New beginning | Greek |
Omri | Boy | Life and servant | Hebrew |
Phoenix | Gender neutral | Rise from the ashes | Greek |
Qadr | Girl | Fate | Muslim |
Qadriya | Girl | Fate | Arabic |
Qisma | Girl | Fate | Arabic |
Renata | Girl | Reborn | Spanish |
Rene | Girl | Reborn | French |
Rénovée | Girl | Renewed or reborn | French |
Salvador | Boy | Savior or saved | Spanish, Portuguese |
Soteria | Girl | Salvation or deliverance | Greek |
Sulya | Boy | Breath of life | Indian |
Sura Oighrig | Boy | New Life | Native American |
Tarek | Boy | Morning star | Arabic |
Tshering | Boy | Long life | Tibetan, Bhutanese |
Umar | Boy | Life | Arabic |
Vian | Gender neutral | Full of life and energy | English |
Vida | Girl | Life | Spanish, Latin |
Vidal | Boy | Life | Spanish |
Vihaan | Boy | Beginning of an era | Sanskrit |
Vita | Girl | Life | Latin |
Vitale | Boy | Life or vital | Italian |
Vitu | Girl | Life | Latin |
Vivian | Girl | Lively | Latin |
Wahuj | Girl | New Beginning | Arabic |
Yeong-Su | Boy | Long Life | Korean |
Zera | Girl | New Beginning | Hebrew |
Ziva | Girl | Full of life | Hebrew |
Zoe, Zoey or Zoi | Gender–neutral | Life | Greek |
Zoticus | Boy | Full of life | Greek |
Once you’ve decided on your dog’s new name, make sure to order him his very own name tag!
Want more dog name ideas? We have a full library of fun dog names grouped by theme, check out the list and let us know what you decide!
How to teach a dog his name
Teaching your dog his or her new name is easy. Think of teaching your dog his new name like training him a command.
Your dogs name is basically a command to look at you for the next command. For example, Spot Sit. Spot is the command to look and pay attention to you, Sit is the command to sit down. Get it?
Start by using treats to call your dog over to you, using his old name and new name combined.
For example, when we adopted Nala, her old name was Midnight. We called her Nala-Midnight for a couple of days, transitioning to Nala as she started picking it up.
If you do not know the dogs old name, simply start with his new chosen name. A leash can help keep his attention on you for the first few days.
Recommended just for you:
- Library of the best dog names
- Bringing Home a Rescue Dog and the 3-3-3 Rule
- The First 7 Days – Bringing Your Adopted Dog Home
- What are the First Things I Need to Teach My New Puppy?
Do you have a name you want me to add to the list? I’m always looking for new creative dog names, so feel free to comment below with your favorite dog name.
I’m expecting a female pup tomorrow that was dropped off on the side of the road along with three others. I can only take one bc I have three large dogs. I’m just looking for any names to suit her. I can’t wait to meet her!
Good luck Leah! Let us know what name you decide on 🙂
My new 4 yr old cutie is a Labradoodle, and is named Lily, but I had a Lily in the past who died tragically so wanted a new name for this sweetie that was close to her current name. So I have renamed her Tillie. She is very very scared and we are taking it slow.
Nanci, so sorry for your loss of Lily! Taking it slow with Tillie is good. There are many great articles here that could help you in the transition. Start at the adoption page.