The Ultimate Guide to German Shepherd Names

If you have found your way to this article, the chances are that you have either recently adopted or are considering the adoption of a German Shepherd.

The German Shepherd breed is one of the most popular of all dog breeds, and for very good reason. Not only are they active and beautiful family dogs, but they also possess unlimited energy and a fierce sense of loyalty to their masters.

Of course, like any other pet, picking the right name for your dog is vital. After all, the name is not only a representation of the pet, but will also reflect your personality, much like how a child’s name is a reflection of their parents. The name that you pick for your German Shepherd will speak volumes about the kind of relationship between you and your pet.

You can pick from a wide variety of German Shepherd names. While this variety might allow you many different choices to pick from, it might also make the final decision that much harder. In addition, you need to make sure that you are picking a name that will not encourage people to associate negative traits with your dog or to make adverse judgments about him in advance.

Often, the name for a dog also depends on the reason that the dog was purchased or adopted in the first place. If the dog will be working in tandem with public authorities like the police, it is important that the dog’s name portrays its image and purpose. For instance, a K9 German Shepherd named ‘sunflower’ will just not sit right.

Choosing the Right Name for Your German Shepherd

Like we mentioned, your dog’s name will be a reflection of you as much as it will be a reflection of him, and will serve to define the relationship between the two of you. For example, if you opt for a human name, it might show that you will care for and love your dog as much as you would have loved your own child (an actual human). Similarly, names like ‘Champ’, ‘Tracker’ or ‘Finder’ are more appropriate for working dogs, as such names will reflect their jobs, functions, and responsibilities. A well-worn but popular dog name will show that you have a preference for the classic, while a unique name will enable you to portray your ingenuity. You could even pick a name that highlights one of your dog’s most beloved or standout qualities.

Regardless of the type of name that you are considering for your German Shepherd, you should keep the following pointers in mind while making the decision:

• The most vital of all things is to pick a German Shepherd name that will be easily recognized by your pet. Ideally, the name should not have more than two syllables – if you call out ‘Gaius Marius the Seventh’ from the other side of the forest, you can expect your dog to remain oblivious to your shouts.
• Go for a name that will suit your dog at every age and stage of his life.
• Pick a name that you can call out in public without feeling embarrassed – ‘Bomber’, for instance, might not be the ideal choice in this regard.
• If you want to go for a longer name, it is best to consider call names as well (a call name is a shorter nickname for the longer, actual name – ‘Brad’ for ‘Bradley’, for instance).

You will likely have to train your German Shepherd to some degree – something that you absolutely need to factor in while naming him. While familiarizing your new dog with commands and instructions such as ‘heel’, ‘sit’, ‘come’, and ‘stop’, you will, like we mentioned, want to make sure that the dog’s name does not end up confusing him. Alongside avoiding overly complicated names, you must also avoid names that are homophonous or sound similar to regular training cues (for instance, your dog might easily mishear ‘Bit’ as ‘Sit’).

If you are struggling with choosing an appropriate name for your German Shepherd, remember that you can seek inspiration from pretty much any source, including your favorite TV shows, books, foods, celebrities, and even the breed of your German Shepherd dog itself.

Some Popular German Shepherd Names

Names for Male German Shepherds:

• Jake (meaning: may God protect)
• Max (meaning: great spring)
• Jack (meaning: God is gracious)
• Buddy (meaning: a friend)
• Bailey (meaning: debt collector (derived from ‘bailiff’))
• Charlie (meaning: a free man)
• Cody (meaning: helpful)
• Buster (meaning: tough guy)
• Sam (meaning: told by God; often used as a nickname for ‘Samuel)
• Rocky (meaning: rest)
• Kenzo (meaning: healthy and wise)
• Griffin (meaning: lord or prince)
• Oz (meaning: strength and courage)
• Kano (meaning: masculine)

Names for Female German Shepherds:

• Alpina (meaning: blond)
• Greta (meaning: pearl)
• Elke (meaning: of noble birth)
• Esty/Esther (meaning: hide or conceal)
• Britta (meaning: the exalted one)
• Luna (meaning: moon (derived from ‘Lunar’))
• Zoe (meaning: life)
• Payton (meaning: a fighting-man’s estate)
• Andra (meaning: brave and strong)
• Bambi (meaning: baby deer)
• Aldo (meaning: elder; older one)

Final Word

At the end of the day, what matters most is that the name that you choose is easy for you to call out and for your dog to respond to.

If you have shortlisted a few names but are struggling to make the final decision, we recommend doing a little test: simply stand at the rear of your house, and call out to your German Shepherd using the names that you have shortlisted. This simple but effective test will allow you to see which name works best for both you and your pup, as well as enable you to speak your imagined German Shepherd name into existence.

We hope that this guide will prove useful to you in determining the perfect name for your German Shepherd. To know more about the breed and how to care for it, feel free to check out other blogs on our website.