112 Dog Names Starting with O for Your New Pup

Naming your dog is an important and exciting event. It typically marks the arrival of a new pup in the house, and if you’re taking on a new puppy, it is a name that your dog will be stuck with for 10, 15, or even 20 years! It’s a name you’ll likely have to use when you’re out and one that you need to be comfortable calling out.

Ensure it isn’t too close to the name of a family member, or it could confuse the dog, and also avoid any names that sound too similar to one-word commands that you might use.

Below are more than 100 dog names starting with O, including names inspired by the pages of history as well as those from the pages of literature, food-related names, and more.

Male Names

Your dog’s name doesn’t have to represent a particular love of your life, hobby, or interest. It can be a name that you simply like the sound of and that you are happy calling whenever you want to get your pup back in the dog park. Below are some of the most popular names beginning with O for male dogs.

Female Names

Similarly, if you’re looking for a girl’s name, and nothing has resonated, you can opt for a popular female dog’s name. When choosing a name, you do need to ensure that all family members are content with the choice, because if somebody doesn’t like the choice and uses a different name, it can cause confusion and may stop your dog from listening when it is being called.

Historical Names

The pages of history are a great source of inspiration. As well as using them to help forge our futures, we can also use them to look for dog names and other pet names. Historical names can include those from ancient history, as well as figures from more recent times.

Celebrity Names

Celebrities come from the worlds of sports, entertainment, and even politics. Nowadays, celebrities can be born from reality shows and online influencers. If you have a favorite celebrity, you can opt for their name, but remember that stars fade, no matter how brightly they might shine at the moment.

Names Inspired by Food

Food is a great source of inspiration for many things, including finding a name for your new dog. From the Japanese Ohitashi, which is a style of cooking vegetables, to the herb Oregano, commonly used in Italian cooking, you can show your love of the culinary arts with a food-inspired name.

Literary Names

Whether it’s the writer of your favorite novel or one of your favorite Shakespeare characters, books and their writers are another rich source of naming inspiration. If you can’t find a name you like from the list below, this is a good opportunity to read some of your favorite books again to find a potential name for your four-legged friend!

The 5 Tips for Choosing a Perfect Dog Name

Your dog, and you, could potentially be stuck with the name you choose for many years to come. It is very difficult to successfully change the name of an adult dog, so it is best to get it right first. Here are five tips to help ensure you choose the ideal name for your pup.

1. Don’t Make It Too Complicated

Long and complicated names with multiple words and many syllables can be cute, but you won’t be calling them out every time you want your dog to come, or when you’re in the dog park. You can, of course, give your dog a full formal name and then shorten it to a two-syllable name that is easier to use and recognize.

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2. Avoid Family Names

Don’t give your dog the same name as a family member, or anything that too closely resembles them. If your son is called Oliver, don’t call your dog Olivier. If you have an Olly at home, it is probably best to avoid using Ozzy as a dog’s name.

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3. Avoid Commonly Used Commands

Similarly, avoid names that sound too similar to commonly used commands. If you call your dog Oppenheimer and shorten it to Op, that can be easily confused with up. When training your dog to follow basic commands, you want as little confusion as possible, but if they think you’re calling their name, they are likely to respond by coming to you.

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4. Pick a Name with Two Syllables

Single-syllable names are too easy and sound too much like everyday words. Names with three or more syllables are likely too long and confusing. Two-syllable names hit the sweet spot in terms of being easy to use but not so easy they sound like everyday words.

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5. Try It Out

Once you have a list of a few names, try them out. You can even do this before you get the dog by using common phrases you will use with your dog. Try saying come Oliver or down Ozzy a few times over the day.

Conclusion

Naming a dog is usually part of an exciting process that involves getting a new pet. It is exciting and there are a lot of potential dog name options to choose from. You want something memorable and easy to use, but because you may not have any idea of your dog’s character, it can be difficult to choose something that seems relevant.

Instead, look for inspiration from your favorite names or from hobbies and interests you might have.

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Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock