When it comes to the world of military service, bravery, loyalty, and unwavering dedication are qualities that both humans and animals can embody. These four-legged heroes serve alongside their human counterparts, contributing significantly to various missions, including search and rescue, bomb detection, and patrolling. Whether you’d like to honor the valor and strength of these dogs or the military members of your family, we’ve enlisted over 150 army dog names for your canine warrior.
Since my father was in the Army for many years, I was born in an Army hospital, lived on an Army base (including Angel Island, which is a now a state park) and have many military memories–including some that gathering these army names for dogs brought back!
Army Names for Dogs Inspired by Military Life
These names capture the essence of military life and make for unique and meaningful choices for your army-inspired canine companion.
- Ace
- Ammo
- AWOL (absent without leave–a good name for the rescue dog who was a former stray)
- Base
- Boot
- Bulldog
- Cadence
- Camo
- Charlie
- Chow
- Command
- Dash
- Delta Force
- Deploy
- Digies (nickname for digital camo)
- DoD (yes, your DOG could be DoD as in Department of Defense)
- G.I. Joe
- Green Beret
- Grenade
- Gunner
- Helo
- Hooah
- K-9 (The common term used for military working dogs)
- Maneuver
- Maverick
- Mission
- MP (military police)
- Paratrooper
- Patriot
- PT (physical training–a fun name for the future agility dog or running companion)
- PX (post exchange)
- Ranger
- Recon
- SAR (search and rescue)
- Sniper
- Strike
- Tactic
- Tank
- Topper
- Trigger
- Troop
- Warlock
- Warrior
- Wolverine (No, not the Hugh Jackman version but the Army’s armored bridge-laying vehicle)
- Zeppelin
Names Based on the NATO Alphabet
To make transmission of letters clear, NATO has established an alphabet of standardized words for each letter. Would one of these be a fit for your new dog?
- Alpha
- Bravo
- Charlie
- Delta
- Echo
- Foxtrot
- Golf
- Hotel
- India
- Juliett
- Kilo
- Lima
- Mike
- November
- Oscar
- Papa
- Quebec
- Romeo
- Sierra
- Tango
- Uniform
- Victor
- Whiskey
- X-ray
- Yankee
- Zulu
Army Ranks as Dog Names
- Private
- Specialist
- Corporal
- Sergeant
- Master Sergeant
- Command Sergeant
- Warrant Officer
- Lieutenant
- Captain
- Major
- Lieutenant Colonel
- Colonel
- Brigadier General
- General
Famous Military Dogs
- Cairo – The Belgian Malinois who played a vital role in the Osama bin Laden raid in 2011.
- Cappy – Cappy was a decorated Doberman who served with the Marines in World War II.
- Chips – The most decorated dog of World War II.
- Conan – The Belgian Malinois who assisted in the Baghdadi raid in 2019.
- Gander – Sergeant Gander, a Newfoundland who became a Canadian war hero and mascot.
- Lucca – A military working dog who received the Dickin Medal.
- MWD (Military Working Dog) – A straightforward and honorable name.
- Nemo – A heroic Vietnam War dog who saved his handler.
- Sarge – Sergeant Stubby, a famous World War I dog.
- Smoky – Smoky, a tiny Yorkshire Terrier who served in World War II.
Names that Mean Soldier or Warrior
These names carry powerful meanings related to warriors and soldiers, making them suitable choices for individuals with a strong and determined spirit.
- Ailbert (Germanic origin) – Meaning “noble, bright warrior,” this name reflects strength and valor.
- Aldric (Germanic origin) – A name that signifies “wise ruler” or “old, wise leader.”
- Conor (Irish origin) – Meaning “lover of hounds” or “warrior,” it reflects a fearless and protective nature.
- Einar (Norse origin) – A name that translates to “lone warrior” or “brave warrior” in Old Norse.
- Fergus (Scottish origin) – Signifying “man of vigor” or “courageous,” it embodies strength and bravery.
- Garrett (Germanic origin) – Derived from “ger,” meaning “spear,” this name represents a spear-wielding warrior.
- Gerald (Germanic origin) – Meaning “ruler of the spear,” it combines leadership qualities with warrior symbolism.
- Humphrey (Germanic origin) – Signifying “peaceful warrior,” it reflects a balance between strength and peace.
- Kane (Irish origin) – A name that translates to “battle” or “warrior,” representing a fierce fighter.
- Louvel (French origin) – Meaning “famous warrior,” it suggests a warrior renowned for their deeds.
- Ludwig (German origin) – Signifying “famous warrior,” it combines renown with warrior attributes.
- Malin (Scandinavian origin) – A name that means “little warrior,” reflecting determination and courage.
- Miles (Latin origin) – Derived from “miles,” meaning “soldier,” it directly signifies a warrior.
- Nikias (Greek origin) – Signifying “victor” or “conqueror,” reflecting military achievements.
- Odin (Norse origin) – Named after the chief Norse god, associated with wisdom, war, and poetry.
- Otto (Germanic origin) – Meaning “wealthy warrior” or “prosperous,” combining material and warrior traits.
- Rainier (German origin) – Signifying “wise warrior,” it symbolizes a warrior with strategic intelligence.
- Ritter (German origin) – A straightforward name that means “knight” or “warrior.”
- Sardar (Persian origin) – Meaning “leader” or “commander,” reflecting authority and warrior qualities.
- Sener (Turkish origin) – Signifying “veteran” or “experienced soldier.”
- Theron (Greek origin) – Signifying “hunter” or “warrior,” it embodies strength and combat skills.
- Tormod (Norse origin) – A name that translates to “Thor’s mind” or “Thor’s warrior.”
- Valdemar (Germanic origin) – Meaning “famous ruler” or “mighty warrior king.”
- Valentine (Latin origin) – Derived from “valens,” meaning “strong, vigorous,” and representing a brave warrior.
- Viggo (Norse origin) – Signifying “warrior” or “battle-ready,” it captures the essence of a fighter.
- Walter – Meaning commander of the army
- Wilfred (Germanic origin) – Meaning “desiring peace” or “resolute, determined peace.”
- Zoltan (Hungarian origin) – Signifying “life” or “to live,” reflecting the resilience and vitality of a warrior.
Famous Soldiers
These names carry historical and symbolic weight, making them suitable choices for anyone seeking to honor the legacy of famous military figures throughout history.
- Achilles – Named after the Greek hero Achilles, known for his bravery in the Trojan War.
- Ajax – After a Greek hero known for his strength and bravery.
- Alexander – Named after Alexander the Great, a famous military strategist and conqueror.
- Argo – Named after Odysseus’s faithful dog in Greek mythology.
- Arthur – Signifying leadership, after King Arthur of Arthurian legend.
- Audie – After Audie Murphy, the most decorated American combat soldier of World War II.
- Bradley – Named after General Omar Bradley, a prominent American military leader.
- Caesar – Signifying leadership and authority, after Julius Caesar.
- Chester – After General Chester W. Nimitz, a key figure in World War II (whose hometown is Fredericksburg, Texas, the same town from where we adopted Barli!)
- Dwight – Named after General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of Allied Expeditionary Forces during World War II.
- Genghis – Named after Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire.
- Gideon – A name symbolizing strength and leadership, after the biblical figure.
- Hannibal – Named after Hannibal Barca, a Carthaginian military commander.
- Julius – After Julius Caesar, a legendary Roman military general.
- Karl – Named after Karl von Clausewitz, a military theorist.
- Leonidas – After King Leonidas I of Sparta, known for his bravery at the Battle of Thermopylae.
- MacArthur – After General Douglas MacArthur, a prominent American military leader.
- Marshall – Signifying a military rank and authority, as in General George C. Marshall.
- Maximus – Signifying greatness and strength, after the character Maximus in “Gladiator.”
- Montgomery – Named after Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, a British military leader.
- Napoleon – After Napoleon Bonaparte, a famous French military leader and emperor.
- Nelson – Named after Admiral Horatio Nelson, a British naval hero.
- Odysseus – After the Greek hero Odysseus, known for his cunning in the Trojan War.
- Patton – Named after General George S. Patton, known for his aggressive leadership style.
- Pericles – Named after the Athenian statesman and military leader Pericles.
- Philip – After King Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great.
- Roderick – Signifying strength and power, after the legendary figure Roderick Dhu.
- Rommel – Named after Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, the “Desert Fox” of World War II.
- Sherman – After General William Tecumseh Sherman, known for his “March to the Sea.”
- Spartacus – After the Thracian gladiator and leader of a slave uprising.
- Sun Tzu – Named after the ancient Chinese military strategist and philosopher.
- Thor – Signifying strength and power, after the Norse god of thunder.
- Ulysses – After General Ulysses S. Grant, a Union Army leader during the American Civil War.
- Vlad – Signifying power and authority, as in Vlad the Impaler.
- Wellington – Named after Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, a British military hero.
- Willie – General George S. Patton’s Bull Terrier
- Xenophon – After Xenophon, a Greek historian and soldier.
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Paris Permenter is the award-winning co-author, with John Bigley, of over 30 pet and travel books including The Healthy Hound Cookbook and Texas with Dogs, both available through Simon and Schuster. Paris is also a member of the Dog Writers Association of America.
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