Dog Names that Start with D (with Meanings!)

Are you looking for dog names that start with D? Whether you want to match the name of another dog in your home–or your own, we’ve got a long list of girl, boy and unisex names for your new puppy–with the meaning of each name to make it even more special!

Female Dog Names that Start with D

Daisy

The name Daisy goes back to the late 19th century, when it was first used as a nickname for Margaret, derived from the old French word “daisie,” which means “day’s eye.”

Dalia

The name Dalia is a common name among many cultures, but its origin remains a bit of a mystery. The most widely accepted meaning of the name is ‘gentle’ or ‘dear one’, although other interpretations vary between languages and cultures.

The name also appears as a representation of the Hindu goddess Durga. This deity was revered for her strength and courage, a strong name for a shelter dog who has weathered difficult times.

Daniela

Daniela was traditionally used as a feminine form of Daniel. It’s now one of the most popular girl names in many parts of Latin America, including Argentina, Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile and Bolivia.

Daniella

The name Daniella is a feminine given name of Hebrew origin, derived from the Hebrew phrase “Dan El” which translates to “God is my Judge.”

Danna

The name Danna is of Hebrew origin, with its roots in the word Daniel. The literal translation of the word danna is ‘God has judged.’

In Europe, the name is often used as a nickname for anyone named Daniel or Danielle.

Daphne

The name Daphne is of Greek origin, and the literal meaning of the name Daphne is “laurel tree.” In Greek mythology, Daphne was a nymph pursued by Apollo. To escape his advances, she pleaded with her father to change her into a laurel tree.

And, of course, all of us Scooby-Doo lovers know Daphne as the fashionable detective who helped the canine detective solve crimes.

Davina

The name Davina is of Hebrew origin and translates to “beloved” or “friend.”

Davina has several other variations throughout different cultures. For example, in Spanish-speaking cultures it can be translated as Davinia or Devina; in Irish culture it can be spelled Daithi or Dathai; and in Greek it is translated as Devyni.

Dayana

The origin of the name Dayana can be traced back to ancient India and Latin America. In Sanskrit, the word “Dayana” translates to “compassion.

Many may also recognize it as a variant of the Spanish name “Diana,” which means “divine” or “goddess-like,” while in Portuguese it is derived from the term “Dia” (itself a pretty dog name!) which means “day.

Debbie

The name Debbie originates from the Hebrew name Deborah, which means “honey bee,” or “God is my judge.”

Delaney

The name Delaney is an Irish surname derived from the phrase “descendant of the challenger.”

Delilah

The name Delilah is a Hebrew origin name which means “delicate” or “weakened.” It is believed that the name originates from the Bible in the book of Judges, where it is mentioned as the woman who betrayed her lover, Samson.

Della

The name Della is believed to have originated as a short form of the Italian name Adela, which ultimately comes from the Germanic word “adal” meaning “noble”.

If you like the name Della but are looking for something slightly different for your dog, other variations of this name include Dellah, Dela and Dellie.

Demi

The name Demi is of Greek origin and can be translated to mean “half” or “earthly” and symbolizes being in between two worlds–definitely a description for our dogs who bridge the canine and human worlds!

Destiny

In Latin, the word destinare means to determine, decide or arrange. It’s thought that the modern English word “Destiny” may have evolved from this root. Was it your destiny to select this new dog as your own?

Diana

The name Diana is derived from the old Latin word diviana, which literally translates to “heavenly” or “divine.” As an ancient Roman goddess of the hunt, moon, and nature, Diana was considered to be one of the most important deities in pre-Christian Rome. This is a fun name for a hunting dog breed.

Diva

Is your new puppy a little diva? The name Diva has been gaining popularity; of Latin origin, it has multiple meanings and is full of strong femininity and grace.

Dolly

The name Dolly is an English derivative of the Greek name Despoina, with a meaning of ‘mistress’ or ‘lady’. It is also believed to have derived from the Hebrew name Dodi, meaning ‘beloved’. The name became popular during Victorian times as a pet form of Dorothy and Dolores.

Dorothy

The name Dorothy has been around since the early 1900s, and is believed to be derived from the Greek word for “gift of God” or “divine gift.” The origin of the name Dorothy can also be traced to the Latin language, with some sources suggesting it comes from doron, meaning “gift.”

In modern times, the name Dorothy has become synonymous with strength and courage thanks to Dorothy in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Dorothy, of course, makes the journey with her faithful companion, Toto.

Male Dog Names that Start with D

Dalton

The name Dalton is of English origin, derived from an old surname meaning either “valley town,” or “town in the dale.” It is believed to have been derived from a combination of two Olde English words, ‘dael’, which means ‘valley’ and ‘tun’ which means ‘town.’

Damian

The name Damian is a Latin derivative with Greek origins, and is believed to be derived from the god ‘Damianos’. It has been associated with several meanings, including ‘to tame’ and ‘to subdue’.

Damien

Damien is an unusual name with an interesting history. It comes from the Latin word “damnare”, which means ‘to condemn’.

Damir

The name Damir is thought to have come from the Old Slavonic language, meaning “peaceful world,” likely chosen to symbolize peace and harmony.

Damon

The name Damon is derived from ancient Greek mythology; the meaning behind the name Damon is “to tame” or “subdue”. In Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, Damon is a loyal companion to Odysseus and stands by him through his long journey home.

Beyond its traditional Greek roots, some sources also say that it can be derived from Arabic and Hebrew origins meaning “one who is faithful”, an appropriate name for our faithful companions!

Daniel

The literal meaning of Daniel is “God is my judge”. It also has a figurative interpretation as ‘one who will always have God’s favor’.

Danny

In England, the name Danny is derived from the Old English Daniel and means “God is my judge”. In Ireland the origin of Danny comes from the Gaelic name Donnchadh which means “brown warrior” or “dark haired chief”.

Dante

The name Dante is said to be derived from the Latin word ‘dare’, which means ‘to give’.

Darian

The name Darian is a popular gender-neutral name derived from the Greek word Dareios, meaning “rich and kingly”, and from the Old Persian word Darayavaush, meaning “possessing goodness”. The name Darian can also be spelled as Darryan or Darrian.

Dariel

The name Dariel is derived from the Hebrew language, combining two words: dar meaning ‘pearl’ and el meaning ‘God’, so Dariel can be interpreted as ‘God’s pearl’ or ‘belonging to God’.

Dario

The name Dario is a masculine given name with Spanish, Italian and Portuguese origins. It is derived from the Latin given name Darius.

Darius

Dating back to ancient Persian times, the name Darius is thought to be derived words meaning “he who holds firm onto good” or “kingly”.

Darren

The name Darren is derived from an Irish surname which means “great”.

The traditional Irish name was first recorded in the 11th century and its original spelling was “Darragh” or “Dairine” but later evolved into Darran, Daren, Darrin and eventually Darren.

And (I know this dates me), lovers of the old Bewitched show know Darren as the husband–often called “Durwood” by his mother-in-law.

David

The name David is one of the most widely recognized names in history, with origins dating back to ancient biblical times. It is derived from the Hebrew name “Dawid”, which means beloved or friend, an appropriate moniker for your beloved dog and faithful friend.

Davion

The name Davion is derived from the Latin word ‘david’, which means ‘beloved one’. The name itself has been around since at least the 10th century, when it first appeared as a surname.

Davis

The name Davis is derived from the Hebrew surname ‘David’.

Deacon

The name Deacon is derived from the Greek word diakonos, which means servant or attendant. The original meaning of diakonos comes from classical Greek and meant messenger or envoy. This term was used to refer to someone on diplomatic service whom one could trust with sensitive messages or tasks that required discretion (and, really, who exhibits more discretion than our dogs?!)

Dean

The name Dean is derived from an Old English word meaning ‘valley’. It is thought to have been most commonly used as a nickname or place name for people who lived in or near a valley.

You’ll see several spellings of the name Dean, depending on which country it is found in, including Deane and Deen. There are also variations such as a feminine spelling – Deana.

Deandre

The name Deandre is derived from the Latin phrase, “De” which means “of” and “Andre”, which translates to “manly” or “brave.”

Declan

Declan is an Irish name derived from the Latin decimus meaning tenth, and was originally recorded as a masculine given name in Ireland during the 5th century.

Dennis

Is your new puppy a little Dennis the Menace? The name Dennis is of Greek origin, with some interpretations meaning “follower of Dionysus,” the god of wine and revelry in ancient Greek mythology. The name is also said to be derived from the masculine version of the old French name Denice, which translates to “wildness” or “frenzy.”

Derek

The name Derek comes from the Old Germanic elements “theod,” meaning people and “ric,” meaning ruler or leader. This combination of elements results in the overall meaning of Derek as “people’s ruler.” You’ll find various spellings of Derek; for example, the Spanish version is Derrek, while the French is Dirick.

Dexter

The name Dexter is thought to have originated from a Latin word meaning “right-handed” and originally referred to those who were dexterous or skilled with their hands.

The name first appeared in the English language during the Middle Ages, when it was primarily used as an occupational surname for someone who was adept at handicrafts or construction.

Donny

The name Donny is an English and Dutch diminutive of the masculine given name Donald. The original form of the name is derived from the Gaelic elements donn which means ‘brown’ and dubh which translates to ‘dark’.

Douglas

The name Douglas comes from the Gaelic phrase dubh-ghlas which literally translates to ‘dark water’ or ‘black stream.’ It was originally derived from the surname Douglas, used in regions in Scotland such as Lanarkshire and Galloway. A fun name for a dog with Scottish ancestry!

Related: Scottish Dog Names–500 Names for Your Lad or Lassie!

Drake

The name Drake can be traced back to Anglo-Saxon roots and the word for dragon! In other countries such as Germany and Spain, it was given as a nickname to someone who had a strong will or bravery.

In addition to its various meanings, there are also several variations of the name in different languages: French – D’Rac; Dutch – Draak; German – Drache; Spanish – Dragón.

Drew

The name Drew was derived from an Anglo-Saxon surname, which meant “wise” or “intelligent.” It has also been said that the name could have come from an old Celtic word for “brave” or “strong.” Does this description fit your new puppy?

Dudley

The name Dudley is derived from the town of ‘Dudda’s Leah’ in Worcestershire, England. The town was originally known as ‘Dodde’s leah’ which translates to mean, “clearing or meadow of a man called Dodde.” This suggests that the original bearer of the name was a man named Dudda or Dodde who settled in this region many centuries ago.

Duke

Long a favorite dog name, the name Duke is a title of nobility that originates from the Latin word dux, meaning leader or military commander.

Dustin

Dustin is a name of English origin, derived from the Old Norse meaning “valiant fighter”.

Dylan

The name Dylan dates back to ancient Welsh literature, where it was used to symbolize strength and greatness.

In Welsh culture, Dylan is thought to be derived from the word dylanwad, which means “the great tide” or “the sea.”

Unisex D Names

Dakari

The name Dakari is thought to have its roots in the Greek word for ‘powerful’ or ‘mighty’.

Dakota

The name Dakota has a strong Native American origin; the Sioux Indians were among the first to give the name Dakota, which translates simply to “friend” or “ally.”

The meaning associated with this unique name is one of companionship, loyalty and strength – all qualities we see in our dogs!

Dallas

The name Dallas was first recorded in the 11th century, and this Gaelic surname was derived from the phrase “dun laois” which translates to “place of meadows” in English. The Gaelic spelling of Dallas can also be spelled as Dallais or Dalies.

Damari

The name Damari probably has its roots in the Arabic language, with meanings such as the one who will remain forever or eternal.

Dane

The origin of the first name Dane is likely derived from the Old Norse word dani, which means “swift”. This was likely used to refer to someone who moved quickly or had great speed–a great name for a future agility dog!

Dangelo

The name Dangelo is of Italian origin and brings with it a strong sense of energy, stability, and independence.

Dangelo can be translated to mean “angel” or “messenger of God”, suggesting that individuals blessed with this name are sought out for their wisdom and guidance.

Dani

Dani is a unisex given name derived from the Hebrew name Daniel, which means ‘God is my judge’.

The name Dani can also be translated to mean ‘judge’ or ‘justice’, or even ‘my judge’ depending on the context of use.

Dash

The term Dash comes from the Middle English word dasshen, which means to move quickly or to run. This term was used as a nickname for someone who moved fast or had quick reflexes. Over time, this evolved into the name Dash, which has been in use since at least the 1600s. Another great name for a future agility or sports competitor!

The name has become popular in recent years due to characters like Dash Parr in Pixar’s The Incredibles movie franchise as well as other fictional characters such as Dash Rendar from Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire.

Related Post: 200+ Movie Dog Names

Davian

The name Davian is of Hebrew origin and means “beloved”. It is derived from the Hebrew word dav, which literally translates to “beloved” or “friend”.

Dawson

The name Dawson is derived from the given name David. The name David itself has Hebrew roots and translates to mean “beloved” or “friend”.

Dax

The name Dax is derived from the French town of Dax, located in southwest France.

The meaning behind the name is uncertain but it could be derived from either an old Germanic word meaning “dweller near water” or alternatively from a Basque word meaning “big riverbank”.

Daxton

The name Daxton is a modern, unisex name that has become increasingly popular in recent years. The origin and meaning of the name Daxton is unclear, but it is believed to be derived from an Old English surname with Anglo-Saxon roots.

The most widely accepted theory suggests that the name Daxton may have derived from the Anglo-Saxon word dæxcn, which translates to mean ‘deep valley’ or ‘dale settlement.’

Denver

Whether you hope to travel to the Mile High City with your dog or just like the name, Denver makes a memorable name for your new travel companion!

Related post: Travel Dog Names for Your New Puppy

Devin

The name Devin dates back to the Middle Ages, when it was first used as a surname in Ireland. It is thought to have come from the Gaelic word Dubhain, which means “little dark one” or “small dark-haired one.”

Didley

The name Didley is an old English name. The earliest version of the name was Dieda, which is believed to have originated from Old Germanic and Old Saxon words meaning ‘strong battle’.

Diego

The name Diego is derived from San Didacus, the patron saint of Spain and Portugal. It is also seen as a combination of two words – dios (God) and geo (earth).

Diesel

The name Diesel has become increasingly common in recent years. It derives from the surname of the famous German engineer Rudolf Diesel, who invented and patented the diesel engine in 1897.

Dig

Does your new dog like to dig? The name Dig has been used as an English given name since the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from a Norman French nickname, which was used to describe someone who appeared earnest or passionate in nature. (And we all know how very passionate our dogs can be about digging!)

Dillon

The name Dillon is of Irish origin and is derived from the ancient Celtic language. The literal meaning of the name Dillon is “like a lion,” referring to someone who is brave and courageous–or a brave shelter dog.

In the US, the name was first introduced as an Americanized version of Dillion or Dillan around 1880 when immigrants began to arrive on American soil from Europe.

Ding Dong

Yes, that Hostess favorite is another D dog name possibility! (Did you know that Ding Dongs were first advertised by a cartoon character named King Ding Dong?)

Dingo

Whether your dog has Dingo heritage like the Australian Cattle Dog–or you just would like a name harking back to the wildness of the Dingo, this makes a fun and unique dog name.

Related: Australian Cattle Dog Names

Dior

Synonymous with the French fashion house created by Christian Dior, this name brings to mind luxury and high fashion. Dior is a combination of two French words: dieu and or, meaning “godlike” and “golden.”

Related post: 350+ French Dog Names + Their Meanings

Ditto

Originally derived from the Latin word dictus, meaning “said” or “told,” Ditto was used to mark documents as having already been said or told. The phrase has also become slang for agreement or approval of an idea, such as using “ditto” in response to a statement of opinion.

Dorian

The name Dorian can be traced back to the ancient Greeks, and its meaning has evolved over time. The original Greek form of the name was Δωρεαν (Dōrean), which translates to “of Doris.” Doris was a region in Greece at the time, located in Central Greece east of Sparta and named after the Ancient Greek goddess Dôris.

Dozer

The name Dozer is often associated with the powerful and hardworking bulldozer–so it makes a fun name for a dog who likes to dig, but its origins are much more ancient.

Dozer is of Latin origin, derived from the Latin word domitor which means to tame or subdue. (We also think this would be a fun name for the sleepy dog who loves to doze!)

Dreamy

Is your new puppy the dog of your dreams?

Dulce

The word ‘Dulce’ is a Spanish expression that has been around for centuries and has many meanings. It translates to “sweet” in English, but carries much deeper meanings in other cultures. In Latin American countries, it is often used as an expression of care or affection, similar to “sweetheart” or “honey” in English.

FAQ

Are there any D dog names that I should avoid?

Typically you don’t want to select a dog name that sounds similar to a command you’ll be using with your dog. “Down” is the most common D command so avoid names like Dowd which can cause confusion.

Also, watch out for D names that rhyme with commands that start with other letters. For example, Day rhymes with Stay, making it too easy to confuse your dog. (Or, if you are in love with the name Day, just teach a different word in place of Stay!)

Looking for more ideas?

• Social Security list of popular names (search by year)
• Dog Names that Start with A
• Dog Names that Start with B

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