Music Inspired Dog Names {From Country to Rock to Rap}

If you have a song in your heart because you have just welcomed a new puppy into your family, you might want to consider a music inspired dog name for your new best friend. From music terminology and instruments to recording artists ranging from Snoop Dogg to The Dogmatics, you’re sure to find a name in our list that will strike just the right chord!

Blues Dog Names: Female

• Billie Holiday
• Etta James
• Ma Rainey
• Bonnie Raitt
• Bessie Smith
• Koko Taylor
• Big Mama Thornton
• Sippie Wallace

Blues Dog Names: Male

• B.B. King
• Lead Belly
• Bo Diddley — A puppy named after this blues great would be following in the pawprints of Bo, the Portuguese Water Dog who promenaded through the halls of the White House during the presidency of Barack Obama.
• Buddy Guy
• Lightnin’ Hopkins
• Blind Lemon Jefferson
• T-Bone Walker
• Muddy Waters

Country Music Dog Names: Female

Country music has a longtime history of assistance to the dog community. These music-inspired dog names (or cat names) are inspired by women in the country music business.

• Lynn Anderson — The star who climbed to the top of the charts with her hit single (“I Never Promised You) A Rose Garden” helped to cultivate a better tomorrow for our four-legged friends in need during her lifetime. The singer lent her voice to a Stop Animal Cruelty initiative to place harsher penalties on abusers of dogs, cats and horses in the state of North Dakota, and her passing in 2015 was marked with a request for donations to two of her favorite organizations: Stray Hearts Animal Shelter in Taos, New Mexico and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue in Nashville, a non-profit which she frequently helped as a foster.
• June Carter Cash
• Maybelle Carter
• Sara Carter
• Jolene — The name Jolene is a popular country music song written and performed by Dolly Parton. The song tells the story of a woman begging Jolene not to take her man, and has become a classic in the genre, known for its haunting melody and emotional lyrics.
• Patsy Cline
• Sheryl Crow
• Skeeter Davis
• Crystal Gayle
• Emmylou Harris — The multi- Grammy Award winner/founder of Bonaparte’s Dog Rescue also works closely with Crossroads Campus, which helps both people and pets in need.
• Faith Hill
• Goldie Hill
• Wanda Jackson
• Naomi Judd — The late country music icon was a long-time supporter of The American Humane Association, helping to shine a spotlight on the organization’s Canines & Childhood Cancer study and the need to bring Military Working dogs back to the United States.
• Wynonna Judd
• Alison Krauss
• Miranda Lambert — Along with helping cats and dogs find forever homes through MuttNation Foundation, the crooner who climbed to the top of the charts with “The House That Built Me” has opened up her heart and home to a number of fur babies.
• Patty Loveless
• Loretta Lynn
• Barbara Mandrell
• Kathy Mattea
• Martina McBride
• Reba McEntire
• Patsy Montana
• Maren Morris
• Kacey Musgraves
• Dolly Parton — Her Doggy Parton line of pet apparel and accessories helps benefit Willa B. Farm, which cares for cats, dogs and other animals in need.
• Delta Dawn – A song by Tanya Tucker about a woman who is left by her lover and becomes a recluse.
• Carly Pearce
• Fancy –– A song by Reba McEntire about a young woman who has to resort to using any means necessary to support her family.
• LeAnn Rimes
• Tanya Tucker — This country music legend is a supporter of the Nashville Humane Association!
• Shania Twain
• Carrie Underwood — A platinum-selling recording artist with a heart of gold, Underwood helps both the people and pets in her hometown of Checotah, Oklahoma through C.A.T.S. (Checotah Animal, Town and School Foundation), which she created in 2009.
• Kitty Wells
• Dottie West
• Gretchen Wilson
• Lee Ann Womack
• Tammy Wynette
• Trisha Yearwood — Her Trisha Yearwood Pet Collection caters to canines, funding help for both cats and dogs throughout the United States who need a forever home.

Country Music Dog Names: Male

• Roy Acuff
• Chet Atkins
• Garth Brooks
• Glen Campbell
• Johnny Cash
• Kenny Chesney — The chart-topper, who lost his home on the island of St. John during Hurricane Irma in 2017, launched the Love for Love City Foundation to help rebuild the Caribbean community, reunite companion animals with their families and help dogs and cats who were saved from the streets get on the road to finding their forever home. “If you’ve ever loved a dog or a cat,” the singer stated “the idea of these poor animals who can’t find their people, who are struggling to find food, some of whom need medicine, it breaks your heart. To me, if we can’t find their owners, we can find them love. That’s what Love for Love City is all about.”
• Larry Gatlin
• Vince Gill
• Mickey Gilley — A pal to those with paws, this country music great frequently performed for the Taney County Animal Control, with attendees bringing donations of pet food. When the singer passed away in 2022, donations to Best Friends Animal Society and local animal shelters were requested in lieu of flowers.
• Merle Haggard
• Waylon Jennings
• George Jones
• Tim Mcgraw
• Bill Monroe
• Willie Nelson — A portion of the sale of each Willie’s Rescue hemp product for companion animals (which contain no THC) is donated to animal rescues.
• Buck Owens
• Charlie Pride
• Kenny Rogers
• Marty Robbins
• Blake Shelton
• Chris Stapleton — The singer who took “Starting Over” to the top of the country chart has helped homeless cats and dogs enjoy a new start in life with grants from his charitable fund Outlaw State of Mind to the Johnson County Animal Shelter and The Tazzy Animal Rescue Fund.
• George Strait
• Randy Travis
• Conway Twitty
• Keith Urban
• Hank Williams
• Dwight Yoakum

Country Music Duos

These duos make fun names if you adopting two puppies (or twin names!)

• The Bellamy Brothers
• Big & Rich
• Brooks & Dunn
• Brothers Osbourne
• Dan & Shay — Did you know that Dan Smyers is an animal advocate who has shown support for such animal welfare groups as Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue and the Nashville branch of Wags & Walks Rescue?
• Flatt & Scruggs
• Montgomery Gentry

Country Band Names

• Alabama
• Diamond Rio
• Lonestar

50s Pop Stars: Female

• Doris Day — The love this multi-talented performer had for our four-legged friends lives on through the Doris Day Animal Foundation.
• Connie Francis
• Peggy Lee
• Patti Page
• Dinah Shore

50s Pop Stars: Male

• Paul Anka
• Chuck Berry
• Pat Boone
• Big Bopper
• Fats Domino
• Perry Como
• Bill Hailey
• Buddy Holly
• Jerry Lee Lewis
• Roy Orbison
• Little Richard
• Elvis Presley — If you are considering a name inspired by The King of Rock and Roll, be sure to check out our page of Elvis-themed dog names!

50s duos

• The Everly Brothers (Phil and Don)
• 50s Band Names
• The Cadillacs
• The Coasters
• The Crickets
• The Drifters
• The Flamingos
• The Moonglows
• The Penguins
• The Platters
• The Shirelles

1960s Rock/Pop Stars: Female

• Joan Baez
• Shirley Bassey
• Cher
• Petula Clark
• Judy Collins
• Cass “Mama Cass” Elliot
• Marianne Faithfull
• Lesley Gore
• Janis Joplin
• Lulu
• Peggy March
• Joni Mitchell
• Diana Ross
• Nancy Sinatra
• Ronnie Spector
• Dusty Springfield
• Barbra Streisand
• Tina Turner
• Dionne Warwick
• Mary Wells

1960s Rock/Pop Stars: Male Names

• Roger Daltry (of The Who)
• Donovan
• Bob Dylan
• George Harrison
• Jimi Hendrix
• Mick Jagger
• John Lennon
• Paul McCartney
• Jim Morrison (The Doors)
• Keith Richards
• Ringo Starr

60s Duos

• Jan and Dean
• Simon and Garfunkel
• Sonny and Cher

60s bands

• The Beatles
• The Byrds
• Led Zeppelin
• The Monkees (along with the name Monkee, puppies could be named after band members Davey Jones, Mickey Dolenz, Michal Nesmith and Peter Tork)
• Steppenwolf
• The Supremes

Words Associated with 60s music

• Fab
• Gear
• Groovy
• Hippie
• Woodstock

70s Pop and Rock Stars: Male

• David Cassidy — The late teen idol’s devotion to cats, dogs and horses lives on through the I Think I Love you Animal Foundation.
• Andy Gibb
• Billy Joel
• Elton John
• Barry Manilow
• Tony Orlando (and dawn)
• Donny Osmond
• Rod Stewart

70s Pop and Rock Stars: Female

• Karen Carpenter
• Olivia Newton-John
• Stevie Nicks
• Marie Osmond
• Carly Simon
• Donna Summer
• Linda Ronstadt

70s Duos

• Captain and Tennille
• Hall and Oates
• Seals and Crofts

70s Bands

• ABBA
• Aerosmith
• Bee Gees
• Chic
• Chicago
• Fleetwood Mac
• Queen

Words Associated with 70s music

• Boogie
• Disco

80s Musical Artists: Female

• Pat Benatar
• Bjork
• Belinda Carlisle — The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member is the co-founder of Animal People Alliance.
• Gloria Estefan
• Debbie Gibson
• Debbie Harry
• Whitney Houston
• Chrissie Hynde (of The Pretenders)
• Janet Jackson
• Joan Jett
• Cyndi Lauper
• Annie Lennox
• Madonna
• Donna Summer

80s Musical Artists: Male

• Bono (of U2)
• Bryan Adams
• Rick Astley
• Jon Bon Jovi
• David Bowie
• Boy George
• Michael Jackson
• Simon LeBon
• Freddie Mercury
• George Michael
• Prince
• Lionel Richie
• Rick Springfield
• Sting

80s Bands

• Bananarama
• The Bangles
• Blondie
• Bon Jovi
• Devo
• Duran Duran
• The Go-Gos
• Heart
• Journey
• Van Halen
• Wham!

90s Musical Artists: Female

• Aaliyah
• Christina Aguilera
• Beyonce
• Mariah Carey
• Celine Dion
• Jennifer Lopez
• Mya — In 2022 the Grammy Award winner became the first US celebrity ambassador for World Animal Protection.
• Sarah McLachlan
• Kylie Minogue
• Alanis Morissette
• Shakira
• Britney Spears
• Gwen Stefani

90s Musical Artists: Male

• Michael Buble
• Kurt Cobain
• Eminem
• Lenny Kravitz
• Seal
• Rob Thomas — The singer/songwriter and his wife are the co-founders of Sidewalk Angels Foundation which provides funds for 20 no-kill shelters and rescues across the United States.

90s bands

• Korn
• Nirvana
• Oasis
• R.E.M.
• Radiohead
• Soundgarden
• Weezer

1990s Music Words

• Lilith (Fair)
• Lollapalooza

2000s Musical artists: Female

• Avril Lavigne
• Kelly Clarkson
• Miley Cyrus — The “Wrecking Ball” singer has had many pals with paws over the years.
• Dido
• Katy Perry
• Pink
• Rihanna
• Amy Winehouse

2000s Musical artists: Male

• Enrique Iglesias
• Adam Levigne
• Chris Martin (of Coldplay)
• Moby
• Justin Timberlake

2000s Bands

• Coldplay

2000s Music words

• Bonnaroo
• Coachella

2010s Musical Artists: Female

• Lady Gaga
• Selena Gomez
• Ariana Grande — The “7 Rings” singer is the co-founder of Orange Twins Rescue!
• Janelle Monae
• Taylor Swift (check our sister site for a rundown of dozens of Taylor Swift pet names)

2010s Musical Artists: Male

• Justin Bieber
• Bruno Mars
• Ed Sheeran
• Harry Styles

2020s recording artists: Female

• Doja Cat
• Billie Eilish
• Dua Lipa
• Olivia Rodrigo

2020s recording artists: Male

• Lewis Capaldi
• Shawn Mendes
• Charlie Puth
• Troye Sivan

Bands

• BTS
• Haim
• H.E.R.

Jazz Cat Names: Male

• Louis Armstrong
• Count Basie
• Dave Brubeck
• John Coltrane
• Chick Corea
• Miles Davis
• Duke Ellington
• Dizzy Gillespie
• Herbie Hancock
• Chalres Mingus
• Thelonious Monk
• Charlie Parker
• Sonny Rollins

Jazz Dog Names: Female

• Ella Fitzgerald
• Nina Simone
• Sarah Vaughan

Words Associated with Jazz Music

• Axe — A word used by jazz musicians in place of instrument.
• Bebop
• Boogie
• Boogie-woogie
• Bop
• Fusion
• Hep Cat
• Hepster or Hipster
• Jazz
• Jive
• Jump
• Riff
• Rhythm
• Scat
• Sideman — Members of the bad, excluding the lead.

Opera Dog Names: Male

• Jose Carreras
• Enrico Caruso
• Placido Domingo
• Mario Lanza
• Luciano Pavarotti

Opera Dog Names: Female

• Marian Anderson
• Kathleen Battle
• Monsterrrat Caballe
• Maria Callas
• Renee Fleming
• Marilyn Horne
• Jessye Norman
• Leontyn Pryce
• Beverly Sills
• Joan Sutherland
• Kiri Te Kanawa

Words Associated with Opera Music

• Aria
• Baritone
• Bass
• Cadenza
• Contralto
• Diva
• Encore
• Falsetto
• Impresario
• Libretto
• Portamento
• Soprano
• Soubrette
• Tenor
• Toi Toi Toi — Pronounced “toy toy toy,” this is a term in the opera world for good luck.
• Trill

R & B/Soul Dog Names: Female

• Erykah Badu
• Mary J. Blige
• Aretha Franklin
• Alicia Keys
• Chaka Khan
• Patti LaBelle
• Jill Scott

R & B/Soul Dog Names: Male

• Sam Cooke
• Isaac Hayes
• Luther Vandross
• Barry White

Hip Hop and Rap Dog Names: Male

• 50 Cent
• Biggie (The Notorious B.I.G.)
• Sean Combs
• Common
• DaBaby
• Snoop Dogg
• Drake
• Dr. Dre
• Nipsey Hussle
• Ice Cube
• Ice-T
• Jay-Z
• Post Malone
• Lil Wayne
• LL Cool J
• Tupac Shakur
• Ye

Hip Hop and Rap Dog Names: Female

• Cardi B
• Da Brat
• Missi Elliott
• Megan Thee Stallion
• Nicki Minaj
• Queen Latifa

Musical Instruments

• Accordion
• Banjo
• Bass
• Bassoon
• Cello
• Clarinet
• Cymbal
• Flute
• Didgeridoo
• Drum
• Guitar
• Harp
• Lute
• Lyre
• Madrigal
• Mandolin
• Marimba
• Oboe
• Oud
• Piano
• Piccolo
• Tambourine
• Trombone
• Trumpet
• Ukulele
• Veena
• Violin

Musical Words

• Adagio
• Allegro
• Andante
• Cadence
• Cantata
• Chorus
• Coda
• Fugue
• Grammy
• Harmony
• Melody
• Solo
• Sonata
• Song
• Tempo

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