The Best and Most Complete Guide to German Shepherd Names

Last Updated on April 20, 2023

The German Shepherd (GSD) needs no introduction. Imposing, powerful, majestic — this dog breed is also known for its wolfish appearance, loyalty, and obedience. It’s no wonder that they’re such popular police dogs.

GSDs are versatile canines and are America’s top #2 breed. They’re excellent in canine jobs and as hunting companions, family dogs, and hiking buddies.

Black and tan German Shepherds smiling
Two German Shepherds smiling and sitting on the grass

If you’re having trouble finding the best German Shepherd name, fret not, because that’s what this guide is for.

What’s a good name for a German Shepherd dog?

There are no rules to picking out a name, but you generally want something easy to remember and pronounce, like one to two syllabic names.

You might also want something that can live up to the GSD’s striking personality or appearance.

A White German Shepherd might be called Ghost like that iconic wolf-dog on “Game of Thrones.”

Black German Shepherds could be named after your favorite dessert, like Brownie!

Once you have a name for your doggo, help him learn his name by using it frequently while petting him. Then, give him loads of praise if he acknowledges you when you say it.

Never use your German Shepherd’s name to reprimand him. Only associate his name with positive reinforcement as this will help with his recall in the future.

What’s in a name: Famous German Shepherds

The most famous German Shepherd has to be Rin Tin Tin, who’s also responsible for popularizing the saddle marked GSD. But many people aren’t aware that GSDs come in all sorts of colors.

Other GSDs characters that have graced the screens are Batman’s Ace the Bat-Hound and Strongheart.

Feeling inspired? Here’s the full list of notable German Shepherds:

  1. Ace – fictitious character in Batman
  2. Apollo – 9/11 search and rescue hero
  3. Atticus – Jake Gyllenhaal’s dog
  4. Buddy – first seeing-eye guide dog
  5. Champ – President Biden’s dog
  6. Dolly – Jennifer Aniston’s dog
  7. Hutch – Ben Affleck’s dog
  8. Ira – Nikki Reed’s dog
  9. Jade – Instagram star
  10. Logan – Instagram star
  11. Major – President Biden’s dog
  12. Max – Instagram star
  13. Monty – Tom Hank’s dog
  14. Rin Tin Tin – actor 
  15. Strider – Instagram star
  16. Strongheart – actor

Top German Shepherd dog names 

There’s a name that resonates with every breed. Jake sounds like a dependable Golden Retriever. For the German Shepherd, the name Max fits like a glove.

Have you seen the 2015 movie titled “Max”? Just watch this video to see how strong and tough this breed is. You might even get convinced to give your pup the same name:

Need more options? Here are more than one hundred names for the powerful Alsatian.

German Shepherd puppy names

It’s easy to get tempted with cute name ideas, but don’t forget that your fur baby will grow up into a large dog.

You want a name that you won’t be shy calling out at the dog park and one that will be easy to use during dog training sessions.

These are great names for your puppy to grow into:

  1. Cooper
  2. Charlie
  3. Buddy
  4. Hera
  5. Patch
  6. Tucker
  7. Bullet
  8. Governor
  9. Kyra
  10. Oscar

Female German Shepherd names from A to Z

A female German Shepherd sitting with pink bandana
Source: @zina.helping.dog / IG

The perfect name for female GSDs should symbolize power and elegance with just the right touch of femininity.

Below are the female dog names which are best suited to your protective and affectionate pooch:

  1. Abby
  2. Angel
  3. Artemis
  4. Asia
  5. Athena
  6. Atlas
  7. Aurora
  8. Bathilda
  9. Bella
  10. Bronx
  11. Bree
  12. Carmen
  13. Charity
  14. Chanel
  15. Coco
  16. Dutchess
  17. Elsa
  18. Elektra
  19. Emma
  20. Faith
  21. Goddess
  22. Harper
  23. Heaven
  24. Holly
  25. Hope
  26. Ivy
  27. Jupiter
  28. Kaya
  29. Rogue
  30. Savannah
  31. Super
  32. Tia
  33. Timber
  34. Jada
  35. Jewel
  36. Katarina
  37. Kiera
  38. Lady
  39. Leola
  40. Levi
  41. Lola
  42. London
  43. Luna
  44. Maverick
  45. Meadow
  46. Murphy
  47. Nala
  48. Nikita
  49. Oakley
  50. Opal
  51. Precious
  52. Queen
  53. Quinn
  54. Raider
  55. Rhea
  56. Roxy
  57. Sable
  58. Sadie
  59. Star
  60. Stormi
  61. Tammy
  62. Unity
  63. Ursula
  64. Vale
  65. Valkyrie
  66. Venus
  67. Victory
  68. Willow
  69. Xena
  70. Yuna
  71. Zaila
  72. Zelda
  73. Zina
  74. Zoe

Male German Shepherd names from A to Z

A male German Shepherd puppy sitting adorably
Source: @hercules_gsd_herc / IG

For the manly and authoritative German Shepherd, calling out “Rambo” seems much cooler than “Tiny.”

The subtle male dog names below are both awesome and tough for your boy GSD:

  1. Admiral
  2. Arrow
  3. Archie 
  4. Aspen
  5. Bailey
  6. Baron
  7. Bane
  8. Bear
  9. Blitz
  10. Brutus
  11. Caesar
  12. Cairo
  13. Captain
  14. Charlie
  15. Chaos
  16. Conan
  17. Dash
  18. Denver
  19. Diesel
  20. Dozer
  21. Dublin
  22. Dude
  23. Duke
  24. Echo
  25. Ethan
  26. Eli
  27. Fang
  28. Flash
  29. Gambit
  30. Ghost
  31. Gunner 
  32. Gunther
  33. Havoc 
  34. Hercules
  35. Hollywood
  36. Isaac
  37. Jason
  38. Jagger
  39. Judge
  40. Jury
  41. Koda
  42. Kojack
  43. Keanu
  44. Legolas
  45. Loki
  46. Max
  47. Magneto
  48. Mozart
  49. Nova
  50. Otto
  51. Parker
  52. Perseus
  53. Ranger
  54. Shadow
  55. Sparta
  56. Stallone
  57. Steel
  58. Taj
  59. Tank
  60. Quentin
  61. Rocky
  62. Sarge
  63. Tarzan
  64. Thor
  65. Tornado
  66. Tracker
  67. Troy
  68. Titus
  69. Tyson
  70. Union
  71. Viking
  72. Wolfgang
  73. Xavier
  74. Xerxes
  75. Yale
  76. Zeus

German Shepherd names based on appearance & color

Feeling inspired by the way your dog looks? Take a look at our top picks below based on the German Shepherd’s physical qualities and coat color.

10 Black German Shepherd names

A Black German Shepherd laying on the grass
A majestic Black German Shepherd portrait laying down on the grass

Aside from naming your fido for its color, you can choose to go with what darkness represents.

  1. Reaper
  2. Phantom
  3. Eclipse
  4. Panther
  5. Vader
  6. Ebony
  7. Raven
  8. Widow
  9. Layla
  10. Lilith

White German Shepherd names 

A stunning Solid White German Shepherd
A White German Shepherd standing in a forest

White dogs are quite magical and wolf-like. It also symbolizes purity, snow, and innocence.

  1. Blizzard
  2. Ice
  3. Casper
  4. Ghost
  5. Yeti
  6. Alaska
  7. Dove
  8. Luna
  9. Snowy
  10. Sugar

Other colored German Shepherd names

A Liver German Shepherd standing

How about German Shepherd colors, such as the elusive Isabella or the intriguing Panda? We have some ideas.

  1. Blu (Blue)
  2. Cocoa (Liver)
  3. Oreo (Panda)
  4. Whiskey (Sable)
  5. Lava (Red)
  6. Silver (Isabella)
  7. Azure (Blue)
  8. Maple (Liver)
  9. Dot (Panda)
  10. Sandy (Sable)
  11. Amber (Red)
  12. Mystique (Isabella)

German Shepherd names based on size

You might want to acknowledge the medium-to-large size of GSDs. We’ve chosen dynamic and larger-than-life names you might like:

  1. Titan
  2. Gulliver
  3. Balor
  4. Missy
  5. Queenie
  6. Titania
  7. King
  8. Goliath
  9. Hulk
  10. Gaia
  11. Maya
  12. Rebel

German Shepherd names based on coat length

You might have a German Shepherd with amazing fur, so here are some names to match them!

  1. Chewbacca
  2. Shaggy
  3. Rex
  4. Kona
  5. Aldo
  6. Mick
  7. Rapunzel
  8. Grace
  9. Cleopatra
  10. Harley
  11. Amazon
  12. Cashmere

German Shepherd names based on origin

Do you love a particular place, city, or country? Maybe you’re just wanderlust? We have a list of names from all over the world, including the beautiful country that GSDs come from.

Spanish names for German Shepherds

A smiling German Shepherd playing ball on a grass field
Source: @oso_germanshepherd / IG

Home to delicious food and rich culture, anyone will feel drawn to Spain, including their language. Here are a couple of Spanish names for your GSD.

  1. Blanco – White
  2. Lobo – Wolf
  3. Santo – Saint
  4. Oso – Bear
  5. Toro – Bull
  6. Risa – Laughter
  7. Dulce – Sweet
  8. Feliz – Happy
  9. Alba – Sunrise
  10. Iria – Colorful; rainbow

Indian names for German Shepherds

A German Shepherd puppy licking laying on wooden porch
Source: @oso_germanshepherd / IG

There are plenty of beautiful Indian names, too. Whether you’re looking for something regal or more down-to-earth, we have just the thing.

  1. Krishna – God of Protection and Love
  2. Adil – Sincere
  3. Jihan – Cosmos
  4. Nirav – Still; calm
  5. Raja – King
  6. Yoga – To unite
  7. Gauri – White 
  8. Pari – Fairy
  9. Zoya – Life
  10. Bala – Strength

Native American names for German Shepherds

There’s something about Native American heritage that feels wild and powerful, just like a German Shepherd. If you want to pay homage to the land of the free, take a look at a few of our top picks.

  1. Anakin – Soldier
  2. Dakota – Friendly companion
  3. Jacy – The Moon
  4. Nuka – Younger brother
  5. Nodin – Wind
  6. Tiva – Dance
  7. Kimi – Secret
  8. Istas – Snow
  9. Elu – Beautiful
  10. Sakari – Sweet

African names for German Shepherds

Imbued with strength and closeness with nature, the savannah’s wilderness, and the people’s old history, African names will fit any courageous pup.

  1. Jambo – Greeting
  2. Obi – Heart
  3. Tandi – Fire
  4. Oseye – Happy
  5. Enyi – Friend
  6. Nandi – Sweet
  7. Zuri – Lovely
  8. Zibu – Water lily
  9. Sonto – Sunday
  10. Titi – Flower

Japanese names for German Shepherds

If you know the loyal dog named Hachiko and you’re inspired by it, we have included some Japanese names on our list. After all, their language is also rather melodic.

  1. Akira – Intelligent
  2. Hachiko – Mr. Eight
  3. Ryuu – Dragon
  4. Nori – Seaweed
  5. Yuki – Good fortune
  6. Kirakira – Shiny
  7. Emi – Blessing
  8. Miyu – Gentle
  9. Sora – Sky
  10. Shinju – Pearl

Hawaiian names for German Shepherds

Perhaps you’re a bit more carefree and want your dog’s name to reflect a culture that celebrates life. You can’t go wrong with Hawaiian.

  1. Akua – Spirit
  2. Inoki – Devoted
  3. Kai – Ocean
  4. Lupo – Wolf
  5. Weuweu – Fluffy
  6. Mahina – Moon
  7. Meli – Honey
  8. Lani – Sky
  9. Lellani – Royal Child
  10. Asera – Lucky

German Names for German Shepherds

Ah, the home of the Alsatian. We have dedicated each gender a list of names to honor the nation that birthed the beloved breed. These are all classic names that are popular in Germany.

  1. Axel – Father of peace
  2. Bach – Stream; brook
  3. Baldwin – Bold; brave
  4. Bruno – Brown
  5. Dieter – People ruler
  6. Friedrich – Ruler; power
  7. Gunthere – Battle; army
  8. Hansel – God is gracious
  9. Kaiser – Emperor
  10. Klaus – Victory of the people
  11. Rolfe – Wolf
  12. Walther – Powerful army
  13. Wolfgang – Wolf path
  14. Ada – Nobility
  15. Anka – God is gracious
  16. Cara – Darling; dear one
  17. Edith – Prosperous in war
  18. Gretel/Greta/Gretchen – Pearl 
  19. Heidi – Noble birth
  20. Helga – Holy; blessed
  21. Hilda – Battle
  22. Ida – Labour; work
  23. Liesel – God’s promise
  24. Nina – Gift of God
  25. Sofie – Great wisdom
  26. Thea – Gift of God

Names for Military and Police German Shepherds

A German Shepherd puppy laying on the grass

It’s almost impossible to disassociate German Shepherds with action-packed canine jobs. If you want your fido to have a name that resonates with authority, you’re not alone!

Here are some military-themed or police-related names for your GSD. Some of these also represent the values of the police academy.

  1. Glock
  2. Blazer
  3. Chief
  4. Sargeant 
  5. Colonel
  6. Trooper
  7. Rookie
  8. Honor
  9. Justice
  10. Cadet
  11. Liberty
  12. Faith
  13. Freedom
  14. Glory
  15. Partner
  16. Sport
  17. Deputy
  18. Boss
  19. Alpha
  20. Delta
  21. Bravo
  22. Mercy

Heroic dog names for your German Shepherd

Want to name your German Shepherd from a hero? It can be a character from your favorite book, TV series, or film. It’s all fair play.

My dogs are named based on my obsessions, and things we’re passionate about are where the best names come from.

  1. Ares
  2. Aragon
  3. Balto
  4. Falcon
  5. James Bond
  6. Morpheus
  7. Skywalker
  8. Neo
  9. Sherlock
  10. Snape
  11. Katniss
  12. Lara Croft
  13. Sarah Connor
  14. Merida
  15. Hermione
  16. Trinity
  17. Arwen
  18. Clary
  19. Rachel
  20. Tally

Auto-Inspired German Shepherd names

Even if you have a girl dog, many of these car-inspired names are unisex and can be used interchangeably.

  1. Adler
  2. Audi
  3. Aston
  4. Beetle
  5. Beemer
  6. Benz
  7. Diesel
  8. Mercedes
  9. Mustang
  10. Porsche
  11. Opal
  12. Alpina
  13. Gumpert
  14. Honda
  15. Volvo
  16. Nissan
  17. Ford
  18. Jeep
  19. Rover
  20. Chevrolet

German Shepherd names inspired by places

A GSD tongue sticking out while smiling
Source: @roman_germanshepherd / IG

You must have a favorite place that has always stuck with you. The city you’ve ever visited, the country where you met your soulmate, or the name of the diner you love!

  1. Tokyo
  2. Brooklyn
  3. Jolibee
  4. Alpine
  5. Paris
  6. Sydney
  7. Roman
  8. Beijing
  9. Morocco
  10. India

Names for German Shepherds owned by foodies

Food is universal, and some dishes, snacks, or ingredients make unique pet names. Just take a look at your pantry and start naming things out loud. It might surprise you!

  1. Brownie
  2. Cookie
  3. Cheddar
  4. Chestnut
  5. Chip
  6. Candy
  7. Cinnamon
  8. Hazel
  9. Honey
  10. Juice
  11. Kale
  12. Marshmallow
  13. Meatball
  14. Milo
  15. Mochi
  16. Nacho
  17. Frosting
  18. Olive
  19. Peanut
  20. Poppy
  21. Taco
  22. Waffle

Names for the strong and tough German Shepherd

Do you want to encourage your GSD puppy’s courageous side? Here are names inspired by wrestlers that may suit German Shepherd.

Your little fighter will have a name to watch, just like the other popular dog breeds with lethal beauty.

  1. Jet Li
  2. Jones
  3. McGregor
  4. Chuck
  5. Ali
  6. Mulan
  7. Ronda
  8. Megumi
  9. Holly
  10. Laila

Badass and cool German Shepherd names

How about a name that’s as cool as you? You’ll be able to call your dog by these names loudly and proudly.

  1. Prince
  2. Beast
  3. Galahad
  4. Ninja
  5. Spike
  6. Viper
  7. Mystique
  8. Roxy
  9. Serena
  10. Aphrodite

Cute German Shepherd names

Maybe you like having a big scary-looking dog with the cutest name in the world.

If Hagrid can name a three-headed dog monster “Fluffy,” there’s no reason why the best dog in the world shouldn’t have a cutesy name, as per his (or her!) owner’s wishes.

  1. Peanut
  2. Fluffer
  3. Squirt
  4. Wolfy
  5. Bee
  6. Sprinkles
  7. Snacks
  8. Kitty
  9. Cotton
  10. Puck

Funny German Shepherd names

A silly GSD showing its teeth

Are you more the clown of the group because of your fantastic sense of humor? You’ll love these pop culture references!

Before choosing a funny name, think about other people who are going to hear it. Not everyone has the same sense of humor, but this list can give you a good start.

  1. Howler
  2. Pumba
  3. Bow Wow
  4. Sir
  5. Master
  6. Hairy Pawter
  7. Bark Twain
  8. Dogzilla
  9. Jimmy Chew
  10. Zazu

Unique German Shepherd names

These incredibly uncommon names would leave a lasting impression.

  1. Attila
  2. Hannibal
  3. Adolf
  4. Cocktail
  5. Cowboy
  6. Tali’Zorah
  7. Helmet
  8. Hokage
  9. Krypton
  10. Lucifer
  11. Sven
  12. Balanar
  13. Salazar
  14. Lashes

Intelligent-sounding names for German Shepherds

For the smart dog destined for greatness:

  1. Aristotle 
  2. Plato
  3. Einstein
  4. Churchill
  5. Howser
  6. Harvard
  7. Watson
  8. Dartmouth
  9. Socrates
  10. Curie
  11. Ruth
  12. Oprah

Sweet-sounding names for German Shepherds

German Shepherds are known to be devoted and fierce protectors, but not many people know how sweet they are. If you do have a sweetheart furball, you’ll love this list:

  1. Bubbles
  2. Blossom
  3. Georgie
  4. Sugar
  5. Hersheys
  6. Roo
  7. Boo-Boo
  8. Dolly
  9. Daisy
  10. Darling

Names for pairs of German Shepherds

Two German Shepherd dogs enjoying the snow
Source: @german.shepherd.twins / IG

For the German Shepherd siblings, twins, or couples, these duo names might do the trick:

  1. Adam & Eve
  2. Hera & Zeus
  3. Bart & Lisa
  4. Peter & Wendy
  5. Batman & Robin
  6. Duke & Captain
  7. Salt & Pepper
  8. Romeo & Juliet
  9. Ben & Jerry
  10. Thelma & Louise
  11. Lightning & Thunder
  12. Pinky & Brain
  13. Twister & Tornado
  14. Robber & Bandit
  15. Faith & Hope
  16. Aiden & Caden

Other German Shepherd names

Looking at popular German Shepherd names might get your creative juices flowing. But it’s best to look at your daily life, too. You might come across some more unique names, such as the following:

  1. Ragnarok
  2. Babe
  3. Sabine
  4. Gatsby
  5. Guardian
  6. Castiel
  7. Becks
  8. Absinthe
  9. Rooster
  10. Danger

What should I name my German Shepherd dog?

A lovable GSD puppy outside during a snowy day
Source: @germanshepherrds / IG

If you’re stuck in a rut, you can save a few of your favorites and try them out with your new puppy or dog before you settle on one.

Don’t stress if the name you’ve chosen doesn’t work out. You can change the name in a heartbeat! Nobody’s going to know! 😉

You can even involve your pooch by calling out names and seeing which one he reacts to.

Already have a decision? Which German Shepherd names made your list? Share it with us and other pawrents by commenting below.

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