Explore the Best 180 Military-Inspired Dog Names

Written by Nina Phillips
Published: January 14, 2024
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There are so many options when it comes to dog names. You can choose funny human names, or names to do with history or even a specific country. However, maybe you’re looking for a more meaningful name. Whether you know someone who was part of the military, or you were formerly a member, these 184 military-inspired dog names are a way to represent your history and the people you’re proud to remember.

43 Dog Names Based on Ranks

Detail shot with american flag on soldier uniform, giving the honor salute during military ceremony

All branches of the military run based on rank.

©roibu/iStock via Getty Images

One of the easiest and most obvious ties to the military is the ranking system. Everyone in the military is given a rank. Using one of these titles for your dog is an easy, and apparent nod to any branch of the military

  1. Private
  2. Corporal
  3. Soldier
  4. Ranger
  5. Airman
  6. Marshal
  7. Specialist
  8. Skipper
  9. Captain
  10. Sergeant
  11. Specialist
  12. Sailor
  13. Master
  14. Trooper
  15. Commander
  16. Gunner
  17. Army
  18. Bomber
  19. Officer
  20. Vice
  21. Lieutenant
  22. Sniper
  23. Commodore
  24. Marine
  25. Captain
  26. Boomer
  27. Veteran
  28. Recruit
  29. Shooter
  30. Striker
  31. Navy
  32. Major
  33. Tracker
  34. Colonel
  35. Lance
  36. Warrant
  37. Ensign
  38. Chief
  39. Scout
  40. Brigadier
  41. Pilot
  42. General
  43. Hunter

26 Dog Names Based on the NATO Alphabet

War NATO text on camouflage background

NATO is the International Radiotelephone Spelling Alphabet used to make sure words and letters are heard clearly over radios and phones.

©Sinenkiy/iStock via Getty Images

The NATO alphabet is a great place to get names for a military-inspired dog. To start, you have 26 names to choose from. It also works well if you’re looking to name several dogs and give them names that match a theme.

  1. Alpha
  2. Bravo
  3. Charlie
  4. Delta
  5. Echo
  6. Foxtrot
  7. Golf
  8. Hotel
  9. India
  10. Juliett(e)
  11. Kilo
  12. Lima
  13. Mike
  14. November
  15. Oscar
  16. Papa
  17. Quebec
  18. Romeo
  19. Sierra
  20. Tango
  21. Uniform
  22. Victor
  23. Whiskey
  24. X-Ray
  25. Yankee
  26. Zulu

10 Dog Names Based on Famous Military Dogs

Guard dogs in equipment with the Police.

Military working dogs are taught a variety of tasks, such as attacking, tracking, bomb detection, and patrol.

©iStock.com/Semen Salivanchuk

Dogs have long been a part of the military. While many passed through history and were forgotten, some dogs were so amazing, that they’re not likely to be forgotten anytime soon. Naming your dog after one of these famous military dogs helps them to grow up to be something amazing, and keeps a little piece of history alive.

  1. Cairo — A Belgian Malinois who helped with the raid of Osama bin Laden.
  2. Conan — Another Belgian Malinois. This one helped with the Baghdadi 2019 raid.
  3. Luca — Luca was a working dog for the military that earned the Dickin Medal
  4. Chips — Chips was the dog most decorated after WWII.
  5. Cappy — Cappy was a Doberman who worked with the Marines during WWII.
  6. Smoky — Smoky was a uniquely small dog serving in the military during WWII. He was a Yorkshire terrier.
  7. Argo — Argo is the name of Odysseus’ dog.
  8. Willie — Willie was the bull terrier of General George S. Patton.
  9. Sarge — Sarge works as a nickname for Sergeant but it’s also a name to represent Sergeant Stubby, who was a famous dog during WWI.
  10. Gander — Sergeant Gander was a Newfoundland who was a war hero and a famous mascot in Canada.

29 Dog Names Based on Famous Soldiers

WW1 Monument

There are famous soldiers throughout the entirety of human history.

©onepony/iStock via Getty Images

Dogs are a man’s best friend, so why not name them after some of the best men around? If you want to focus on military names, a soldier or famous war hero is a good place to start.

Story-Based Soldiers

Some heroes are found in the pages of books, minutes of movies, and repeated throughout history in myth. Still, they are soldiers in one form or another and make great names for your dog.

  1. Achilles — Achilles was a Greek hero most known for his fighting during the Trojan War.
  2. Maximus — Maximus is a warrior and fighter from the movie Gladiator.
  3. Arthur — King Arthur from Arthurian legend and Camelot is one of the most well-known leaders and fighters in history.
  4. Odysseus — Odysseus is a Greek hero who was the main character in many stories to do with war and survival. He is most known for his role in the Trojan War.
  5. Ajax — Ajax was another brave and powerful Greek hero.
  6. Thor — Thor was a soldier, just not a human one. He was the Norse god of thunder.
  7. Roderick — Roderick Dhu was a legendary figure known for symbolizing both power and strength.
  8. Gideon — Gideon is a biblical figure who is known for powerful leadership.
  9. Heracles — The son of Zeus and a famous Greek hero who had incredible strength that he used to fight monsters.
  10. Theseus — Theseus was an Athenian hero who fought against the King of Crete to stop his people from being sent to the Minotaur.

Heros Throughout History

If you want a real hero to celebrate, there are plenty of soldiers to consider.

  1. Chester — General Chester W. Nimitz was an important general in WWII.
  2. Xenophon — This was a Greek historian and soldier.
  3. Pericles — Pericles was a historic character known for being a military leader and a statesman.
  4. Audie — Audie Murphy stands out amongst other soldiers in WWII because they were the most decorated American combat soldier during the war.
  5. Hannibal — Hannibal Barca was a Carthaginian military commander.
  6. Leonidas — Leonidas was a Spartan king who fought during the Battle of Thermopylae.
  7. Sherman — General William Tecumseh Sherman was known because of “March to the Sea.”
  8. Genghis — Genghis Khan was an incredible leader and the founder of the Mongol Empire.
  9. Montgomery — Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery was a British military leader.
  10. Vlad — If you’re looking for a military name that’s intimidating, Vlad is a great option, after Vlad the Impaler.
  11. Alexander — Alexander is for Alexander the Great, who was a conqueror and a military strategist.
  12. Rommel — Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was known as the “Desert Fox” during WWII.
  13. Ulysses — Ulysses S. Grant was a Union Army leader during the American Civil War.
  14. MacArthur — If you want a soldier closer to home, General Douglas MacArthur was an American military leader.
  15. Dwight — General Dwight D. Eisenhower was the Allied Expeditionary Forces Supreme Commander during WWII.
  16. Napoleon — The French military emperor Napoleon Bonaparte is another military member to name your dog after.
  17. Julius — Julius, or Caesar, is the perfect name to represent the Roman military general, Julius Caesar.
  18. Patton — General George S. Patton was an aggressive leader who did well during wars.
  19. Wellesley — This name comes after the British military hero, Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington. You could also use Wellington as an honorary name.

44 Dog Names Based on Weapons

dagger

Daggers, knives, and other military weapons throughout history make excellent and fierce-sounding dog names.

©Tanya145/iStock via Getty Images

Dogs are pets, friends, and even family members for some people. But that’s not all they are. Many dogs are powerful and fierce when they need to be acting as weapons made to protect their owners. With that in mind, why not choose a dog name based on weapons?

  1. Ammo
  2. Buckshot
  3. Wesson
  4. Hammer
  5. Carbine
  6. Ruger
  7. Dagger
  8. Bazooka
  9. Barrett
  10. Mauser
  11. Caliber
  12. Recoil
  13. Ricochet
  14. Beretta
  15. Semi
  16. Kevlar
  17. Rocket
  18. Grenade
  19. Uzi
  20. Remmy
  21. Nuke
  22. Magnum
  23. Taser
  24. Missile
  25. Reload
  26. Colt
  27. Bayonet
  28. Torpedo
  29. Pistol
  30. Rifle
  31. Nitro
  32. Bullet
  33. Laser
  34. Spitzer
  35. Gauge
  36. Cartridge
  37. Remington
  38. Cannon
  39. Kimber
  40. Musket
  41. Tank
  42. Archer
  43. Trigger
  44. Primer

28 Dog Names That Mean Solider or Warrior

Warrior woman in image of viking with ax and horned helmet next to the big black dog in winter forest.

If this is the sort of imagery you want your dog’s name to portray, consider one of the names below.

©Stanislav Hubkin/iStock via Getty Images

Do you want a name without quite as direct of a connection to the military? Why not pick a name that simply means soldier or warrior? If none of the names above are looking quite right, then one of these might be what you’re looking for instead.

  1. Ailbert
  2. Conor
  3. Tormod
  4. Otto
  5. Aldric
  6. Malin
  7. Viggo
  8. Humphrey
  9. Ritter
  10. Valentine
  11. Einar
  12. Fergus
  13. Rainier
  14. Valdemar
  15. Miles
  16. Sener
  17. Wilfred
  18. Nikias
  19. Louvel
  20. Walter
  21. Garrett
  22. Kane
  23. Sardar
  24. Ludwig
  25. Odin
  26. Zoltan
  27. Gerald
  28. Theron

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Liudmila Chernetska/iStock via Getty Images

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About the Author

Nina is a writer at A-Z Animals, FIDIS Travel, and Giant Freakin Robot. Her focus is on wildlife, national parks, and the environment. She has been writing about animals for over three years. Nina holds a Bachelor's in Conservation Biology, which she uses when talking about animals and their natural habitats. In her free time, Nina also enjoys working on writing her novels and short stories. As a resident of Colorado, Nina enjoys getting out in nature, traveling, and watching snow hit the mountains from her enclosed porch.

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