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
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
- Private
- Corporal
- Soldier
- Ranger
- Airman
- Marshal
- Specialist
- Skipper
- Captain
- Sergeant
- Specialist
- Sailor
- Master
- Trooper
- Commander
- Gunner
- Army
- Bomber
- Officer
- Vice
- Lieutenant
- Sniper
- Commodore
- Marine
- Captain
- Boomer
- Veteran
- Recruit
- Shooter
- Striker
- Navy
- Major
- Tracker
- Colonel
- Lance
- Warrant
- Ensign
- Chief
- Scout
- Brigadier
- Pilot
- General
- Hunter
26 Dog Names Based on the NATO Alphabet
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.
- Alpha
- Bravo
- Charlie
- Delta
- Echo
- Foxtrot
- Golf
- Hotel
- India
- Juliett(e)
- Kilo
- Lima
- Mike
- November
- Oscar
- Papa
- Quebec
- Romeo
- Sierra
- Tango
- Uniform
- Victor
- Whiskey
- X-Ray
- Yankee
- Zulu
10 Dog Names Based on Famous Military Dogs
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.
- Cairo — A Belgian Malinois who helped with the raid of Osama bin Laden.
- Conan — Another Belgian Malinois. This one helped with the Baghdadi 2019 raid.
- Luca — Luca was a working dog for the military that earned the Dickin Medal
- Chips — Chips was the dog most decorated after WWII.
- Cappy — Cappy was a Doberman who worked with the Marines during WWII.
- Smoky — Smoky was a uniquely small dog serving in the military during WWII. He was a Yorkshire terrier.
- Argo — Argo is the name of Odysseus’ dog.
- Willie — Willie was the bull terrier of General George S. Patton.
- 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.
- Gander — Sergeant Gander was a Newfoundland who was a war hero and a famous mascot in Canada.
29 Dog Names Based on Famous Soldiers
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.
- Achilles — Achilles was a Greek hero most known for his fighting during the Trojan War.
- Maximus — Maximus is a warrior and fighter from the movie Gladiator.
- Arthur — King Arthur from Arthurian legend and Camelot is one of the most well-known leaders and fighters in history.
- 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.
- Ajax — Ajax was another brave and powerful Greek hero.
- Thor — Thor was a soldier, just not a human one. He was the Norse god of thunder.
- Roderick — Roderick Dhu was a legendary figure known for symbolizing both power and strength.
- Gideon — Gideon is a biblical figure who is known for powerful leadership.
- Heracles — The son of Zeus and a famous Greek hero who had incredible strength that he used to fight monsters.
- 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.
- Chester — General Chester W. Nimitz was an important general in WWII.
- Xenophon — This was a Greek historian and soldier.
- Pericles — Pericles was a historic character known for being a military leader and a statesman.
- Audie — Audie Murphy stands out amongst other soldiers in WWII because they were the most decorated American combat soldier during the war.
- Hannibal — Hannibal Barca was a Carthaginian military commander.
- Leonidas — Leonidas was a Spartan king who fought during the Battle of Thermopylae.
- Sherman — General William Tecumseh Sherman was known because of “March to the Sea.”
- Genghis — Genghis Khan was an incredible leader and the founder of the Mongol Empire.
- Montgomery — Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery was a British military leader.
- Vlad — If you’re looking for a military name that’s intimidating, Vlad is a great option, after Vlad the Impaler.
- Alexander — Alexander is for Alexander the Great, who was a conqueror and a military strategist.
- Rommel — Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was known as the “Desert Fox” during WWII.
- Ulysses — Ulysses S. Grant was a Union Army leader during the American Civil War.
- MacArthur — If you want a soldier closer to home, General Douglas MacArthur was an American military leader.
- Dwight — General Dwight D. Eisenhower was the Allied Expeditionary Forces Supreme Commander during WWII.
- Napoleon — The French military emperor Napoleon Bonaparte is another military member to name your dog after.
- Julius — Julius, or Caesar, is the perfect name to represent the Roman military general, Julius Caesar.
- Patton — General George S. Patton was an aggressive leader who did well during wars.
- 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
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?
- Ammo
- Buckshot
- Wesson
- Hammer
- Carbine
- Ruger
- Dagger
- Bazooka
- Barrett
- Mauser
- Caliber
- Recoil
- Ricochet
- Beretta
- Semi
- Kevlar
- Rocket
- Grenade
- Uzi
- Remmy
- Nuke
- Magnum
- Taser
- Missile
- Reload
- Colt
- Bayonet
- Torpedo
- Pistol
- Rifle
- Nitro
- Bullet
- Laser
- Spitzer
- Gauge
- Cartridge
- Remington
- Cannon
- Kimber
- Musket
- Tank
- Archer
- Trigger
- Primer
28 Dog Names That Mean Solider or Warrior
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.
- Ailbert
- Conor
- Tormod
- Otto
- Aldric
- Malin
- Viggo
- Humphrey
- Ritter
- Valentine
- Einar
- Fergus
- Rainier
- Valdemar
- Miles
- Sener
- Wilfred
- Nikias
- Louvel
- Walter
- Garrett
- Kane
- Sardar
- Ludwig
- Odin
- Zoltan
- Gerald
- Theron
The photo featured at the top of this post is © Liudmila Chernetska/iStock via Getty Images
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