The 36 Most Badass and Tough Dog Names

Dog names can be representative of so many different energies. Toughness is a big one. Are you struggling to come up with the best possible name for your dog right about now? Choosing a name that represents strength, fierceness, and protection is a great route to take for any dog parent. You don’t necessarily have to be dealing with a dog breed that’s known for being aggressive, either. Sometimes, it’s more precious to give a tough dog name to small-sized pups that aren’t going to grow very large. These are some of the best dog names to consider if you want your dog to come across as powerful, victorious, and brawny whenever you bring them up in conversation.

Dragon is a Badass Dog Name

Fire-breathing dragons have always been respected as mythical creatures. Giving your dog a name like Dragon pays homage to the legendary fire-breathers that have been talked about in the world of folklore for years.

Viking is a Tough Dog Name

When thinking about the Vikings who lived in Europe from the 9th to the 11th century, it’s easy to think about all the fighting those folks once did. Vikings were warriors who weren’t scared of much. Giving a dog this name is a true sign of its fearlessness.

Thor is a Fierce Dog Name

Can a dog name get any more badass than Thor? Thor is the god of thunder, and he’s also one of the most beloved Marvel characters of all time. Whether you watch the movies or read the comics, it’s easy to understand why a name like Thor made this list.

Ghost is a Badass Dog Name

Floating ghosts have reputations for being scary and haunting. There’s a reason people choose to avoid creepy destinations where ghost sightings have reported. Since ghosts are considered pretty creepy, giving your dog this name sends a very strong message.

Bandit is a Tough Dog Name

When you imagine a bandit, you probably think of an outlaw. A bandit is someone who goes against the grain and does whatever it takes to get their way — even if it means taking illegal action. This name is super badass for a dog who has fierce tendencies.

Bruiser

You’ve likely heard the old saying, “You’re cruising for a bruising!” This is what people say when they’re ready to get into a physical brawl. Naming your dog bruiser means your dog is potentially capable of brawling if necessary.

Bones

We know dogs love digging bones up and then burying them again in the backyard. The name Bones doesn’t always make you think about that playful habit, though. Sometimes, it makes you think about the bones of a skeleton!

Grizzly

Naming your dog Grizzly will instantly make everyone think of a bear whenever you say the name out loud. Bears are vicious creatures who know how to attack other animals when they’re trying to protect themselves. A dog named Grizzly may very well carry that energy.

Boo

“Boo” is something people say during the Halloween season as a way of spooking their friends and family members. This is a great name to give a dog since it doubles as being both adorable and tough all at once.

Colonel

When a Colonel in the military is talking, everyone who reports to him or her immediately listens up. Colonels have a lot of control – and loads of power. A powerful pup with badass energy deserves to be given a name like Colonel.

Howler

Dogs are often compared to wolves when it comes to their appearance and tendencies. Wolves are obviously wild creatures while dogs are domesticated. Still, the comparisons will always be drawn among observers. Naming your dog Howler means giving it more of an opportunity to draw that comparison.

Gauntlet

During medieval times, Knights would wear armor gloves called gauntlets. When a knight passed a gauntlet to another, it meant they were letting someone new step in for them and take over. This is a powerful dog name with 14th-century historical ties.

Charger

If a dog is charging towards you, there’s a high chance you’re going to be a tad freaked out about it! Naming a dog Charger lets the world know that your dog is fully capable of charging forward at any time if you need to be protected.

Hulk

One of the other Marvel heroes with a name that fits well on this list happens to be Hulk. Although the Hulk you recognize in Marvel movies and comic books is a bright green color, the color of your dog’s fur doesn’t matter when it comes to selecting a name like this one.

Villain

The villain of every story is someone who brings chaos and trouble to the main character. It’s often difficult to root for the villain since you typically don’t want them to come out on top. For this reason, this dog’s name represents an abundance of toughness.

Midnight

One of the darkest hours of the night happens to be midnight. Giving your dog a name like Midnight is a stark reminder of such a dark hour. When there isn’t any natural sunlight pouring in, loads of scary things can happen! This dog name sets the mold when it comes to sounding “tough.”

Poison

Drinking a drop of poison will likely end your life! Poison is one of the scariest on this planet since it’s an easy way to take someone down without using any physical weapons. Using the name Poison for your dog is powerfully intense.

Junkyard

Junkyard dogs have a bad reputation for being wild and untrained. Giving your dog a name like Junkyard will remind people of those wildly untrained pups in the world, even though your dog will be receiving an abundance of training from you.

Nightmare

A name like Nightmare makes all the sense in the world if the dog you’re raising is on the rebellious side. It’s a silly name to give a dog who has been a “nightmare” throughout the training process. By that same token, this name also sounds super tough when you say it out loud.

Bolt

How fast can a dog run? Based on its speed, a name like Bolt might be the best possible option. A lightning bolt is strikingly fast and powerful. A dog named Bolt will potentially hold true to the name whenever you see it running through fields off its leash.

Voldemort

Voldemort is the one name that Harry Potter characters hated saying out loud in all eight of the movies from the franchise. He was a terrifying, villain! For this reason, this name is one of the toughest options to consider for your dog.

Monster

Monster is similar to Nightmare when it comes to giving your dog a name that represents its personality. A dog who acts out in monstrous ways can be quite destructive in terms of tearing up things left on the floor and barking up a storm throughout the night. When the name “Monster” is spoken out loud, it sounds beyond badass.

Godzilla

Anyone who’s seen the Godzilla movie franchise knows just how scary that reptilian monster was. It gained its powers from nuclear radiation and went ham on innocent people! Your dog will never be capable of that, but this name still sends a powerful message.

Blade

Facing off against a dangerous individual who’s got a blade in their hand would be absolutely petrifying. A blade is a sharp knife that can end someone’s life. It’s not the type of weapon anyone wants to be threatened with. Naming your dog blade is as tough as it gets.

Danger

Naming your dog Danger is pretty edgy! It’s as if you’re giving the world a warning about how strong and fierce your pup really is. This name also serves as a reminder that your dog may potentially help protect you from outer sources of danger.

King Kong

King Kong is a badass name for a dog, even though it originally belonged to a fictional gorilla. The character of King Kong has been around in various movies since 1933. Now, his name can be plucked for the purpose of giving your dog a tougher reputation.

Shadow

When you see a shadow pass you by in the middle of the night, it instantly gives you goosebumps on the back of your neck. Shadows can pass by for any reason at all including a car driving by outside, but they’re still scary! For this reason, Shadow is a great name for a tough pup.

Mountain

When people talk about overcoming obstacles, they often use the word “mountain” as a metaphor. Overcoming the difficult mountains in life can be excruciatingly tough. That’s why this name fits the bill when it comes to giving your dog a tougher vibe.

Ninja

Ninjas are trained fighters who can take an enemy out with a swift kick of their foot. They also know how to punch, jump, and use nunchucks! There’s a reason ninjas are featured in so many action movies. This is an incredibly badass name for any dog.

Spike

Spike is a great name for a dog if you’re looking for something tough that’s also short and sweet. Spikes can be used as weapons! Even if your dog never attacks anyone, having a name like Spike is still enough to slightly scare other people off.

Dracula

One of the most haunting vampires in scary story history happens to be Dracula. Dracula is a bloodsucking vampire who takes the lives of innocent people for dinner. Of course, this is something your dog would never be capable of, but the name still falls into the “tough” category.

Jaws

A name like Jaws probably reminds you of a shark. The daunting name can still be used for dogs, though. It’s true that sharks have sharp jaws in their mouth, but so do dogs! When a dog is ready to attack someone, their jaws come out with a vengeance.

Frankenstein

Frankenstein is a creepy monster who was written about in a novel back in 1818 by an author named Mary Shelley. She got super creative with this monster, and now it can be used as a dog name for your pup at home.

Salem

Anyone who’s ever taken a history class knows all about the town of Salem. It’s where the witch trials took place in Massachusetts! You’ll instantly be reminded of all the witchy shenanigans that took place back in 1692 with a dog name like this one.

Zombie

Although your dog is alive and well, giving it a name like Zombie is a very badass thing to do. Zombies are recognized as dead beings who love hunting down the living. This isn’t something your dog would ever be capable of, but the name still fits the bill for toughness.

Tank

Tank is the best name for a dog who’s super large in size. This dog name would also work for a pup that isn’t going to grow very big if your intention is to be ironic. Tanks are used by the military at wartime. What a badass name, choice!