Labrador retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds in existence today. They’re a lot of people’s first resort for a breed when people are looking to bring home a pup. This breed can be traced back to the island of Newfoundland off Canada’s north-eastern Atlantic coast. Originally known as St. John’s dogs, they’ve been companion animals for humans since the 1700s.

Labrador names aren’t always easy to get right. This breed happens to be extremely intelligent, warm, affectionate, friendly, and loving. While they’re adorable to look at, they tend to have an athletic and muscular built, having been bred originally for sport.

It’s important to name your Labrador retriever right as this will be their identity throughout their life. You don’t want to give your muscular and athletic Labrador retriever a name that will leave people questioning how on earth the name suits their appearance. That’ll be almost as absurd as Hagrid naming the three-headed dog “Fluffy” in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.      

There are many criteria that you can follow for picking Labrador names. Choosing a name based on the personality of your Labrador retriever is one good option. Energetic, playful labs can flaunt a name quite different from a quieter, less energetic Labrador retriever. You can also choose a short and sweet name for your lab or a name based on the color of their coat, like for yellow Labradors, black Labradors, or a chocolate Lab.

We’ll talk about more such inspiration for Labrador names later on in this article. For now, take a look at some of the most popular Labrador names in existence and find the perfect one for your pooch.

Top 110 Labrador Names

You want to ensure you’re choosing a name that resonates with your lab’s personality.

Check out some of these cool name ideas for your Labrador retriever that happen to be the most popular choices among lab parents:

• Arlo
• Archie
• Ace
• Abby
• Annie
• Bella
• Bailey
• Bo
• Belle
• Blue
• Bruno
• Buddy
• Buster
• Brody
• Charlie
• Cooper
• Chance
• Chase
• Chloe
• Cody
• Callie
• Dexter
• Dixie
• Daisy
• Duke
• Diesel
• Emma
• Ellie
• Ella
• Finn
• Fiona
• Fido
• Gus
• Gunner
• Ginger 
• Gracie
• Hollie
• Hazel
• Harley
• Hattie
• Henry
• Harper
• Hank
• Izzy
• Ivo
• Josie
• Jax 
• Jack
• Kit
• Kona
• Kai
• Koda
• Luna
• Lucy
• Lexi
• Lola
• Loki
• Louie
• Layla
• Lady
• Leo
• Lily
• Lucky
• Max
• Maddie
• Maggie
• Molly
• Mia
• Murphy
• Marley
• Milo
• Moose
• Nala
• Nova
• Otis
• Olive
• Ollie
• Oliver
• Penny
• Piper
• Pippa
• Pepper
• Percy
• Ruby
• Roxy
• Rocky
• Ranger
• Rosie
• Ryder
• Remi
• Riley
• Stella
• Sasha
• Scout
• Sadie
• Shadow 
• Scotty
• Sammy
• Sophie
• Sydney
• Tucker
• Toby
• Taz
• Tank
• Willow
• Winnie
• Zoey
• Zeus
• Zak
• Zeke

Top 30 Female Labrador Dog Names

Male and female Labradors need to be given different names that suit their gender. If you bring home a female Labrador, here are some perfect names you can choose from. 

• Katie
• Juno
• CeCe
• Luna
• Ariel
• Gia
• Queenie
• Charice
• Amber
• Trudy
• Norah
• Bree
• Aria
• Poppy
• Connie
• Ruth
• Naomi
• Artemis
• Anna
• Zara
• Irina
• Trixie
• Clara
• Tasha
• Kiana
• Zelda
• Foxy
• Jade
• Olga
• Taylor

See more female dog names

Give your female lab a name that showcases her sweet yet strong side when you want to find the perfect for her.

Top 30 Male Labrador Dog Names

While planning for a male Labrador name, make sure you stay true to the nature of your “good boy” and give him a name that he can proudly wear around the house as well as when you head out with him.

There are plenty of options for names that can suit your lab’s strong and playful nature. Here are some of the most popular names that you can choose from when naming your male Labrador.

• Hal
• Boots
• Rafi
• Skip
• Axel
• Bolt
• Gabe
• Diego
• Zenon
• Baxter
• Nino
• Champ
• Luc
• Bane
• Alexei
• Rex
• Connor
• Rambo
• Shane
• Buck
• Griffin
• Spike
• Alvy
• Rory
• Blaze
• Tag
• Preston
• Flynn
• Harrison
• Ike

See more male dog names

Top 50 Unique Labrador Names

Since labs are one of the most popular dog breeds to exist, you may find that the names typically used for labs are generic or have been overused.

If you want to make an impression with your Labrador name, consider making use of a unique Labrador name that’s not as commonly used as many of the other names suggested above.

• Abba
• Hubert
• Baron
• Nell
• Scott
• Cashew
• Norfolk
• Buzz
• Buccleah
• Avon
• Chai
• Deeds
• Teagan
• Ben
• C.J.
• Esker
• Lassie
• Fluke
• Lorna
• Shea
• Banchory
• Bolo
• Harlow
• Gator
• Ringo
• Pascal
• Woody
• Star
• Cola
• Jadie
• Purdy
• Simba
• Zeb
• Hibbert
• Ming
• Kenobi
• Marble
• Easton
• Wesley
• Magnus
• Sade
• Arden
• Zulu
• Tango
• Momo
• Tova
• Kim
• Taco
• Zazu
• Jello

50 Chocolate Labrador Names

A chocolate lab is a treat to the eyes. Their hazel eyes, thick fur, and adorable face make them wondrous creatures to behold and as such, they deserve a name that matches their beauty. Here are some popular options for naming your chocolate lab.

• Brindle
• Aero
• Mohave
• Nutella
• Sherwood
• Coco
• Hickory
• Choco
• Bamboo
• Espresso
• Bounty
• Alder
• Cookie
• Matrix
• Coffee
• Jasper
• Cadbury
• Corkie
• Clay
• Mocha
• Russet
• Bear
• Waffles
• Chico
• Snickers
• Cosmos
• Hershey
• Fudge
• Brownie
• Java
• Cello
• Lotus
• Whiskey
• Clove 
• Heather
• Godiva
• Hoppy
• Khaki
• Brandy
• Rolo
• Mustang
• Balsa
• Chestnut
• Guinness
• Heath
• Tootsie
• Kahlua
• Russet
• Cola
• Cinnamon

50 Black Labrador Names

Black is one of the primary coat colors of Labrador retrievers. Black Labradors have a lot to flaunt and so do their pet parents.

Black Labradors have a shiny, thick, black coat that sets them apart from other dogs and ensures that people turn heads to take a look at them. Their regal appearance calls for a name that matches them. You can take your pick from some popular options below if you’ve brought home a black lab.     

• Pitch
• Dusty
• Ash
• Atomic
• Steam
• Smoke
• Ember
• Fossil
• Char
• Raven
• Jett
• Glow
• Coal
• Miner
• Onyx
• Gunny
• Ninja
• Astral
• Dash
• Gamma
• Fireball
• Spinel (black stone)
• Radio
• Aurora
• Ebony
• Pepsi
• Bandit
• Poe
• Smoky
• Eclipse
• Flare
• Kali
• Phantom
• Raisin
• Lunar
• Drusy (black crystal stone)
• Puma
• Pirate
• Blackie
• Darth
• Chalky
• Stormy
• Bean
• Charcoal
• Knight
• Vader
• Hema (Hematite)
• Zorro
• Jedi
• Tarmac

See more black dog names

Inspiration For Labrador Dog Names

You can also draw inspiration from other factors when looking for the perfect name for your lab. You can opt for different names for white, fox red, and yellow labs based on the options provided below.

20 Names For Yellow Labs

• Snowflake
• Sunshine
• Amber
• Sunny
• Buttercup
• Saffron
• Goldie
• Nugget
• Maizy
• Honey
• Blondie
• Primrose
• Custard
• Barley
• Aslan
• Penny
• Marigold
• Nacho
• Casper
• Wheatie

20 Names For Fox Red Labrador Retrievers

• Flame
• Rusty
• Sunset
• Ruby
• Scarlett
• Peaches
• Tabby
• Autumn
• Cherry
• Rose
• Phoenix
• Burgundy
• Sedona
• Copper
• Merlot
• Berry
• Cardinal
• Redbud
• Azalea
• Garnet

20 Names For White Labrador Retrievers

• Lightning
• Glacier
• Blizzard
• Ghost
• Pearl
• Marble
• Eskimo
• White Star
• Aspen
• Spirit
• Sugarplum
• Tulip
• Ametrine (a lavender white stone)
• Opal
• Snowdrop
• Flake
• Peony
• Whisper
• Magnolia
• Camellia

You could even base your Labrador names on celebrities, historical and literary figures, superheroes and other fictional characters. Some popular choices are described below.

Celebrity Names For Labs

While this is an option, you must know that the behavior of celebrities is unpredictable. You never know the direction that their lives can take so only resort to this if you’re fairly thick-skinned and won’t let anything get to you.

Naming your lab after a celebrity you admire can be a great way to pay tribute to them. Some popular choices are:

• Bowie 
• Elvis 
• Jack 
• Vin
• Leo 
• Gwen
• Harper
• Jess
• Nicki
• Pink

Labrador Names Inspired By Historical And Literary Figures

You can even name your beloved lab after historical figures you admire or literary figures you engaged with, either from classic or modern works. Some options that may get you thinking include:

• Joan
• Louis
• Amelia
• Cleo
• Nelson
• Rosa
• Florence
• Tesla
• Luna
• Laura
• Pippi
• Alice
• Elinor
• Fern
• Darcy
• Sherlock
• Edmund
• Ariadne
• Morse
• Thorin

You can even name your lab after famous artists, musicians, superheroes, or children’s characters.

Deciding on a name based on inspiration from your favorites will make the name more meaningful to you. Not only will it be a tribute to the person or character you’re drawn inspiration from, but it will also help you feel closer to your lab because you’ve given then an identity that you closely resonate with.

There are plenty of options to choose from, such as:

• Mozart
• Austin
• Beethoven
• Blake
• Tolstoy
• Thor
• Elektra
• Falcon
• Angel
• Bishop
• Scooby
• Shae
• Scathe
• Po
• Ezra
• Dora
• Bing
• Minnie
• Teal
• Tig

You can derive inspiration from so many places when you’re attempting to find the perfect Labrador name for your furry best friend. All you have to do is keep an eye out and embrace new experiences openly because you never know what will inspire you to choose the perfect name for your Labrador retriever.

Some Tips To Keep In Mind When Choosing Labrador Names

Choosing a name for your lab is never easy and there are several things you need to take into consideration before deciding on the right name. Despite all these popular options mentioned above, you may still find yourself struggling to decide what you want to name your lab. In such situations, a little extra help goes a long way in ensuring that you end up making the right choice.

Here are some tips that you can benefit from when you’re making the important decision of choosing the perfect Labrador name.   

1. Match Their Personality

We’ve already addressed how you should pick a name that fits the personality of your Labrador retriever. It’ll just resonate a lot more with you and other people who interact with your dog if they can see a similarity between the name given to them and their personality.

You can even match their appearance and coat color by choosing a name appropriately. The numerous options for the types of Labrador names to choose in such cases have already been discussed earlier on in this article.   

2. Keep It Short

Stick to names that have 2 syllables at most. Choosing a name that has more than 2 syllables may end up being too long for you to say repeatedly and it could also end up making it harder for your lab to respond. If, however, you do decide on a name that’s slightly longer than 2 syllables, try out different combinations of nicknames and see if they still match the actual name you want to give your lab. You want to make sure that your lab’s name can be turned into an appropriate, short nickname that can be used on a daily basis.   

3. Pick A Name That Ends With A Vowel

Your lab will be able to distinguish frequency ranges at levels that are much higher than what humans can hear. Names that end in vowels tend to change tone every time you call for your lab, making it easier for you to get their attention.

4. Make Sure You Can Say It Confidently Out Loud – In Private Or Public

While choosing a funny name for your lab may seem like a good idea at first, you have to remember that you’re going to have to call out to your lab every time you go out for a walk with them. Picking a name you’re embarrassed to say out loud isn’t going to be helpful when you’re trying to call out to your lab outdoors. 

5. Don’t Pick A Name That Has A Negative Connotation

Why would you want to name your adorable lab something that has a negative connotation to it? Besides, giving your lab a name that has a negative connotation can impact how people perceive and interact with your lab, even if they’re not fully aware of this. People may be less likely to stop and pet your lab if they associate something negative with the name of your lab.

Not only will you be pushing people away from your lab, but you’ll also be doing your Labrador retriever a disservice. Think about it. It’s not fair for your adorable lab to end up with a name that has a negative connotation simply because you thought it would be funny.    

6. Pick A Name That Can’t Be Confused With Commands

Dogs respond to specific sounds rather than words. Getting them used to certain commands is necessary if you want them to be well trained. Choose a name that sounds different from a command to avoid confusing your dog. For example, naming your lab “Ro” can easily be confused for the command, “No.” Do you really want your lab to give you those puppy dog eyes every time you say “Ro” to call him over to you but he ends up thinking you’re saying “No” instead?   

7. Make Sure It’s Different From What You Call Your Other Pets

If you’ve got other pets at home, make sure you pick a name that sounds different from the name you’ve given your other pets. As already described above, your dog will respond to sounds rather than specific words, so similar names can end up confusing them. For example, “Holly” and “Ollie” sound very similar and could end up confusing your dogs as to who you’re actually calling.

8. Stick With What You Choose

It’s important for you to stick to the name chosen and reinforce it a few times for your lab to get used to it. Too many changes to their name can end up confusing them and they may lose their sense of identity.

For more information on all things dog related, check out our dog blog.

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