# Supposedly common dog names that really aren't **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 29, 2016, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695 "2016-06-29T13:13:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/1 "2016-06-29T13:13:21Z")
> [@county dog license literature](#): > > …but before you can adopt Rover and take him home you must ensure a veterinarian has signed the vaccination card certifying that blah blah blah… Think about how often you see and hear dog names like Rover, Spot, Spike, or Fido used in a context where it’s implied these names are so common, quintessential, or stereotypical they’re considered almost cliché. When was the last time (outside of a Warner Bros. cartoon) you actually encountered a dog named Rover or Fido? I don’t think I ever have. How about you? ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/2 "2016-06-29T13:38:37Z")
When I was a teen-ager, we had a dog named Spike. A very friendly gentle shepard. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/3 "2016-06-29T13:38:53Z")
I have never met a Rover or a Fido. The Spot I met was a cat. One dog named Dot - dalmatian of course. I’ve met one dog, two cats, and one man called Spike. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/4 "2016-06-29T13:48:01Z")
We had a “Bowser” once. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/5 "2016-06-29T13:51:25Z")
My father was a small animal veterinarian for forty years, and never encountered a dog named either Rover or Fido. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/6 "2016-06-29T13:53:18Z")
I used to have a dog named Spot. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/7 "2016-06-29T13:55:32Z")
We had two “Buds” - three, sort of. Two black labs when I was a kid, and a temporary Golden my mother had for two years. I had a gray and white shorthair who absolutely insisted her name was Miaow-Miaow. We tend to be inventive with pet names. I just has the pleasure of naming a new puppy and reached back 4700 years for a name. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/8 "2016-06-29T13:56:47Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > My father was a small animal veterinarian for forty years, and never encountered a dog named either Rover or Fido. > > Regards, > Shodan I believe that. On further reflection, I’m not sure I should have included ‘Spot’ in this pantheon. I forgot about the Spot that was in our dog’s obedience class. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/9 "2016-06-29T14:03:24Z")
When I was a teen, we had a poodle, and we talked about naming her Phideau, but we didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/10 "2016-06-29T14:12:38Z")
I had a cat named Fido. And come to think of it, a professor named Bowser. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/11 "2016-06-29T14:22:42Z")
I spilled some spot remover on my dog, and now he’s gone. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/12 "2016-06-29T14:24:39Z")
There is a theory that the name of the dog guarding Hades, Cerberus, is derived from _Kerberos_, meaning “spotted”. Yes, Hades’ three-headed monster dog is named “Spot”. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/13 "2016-06-29T14:38:22Z")
My aunt has had dogs named Bowser and Spike. What’s the deal with Bowser? Why is it a common dog name? For me, that’s a Super Mario Bros. name! We had a golden retriever named Goldy. I’ve known a lot of dogs through doggy school and daycare. Never run in to a Rover, Spot or Fido. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/14 "2016-06-29T14:50:20Z")
[Abraham Lincoln’s dog was named Fido.](https://retrieverman.net/tag/abraham-lincolns-dog/) I don’t know he was following a cliché, or if it became a cliché because of him. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/15 "2016-06-29T14:54:24Z")
I met a guy who named his dog Deeohgee (pronounced D.O.G). Heh, whatever. Then a few months later I met another guy with a dog with the same name. No relation to guy #1. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/16 "2016-06-29T15:51:46Z")
Never met a Spot, Fido, Rover, not even a Snoopy, surprisingly. Three of ours have human names. Some people find that wrong. Toby, Gus, Sophie. And Shado. He came with a trailing W, but we prefer it this way. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/17 "2016-06-29T16:05:57Z")
I have heard of people using “traditional” dog names to be cute. It was a Hollywood meme for awhile (for example, the dog in “Fun With Dick and Jane” was named Spot and there was also a 2001 movie called “See Spot Run”). [QUOTE=Just Asking Questions] Three of ours have human names. Some people find that wrong. [/QUOTE] Not by me. Our dog names have included Sally, Portia, Bessie and now Patience. Not to mention the inimitable Bubba. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/18 "2016-06-29T16:27:02Z")
I submit for consideration “Rex” and “Lassie”. Anyone ever had/met either of those? ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/19 "2016-06-29T16:52:45Z")
[QUOTE=Jackmannii;19442269Our dog names have included …Portia, Bessie and now Patience.[/QUOTE] I thought you said they had people names? 😉 Our dog’s name is Tia Maria (usually just Tia). Our Spanish exchange student was very confused why we would name a pet a name that to him was effectively “Aunt Mary”. We had to explain the liqueur’s name and origin. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/20 "2016-06-29T17:06:52Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Never met a Spot, Fido, Rover, not even a Snoopy, surprisingly. > > Three of ours have human names. Some people find that wrong. > > Toby, Gus, Sophie. > > And Shado. He came with a trailing W, but we prefer it this way. All of my dogs have had human names. Gus, Mandy, Brandon, Whitney, and my current dog, Brewster. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695.md?page=2)