# 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:** 2
**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, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/21 "2016-06-29T17:16:26Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > I submit for consideration “Rex” and “Lassie”. Anyone ever had/met either of those? Neighbors had a “Rex.” Good dog. ---
**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, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/22 "2016-06-29T17:40:05Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > I submit for consideration “Rex” and “Lassie”. Anyone ever had/met either of those? The neighbors had a German Shepherd named King, which is sort of close. Never met any Lassies, though they must exist. No Rin Tin Tins either, not even a Rinty. ---
**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, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/23 "2016-06-29T17:45:28Z")
If someone started a sister thread, the feline equivalents would have to be Puss, Princess, or Fluffy. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/24 "2016-06-29T17:47:27Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > And Shado. He came with a trailing W, but we prefer it this way. Does he know? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/25 "2016-06-29T19:37:08Z")
I had a cat named Cat. He came with the name of Sugar Frosted Flakes (because he was tiger striped), but I refused to call him that. The shelter called my current cat Churchill. I changed it to Jack. ---
**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, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/26 "2016-06-29T19:37:17Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Does he know? Who? The Shadow? He knows… ---
**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, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/27 "2016-06-29T19:38:49Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > If someone started a sister thread, the feline equivalents would have to be Puss, Princess, or Fluffy. I’ve known at least three people with iguanas. Every last one named Iggy, although at least one had a last name (Pop). ---
**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, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/28 "2016-06-29T21:43:39Z")
Not quite in the same class, but when I got my harlequin Dane at 11 months, the family had named him (with the kids having outsized votes, obviously) “Harlie.” I was limited in what I could change it to but found a much more acceptable name with a similar sound. ---
**Author:** ![Labor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Labor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labor)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/29 "2016-06-29T21:59:17Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > My father was a small animal veterinarian for forty years, and never encountered a dog named either Rover or Fido. > > Regards, > Shodan My brother had a dog named Rover. She was a nice dog ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/30 "2016-06-29T22:15:12Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > 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? Wasn’t “Fido” a Roman thing? Since it means “Loyal” in Latin? I assumed it was no longer common because we don’t speak Latin 😉 Rover - similar; I think of a hunter or a shepherd naming their dog Rover. Since most of the dogs we all likely deal with are true pets, not working dogs, we don’t encounter situations where dogs are named based on what they do for work. ??? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/31 "2016-06-29T22:17:40Z")
My wife’s first dog (she was 3) was a border collie named **Lassie**. My grandmother had a dog named **Spot** (I think he had a single black spot on his back). My first rabbit was **Bunny Bunny**. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2016, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/32 "2016-06-29T23:48:08Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > I submit for consideration “Rex” and “Lassie”. Anyone ever had/met either of those? I had a Collie named Lassie when I was a kid. I named her when I was 5, so… ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/33 "2016-06-30T02:14:23Z")
Fido and Rover used to be common dog names, a long time ago. There are trends in pet names. People used to name dogs after physical characteristics, like Spot and Blackie, but the current trend is to use human names. I read a very interesting and well-researched article on the trends over time awhile ago but can’t find it to my regret. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/34 "2016-06-30T02:57:51Z")
I think for Boston Terriers, the cliche names are Buster and Buddy. So many are named this! ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/35 "2016-06-30T12:39:27Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > If someone started a sister thread, the feline equivalents would have to be Puss, Princess, or Fluffy. Lots of Princesses and Fluffys. Little girls name cats. Little girls name dogs too, but not Rover or Fido. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/36 "2016-06-30T14:13:05Z")
I’ve never encountered dogs with the names the OP cites in real life. I have run across dogs named “Fido” in books (which were pre-cartoon-era, so they weren’t getting them from there). The name means “I am faithful” in Latin, so it’s appropriate for a dog. Not many people study Latin these days, so it’s sorta not appropriate anymore. Everyone would just think you were copying a cartoon. ---
**Author:** ![Ignotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecc23a/32.png) [@Ignotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignotus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/37 "2016-06-30T15:56:05Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > I had a cat named Cat. He came with the name of Sugar Frosted Flakes (because he was tiger striped), but I refused to call him that. > > The shelter called my current cat Churchill. I changed it to Jack. NO! :eek: You can’t change cat names! It will bring you seven years of bad luck! (Or is that boats?) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2016, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/38 "2016-06-30T16:04:48Z")
I’ve never met a dog with one of those names. I’d imagine it would be like meeting a person whose actual name is “John Doe.” ---
**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 30, 2016, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/39 "2016-06-30T16:10:55Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Lots of Princesses and Fluffys. Little girls name cats. Little girls name dogs too, but not Rover or Fido. I see a lot of dogs with old lady names, which have probably come back around to being little girl names again. Sadie and Daisy are popular. ---
**Author:** ![Lee\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/aeb1de/32.png) [@Lee\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lee_Q)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2016, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695/40 "2016-07-01T01:10:14Z")
> [@RobDog](#): > > I submit for consideration “Rex” and “Lassie”. Anyone ever had/met either of those? Our neighbor when I was a kid (circa mid-70s, small town) had a great Irish Setter named Rex. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/supposedly-common-dog-names-that-really-arent/758695.md?page=3)