124 names

124 black dog names for dark-coated pups

A black coat is a gift for name-hunters. Night, shadows, gemstones, crows and black foods all offer ready-made ideas, and many of them sound as good as they look. Think Midnight on a glossy black Lab, Onyx on a sleek Doberman Pinscher or Licorice on a curly black Poodle.

This list groups black-inspired names by theme: night and shadow, gems and dark materials, dark foods, black animals and a few spooky-fun picks. Each has a short note on where the name comes from or why it suits a dark coat.

A good black dog name is short and has a strong sound. Many on this list, like Jet, Coal, Rook and Ink, are one syllable, which is easy to call outside. Pick one that fits your dog's personality as well as their coat: a sweet, goofy black dog might be better named Pepper than Phantom.

Night and shadows

MidnightThe darkest hour of the night
ShadowThe dark shape that follows you everywhere
EclipseWhen the moon or sun passes into darkness
DuskThe dim light just after sunset
NightfallThe moment evening turns to night
NocturneA dreamy piece of music inspired by the night
UmbraLatin for shadow, the darkest part of a shadow
Erebus♂Greek god of darkness
Noir♂French for black; also a moody style of film
Nero♂Italian for black
NoxLatin for night
Vesper♀Latin for evening
AbyssA deep, dark chasm
VoidEmpty darkness
GloomSoft darkness
StarlessA sky with no stars
MoonlessA night without moonlight
BlackoutTotal darkness
PitchThick, dark tar
SableDark fur, and the heraldic word for black
StygianDark and gloomy, from the river Styx of Greek myth
SomberDark and serious
Blackie♂Classic nickname for a black dog
Nera♀Italian for black
Noire♀French for black, feminine form
Kara♀Turkish for black
HeiChinese for black
DhuGaelic for black
KohlBlack eye makeup used since ancient times
GunmetalDark blue-gray metal
Phantom♂A shadowy figure
Specter♂A ghostly presence
WraithA pale, shadowy ghost
Obsidian♂Glassy black volcanic rock
BasaltDark volcanic stone
SlateDark gray-black stone
Nova♀A star that suddenly shines brightly in the night sky

Gems, minerals and dark materials

OnyxBlack gemstone
JetGlossy black gemstone and a jet-black color
Ebony♀Dense, dark wood
CoalBlack fuel from the earth
SootBlack dust from smoke
CinderBurned black ember
CharcoalBlack drawing and cooking material
GraphiteDark gray-black mineral used in pencils
CarbonThe black element in coal and soot
InkDark liquid for writing
InkyBlack as ink
SmudgeA dark mark
TarThick black substance
Velvet♀Soft, dark fabric
Satin♀Smooth, glossy fabric
Raven♀Large black bird with glossy feathers
HematiteShiny dark mineral
AnthraciteHard, glossy black coal
AshDark gray-black powder from fire
EmberA glowing coal in a fire
Eight Ball♂The black ball in pool
DominoBlack tile with white dots
Tuxedo♂Black and white formal wear
PandaBlack and white bear
PianoBlack and white keys
Bandit♂Masked outlaw, fitting for a black dog with a dark mask
Blackjack♂A card game and a black candy

Black foods and drinks

LicoriceDark chewy candy
TruffleDark, prized fungus used in fancy cooking
PepperBlack spice
Olive♀Dark green and black fruit
Blackberry♀Dark purple-black berry
BlackcurrantTart dark berry
Cassis♀French blackcurrant liqueur
SloeDark berry of the blackthorn
StoutDark beer
PumpernickelDark rye bread
MolassesDark, thick syrup
TreacleBritish dark syrup
SesameTiny seeds that can be black
CaviarDark fish roe
PruneDried plum
BlackstrapThe darkest, thickest molasses
Elderberry♀Dark purple berry
FigDark purple-black fruit
Aronia♀Black chokeberry
CurrantSmall dark berry
BrambleThorny blackberry bush
OolongDark, partly fermented tea
Black BeanGlossy black legume
KalamataDark olive from Greece
Mulberry♀Dark purple berry

Black animals

CrowBlack bird known for its intelligence
RookBlack bird of the crow family
JackdawSmall black crow with pale eyes
BlackbirdGlossy black songbird
StarlingDark, speckled songbird
CormorantBlack diving seabird
MagpieBlack and white bird known for its curiosity
PantherSleek, dark and stealthy
OrcaBlack and white whale
BeetleSmall shiny black insect
BatDark flying mammal of the night
SpiderEight-legged dark crawler
ScorpionDark desert arachnid
Gorilla♂Large, dark-furred ape
Corvus♂Latin for raven or crow
GrackleIridescent black bird
Condor♂Huge black vulture of the Americas
Anubis♂Egyptian god of the afterlife, shown with a black jackal head
VultureLarge dark bird

Spooky and gothic

SalemMassachusetts town famous for its witch trials
Poe♂The poet Edgar Allan Poe, author of The Raven
Lenore♀The lost love in Poe's poem The Raven
Dracula♂Bram Stoker's vampire count from the 1897 novel
HexA spell or curse
GargoyleStone creature on gothic rooftops
GoblinMischievous creature of folklore
BogeySpooky creature from nursery tales
CobwebDelicate dusty thread
SpookyGently scary
BooWhat you say to startle someone
Morgana♀Arthurian enchantress
Blackbeard♂The pirate Edward Teach
Pirate♂Sea raider
NinjaStealthy warrior in black
Vampire♂A creature of the night

Tips for choosing

If your dog has a few white or tan markings, consider names that nod to them: Tuxedo for a white chest, Domino for a scattering of spots, Bandit for a masked face. A name based on a mood rather than an exact shade, like Midnight or Shadow, still fits if your dog is mostly but not entirely black.

Check the sound in a normal voice and a firm one. If you have a large black dog, a playful name like Licorice or Pepper can soften a first impression.

For more color-based ideas, try white dog names and brown dog names.

Frequently asked questions

What are good names for a black male dog?

Shadow, Midnight, Onyx, Jet, Rook, Nero and Raven are popular. For a lighter touch, Pepper, Licorice and Tuxedo are fun.

What are good names for a black female dog?

Ebony, Raven, Salem, Vesper, Olive and Blackberry are classic choices. Nova suits a dog who stands out against the night.

What are cute black dog names?

Pepper, Licorice, Inky, Smudge, Beetle and Panda are charming picks for a small or fluffy black dog. They also pair well with a bandana or collar in a bright color.

Do black dogs need a different kind of name?

No. A black coat is just a coat color, so choose any name you like. If you want to reflect the coat, the options in this list are a good starting point, and you can always combine two ideas, such as Midnight Pepper.