Man’s Best Friend deserves a name worthy of the title — something timeless and bold that you’ll feel good shouting at the local dog run, when it’s time to head back home. If you’ve found yourself the lucky adopter of a new dog, you know that finding a good dog name — much less a unique boy dog name — isn’t easy. The deep relationship between people and canines goes back a very long way, and the best male names for dogs pull from history itself: in this case, people who made world-changing art, music, politics, literature, movies, and more. So if your new mutt needs a moniker, our list of cool dog names will get you there — or at least get you thinking in the right direction.

Unique Dog Names From Music

• Dylan
• Rider
• Folsom
• Trooper
• Ozzy
• Huey
• Ryman
• Lobo
• De La
• Coltrane

From The Arts

• Leo
• Ansel
• Warhol
• Jackson
• Degas
• Cubist
• Henri
• Berthe
• Rapha
• Whistler

From History & Politics

• Truman
• Harry
• Biden
• Reagan
• Carter
• Bernie
• Lincoln
• Franklin
• Revere
• Chavez

From Literature

• Papa
• Tennessee
• Brutus
• Willie
• Titus
• Homer
• Emerson
• Walden
• Raven
• Haley

From TV and Movies

• Riggins
• Clooney
• Herzog
• Kelly
• Coppola
• Brando
• Rocky
• Apollo
• Redford
• Phoenix

Miscellaneous Dog Names

• Portholes
• Sue
• Tool Box
• Redwood
• Notebook
• Kincaid
• Claymore
• Soapbox
• Tee Kay
• Ringo

This article was originally published on April 23, 2021