Published:
Last updated:
by Kyle J. Larson
If you’re looking for tough dog names we’ve gathered a powerful list of ideas for your pup. These name options from heroes, villains, police, military, and many more tough-sounding sources. You’ll find the perfect name for your new puppy.
Top Tough Dog Names
These are the top 10 tough dog names as chosen by visitors to our website over the last year.
- Thor
- Koda
- Harley
- Max
- Echo
- Nyx
- Midnight
- Diesel
- Hunter
- Storm
Tough Boy Dog Names
If you’re looking for tough names for males this is a list of some of our favorite options that are sure to be a good fit.
- Archer
- Apache
- Axel
- Bender
- Blaze
- Brick
- Bronx
- Brutus
- Chaz
- Chevy
- Denver
- Diego
- Dre
- Goliath
- Hendrix
- Judge
- Mack
- Ozzy
- Porter
- Ryder
- Smokey
- Trapper
Tough Girl Dog Names
These name ideas are perfect for females and are sure to add some impressiveness to your pup.
- Akita
- Athena
- Avril
- Diva
- Dixie
- Jersey
- Jinx
- Joplin
- Moxie
- Nova
- Onyx
- Pepper
- Persia
- Sable
- Sassy
- Venus
- Vixen
- Yuki
- Zola
Scary Dog Names
These names are a bit spooky and work great for a tough guard dog.
- Banshee
- Bones
- Boo
- Bram
- Casper
- Chucky
- Cujo
- Damien
- Demon
- Diablo
- Dracula
- Elvira
- Freddy
- Ghost
- Gremlin
- Hex
- Hitchcock
- Krueger
- Magic
- Monster
- Poe
- Reaper
- Salem
- Spooky
- Tarot
- Trixie
- Zombie
You might also enjoy our Halloween dog names article.
Mean Dog Names from Villains
These ideas come from some of the fiercest villains in movies, TV shows, and comic books.
- Bandit
- Bane
- Biff
- Darth
- Debo
- Galactus
- Hyde
- Joker
- Khan
- Kong
- Koopa
- Kylo
- Lex
- Loki
- Sauron
- Soze
- Thanos
- Ursula
- Vader
- Vodemort
- Wario
Strong Dog Names
These strong dog names like Jax and Roxy have a powerful sound to them. They might be well suited to any larger breed like a doberman or a rottweiler.
- Beast
- Boss
- Bruiser
- Buster
- Butch
- Czar
- Dozer
- Hardy
- Jax
- Koda
- Laser
- Lexi
- Oscar
- Punky
- Rebel
- Rex
- Roxy
- Ruby
- Sheba
- Stud
- Talon
- T-Bone
- Yukon
Aggressive Dog Names
Here is a selection of aggressive dog names that really push the envelope when it comes to intensity. They do make really cool sounding names though.
- Bully
- Buzz
- Chomp
- Chopper
- Crash
- Crusher
- Dagger
- Danger
- Fang
- Fighter
- Fury
- Hunter
- Jaws
- Killer
- Kitana
- Pyro
- Rampage
- Savage
- Slayer
- Spike
- Taz
- Terminator
- Warrior
Tough Sports Names
Athletes have a toughness that lets them carry out unbelievable feats. These names come from a variety of different sports but feature a number of fighters, which are extremely popular tough dog names.
- Barkley
- Blitz
- Boomer
- Brett
- Brewer
- Champ
- Chavez
- Coach
- Cobb
- Cy
- Dempsey
- Ditka
- Gronk
- Homer
- Jeter
- Kane
- Lennox
- Liddel
- Madden
- Mayweather
- Montana
- Raider
- Rousey
- Skol
- Steffi
- Tyson
- Vince
- Wrigley
Be sure to check out our sports dog names list for more ideas like these.
Strong Names from Weather and Nature
These fierce dog names are taken from mother nature, which can be both beautiful but also brutally tough.
- Alaska
- Avalanche
- Bear
- Blizzard
- Buck
- Geo
- Hawk
- Ice
- Jupiter
- Lightning
- Midnight
- Moose
- Ranger
- Raptor
- Shadow
- Storm
- Thunder
- Tiger
- Winter
- Wolf
Tough Names from Mythology
Mythology is an excellent source of strong dog names. From Greek gods and goddesses to norse legends, these names are totally unique.
- Ajax
- Argos
- Atlas
- Cerberus
- Chaos
- Fenrir
- Freya
- Griffin
- Hades
- Hera
- Hercules
- Kratos
- Magnus
- Medusa
- Merlin
- Midas
- Odin
- Osiris
- Titan
- Triton
- Vulcan
- Yeti
- Zeus
If you like these options, here are even more mythology dog names.
Tough Superheroes
Superheroes are our modern mythology, and have been increasingly popular. These heroes can make some fun options for naming your pup.
- Batman
- Bucky
- Daredevil
- Donatello
- Elektra
- Flash
- Fury
- Gambit
- Hulk
- Jade
- Jedi
- Leonardo
- Logan
- Marvel
- Michelangelo
- Mistique
- Parker
- Raphael
- Rogue
- Stark
- Ultra
- Wolverine
- Xena
- Zorro
We have even more superhero dog name ideas here.
Action Hero Movie Names
Some of the toughest characters of all time come from action movies. These heroes can take any sort of pain and keep dishing out their own form of justice.
- Bond
- Bronson
- Cage
- Clint
- Cobra
- Harry
- Hero
- Highlander
- Indiana (Indy)
- Katniss
- Keanu
- Leia
- Mad Max
- Maximus
- McClane
- McQueen
- Neo
- Ninja
- Norris
- Rambo
- Riggs
- Ripley
- Rock
- Rocky
- Snake
- Starbuck
- Sylvester
- Swayze
- Willis
Tough Police and Military Names
Military and police dog names are great for any working breeds like german shepherds, boxers, pointers, or labs. They make great tough guard dog names as well.
- Admiral
- Agent
- Ammo
- Boots
- Brigadier
- Bullet
- Bullseye
- Bragg
- Camo
- Captain
- Chief
- Commando
- Deputy
- General
- Gunner
- Jet
- Justice
- Liberty
- Magnum
- Major
- Maverick
- Oscar
- Panzer
- Pistol
- Ranger
- Remington
- Saber
- Sarge
- Scout
- Sheriff
- Sherman
- Striker
- Tank
- Tracker
- Trooper
Find even more military dog names and police dog names.
Tough Historical Dog Names
These famous historical figures can also make a powerful name for your puppy. They are so famous their acts have become legend.
- Atilla
- Augustus
- Bugsy
- Caesar
- Capone
- Churchill
- Cleopatra
- Colombo
- Dillinger
- Doc Holiday
- Duchess
- Duke
- Escobar
- Gambino
- Gotti
- Hickok
- Ivan
- King
- Knight
- Lansky
- Lincoln
- Marx
- Napoleon
- Nero
- Nixon
- Pablo
- Queenie
- Reagan
- Roosevelt
- Samson
- Tiberius
- Ulysses
- Vito
- Vlad
- Washington
- Wyatt
Kyle J. Larson
Kyle grew up with Yellow Labs in his family since he was a child & has an expertise and love of all dogs. He is a professional web designer and author who keeps our dog name and breed search tools running.
