Golden Retriever Names
Finding the Perfect Name

There are so many Golden Retriever names to select from, but before you decide which particular name to pick, we should talk about what general factors to think about before you decide on a Golden Retriever name.

Before you bring your puppy home, you should give plenty of thought to what you are going to name her. Although it may seem to be a small point at first, selecting the correct name is essential to how people react to her. The name you give her may imply a lot about her character (and yours!).



Also, it often speaks of whether or not she is important in your life. Overly cutesy names sound great at first, but remember that you likely will be using that name to call your Golden Retriever more than fifty thousand times over the years! So choose a name that is befitting your best friend, someone loyal and devoted to the end. Mostly it should be a name of your liking that you are comfortable with.

Here are some do's and don'ts of Golden Retriever names:

DOs:

1) Do choose a short name. The best names tend to be 2 syllables. Names that are too short or much longer are often confusing to your dog. If you end up picking some Golden Retriever names that are longer, you will probably end up using shorter nicknames instead. Consider whether the nickname is also to your liking (for instance, the short-form of "peanut" may not be appropriate on many levels!).

2) Do select a name with an "open" ending vowel sound. A name that ends with a long vowel sound or a soft "A" sound works well (examples are a long "E" in "Daizy", soft "A" in "Aisha"). Dogs are responsive to these sounds as they are easily distinguished from other English sounds.

DON'Ts:

1) Don't give a name similar to a common command. Try not to make the name sound like any commonly used day-to-day words (Mitt or Kit are too similar to "sit" and Nova is has the same beginning sound as the commonly used word “No”).

2) Don't name your dog after people. One mistake many people make is to name their precious dog after a relative. Be careful about this since that family member may not think you are honoring them the same way you do. There are plenty of names out there, pick a different one!

3) Don't change a dog's name. If you bring home an older Golden Retriever who has already been named, keep the name the dog already has. It is very difficult for the dog to suddenly realize it is supposed to respond to a totally new name.

Other Considerations:

1) You may choose to pick a name that relates to the ancestry of the breed.

2) Often people select something that speaks to the physical characteristics of the particular dog (for example “Goldie” or "Sandy").

3) Or you can name the dog after her personality. Observe her character when you visit her at the breeder's place and choose a fitting name

Don't Delay the Naming One mistake people often make is to delay naming their puppy for several days after her homecoming. This is to observe her personality at home and then decide on the name. I do NOT recommended this. You should call your puppy by her name right when you get her so she gets used to it from the get-go. Observe her personality during the waiting period when she is still living with the breeder, and don't delay her naming!

Keeping these suggestions in mind, go ahead and pick the name. I'm certain it will be the perfect fit for your Golden Retriever!

Golden Retriever names are numerous, and the name you select tells a lot about your dog and about you. Use the pointers above and be judicious in your name-selection process.

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