Chinese Dog Names: Over 20 Ideas to Match Your Pup's Character

Exploring Chinese Names for Dogs

In search of a Chinese name for your dog? Considering the current economic ties between the US and China, maybe Chinese names for dogs will become trendy. Well, maybe not. It is difficult to picture a Golden Retriever or English Bulldog bearing the name of an Eastern province, but for a Shar Pei or Chow Chow, a Chinese name should be perfect.

An ideal dog name typically has one or two syllables. Two is best, in my opinion, and the name should end on a high note so that the dog enjoys hearing her name. (Of course, if you try hard enough, any name can sound harsh. Remember your first grade teacher when calling your dog. "Now, children, be polite!")

Many words that work well as names in English do not work in Chinese due to their length. I did not add them to this list.

Even though I am writing two separate words (in Roman script), you can pronounce them together as a single word. For instance, the name "Pai the" ("White") can be pronounced as "Paytay." Maybe that sounds a little too much like potty, though. (I can just hear it now. "Come on Paytay, hurry up and go potty." The dog would probably come back into the house and go on the rug. Please refrain from leaving nasty comments if this happens.)

How about "Blackie"? It is spelled "Hai the," but you can pronounce the name as "Haiti." Maybe you should just name your Lab "Wu mu" or "Ebony."

Below are some great Chinese dog names. We'll start with names based on color and look.

Do wooden dogs deserve names?

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Names Inspired by Color and Appearance

Most of the colors I have not included, as they are three syllables or not really good for a dog (like Yin chu or vermillion).

Pai the: White
Hai the : Black
Wu mu: Ebony
Chin the: Golden
An the: Dark
Kung ping: Fair

What is he looking for? A new name?

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Personality-Based Chinese Dog Names

Kan tung: Affectionate
Tang Kuo: Candy, as in cute
Tu fei: Bandit
Chi kai: Beggar
Kuai lo: Delightful
Chuh: Digger
Chih fang: Fat
Lao the: Old
Ying hsuing: Hero

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Assorted Chinese Words for Dog Names

Chun chi: Spring (the season)
Chen chu: Pearl
Mo li: Jasmine (flower)
Sha Tan: Beachcomber
Mei: Coal
Ping: Cookie (This works in so many ways!)
Hsiao hao: Baby

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More on Pronunciation

Find anything you like?

Pronunciation varies a lot depending on where you are from, where you are living, etc. No matter how you pronounce a word, there is always going to be someone, somewhere, telling you that your pronunciation is incorrect. (Personal experience—just ignore them.) If you want to name your Chinese dog "Jasmine" and call her Molly instead of Mo li, is it wrong?

Most of the Chinese words that I am using in this article are from a 38-year-old book. There have been a lot of changes since then—are you old enough to remember when Beijing was spelled Peking? If you are Chinese and feel that some of the words are particularly offensive and incorrect, please leave a comment and I will try to make the word more appropriate. Maybe even more PC.