For your perro
Mexican dog names with meanings
Taco and Churro for the small ones, Lobo and Oso for the big ones, Chuy and Pancho for the ones with personality, Xolo and Balam for a name with history. Every name here means something, and the note says which dog it suits.
Food and drink names
- TacoTAH-koh
the folded tortilla, and a small wedge or plug
Good for: small dogs, food names
The single most popular Mexican-themed dog name in the United States.
Spanish - ChurroCHOO-rroh
fried dough stick dusted with sugar
Good for: golden or curly-coated dogs
Spanish - NachoNAH-choh
nickname for Ignacio; also the tortilla chip dish invented in Piedras Negras in 1943
Good for: any dog with attitude
Spanish - MoleMOH-leh
the rich chile-and-chocolate sauce of Puebla and Oaxaca
Good for: dark brown dogs
Nahuatl - ChileCHEE-leh
chili pepper
Good for: small, fiery dogs
Nahuatl - Tequilateh-KEE-lah
the spirit, from the town of Tequila, Jalisco
Good for: party dogs
Nahuatl - Mezcalmes-KAHL
the agave spirit, from Nahuatl mexcalli
Good for: smoky-coated dogs
Nahuatl - Agaveah-GAH-veh
the plant that gives tequila and mezcal
Good for: spiky-haired dogs
Greek - MangoMAHN-goh
the fruit
Good for: orange dogs
Portuguese - Tamaltah-MAHL
the steamed corn dish, from Nahuatl tamalli
Good for: a well-wrapped, round dog
Nahuatl - Tortillator-TEE-yah
the corn flatbread
Good for: flat-faced dogs
Spanish - SalsaSAHL-sah
sauce, and the dance
Good for: lively females
Spanish - Frijolfree-HOHL
bean
Good for: small black dogs
Spanish - Eloteeh-LOH-teh
corn on the cob, from Nahuatl elotl
Good for: yellow dogs
Nahuatl - Chorizochoh-REE-soh
the spiced sausage
Good for: dachshunds
Spanish - Cajetakah-HEH-tah
goat's milk caramel from Celaya
Good for: caramel-colored dogs
Spanish - Horchataor-CHAH-tah
the rice-and-cinnamon drink
Good for: cream-colored dogs
Spanish - Chilindrinachee-leen-DREE-nah
a sweet bread roll, and a character from El Chavo
Good for: freckled or ticked females
Spanish - Chalupachah-LOO-pah
a fried masa boat; also a small canoe
Good for: round little dogs
Spanish
Nicknames as dog names
- ChuyCHOO-ee
nickname for Jesús
Good for: a friendly mutt
Spanish - PanchoPAHN-choh
nickname for Francisco, as in Pancho Villa
Good for: bold, scrappy dogs
Spanish - PacoPAH-koh
nickname for Francisco
Good for: small terriers
Spanish - PepePEH-peh
nickname for José
Good for: cheerful little dogs
Spanish - ChapoCHAH-poh
shorty
Good for: dachshunds and corgis
Spanish - CocoKOH-koh
nickname for Socorro; also the film
Good for: brown dogs
Spanish - ChavoCHAH-voh
kid, boy (Mexican slang), and El Chavo del Ocho
Good for: playful males
Spanish
Nahuatl and Maya names
- Coyotekoh-YOH-teh
the coyote, from Nahuatl coyotl
Good for: lean, clever dogs
Nahuatl - Balambah-LAHM
jaguar in Maya
Good for: powerful, quiet dogs
Maya - XoloSHOH-loh
short for Xoloitzcuintli, the Mexican hairless dog
Good for: the breed itself
Nahuatl - Itzcuintlieets-KWEEN-tlee
dog in Nahuatl
Good for: a name with history
Nahuatl - Tonatiuhtoh-nah-TEE-oo
the sun
Good for: golden males
Nahuatl - Citlaliseet-LAH-lee
star
Good for: bright-eyed females
Nahuatl - XóchitlSOH-cheetl
flower
Good for: delicate females
Nahuatl - MeztliMES-tlee
moon
Good for: silver or grey dogs
Nahuatl - TochtliTOHCH-tlee
rabbit
Good for: jumpy small dogs
Nahuatl - Ocelotloh-SEH-lohtl
jaguar
Good for: spotted dogs
Nahuatl - CuauhtliKWOW-tlee
eagle
Good for: alert watchdogs
Nahuatl - Kukulkánkoo-kool-KAHN
the feathered serpent of the Maya
Good for: long, low dogs
Maya - Chapulínchah-poo-LEEN
grasshopper, from Nahuatl chapolin
Good for: jumpy dogs
Nahuatl
Spanish words and everything else
- Lupitaloo-PEE-tah
little Guadalupe
Good for: sweet-tempered females
Spanish - FridaFREE-dah
peace, after Frida Kahlo
Good for: strong-willed females, dogs with one eyebrow
Germanic - Diegodee-EH-goh
after Diego Rivera; possibly from Santiago
Good for: big, easygoing males
Spanish - Canelakah-NEH-lah
cinnamon
Good for: reddish-brown coats
Spanish - ChidoCHEE-doh
cool, great (Mexican slang)
Good for: the dog everyone likes
Spanish - GüeroGWEH-roh
fair-haired, blond (Mexican slang)
Good for: white or cream dogs
Spanish - Chiquitochee-KEE-toh
tiny one
Good for: Chihuahuas
Spanish - GordoGOR-doh
chubby, an affectionate word in Mexico
Good for: bulldogs and pugs
Spanish - FlacoFLAH-koh
skinny
Good for: greyhounds and whippets
Spanish - Peludopeh-LOO-doh
hairy
Good for: long-haired breeds
Spanish - ManchasMAHN-chahs
spots
Good for: spotted dogs
Spanish - OsoOH-soh
bear
Good for: big fluffy dogs
Spanish - LoboLOH-boh
wolf
Good for: huskies and shepherds
Spanish - TigreTEE-greh
tiger
Good for: brindle coats
Spanish - DanteDAHN-teh
the Xolo in the film Coco
Good for: loyal, goofy dogs
Italian - ChispaCHEES-pah
spark
Good for: energetic small dogs
Spanish - RayoRAH-yoh
lightning bolt
Good for: fast dogs
Spanish - TruenoTRWEH-noh
thunder
Good for: deep-voiced dogs
Spanish - LunaLOO-nah
moon
Good for: any female; the most popular dog name in Mexico
Spanish - SolSOHL
sun
Good for: golden dogs
Spanish - Estrellaes-TREH-yah
star
Good for: the star of the house
Spanish - Cielosee-EH-loh
sky, heaven; also a term of endearment
Good for: gentle females
Spanish - Jarochohah-ROH-choh
a person from Veracruz
Good for: dogs from the coast
Spanish - CharroCHAH-rroh
the Mexican horseman
Good for: dogs that ride in the truck
Spanish - Mariachimah-ree-AH-chee
the musician
Good for: dogs that howl along
Spanish - Fiestafee-ES-tah
party
Good for: dogs that love guests
Spanish - Bonitaboh-NEE-tah
pretty
Good for: any female
Spanish - ChulaCHOO-lah
cute, pretty (Mexican slang)
Good for: any female
Spanish - ReinaRAY-nah
queen
Good for: a dog who runs the house
Spanish - ReyRAY
king
Good for: a dog who runs the house
Spanish - PríncipePREEN-see-peh
prince
Good for: pampered males
Spanish - Amigoah-MEE-goh
friend
Good for: any dog
Spanish - NubeNOO-beh
cloud
Good for: white fluffy dogs
Spanish - SombraSOHM-brah
shadow
Good for: black dogs that follow you
Spanish - NegroNEH-groh
black; a common dog name in Mexico
Good for: black dogs (note: in English it reads very differently; Mexican families use it plainly for a black dog)
Spanish - Firulaisfee-roo-LICE
the generic Mexican dog name, like Fido
Good for: the archetypal street dog
Origin unknown; the popular story that it comes from 'free of lice' on U.S. border health tags is folk etymology.
Spanish - Solovinosoh-loh-VEE-noh
'he came alone', the name for a stray who adopted you
Good for: rescued strays
Spanish - Zapatasah-PAH-tah
after Emiliano Zapata
Good for: dogs with a mustache
Spanish - Benitobeh-NEE-toh
after Benito Juárez
Good for: dignified small dogs
Latin - Cantinflaskahn-TEEN-flahs
the comedian Mario Moreno's stage name
Good for: dogs that never stop talking
Spanish - SpeedySPEE-dee
after Speedy Gonzales
Good for: the fastest mouse in all Mexico
English
Choosing a Mexican name for a dog
Two-syllable names with a strong vowel are easiest for a dog to learn and for a family to shout across a park: Taco, Nacho, Lobo, Chuy, Coco, Luna. Nicknames work especially well because they are already the affectionate form of a name. If you want a name that means something, the Nahuatl words are the richest source: Cuauhtli (eagle) for a watchful dog, Tochtli (rabbit) for a jumpy one, Meztli (moon) for a grey one. Say them a few times first; Xoloitzcuintli is a great name and a terrible thing to yell.
For cats, see Mexican cat names. The site's name finder covers people rather than pets, but the short Nahuatl and Spanish names there make good dog names too: filter by "Short (1 to 2 syllables)".
Mexican dog names FAQ
What are popular dog names in Mexico?
Mexican families most often use Luna, Max, Rocky, Toby, Coco, Princesa, Lobo, Negro, Canela, Manchas, and the generic Firulais. Mexican-themed names popular in the United States are different: Taco, Churro, Nacho, Chuy, Frida, and Diego.
What is a Xolo?
The Xoloitzcuintli, the Mexican hairless dog, named for the god Xólotl plus itzcuintli (dog). It is one of the oldest breeds in the Americas and the model for Dante in the film Coco. Xolo is pronounced SHOH-loh.
What does Firulais mean?
Nothing; it is the generic Mexican dog name, like Fido or Rover. Its origin is unknown. The popular claim that it comes from U.S. border health tags reading 'free of lice' is folk etymology.
Is Negro an okay dog name?
In Mexico it is the ordinary word for black and a completely normal name for a black dog, often as Negrito. In the United States it reads very differently, and most bilingual families choose Sombra (shadow), Carbón (charcoal), or Noche (night) instead.