Top Yorkie Names: What Should I Name My Yorkshire Terrier?

This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.

There are few things more exciting than adopting a new dog into your family, and a Yorkshire terrier makes a great choice.

Lively and loving, they do best in families without small children, since their energy and need for attention can be overwhelming.

But choosing the perfect name for your new dog can be challenging. It is a big responsibility.

Your Yorkie may be a part of your family for the next 15 years or so. So you will want to find something that is the perfect fit.

Choosing the right name is often a case of exposing yourself to as many ideas as possible until you find one that feels right for your dog.

With that in mind, we have put together a list of some of the best and most popular names for Yorkshire terriers.

We have also shared some top tips on narrowing down your list of names and making sure you choose something that is at least appropriate and that your dog will be able to learn quickly.

It may also help you end disagreements between family members over which name to choose.

About Yorkshire Terriers

Yorkie is short for Yorkshire terrier, which is a tiny terrier breed weighing between just four and seven pounds. The Yorkie was developed in Yorkshire, England, in the 19th century as a companion pup.

The dogs that are generally considered the fathers of the breed are a male named Old Crab, a female named Kitty, and another unknown female.

The dog that defined the breed in the 1860s was called Huddersfield Ben and belonged to a Mrs. Mary Ann Foster.

Terriers are defined by their glossy, fine, straight, and silky coat, which is usually grown out long and parted in the middle.

They are generally a rich tan color on the head, high chest, and legs, and a dark gray or black from the back of their neck to their tail.

These pups are highly energetic and love attention. They thrive when they can spend as much time as possible with their people, but they don’t tend to be submissive.

They also tend to be curious and get into everything and can be territorial and protective.

Historic Yorkie Dog Names

Why not name your Yorkie after one of the famous little dogs that helped establish the breed:

• Ben – the name of one of the dogs that defined the breed
• Huddersfield – another of the dogs that defined the breed
• Kitty – the dog considered the mother of the breed 
• Old Crab – the dog considered the father of the breed
• Smoky – a famous WWII Yorkshire terrier

Famous Yorkies

Yorkies have appeared in a variety of films and books. Why not name your dog after one of these famous Yorkies:

• Barney – the Yorkshire terrier on the Lou Grant TV show
• Boi – the Yorkie in the movie High School Musical 2, played by Manly Ortega
• Hootie – the Yorkie from the horror movie Urban Legend
• Mignon – Yorkshire terrier on the TV show Green Acres
• Moses – the family Yorkie in the movie Meet the Fockers
• Nemo – The Yorkie from TV show Groomer Has It
• Pickles – appears in the film Daltry Calhoun
• Puppy Goo-Goo – Milhouse’s Yorkie in The Simpsons
• Toto – Dorothy’s companion in the Wizard of Oz book seems to have been a Yorkie, though a Cairn terrier called Terry was used in the film. The book’s illustrator W.W. Denslow owned a Yorkie!

Names Of Yorkies Owned By Celebrities

Many celebrities are fans of the Yorkshire Terrier breeds. Get inspiration from some of the names they have chosen for their dogs:

• Boo – the name of one of Johnny Depp’s Yorkies
• Cinderella – the Yorkie companion of Paris Hilton
• Daisy – the Yorkie of Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro
• Doogie – Whitney Houston’s terrier that appeared in her reality show as well
• Frankie – model Miranda Kerr’s Yorkie
• Hoodie – the cute name that Missy Elliot gave one of her Yorkies
• Maibel – the name Joy Mohr gave his tiny Yorkie
• Mr Famous – Audrey Hepburn’s Yorkie who featured in Funny Face
• Pasha – the Yorkie of President Nixon
• Pistol – the name of Johnny Depp’s other Yorkie
• Poncho – one of the Yorkies of Missy Elliot
• Rosa – Yorkie of fashion designer Roberto Cavalli
• Spike – Joan Rivers’ Yorkie companion
• Whiz – Natalie Portman’s beloved pup

Names For Small Dogs

Since your Yorkie is bound to be on the diminutive side, try on some of these popular names for smaller dogs:

• Bambi
• Bean
• Button
• Chip
• Cub
• Cupcake
• Danny DeVito
• Dot
• Gidget
• Micro
• Nacho
• Niblet
• Pickle
• Pippin
• Popcorn
• Scamp
• Shrimp
• Skittles
• Squirt
• Tic Tac
• Tinker
• Titch
• Twiglet

Prince & Princess Names

No doubt your Yorkie will be the prince or princess of the house. Choose a name fit for a royal:

• Adela – meaning noble and serene in English
• Adelaide – noble and kind in German
• Alexander – as in, Alexander the Great! It means defender of men in Russian
• Alexia – the female version of Alexander in Greek
• Anastasia – she who will rise again in Russian
• Arabella – beautiful altar
• Arthur – the famous king supported by Merlin, whose name means strong as a bear
• Augustus – venerated one and the first true emperor of the Roman Empire
• Basil – means knightly in Russian
• Boris – warrior in Russian
• Bertie – for Prince Alfred, the husband of Queen Victoria of England
• Edgar – great spear carrier
• Elena – light of the sun in Spanish
• Emma – healer of the universe
• Felipe – fond of horses in Spanish, as many smaller pups are
• Haakon – honored son in Norwegian
• Igor – bow warrior in Russian
• Kira – the one in Russian
• Lizzie – after the formidable Queen Elizabeth I and II of England
• Matilda – might battle maiden
• Mikhail – like the lord in Russian
• Sofia – wisdom in Spanish
• Sonja – wisdom in Norwegian
• Tatiana – clan leader in Russian
• Vicky – after Queen Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa of England
• Xenia – welcome in Russian

Old English Names For Yorkies

Since Yorkies are English dogs, why not choose an Old English word to name them:

• Alden – means old friend in Old English
• Arnie – means powerful eagle
• Bailey – signifies bailiff
• Bandit – for an outlaw or robber
• Baxter – means baker in Old English
• Bentley – means a bent grass clearing
• Bindy – beautiful serpent
• Biscuit – a cookie or cracker
• Booker – a bleacher of cloth
• Breezy – from Briseis, the woman Achilles loves in Homer’s Iliad
• Buttercup – a bright yellow flower
• Chelsea – chalk landing place
• Coda – passage at the end of a composition that brings it to a close
• Codi – a cushion
• Corky – refers to Corey Hill Hollow
• Cricket – a leaping insect and a favorite English sport
• Dayton – town of the dale
• Dixie – strong power
• Dudley – wood or clearing of Dudda
• Dundee – after the Marmalade
• Frankie – diminutive of Frank Fee, a free man
• Fudge – a soft, rich candy
• Gizmo – mechanical device or gadget
• Hailey – hay clearing or hay woods
• Jade – precious green stone
• Get – black gemstone
• Joy – happiness
• Kipp – a pointed hill
• Lacy – detailed and pretty fabric
• Lakota – friend
• Landon – long hill
• London – famous English city
• Macaroni – tubed pasta
• Maisy – a pearl
• Marley – pleasant wood
• Marlo – drained lake
• Nyle – champion
• Oscar – divine spear
• Oxford – famous English city and university
• Packard – one who packs
• Rowdy – boisterous
• Sassy – lively and spirited
• Sawyer – one who saws wood
• Scooter – moves suddenly and speedily
• Socks – short stockings that go above the ankle
• Spinky – spirited
• Stuart – guardian of the house
• Sylvia – wooded
• Tia – princess or crowned one
• Toffee – hard, brown, chewy candy
• Tyke – people from Yorkshire
• Whitby – white farm
• Winston – joy stone

Male Yorkie Names

If you are looking for a name for a boy Yorkie, consider some of these popular male dog names:

• Baxter
• Benny
• Blaze
• Bo
• Boomer
• Bowie
• Charlie
• Chip
• Cooper
• Diesel
• Duke
• Finn
• Gunner
• Gus
• Jasper
• Jax
• Joey
• Kobe
• Levi
• Loki
• Marleye
• Mac
• Maverick
• Max
• Milo
• Murphy
• Oakley
• Ollie
• Oscar
• Otis
• Porter
• Rex
• Rocket
• Rocco
• Romeo
• Rudy
• Ryder
• Sam
• Samson
• Scout
• Teddy
• Theo
• Toby
• Tucker
• Tyson
• Walter
• Winston
• Ziggy

Female Yorkie Names

If you need to name a girl Yorkie, try some of these popular female dog names:

• Arya
• Bella
• Cleo
• Cookie
• Echo
• Ellie
• Freya
• Harley
• Juno
• Lexi
• Lulu
• Luna
• Maggie
• Maya
• Millie
• Nala
• Olive
• Pepper
• Piper
• Raven
• River
• Sadie
• Sasha
• Skye
• Storm
• Winnie
• Xena
• Zoe

How To Choose A Dog Name

When you are trying to pick a name for your dog, it can be tempting to look for rules to help you narrow down your choices. But the truth is, there are no hard or fast rules.

There, however, are a few top tips to bear in mind that can help you make sure you choose something appropriate. 

1. Choose something short, ideally only one or two syllables. If you want something longer, then at least consider how you might shorten it for daily use. It is easier for dogs to learn shorter names, which means they will be responding when you call sooner than if you choose a longer and more complicated name.
2. Avoid complicated tongue twisters. Remember that it is not just you who may need to use your dog’s name to call their attention or give them directions. You don’t want to go with something that only you can pronounce. Besides, anyone with a complex name will tell you how frustrating it is to have to correct people all the time. You can avoid this, too!
3. Pick something that starts with a sibilant consonant or blend consonants, such as an S or an SH, or a hard commanding consonant like a K or C. These subtle choices will make it easier for your dog to distinguish their name from all the other ambient noise surrounding them.
4. Avoid names that sound too much like commands that you will use regularly, as this can just confuse your pup. Remember, while dogs are very intelligent, they don’t actually understand language in the more complex way that humans do; they are just recognizing familiar sounds. So, if their name sounds too much like a command that you use regularly, such as sit or stay, they may confuse the two words. 
5. Remember that you will often need to use your dog’s name in public, sometimes shouting it loudly, and sometimes using it in front of children and strangers. This is why it is rarely a good idea to choose something rude or potentially offensive. All too often, people give their dogs names they thought were funny at the time and then find they are embarrassed to use it later. Remember, everyone in your family who is responsible for your dog will also need to be able to use their name with ease.

You can read our complete guide on how to choose a name for your puppy here.

How To Teach Your Dog Their Name

Once you have chosen a name for your pup, it is important to teach them to recognize their name. How else are they meant to know that this word represents them?

Training your dog to recognize their name is essentially the same as teaching them to recognize a command, though the desired response to the word is more fluid.

Principally, you should teach them to give you their attention when you say their name and reinforce this behavior through rewards (treats, praise, or play).

Start with five-minute training sessions daily, during which you have your dog in an attentive situation and then say their name. When they respond to you, give them a treat. Repeat this several times over a couple of minutes every day for a few weeks.

Next, you need to teach your dog to respond to you when you don’t necessarily already have their attention. Take them out on the leash (even if it is only into the yard) and let them explore.

Then, while walking your dog, call their name. If they turn and give you their attention, that’s a success, so reward them with a treat. 

If they don’t turn in a timely manner, lightly tug on the leash to get their attention and say their name again. When they do turn toward you, you can say their name again and then reward them for their response.

With this kind of training, your dog will learn to associate their name with good things, and they will always want to give you their attention.

For this reason, avoid using your dog’s name in negative situations. For example, don’t say “No, Rover,” just say “No” in order to avoid associating your dog’s name with negativity.

The Verdict

Sometimes the perfect name for your pup just comes to you when you meet them. At other times, it can feel like you will never find the right name for the newest member of your family. 

If you are struggling, expose yourself to as many names as possible, by looking at things like our list, in the hope that inspiration strikes. Then follow our top tips to narrow down your list and make sure you choose something appropriate.

Do you have any advice for choosing the perfect dog name?

Share your tips with the community in the comments section below.

Save To Pinterest

Top Picks For Our Puppies

1. BEST DOG CHEW
   We Like: Beef Collagen Sticks - All of our pups love to bite, nip, and chew. We love using Collagen Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors.
2. BEST PUPPY TOY
   We Like: Calmeroos Puppy Toy w/ Heartbeat and Heat Packs - Perfect for new puppies. Helps ease anxiety in their new home.
3. BEST DOG TREATS
   We Like: Crazy Dog Train-Me Treats - We use these as our high-value treats for our guide dog puppies.
4. BEST FRESH DOG FOOD
   We Like: The Farmer's Dog - A couple months ago we started feeding Raven fresh dog food and she loves it! Get 50% off your first order of The Farmer's Dog.

Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist.