230+ Dog Names That Mean “Friend” For Your Special Doggo

Dogs are man’s best friend for a reason – loyal, devoted and oh-so-snuggly, you wouldn’t find a better companion to share your life with than a furry, four-legged one. 

Choosing a dog name meaning “friend”, then, is a no-brainer, really.

In this article we explore all the very best dog names that mean “friend” – so grab yourself some Reese’s peanut butter cups and a big spoon of organic peanut butter for your bestie to lick and join us on a heart and soul warming dog naming adventure.

🚺 Female Dog Names Meaning Friend

If your fair friend happens to be a lady, then you will love this selection of all these girl dog names that mean friend. We think girl dogs have a certain all-knowing nature, and so our top pick is the Hebrew name “Alverna” which means “wise friend”. We also adore the dog names “Yumi” and “Raya”, which is also the same name given to a Disney heroine.

Alva	this Old English name means “wise friend”
Alverna	a name of Hebrew origin meaning “wise friend”
Alvina	an Old English name meaning “friend”
Amie	in French Amie translates to friend or pal
Amika	a name of Latin origin that means “loved friend” – a great name choice for female dogs
Amity	this name has Latin roots and means “friendship”
Cara	a name of Irish origin with the meaning “friend”
Dakota	a name of Native American origin that means “friend” or “ally”
Hecate	a guardian and close friend to Persephone who was the wife of the Greek God Hades
Herophile	a name of Greek origin meaning “friend of the heroes”
Hetal	a name of Indian origin that means “friendly”
Irvetta	this English name means “friend of the sea”
Jamala	a Swahili name of African origin that means “friendly” and “well-mannered”
Kaira	this Latin name has the meaning “friend” and “beloved”
Lidwina	a Scandinavian name meaning “the people's friend”
Mica	a name with Latin and Hebrew roots that means “loved friend”
Mitali	this name of Indian origin means “a great friend” or “the friendly person”
Nellwyn	a form of Baldwin, this name means “bright friend” – “Nell” or “Nelly” are both great options for female dogs
Nita	this name is of Hebrew, Hindi and Spanish origin and means “friendly”
Nomsa	this Xhosa name means “The Mother of Compassion”
Orva	this Anglo-Saxon name means “brave friend”
Philotes	a minor goddess in Greek mythology who personified friendship, affection and sexual intercourse
Raya	this Hebrew name has the meaning “friend” or “queen”
Reuelle	this Hebrew name has the meaning “friend of God”
Rowena	this name has a rich heritage but in German cultures it means “famous friend”
Ruth	this Hebrew name has the meaning “friend”, or “compassionate friend”
Wendy	an English name meaning “friend”
Winfrey	this name means “peaceful friend” – Oprah Winfrey is also the famous friend of many equally famous celebrities
Winifred	one of the many meanings of this name is “peaceful friend”
Yumi	a name of Japanese origin meaning “friend”, “beautiful”, “reason” or “cause”

🚹 Male Dog Names That Mean Friend

If you have a loyal guard dog who is super protective and devoted then you’ll want to find a great name that highlights these incredible qualities. We have gathered together all the best male dog names meaning “friend” for you. We love the classic dog names “Bud” or “Buddy” for a boy dog, but if you want something a little less obvious, then we think the best dog name is “Mucker” – especially if your pup loves to get dirty frolicking in the great outdoors.

Alden	a name of English origin that means “old friend”
Alvin	from Old English origin, this name means “noble friend” and “old friend”
Ames	a name of French origin meaning “friend”
Arvin	a name of German origin that means “people's friend”
Auden	an English name that means “old friend”
Berwin	a British name that means “bright friend”
Bonamy	a French name meaning “good friend”
Boudewijn	this is the Dutch form of Baldwin and means “brave friend”
Brother	or Bro – when you are such close friends with someone they are like family – “Brother Bear” is a super cute male dog name
Bud	a word meaning friend – short for “Buddy” – this is one of the most popular male dog names
Buddy	this term is used to refer to a special friend and is one of the most popular male dog names – Buddy Clinton was First Dog while his owner Bill Clinton was the president
Chap	refers to a man who is a friendly stranger – “Chappy” is a cool male dog name
Clyde	a Scottish name that means “warm and friendly” – this is a great name for a male dog
Comrade	someone who has your back – usually in a war or in support of a cause
Corwin	this Gaelic name means “heart's friend”
Darwin	a name of English origin meaning “dear friend”
Delvon	this name means “Godly friend”, “proud friend” or “bright friend”
Derwin	an English name meaning “dear friend”
Eddy	this popular male dog name means “wealthy friend”
Edwin	Old English origin name that means “wealthy friend”
Elden	this British name means “noble friend”
Elvin	a name of Old English and Old German origin that translates to “noble friend”
Emre	a name of Turkish origin meaning “friend”
Erwin	this name comes from Old High German and means “respected friend”
Goodwin	an Old English name meaning “good friend”
Hartwin	this name is of German origin and means “strong friend”
Irwin	this name means “boar friend”
Jeb	this Hebrew name means “beloved friend”
Jebediah	a name of Hebrew origin that means “beloved friend”
Kadin	this traditional Arabic name name means “companion”
Kelvin	this English name for male dogs means “friend of ships”
Khalil	This is a name of Arabic origin that means “friend”
Leofwine	an Old English name meaning “dear friend” or “beloved friend” – a good nickname from this for a male dog is “Leo”
Levin	this name has German and Hebrew roots and means “dear friend”
Livingston	this is an Old English name that means “dear friend's place”
Marvin	a Welsh name meaning “sea friend”
Mucker	“Me old Mucker” is British slang for “my old friend”
Nadim	a name of Arabic origin meaning “friend”, “companion”, or “confidante”
Norvin	this name means “Northern friend” and it's of Old English origin
Oswin	Old English name meaning “God's friend”
Pardner	how they say Partner in Texas
Rafiq	a name of Arabic origin meaning “intimate friend” or “companion”
Ragau	this biblical name means “shepherd” or “friend”
Selwyn	an English name meaning “manor friend”
Sinley	this Anglo-Saxon name means “friendly”
Winthrop	an English name that means “friend's village”

🚻 Friendly Dog Names That Are Unisex

With these unisex dog names meaning friend it doesn’t matter if you have a girl or boy dog, they are perfectly suited. We adore the dog names “Taffy” and “Koda”.

Bellamy	this gender neutral name is of Irish, Norman and French origin and means “good friend”
Bestie	a word meaning friend
Binky	a binky, dummy or soother brings comfort to a baby just as a friend brings you comfort
Bly	a unisex name that means “friendly”
Chum	a word meaning friend
Compadre	a friend or companion
Connelly	this Irish name means “love” and “friendship”
Crony	a close friend
Cuzzy	means a close mate or friend in South Africa, New Zealand and UK
Elan	a Native American name that means “friendly”
Filia	a name of ancient Greek origin that means “friend”, or “brotherly love”
Hobnob	if you hobnob, it means you mix socially with people usually of a perceived higher status than yourself – “Hobnob” is an adorable dog name!
Koda	a name of Native American origin that means “friend” or “ally”
Mate	another word for close friend
Musketeer	slang way to say you're close friends – the 3 musketeers means a group of 3 good friends
Pal	another word for close friend
Paris	this capital city has been voted one of the 10 friendliest places to visit in 2023
Rei	this name is of Hebrew and Japanese origin and means “my companion, my friend”
Rin	a name of Japanese origin that means “companion”
Sidekick	a close friend or associate
Taffy	this is a Welsh name meaning “friend” or “beloved” – this suits a sweet pup's personality as it is also the name of a candy
Takoda	a name of Native American origin that means “friend to everyone”
Texas	The name Texas is of Native American origin and means “Friend” – the Caddo were a confederacy of Native American tribes and the word “Texas” is derived from the Caddo word for friends – the state motto for Texas is friendship
Wynn	this is an Old English name meaning “friend”

🎬 Dog Names Meaning Friend From Movies, TV Shows and Books For Your New Dog

All these pop culture characters epitomize friendship and so have inspired this great list of dog names meaning friend. We love the dog names “Jock” and “Pongo” for a boy dog and you can’t go wrong naming your lady dog after the famous dog “Lassie”. 

Barney	Barney Rubble and Fred Flintstone have a close friendship in The Flintstones series
Batman	Batman – Batman and Robin have a strong friendship
Beethoven	Beethoven movies – he was a great friend to the Newton family
Bender	Futurama – Bender and Fry are friends
Benji	Benji movies – he is a great friend to the kids and saves them from kidnappers
Betty	Betty and Veronica are besties in Archie Comics
Bing Bong	Riley's imaginary friend from the movie Inside Out
Blue	Blues Clues TV Show – Blue has lots of friends in the show
Brian	Family Guy – he's close to all the people in the Griffith family but has a special bond with Stewie
Buzz	Buzz Lightyear and Woody end up becoming the best of friends as they try to find their way back to Andy in the movie Toy Story
C3PO	Star Wars – R2D2 and C3PO go on many adventures together
Carl	despite a 70 year age gap, Carl and Russell are buddies in UP
Chance	Shadow and Chance are friends in the movie Homeward Bound
Chandler	Friends
Chewbacca	Star Wars – he is the faithful friend of Han Solo – “Chewy” is a great dog name too
Christopher Robin	he is also the friend of Winnie the Pooh
Cleo	in the TV Show Clifford the Big Red Dog, he is friends with Cleo and T-Bone
Clifford	in the TV Show Clifford the Big Red Dog, he is friends with Cleo and T-Bone
Copper	in the Fox and the Hound movie, Copper and Tod are friends despite being a fox and a hound (natural enemies)
Donkey	From the Shrek Franchise – Donkey and Shrek are an iconic friends duo
Dory	Dory and Marlin become friends in the movie Finding Nemo
Ethel	I love Lucy – Ethel and Lucy had a close friendship
Fauna	Sleeping Beauty – Flora, Fauna and Merryweather are a trio of friends that do everything together
Flora	Sleeping Beauty – Flora, Fauna and Merryweather are a trio of friends that do everything together
Fred	Barney Rubble and Fred Flintstone are close friends in The Flintstones series
Frodo	Sam and Frodo have an incredible bond in the Lord of the Rings movies
Fry	Futurama – Bender and Fry are friends
Goose	Top Gun – Goose and Maverick were friends
Gromit	Wallace and Gromit – Gromit is the doggy friend of Wallace
Hooch	Turner and Hooch were friends in the movie
Hot Dog	Jughead's doggy friend in Archie Comics
Jock	Lady and the Tramp – Jock, Lady and Trusty are all friends
Joey	Friends
Judy Hopps	an unlikely friendship develops between Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde as they try to solve a mystery together in the movie Zootopia
Jughead	Archie's best mate in Archie Comics
Lady	Lady and the Tramp – Jock, Lady and Trusty are all friends
Lassie	Lassie – she was a faithful friend
Lilo	Lilo and Stitch become friends in the movie Lilo and Stitch
Lucy	I love Lucy – Ethel and Lucy were close friends
Marlin	Dory and Marlin become friends in the movie Finding Nemo
Maverick	Top Gun – Goose and Maverick were friends
Merryweather	Sleeping Beauty – Flora, Fauna and Merryweather are a trio of friends that do everything together
Mike Wazowski	Sully and Mike are buds in the movie Monsters Inc
Monica	Friends
Mulan	Mushu and Mulan become friends in the movie Mulan
Mushu	Mushu and Mulan become friends in the movie Mulan
Nick Wilde	an unlikely friendship develops between Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde as they try to solve a mystery together in the movie Zootopia
Patrick Star	Spongebob Squarepants and Patrick Star are fun friends
Phoebe	Friends
Piglet	Winnie the Pooh – Piglet is close friends with Winnie the Pooh
Pluto	This dog lives with Mickey Mouse and is his beloved friend. This is a great name for a boy dog
Pongo	in 101 Dalmatians, Pongo says he is the bestie of his pet Roger (the human)
Pumbaa	Timon and Pumbaa are close friends and they become the good friend of Simba in the Lion King
R2D2	Star Wars – R2D2 and C3PO go on many adventures together
Rachel	Friends
Rafiki	this name means “friend” in Swahili – also the name of a character in the Lion King
Ralph	Wreck-it-Ralph and Vanellope von Schweetz become friends in the first movie
Robin	Batman – Batman and Robin are great friends
Ross	Friends
Russell	despite a 70 year age gap, Carl and Russell are buddies in UP
Sam	Sam and Frodo have an incredible bond in the Lord of the Rings movies
Sandy	Annie – she is orphan Annie's companion
Scooby Doo	Scooby Doo is the bestie of his human Shaggy
Shadow	Shadow and Chance are friends in the movie Homeward Bound
Sherlock	Sherlock Holmes – Watson and Sherlock are friends
Shrek	From the Shrek Franchise – Donkey and Shrek are an iconic friends duo
Snoopy	Charlie Brown's friend
Spongebob Squarepants	Spongebob Squarepants and Patrick Star are fun friends
Stitch	Lilo and Stitch are friends in the movie Lilo and Stitch
Sully	Sully and Mike are buds in the movie Monsters Inc
T-Bone	in the TV Show Clifford the Big Red Dog, he is friends with Cleo and T-Bone
Timon	Timon and Pumbaa are close friends and they become the good friend of Simba in the Lion King
Tinkerbell	she is the loyal companion of Peter Pan
Tod	in the Fox and the Hound movie, Copper and Tod are friends despite being a fox and a hound (natural enemies)
Toto	The Wizard of Oz – Dorothy's doggy companion
Trusty	Lady and the Tramp – Jock, Lady and Trusty are all friends
Turner	Turner and Hooch were friends in the movie
Vanellope	Wreck-it-Ralph and Vanellope von Schweetz become friends in the first movie
Veronica	Betty and Veronica are besties in Archie Comics – she is often called “Ronnie” which is a cool dog name
Watson	Sherlock Holmes – Watson and Sherlock have a bond of friendship
Willow	Buffy the Vampire Slayer – she is Buffy's bestie
Winnie	Winnie the Pooh is a gentle teddy bear who is the good friend of Piglet, Christopher Robin, Tigger and others – the name Winnie is a female name of Welsh origin that means “gentle friend”
Woody	Buzz Lightyear and Woody end up becoming the best of friends as they try to find their way back to Andy in the movie Toy Story

🤩 Name Your Furry Friend After a Famous Dog That Epitomizes Friendship

Some of these famous dogs are incredible for their astounding feats of bravery and loyalty and others are famous for simply being adorable – either way they inspired us for some fabulous dog names meaning “friend”. We won’t choose a favorite here, because they are all just such amazingly good dogs.

WARNING: get tissues before you start reading!

Balto	saved a whole town from Diptheria
Bobbie	Bobbie the Wonder Dog was accidentally lost on a family trip and made his way back to his family home – a journey that spanned 2551 miles – no friend gets left behind!
Bud Nelson	This dog accompanied his owner for 63 days in the first car trip across America – nothing like a road trip with your bestie!
Canelo	This Spanish dog used to walk his owner to the hospital where he was receiving dialysis. After his owner died, he continued to wait outside the hospital for 12 years until his own death – such a dedicated friend
Capitan	This German Shepherd ran away from home following the death of his owner. He was found standing vigil over his owner's grave which he had found on his own. He was taken home but again ran back to the cemetery. Eventually the cemetery staff cared for him so he didn't have to leave his owner's side.
Dorado	This guide dog was with his owner, Omar when the world trade center fell – Omar didn't think he would make it out so he ordered his dog to go and released him. Dorado obeyed but came back a few minutes later and took Omar safely out of the falling building – what an amazing bond of friendship
Dżok	This dog's owner died of a heart attack at the Grunwald roundabout in Poland. He waited for over a year at the roundabout for his owner – a true bond of friendship
Fido	Fido's owner died in an air raid in Italy in 1943. His dog returned to the bus station for 14 years waiting for his owner to get off the bus from work.
Hachiko	this dog returned to the train station to wait for his deceased owner for 9 years – they must have had an incredible bond of friendship for Hachiko to do this
Hawkeye	he lay at the coffin of his owner, a navy SEAL who had been killed in action in Afghanistan – these pictures are heartbreaking to look at – losing your best friend is a grief you never lose
Heidi	This Jack Russell climbed down a 500 ft drop to get to the body of her owner who had fallen while hiking and died. She stood guard over his body for 2 days before he was found
Journee	she is Tucker Budzyn's wife and bestie – she is also a Golden Retriever
Kostya	This dog's family were all killed in a car crash and he was the only survivor. He kept returning to the spot of the crash for the next 7 years until his own death
Kuvi	helped rescue teams find the body of her human friend after she was buried by a landslide in India
Shelby	she saved her family from a gas leak and ensured they were all outside safely – a true companion
Shep	This dog followed his owner's coffin to the train station where it was loaded and taken away. Shep stayed at the train station for 5 years sniffing and inspecting the trains waiting for his owner to be brought back
Squeak	a Jack Russell who refused to leave his owner's body after he was murdered by a violent mob carrying out Robert Mugabe's land seizures. He refused to be separated from his friend even in death
Talero	stayed with his owner who had died in a snow storm in Argentina for 23 days, guarding his body and preventing wild animals from attacking. When police got there, he continued to guard him fiercely – such a loyal friend
Tommy	continued to visit the church where his owner's funeral was held and used to sit quietly at the altar during mass just wanting to be near the last place he had been with his friend
Tucker	Tucker Budzyn is a famous Golden Retriever who has many friends
Waghya	he was the dog of the Maratha King who jumped into the funeral pyre when the King died not being able to bear being parted from his friend
Wiley	was filmed sobbing at his owners grandma's grave – this is what true friends do
Zander	made his way to the hospital his owner was at without ever having been there before because he was sad without him – such a loyal friend

🥰 “Friend” Dog Names In Other Languages For Your New Furry Friend

If you would like a bit of international flair for your pup, or you simply like dog names that can be great conversation starters at the dog park, then there are some great options here. All the dog names here have the meaning “friend” and are perfectly suited to your furry buddy. We love the dog names “Chommie” and “Ami”.

Ami	the French word for a male friend
Amica	this Italian word is the feminine form for friend
Amigo	Spanish for friend (when talking to a man)
Amiga	Spanish for friend (when talking to a woman)
Arkadaş	the Turkish word for friend
Bạn bè	the Vietnamese word for friend
Barátja	the Hungarian word for friend
Cairdeas	a Gaelic word meaning worldwide friendship and fellowship
Chaver	a Hebrew word meaning “friend” or “comrade”
Chingu	this word is of Korean origin – it is the word for friend
Chommie	Afrikaans for “friend”
Dost	the Hindi word for friend
Druh	the Ukrainian word for friend (this is pronounced “Drew” which is a really cool unisex dog name)
Filos	the Greek word for friend
Freund	friend in German (masculine)
Freundin	friend in German (feminine)
Kanca	friend in Javanese (a Malayo-Polynesian language)
Mik	friend in Albanian
Tomodachi	A Japanese word meaning friend
Vän	the Swedish word for friend
Venn	the Norwegian word for friend
Vinur	An Icelandic word meaning friend
Vriend	friend in Afrikaans (masculine)
Vriendin	friend in Afrikaans (feminine)
Ystävä	A Finnish word meaning friend
Zanmi	friend in Haitian-Creole

Last Thoughts

We hope you have enjoyed our selection of dog names meaning “friend” – let us know your favorite name in the comments below.