Man and dog have partnered for over 15,000 years, beginning at the early hunter-gatherer camp sites. Inevitably, dogs of all shapes and sizes were used by armies as watch dogs, guard dogs, trackers and scouts, defenders, combatants, explosive detectors as well as mascots. As a result, the world of warcraft offers many unique dog naming ideas. These military dog names celebrate famous warriors, crushing war machines, ferocious and infamous battles, as well as famous crusading war dogs with their stories. So, let’s dive in to find the perfect moniker for your canine crusader!
Military Dog Names Male Conquerors
Achilles – Surely the greatest of the Greek warriors championed in the Trojan War.
Ajax – Renowned for having never lost a battle, nevertheless Ajax was second to Achilles for skill and good looks.
Atilla –Atilla the Hun ruled the Nomadic Hunnish people from 434–451 AD. The Huns were descendants of migrants from the Central Asian Steppe. As such, the Huns were a fierce people who waged war constantly and were rarely subdued by defeat. Attila and his brother Bleda each ruled a portion of the Hun Empire until the death of Bleda unified the Huns under Attila. So ruthless was Attila’s reputation that he is suspected of engineering his own brother’s demise.
Attila led his people to invade Persia (unsuccessfully) as well as parts of the Roman Empire. Above all, they plundered the Balkans on more than one occasion. While not always successful in conquering the citadels they attacked, they always returned with substantial booty and were able to exact tributes from the Romans as well as peace treaties favorable to the Huns. As such, they were the most feared army of the era.
Charlemagne – Considered the Father of Modern Europe, Charlemagne eventually brought Christianity to his European empire via his own personal conversion. Known for his red hair and beard, Charlemagne makes a great name for any red-coated dog.
Chieftain – Leader of a people or clan, especially a powerful leader of an organization or elite class.
Crusader – Protector, battler and defender of the Holy Land.
Drake – Sir Francis Drake, of the Elizabethan era, was instrumental in defeating the Spanish Armada. He also piloted the second circumnavigation of the world in the late 1500s.
Genghis Khan – Genghis Khan created one of the world’s largest empires by conquering most of modern-day China and Central Asia to create the Mongol Empire in the 13th Century. While his forces are remembered for their wholesale slaughter of the locals as they subjugated the people newly under their control, the softer side of Genghis preached religious tolerance, and he was a practitioner of merit-based promotions. Genghis Khan is considered the Father of Mongolia and the prototype of the modern Project Management Professional. Genghis makes a great name for a pit bull or any of the Tibetan guard dogs.
Hannibal – Carthagian general whose army crossed the Alps on elephants in order to surprise attack the Roman army.
Joshua – Joshua famously captured Jericho, wherein the walls came tumbling down. Additionally, he captured Canaan around 1200 BC.
Khan – Whether we are talking about The Wrath of Khan or Genghis Khan—we are talking about a powerful leader and physically superior specimen. Khan is Turkish, Mongolian and Persian for Lord.
Saladin – Muslim General who successfully fought off three European Crusades, leaving Jerusalem in Muslim hands.
Shogun – Japanese supreme military leader.
Spartacus – Spartacus, a Thracian gladiator, was one of the escaped slave leaders in the Third Servile War, lasting from 73–70 BC. He was naturally a charismatic leader that inspired a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic.
Tamerlane – A charismatic leader from the area of modern Uzbekistan that united Muslim, nomadic and Christian warriors to conquer regions of Western Europe and Asia in the late 1300s and early 1400s.
Templar – The Knights Templar were austere defenders of pilgrims to the Holy Land, who eventually owned Cyprus and banks that loaned funds to the kings of Europe.
Sargent Stubby – Pitbull Terrier mix extraordinaire
Modern American Warrior Name Inspirations
Murphy – Audie Leon Murphy joined the U.S. Army at the age of 17 to fight for the allies and escape the poverty of an orphaned sharecropper’s life. As a soldier he became one of World War II’s most decorated soldiers, receiving the Medal of Honor at the tender age of 19. His heroism included singlehandedly holding off a company of Germans for an hour as a sharpshooter and then leading his men on a charge to victory while wounded.
Murphy returned to become a Hollywood star, typically starring as a cowboy. Later in life, he bred and raised Quarter horses and wrote songs. However, his life was far from idyllic. Murphy suffered from PTSD, always sleeping with a loaded weapon beside him, regularly requiring the aid of powerful sleeping pills.
Nimitz – Admiral and aircraft carrier.
Patton – General George Patton may have been a great general in two lifetimes. Certainly, he was one of the most respected generals of World War II. However, while on a battlefield in France, Patton was suddenly overcome by a strong sense of Déjà vu. He recollected the lay of the land and a battle that he had fought there as a Roman soldier. He recalled clearly how the armies had flanked and where they had buried their dead at the edge of the fields centuries earlier.
Pershing – U.S. General John Joseph “Black Jack” Pershing held the highest office of any living U.S. General. Appointed General of the Armies, only George Washington held a higher rank, which was granted posthumously. Pershing was a mentor to the next generation of American generals, including Patton, Bradley, Eisenhower, and Marshall. Pershing served in the Apache Wars, Sioux Wars, Spanish American War, Battle of San Juan Hill, Mexican Revolution and World War I on the Western Front.
Ulysses – Roman name for Odysseus, King of Ithica, whose long journey home after the Trojan war is known to us through Homer’s Odyssey. Ulysses is also the name of one of the United State’s greatest strategic generals as well.
As a general, Grant employed dogged determination and brute force to accomplish his victories. Known for his hard drinking and frequent money troubles, Grant’s reputation throughout his lifetime and beyond has waxed and waned. He currently enjoys a renaissance as an accomplished general and skilled leader of men.
Tough Tank Names for Powerful Dogs
Bradley – The Bradley Fighting Vehicle is named for U.S. World War II General Omar Bradley. Two Bradley models were designed. One was an armored troop transport that could carry up to six soldiers in addition to its crew. The other was designed as a scout transport, armed with space for additional TOW missiles. The Bradley has been in production since 1981.
Sheridan – A light tank designed to be parachuted into action, the M551-Sheridan first entered service in the Vietnam War. Named for U.S. General Phillip Sheridan of the Cavalry Corps of the US Civil War, it was the predecessor to the Bradley fighting vehicles. Sheridan, knick named Little Phil, presided over the Confederate defeat at Shenandoah, and implemented the first use of scorched earth policy in the South. His hot pursuit of Robert E. Lee’s forces brought a swift end to the Confederacy at Appomattox.
Tank Military Dog Names continued
Sherman – The Modern Tank M4 was the workhorse of the American Army during World War II. It was the second most-produced tank after the Soviet Tank, the T-34. The British dubbed the M4 the “Sherman Tank” after the Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman and his steady march through the South.
Merkava – The Israeli tank, designed for rapid repair and redeployment. The Merkava’s rear “clamshell” style doors provide unique protection to its occupants while up and offloading supplies. It has been in service since 1979.
Panzer – Panzer quite simply means armored vehicle in German. The Panzer Army was the backbone of the German Blitzkrieg. Panzer makes a great name for a powerful German breed such as the Rottweiler or Doberman Pinscher.
Military Dog Names Female
These unique, powerful female dog names come to us from military slang, naval vessels, weaponry and military virtues. Consider one of these monikers for your strong female dog.
Armor – Protective clothing.
Arsenal – Cache of weaponry.
Bravo Zulu – Means “Thanks so much.”
Brigadier – Officer commanding a brigade.
Catapult – Device for launching projectiles at the enemy.
Charlie – Charlie Mike mean, “Continue mission.”
Corvette – Small, fast naval vessel class.
Cross – Medal of distinction.
Cruiser – Naval class of warship capable of supporting carriers.
Faith – Courage.
Fi – Semper Fidelis, meaning always faithful, the Marine Corps motto.
Fleet – Naval force.
Freedom – Independence.
Frigate – Class of naval warship.
Glory – High renown earn via notable achievements.
Honor – Adherence to what is morally correct.
Juliet – Military word used to designate the letter “J.”
Lance – Long wooden spear with a metal tip for combat among knights on their chargers.
Laurel – Accolades.
Liberty – The state of being free from oppression.
Mace – Spiked ball on a chain.
Niner – Niner-niner, Navy term that means “This pertains to everyone.”
Prowess – Military skill.
Seal – Navy super hero.
Spirit – The state of being courageous or confident.
Tango – Tango Mike means, “Thanks so much.”
Vice – Vice Admiral.
Virtue – The quality of showing high moral standards.
WAC – Women’s Army Corps.
Whiskey – Military word used to designate the letter “W.”
Flying Fortress Military Dog Names
Antonov – The Ukrainian-built Antonov AN-225 Mriya holds the world’s record for liftoff with the heaviest payload, in this case at a mere 545,000 pounds. Designed to carry the Soviet Buran space shuttles to space, it is currently being used in commercial applications and for carrying oversized loads.
Clipper – The Boeing C-40 Clipper is a transport plane based on the Boeing 737 that can carry 70 passengers and three cargo pallets on the main deck. Put into production in 2001, only 19 have been built and are currently in use by the US Navy and Airforce.
Havoc – The Douglas A-20 Havoc was a light bomber used in World War II. The A-20 was used as an attack plane, bomber and night fighter depending on its variation. The Bomber went by the nickname Boston, and the night fighter was known as the Havoc. Eventually, the Havoc was used by the USAF, RAF and Soviet Air Force during the war.
Hawker Hurricane – UK fighter in WWII.
Hudson – The Lockheed Hudson was another light bomber built for the RAF prior to the US entry into World War II. The Hudson was used to transport troops, as an anti-submarine aircraft, for reconnaissance, and as a light bomber. Produced for just 5 years during the war, over 2900 Hudsons were put into service in the USAF, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, and Royal New Zealand Airforce.
Hercules – The Hercules has been in production for over 50 years, fulfilling military and civilian humanitarian functions. The current Super Hercules model C-130J has a cargo bay 9 feet wide and 41 feet long and 10 feet tall. Over 300 of these flying beasts are in use in over 13 nations.
Puss Moth – The De Havilland Puss Moth was a monoplane built from 1929–1933. It could fly at speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour, making it arguably the highest-performance plane of its day. We include it here because we can’t believe they named their plane the Puss Moth. Other De Havilland Moth models include the Fox Moth, Leopard Moth and, of course, the Moth Minor. Oddly, the Moth Man did not get a namesake plane.
Mustang – Long-range bomber escort in WWII.
Spitfire – Naturally the British symbol of resistance in WWII.
Zero – WWII Japanese fighter, accordingly made by Mitsubishi.
Unique Dog Names From Military Lingo
Admiral
Bang Bang –Army term for any pistol or rifle.
Bomber
Boomer
Breach – Gap in the defenses.
Carrier
Chopper
Corvette
Cruiser
Crusader
Cruiser
Destroyer
Flare – Warning or signal.
Gain
General
Jawa –Name used for any soldier stationed in desert terrain. A Star Wars reference!
Jet
Major
Mustang – Name of an officer promoted from enlisted personnel.
Navy
Patrol
Private
Push
Radar – RADAR makes a cute name for any breed with large prick ears that look like a satellite dish.
Ram
Rush
Sally
Salvo – Simultaneous discharge of weapons.
Sargent
Score
Scout
Seal
Semper Fi – Latin, Semper Fidelis, translates as “always faithful,” the motto of the US Marine Corps.
SNAFU – Snafu is a cute name for a puppy that makes a lot of mistakes early on in training. Snafu means a mistake, mix-up, or disaster. It stands for Situation Normal All F*’d Up and typically refers to orders from the chain of command.
Sniper
Sortie – Attack made by troops from a defensive position. Bombing raid.
Storm
Surge
Swarm
Swoop – Marine term for a weekend off base.
Troop
Trooper
Volley – To fire or shoot en masse.
Wasp – Class of amphibious assault ship.
Zeppelin
Zoomie – Anyone who operates a flying machine. Zoomies are the crazies dogs get when they suddenly run around helter-skelter to expend excess energy.
Military Dog Names for Girls
Boudica: Early British tribal queen who importantly led an uprising against the Roman Empire.
Lyudmila: Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a Soviet sniper who fought in the Red Army during World War II. She reportedly killed 309 enemy soldiers, with 6 of them being other snipers. She is widely considered to be one of the deadliest snipers in history.
Tomoe: Tomoe Gozen is one of the most famous female samurai in Japanese history. Naturally, legend has it that she was beautiful, a fearless horse rider, and skilled with the sword and bow.
Mulan: Hua Mulan is a legendary Chinese folk heroine who disguised herself as a man to fight in the Chinese army against the invading nomadic hordes.
Joan: Joan of Arc was a French military leader whose guidance helped defeat the occupying English forces at the Siege of Orleans during the Hundred Years’ War.
Zenobia: Septimia Zenobia was a queen who presided over the Roman colony of Palmyra in modern-day Syria. Eventually, she rebelled against her Roman rulers, seized Egypt, and conquered a large swath of Asia Minor.
Fu Hao: Fu Hao was a priestess, oracle, and military general who led several campaigns during the Shang Dynasty of Ancient China.
Ching Shih: Ching Shih was a formidable 19th-century pirate queen primarily active in the South China Sea. She, along with her husband Zheng Yi, commanded a fleet of 400 ships and approximately 40,000 – 60,000 pirates.
Tomyris: Tomyris, an ancient Scythian queen who led her armies in a campaign against the Persian emperor Cyrus the Great, ultimately defeating him and killing him in battle.
Lozen: Lozen was a female Apache warrior who also fought alongside her chieftain brother Victorio against the invading Mexican and US armies.
Military Dog Names Male & Female From Famous Wars and Battles
And lastly, consider any of these famous battles as a source for unisex military dog names. If your a history buff, any one of these great battles from the pages of military history will make a meaningful call name for your new best friend.
- Actium
- Alamo
- Antietam
- Boxer (rebellion)
- Bunker
- Concord
- Dunkirk
- Gallipoli
- Getty (Gettysburg)
- Iwo Jima
- Jericho
- Kadesh
- Lexington
- Marathon
- Marne
- Mispah
- Normandy
- Omaha (Beach)
- Orleans
- Osan
- Pusan
- Pylos
- Saratoga
- Shiloh
- Siddim
- Tokyo
- Trenton
- Tripoli
- Troy
- Utah (Beach)
- Verdon
- Waterloo
- York (Yorktown)
- Zama
Final Thoughts on Military Dog Names
Whether you are a veteran yourself or would like to honor a veteran by bestowing a military dog name or choosing a noble warrior names will elevate your canine companion’s household status. If you think we have missed some great potential canine crusader names, please feel free to add it to the comments. We love to hear you ideas and the names you have used for your favorite dogs in the past. Tell us all about them!
