Looking for that perfect powerful name for your especially noble guard dog? Well look no further; here is the indisputable, comprehensive list of strong dogs names for powerful, regal guards dogs! Check out these ideas based on noble titles from various cultures around the world, as well as legendary giants of myth. This list of strong dog names naturally evokes images of leadership, strength, and protection—ideal for the new defender of your family pack.
In This Article
- Noble Names for Strong Male Dogs
- Powerful, Imperial Dog Names
- Aristocratic Dog Names From Antiquity
- Strong Dog Names Female That Mean Noble
- Powerful Dog Names for Male Puppies That Mean Protector
- Strong Female Dog Names That Mean Protector
5 Large Guard Dog Breeds Associated with Royalty
Powerful, giant dog breeds especially prized by nobility through the centuries include, the Borzoi (aka the Russian Wolfhound), the Anatolian Shepherd, the Akita, the Mastiff and Tibetan Mastiff, as well as the Great Pyrenees. With that in mind, here is a little history of their noble canine roots.
The Akita
A large dog breed, the mature male Akita stands at 26 to 28 inches at the shoulder, and weighs up to 130 pounds. In Japan, for centuries, only Shoguns were permitted to own the majestic Akita. Currently designated as a “national monument” the Akita breed originated in the 1600s, and was bred exclusively for hunting and guarding duties.
Anatolian Shepherd
The powerful male Anatolian Shepherds stand at 27 to 29 inches and weigh up to 150 pounds. Also known as the Turkish Mountain Dog or the Kangal Shepherd Dog, the breed dates back 1000 years, as a sheep and goat livestock guardian. Originally, they were used as war dogs and guard dogs, necessarily able to fend for themselves and find their own meals. A fearless defender of his flock, the Anatolian will easily take on and face down mountain lions as well as bears.
The Great Pyrenees
A favorite of French nobility, the Great Pyrenees stands at 27-32 inches at the shoulder and weighs up to 160 pounds. This giant breed livestock guardian was elevated to the status of Guardian of the Chateaux of Lourdes, in the 17th century. In the field, this gentle giant scans the horizon line for predators, and then locks his gaze on them. This stare down is eventually enough to send the would be predators off to another pasture.
The Mastiff
Defenders of nobility, this massive breed has roamed the British Isles for millennia. Roman soldiers were so taken with the breed, that they brought many back to Rome to fight in the Coliseum, as were lions.
However, the breed is specifically known for its great size, while practicing great restraint. Indeed, they never bully small dogs or children. In fact, they are nobly tolerant of small dog pestering as well as children’s pranks. However, they silently patrol their homes at night and are ready and swift to defend the castle, with punishing force. Interestingly, they are known for having a particular soft spot for women and children.
Russian Wolfhound
The Russian Wolfhound, currently known as the Borzoi, was a favorite of Russian nobility. So great was their regard for this wolf hunting hound, that eventually, huge hunting trips, consisting of trainloads of nobles, their serfs, and their dogs, were formed around traveling to remote areas for competitions, pitting two Borzoi against a flushed-out wolf.
Tibetan Mastiff
Heavily coated, the massive Tibetan Mastiff stands at 29 inches and weighs upwards of 150 pounds. A frequent gift of Tibetan diplomacy to foreign rulers, they were duly gifted to Chinese Emperors of the Tang dynasty, as well as British rulers, Queen Victoria and King Edward IV.
Noble Names for Strong Male Dogs
What could be better than an obedient emperor, duke or paladin guarding your castle? Go ahead and honor your powerful guard dog with an arcane name from the potentates of nobility. These names from noble titles from ancient realms and modern kingdoms confer imperial majesty on your powerful canine companion and ruler of your affections!
Amir—Ruler of Afghanistan. Also, Ameer.
Anax—Greek. Word for a tribal king or military ruler.
Baron—English. One of the initial titles of royalty, a baron was gifted land and serfs in exchange for his oath of loyalty to the king and his promise to defend the king if necessary. Baron makes an excellent name for a large and faithful guard dog.
Brahman—A member of the highest Hindu caste.
Julius Caesar lent his name to the Caesarian Section (C-Section, by which method he was said to have been born), to his adoptive son, Augustus, and to the line of Roman Emperors that succeeded Julius and Caesar Augustus. Eventually, Caesar became the title bestowed on the Roman Emperor until and including Hadrian.
Caesar
Julius Caesar’s rise to power brought with it the demise of the Roman Republic. Eventually, resentful senators conspired to bring down Julius, in what is perhaps the most famous assassination in history. On March 15, 44 BC, some 60 senators, equally armed with daggers, each to their turn at Julius. Even his own protégé, Brutus, participated in the crime by finally stabbing him in the groin. Today, the area where Julius Caesar was thought to have been assassinated is now a cat sanctuary. Indeed some 150 cats are cared for by loyal attendants who provide them with food, water, shelter and love.
Caliph—Rulers of the Islamic world; later the sultans of Turkey. Also spelled Khalif, Kalif, or Calif.
Castellan—Spanish medieval nobility of the warrior class.
Chieftain—Leader of a people or clan.
El Cid—Spanish (pronounced “Sid”). Means “The Lord.” El Cid is a Spanish national hero. A Castilian nobleman and ruler of Valencia, he was known for his military prowess and has been idealized and immortalized in folklore and film.
Denali—Sanskrit. Means “The Great One.” This is another name for the highest mountain in North America, Mt. McKinley.
Denka—Japanese, “Your Imperial Highness.” Also the name of the imperious, snooping and scheming housekeeper on Downton Abby.
Dauphin—French. The Dauphin is a son of the French king. Name your powerful puppy Dauphin, and you can call him “Dolph” for short. Dolph is also the name of one of Rocky’s bruiser nemesis, actor Dolph Lundgren.
Doge—The ruler of Venice or Genoa until 1805.
Duke—English, French. Historically, the highest rank of nobility under the king, this title comes from the French word duc, meaning leader. The Clampetts’ bloodhound on Beverly Hillbillies was named Duke.
Earl—English. An English rank of nobility, earls were called counts for a brief period of time, and the wife of an earl is still called a countess. Historically, earls governed large divisions of the kingdom. Famous earls include George Herbert, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, who discovered King Tut’s tomb. Earl is a clever name for a large earth dog that was bred to remove animals from burrows.
Emir—Persian. An independent ruler, Emir makes a good dog name for an independent dog breed like the Great Pyrenees.
Emperor—The most powerful male name for one who rules and empire.
Heika—Japanese, means “Your Majesty.”
Imperial Strong Dog Names
Kaiser—German. Derived from Caesar, Kaiser naturally means “emperor” in German. From 962 to 1806, the Holy Roman Emperors called themselves Kaisers, and from 1806 to 1918, rulers of the German Empire and Austro-Hungarian Empire were crowned as Kaisers. The last Kaiser, Wilhelm II, ended his line in 1918 with ultimate defeat in World War I. Kaiser makes a great name for regal German breeds such as Dobermans, Rottweilers, or German shepherds.
Khan—Turkish/Mongol. Khan means “lord.” Originally, it was derived from a military rank. The Wrath of Khan and Genghis Khan are both associated with this ancient title.
Knight—The basic rank of the aristocracy. Also a great name for a dark-coated dog.
Laird—The feudal Scottish title essentially beneath a Scottish baron yet ranked above an esquire.
Liege—Overlord
Malik—Arabic, Hebrew. Means “king” in both Arabic and Hebrew. In a broader sense, it means “he who owns, king and master.” In Islam, it is also one of the 99 names of Allah. Interestingly, Malik denotes a terrible angel who guards the Hellfire, assisted by 19 guardians. Naturally, Malik makes an ideal name for a powerful guard dog such as a Great Pyrenees, Rottweiler, Doberman, German Shepherd, or Pit Bull.
Mansa—Mali, Emperor.
Magnus—Scandinavian, French, Latin. Means “house of might or power.” Magnus was originally used by the Romans but made more popular by Charlemagne’s Latin name, Carolus Magnus. With time, various European nobles, especially the Scandinavians, adopted the title.
Mikado—Japanese. The Japanese emperor.
Morza—Tartar name for “prince.” The Morza is basically ranked just below Khan.
Negus—Ethiopian. The title of the Ethiopian emperor.
Nizam—Hindi. Specifically, the title of the Indian ruler of Hyderabad, India.
Noble—English, Latin. Derived from the Latin nobilis, meaning well-known, notable, or famous. Naturally, today the word “noble” is associated with noble birth, courage, and pure intent. Name your male dog Noble, especially if you want a faithful and honest companion.
Paladin—French. From the Italian paladino. One of the legendary 12 peers of Charlemagne’s court and a naturally a knightly champion. In modern usage, it generally means defender of a noble cause or a passionate advocate of a cause. Name your dog Paladin, and you can call him Pal.
Pasha—Title of a governor or other high official of the Ottoman Empire. The Pasha is frequently depicted in a luxurious, reclining setting.
Patrizio—Italian. Patrizio means patrician, especially a member of the ruling class exclusively allowed to perform political functions.
Perandor—Albanian. Derived from the Greek “imperator,” correspondingly, it means emperor.
Pharaoh—Egyptian. Egyptian ruler, particularly god-king.
Podesta—Italian. Chief magistrate in Fascist Italy.
Raja or Rajah
Indian. This Indian word means “ruler.” Correspondingly, Raj is also a Slavic word for paradise or heaven. Rajah was the name of a German Shepherd known as Methven’s Wonder Dog, the first police dog of New Zealand. Eventually, Rajah gained fame throughout his country in the 1930s, by acting and performing locating demonstrations.
Ramesses—Egyptian. Pharaoh Ramesses II was also known as Ramesses the Great and ruled Egypt for 66 years between 1279 and 1213 BC. His favorite wife was Queen Nefertari. In time, he built many great monuments to her and himself, the greatest being the Ramesseum. Under his rule, Egypt enjoyed peace and prosperity it had not seen in over 100 years. Truly, Ramesses makes a powerful name for a peaceful, strong dog like a Mastiff.
Rex or Regis—Latin. Rex is used for “the King,” while Regis is used to denote “of the King.” Consider naming your strong dog, Rex Regum means “King of Kings,” with Regum being the plural of Regis.
Rian—Gaelic. Pronounced Ryan, this name means “little king.” This is a cute name for a little dog with a big attitude.
Ruari—Scottish. Means “red king.” Naturally, Ruari is a great name for a red dog, such as a Chow Chow or a Tibetan Mastiff.
Sama—Japanese. Sama generally refers to people of higher status.
Satrap—Despotic subordinate ruler.
Semper Fi—“Always Faithful,” naturally the US Marine Corps motto.
Shah—Persian. Shah means “he who rules.” Both kings and lords of Persia and India were titled Shah or Shahanshah (“king of kings”). Included in this designation are the Mughal rulers from which we derive the word mogul.
Sharif—Arabic. Title given to one who is the tribal protector. Moreover, he protects both the tribe as well as its assets.
Sheikh—Arabic. The emirs of the Arabian Peninsula use the title Sheikh for themselves as well as their extended royal families.
Shogun—Japanese. The storied warrior of Japan, accordingly the shogun is the chief military commander.
Spartan—Greek. A race of Greek people known chiefly for their self-discipline and austerity. Spartan naturally makes a great name for an obedient, lean, and powerful dog like the Doberman or any of the Wolfhounds.
Sultan—Arabic. King, meaning specifically “one who has power.”
Tenno—Japanese. Heavenly sovereign, moreover it is the formal name of the emperor.
Valor—A term for personal bravery and determination in the face of great danger.
Viceroy—Governor of a colony or province, acting under the auspices of the king. Viceroy makes a good name for an obedient albeit imperious dog breed.
Worthy—English. Having great merit, honor, character, or value. In plural, “worthies,” refers to people of eminent merit, worth, or position in a particular society.
Strong Dog Names from Female Nobility
Aine—Irish. Old Irish name of the Queen of the Fairies of South Munster, it is pronounced AN-yuh. Specifically, Aine means brilliance, radiance, joy, glory, splendor, and wit.
Ameera—Hebrew, Ameera means “princess, prosperous, leader.”
Andromeda: Greek, Princess rescued by Perseus, now the Andromeda Galaxy.
Artis—Celtic. Means “lofty hill” and noble, certainly an ideal name for a large female guard dog like a Great Pyrenees.
Bai—Filipino. Local title for “princess.”
Carica—The Serbian title for “empress.”
Countessa—Italian. Italian version of Countess, wife of the Earl or Count, above all, the second-highest rank of nobility after King and Duke.
Dama—Italian. A noble “Lady.”
Dronning—Danish for “queen.”
Edra or Edris—Welsh, Fiery leader, powerful and wise. Truly a strong name for a Mastiff breed.
Empress—Powerful female name for one who rules and empire.
Freyja—Norse. Goddess of love, fertility and battle. Name your female guard dog Freyja if you want a beautiful, loyal warrior companion.
Gentry—English. French in origin from the word gentil, meaning high-born or noble. The gentry are the high-born ruling class of the landed aristocracy and higher levels of the clergy. Gentry makes a charming name for a noble lapdog.
Keelie—Celtic. Means beautiful princess and beauty filled with grace, and elegant name for a strong female guard dog.
Lady—Daughter of a nobleman. Add “Lady” as a prefix to any of these other strong female dog names.
Lani—Hawaiian. Lani means “sky, heaven, royal, and majesty.” A majestic name for your strong female dog.
Maharani—Hindu Princess.
Nana—Norse. Goddess of the moon, she symbolizes peace and joy.
Patrizia—Italian. Female patrician of an important Italian city.
Principessa—Italian. Meaning Princess. Principessa can be added as a prefix to many of the strong dog names for males or females.
Queen—Female ruler.
Raisa—Russian, Easy going leader.
Rani—Hindi. for “queen.”
Regan—Celtic. Means royal and noble.
Regina—Latin and Italian. The female version of Rex, naturally Regina means “queen.”
Reine—French. The title for a French “queen.”
Tierney—Celtic. Meaning “noble,” although it may also be the root of the modern word “tyranny,” specifically, oppression by the ruling class.
Sultana—Arabic. Meaning one who has power; it is the female equivalent of the Sultan and identically means queen.
Valeska—German. A German title, simultaneously meaning glory and ruler with courage.
Strong Dog Names for Females That Mean “Protector”
Alastair: Scottish. Means “man’s defender.”
Alexis: Greek. Derived from the Greek male name Alex, it means “man’s defender.”
Alvira/Alvera: German. Alvira translates as “universal protector.”
Barbara: Diminutive forms include Barbie, Babs, Bonny, and Barbarella. Barbara means “defender against fire.”
Cass: Greek. Cass and Cassy mean “man’s defender.”
Diva: The heroine and leading lady, often she is also a prima donna.
Elenore: Elenore of Aquitaine or Mrs. Roosevelt; identically both ladies were studies in strength or conviction and courage.
Elmina: German. Elma, Hilma, and Elmina all mean ‘determined defender.”
Era: Hebrew, Watching, wind, guardian.
Jade: A stone imbued with the power to defend against disorders.
Juno: Greek. Goddess and wife of Zeus, Juno is the protector of women.
Lalo: Protector.
Lexie: Greek. Similar to Alexis, Lexie means “man’s defender.”
Millard: Guardian.
Minna: German. Man’s defender.
Mo: Hebrew, Savior, dark-skinned, wise protector.
Raina: German. Wise Guardian.
Rayla: Guardian.
Reigh: Protector.
Samara: Guardian.
Sandra: Guardian.
Sasha: Russian. Derived from the Greek name, Sondra, Sasha means “man’s defender.”
Selma: German. Selma is derived from “Anselma,” meaning “God’s helmet.”
Shamirah: Hebrew, Guardian.
Willa: German. Determined protector.
Strong Dog Names Male
Adder
Ali
Angst
Avenger
Baffle
Behemoth
Blitz
Brawny
Brutus
Buster
Chaos
Diesel
Grimm
Gunner
Flint
Hardy
Havoc
Ironsides
Jag
Javelin
Leviathan
Rigor
Riot
Rivet
Rowdy
Spartan
Storm
Tank
Trigger
Powerful Dog Names Female
Bane
Bang
Benatar
Blade
Bolt
Brava
Chaka
Chili
Chutzpah
Cobra
Crave
Cutlass
Dauntless
Fury
Harley
Harrier
Hera
Hornet
Jolt
Juno
Katniss
Lilith
Luna
Mamba
Mettle
Moxie
Pepper
Raven
Razor
Ruffian
Tabasco
Valkyrie
Wasp
Final Thoughts on Naming Strong Dogs
When thinking about strong dog names, surely strength can be measured on several scales. We can consider strength as a matter of muscle or size, as well as a leadership role or quality. Do you have a favorite leader or role model that you would like to honor significantly, by naming your powerful pup after him or her?
Additionally, strong dog names for powerful guard dogs can come from many sources of inspiration. You may also consider using monster-sized monikers inspired by nature such as Denali or Eiger. Likewise, weather inspired dog names, like Blizzard or Tsunami can pack a powerful punch too. Surely, myth and legend provide a wealth of strong dog names! If you are still looking for that perfect strong dog moniker, checkout these other 1000+ guard dog name ideas.
