Why Old Man Names for Dogs?
Dogs’ eyes are especially expressive, particularly with their mobile eyebrows and cute head cocks. Undoubtedly, we can easily imagine they are what they are thinking, from the expression on their face. Add a furnished face, like that of the Schnauzer or wire hair breeds, and you have a dog that surely looks seriously human, and frequently like a cranky old man. Here we have complied the comprehensive list of old man names for dogs from grumpy old men characters to old fashioned names from the South, West and the last century, that are ready to make a comeback. Additionally, we have included dog names once popular in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, that your great grandma and grandpa would surely approve of!
Grumpy Old Man Names for Dogs
These grumpy old man characters from literature, film and television have endeared themselves to us through their sour attitudes, that eventually reveal a heart of gold, underneath their harsh façade.
Bogart: Humphrey Bogart perfected the cranky criminal, detective, casino owner and boat captain.
Bunker: Archie Bunker made TV comedy history throughout the 1970s, originally as the reactionary, crabby father in All in the Family.
Burgess: Burgess Meredith made a successful acting career of playing the grumpy old man, from the Twilight Zone to to Batman‘s “Penguin” nemesis to Rocky, where he similarly played Mickey Goldmill, Rocky’s cranky trainer.
Clint: Clint Eastwood has made a long career of being a sour dude, since he left Rawhide and entered the realm of the Spaghetti Western.
Darcy: Mr. Darcy of Pride and Prejudice, who begins the novel full of arrogance and eventually reconsiders his own arrogance and prejudices.
Frankie: Grumpy coach, naturally played by Clint Eastwood, in Million Dollar Baby.
Heathcliff: Wuthering Heights‘ especially brooding character.
Lemmon: Jack Lemmon plays John Gustafson a curmudgeonly neighbor in Grumpy Old Men. Lemon naturally makes a good name for a blonde dog.
Max: Max Goldman, Walter Matthau character in Grumpy Old Men.
Melvin: Melvin Udall is a cranky and neurotic author in As Good as It Gets, played by Jack Nicholson.
Oscar: Oscar the Grouch, one of the original Muppet characters.
Otto: Tom Hanks character and essentially the main curmudgeon of the film A Man Called Otto, originally, Ove.
Rooster: Rooster Cogburn of True Grit, played by John Wayne.
Sanford: Sanford and Son television show of the 1970s featured Red Foxx as the grumpy old junk man, constantly warring with family and friends.
Silas: Silas Marner of the eponymous book, is an outcast recluse, until he finds joy in his adopted daughter.
Statler or Waldorf: A pair of heckling, grumpy old Muppets; Statler and Waldorf make cute old man names for dogs with a bit of panache.
Cute Dog Names that Mean Grumpy
Cross
Curt
Edge
Fierce
Flint
Grim
Grizzly
Gruff
Moody
Pepper
Rascal
Rebel
Rowdy
Scrappy
Sharp
Snappy
Snippy
Spartan
Spike
Spunky
Stark
Steely
Sting
Stony
Tabasco
Wasp
Old Fashioned Dog Names
Human names come and go in popularity, as do dog names. These human names that have fallen out of favor in modern times, might just need to make a comeback as ideal old man names for dogs!
Archibald
Augustus
Barnaby
Barney
Chester
Clarence
Claude
Clement
Clyde
Cyrus
Elroy
Grover
Herbert
Herman
Hugo
Ike
Leroy
Lyndon
Millard
Milton
Phineas
Pliney
Preston
Sherman
Sylvester
Ulysses
Winston
Woodrow
Zachary
Old Timey Western Names for Old Man Names for Dogs
Bart
Bat: Bat Masterson aka Bartholomew Masterson was a fames scout, lawman, gunfighter and sports journalist with expertise in boxing.
Boone: Boone Helm, aka The Kentucky Cannibal,” and Daniel Boone.
Butch: Butch Cassidy of the Hole in the Wall Gang.
Calico: Calico Jones, member of the Five Joaquins Gang as well as a known associate of Billy the Kid.
Clell: Clell Miller, member of the James-Younger Gang.
Emmet: Emmet Dalton of the Dalton Gang.
Gratton: Gratton Dalton of the Dalton Gang.
Heck: Heck Thomas was a renowned lawman who helped settle the Old West.
Jedidiah: Jedidiah Smith was one of the great frontiersmen of his day, several movies have been made about him, including Into the West and Into the Wild Frontier.
Jesse: James Gang leader.
Lucas: Lucas McCain, The Rifleman.
Pancho: Cisco Kid’s sidekick.
Roscoe: Roscoe “Rustling Bob” Bryant was a member of the John Kinney Gang in New Mexico.
Reuben: Reuben “Rooster” Cogburn of True Grit.
Rufus: The Rufus Buck Gang was comprised of Creek Indians and African Americans.
Simeon: Simeon Reno of the Reno Gang, train robbers operating during and after the Civil War.
Virgil: Virgil Earp of the O.K. Corral.
Wyatt: Wyatt Earp of the Shoot out at the O.K. Corral.
Old Southern Names that Make Great Dog Names
Amos
Atticus
Beauregard
Bubba
Buford
Buck
Cade
Caleb
Cedar
Clem
Cletus Invoked
Cooter
Cotton
Cracker
Dwayne
Earl
Emmett
Grady
Harland
Herschel
Huck
Jasper
Jed
Jethro
June Bug
Junior
Malakai
Maynard
Micah
Moses
Newt
Otis
Rhett
Sawyer
Scooter
Seth
Skeeter
Tater
Travis
Tucker
Wes
Woody
Zeke Ezekiel
Old Fashioned Dog Names from the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries
These dog names were once the most popular monikers for dogs in early America and England.
Bandit
Banjo
Bear
Bingo
Blue
Bounder
Brutus
Bubba
Buckshot
Buddy
Bullet
Biscuit
Buster
Cap
Checkers
Chief
Chips
Copper
Cowboy
Dan
Duke
Fido
Fly
Freckles
Laddie
Lucky
Mopsie
Moss
Nipper
Patches
Peety
Ranger
Red
Rex
Rover
Rusty
Shadow
Shaggy
Shep
Skipper
Smokey
Socks
Spike
Spot
Sweep
Wisp
Whiskey
Final Thoughts on Old Man Names for Dogs
Dog Naming Tips: As you can see, many classic dog names that seemed tired 50 years ago, are due for a comeback. When choosing a dog name, consider an old fashioned dog name, that perhaps was a beloved pet of a distant family member or a hero of yours from days gone by. If you have selected a breed that traditionally has a grumpy look, choose a name for your dog whose character demonstrates generosity and loyalty as his story evolves. Remember, dog names are self-fulfilling prophecies. You get what you call for!
Still looking for that perfect dog moniker? Check out over 1000 dog names here.
