What is a Palomino?
When considering names for palomino horses, it is important to remember that the palomino is associated with being a Spanish horse breed. Since 16th century Spain, the palomino has been a symbol of power, prestige, and nobility. One of the most popular coat colors, the palomino is a favorite for parades throughout the Americas.
Having noted this perception of them being a Spanish breed, the palomino is not actually a breed, instead it is a coat coloring of horses. Technically, Palominos are chestnut horses who also carry the cream allele, which is expressed with a white or off-white mane and pearl, cream or caramel coat coloring. They tend to have dark skin and eyes, with a lighter coat and an even paler mane. Therefore, if you are hoping to produce a palomino, breed a chestnut to a cremello (carrier of the cream allele) and you are certain to get one.
Interestingly, this coat color occurs across a variety of horse breeds in the United States, including the Arabian, Tennessee Walker, American Saddlebred, Morgan and Quarter Horses. While the Jockey Club does recognize the palomino coloring, it is rare for Thoroughbreds to carry the cream allele.
Unique Names for Palominos That Mean Golden
Palominos are the “blondes” of the horse world, and and like blondes, they may actually have more fun. These sunny yellow horses make everyone smile, just to behold their golden coats and flaxen manes and tails. Famous palomino horse names include Roy Rogers’ Trigger, “the smartest horse in movies” and Mister Ed, TV’s talking horse. If you are lucky enough to have a Palomino grace your life, consider one of these golden, sunny names for your new steed.
Amber: Honey-yellow fossilized resin.
Argo: Warrior Princess Xena’s palomino pal.
Biscuit: Sea Biscuit
Blaine: Means “golden” in Gaelic.
Blondie: Dagwood’s wife, Debbie Harry’s Band and a tasty blond brownie.
Brazil: Famous Brazilian gold rush.
Buffy: Vampire slayer
Copper: Golden metal.
Curry: Yellow spice.
Daisy: A cheery white and yellow flower.
Dahlonega: Gold rush.
Drake: Type of Almond.
Ed: Mister Ed, TV series portrayed by palomino star, Bamboo Harvester.
Flavia: Latin, means golden, female.
Flavius: Latin, means golden, male.
Floss: Flaxen hair
Flow: Flowing movement like water.
Fritz: Type of Almond.
Ginger: Pale yellow spice; Ginger makes a lovely Palomino mare name.
Ghana: Current gold rush.
Goldie: Hawn or Locks.
Hazel: Cream colored not.
Honey: Golden sweet treat.
Hops: Pale grain for beer making.
Kim: Korean, means gold.
Klondike: Yukon gold rush.
Kola: Pale soft drink with a unique spelling.
Marcona: Type of almond.
Nome: Alaskan gold rush.
Nugget: Chunk of gold ore.
Orla: Irish means golden princess.
Sandy: Beach and a golden cookie.
Silver: The Lone Ranger’s horse.
Sonora: Type of almond and a desert.
Sunny: Happy and bright personality.
Victoria: Gold rush.
Waris: Type of Almond.
Sand and Beach Inspired Names for Palominos
Good palomino horse names can come from a variety of inspirations. Palominos were originally developed in the Arabian Desert, where their pale golden and buff tones blended in nicely with their arid surroundings. Finding a meaningful, sandy name for your pale pony might be arrived at by naming him or her after one of your favorite beaches, or one you dream of visiting. Consider one of these world famous beaches, deserts or islands to make a unique name for a sandy coated steed.
Bahama: Islands
Baja: Part of the Sonoran Desert
Bikini: Islands
Bimini: Island
Cabo: Beach
Coco: Beach
Daytona: Beach and speedway
Destin: Beach
Gobi: Desert
Grayton: Beach
Hilton: Beaches
Jamaica: Caribbean nation, make a pretty name for palomino mares.
Jekyll: Island
Kalahari: Desert
Mohave: Desert
Malibu: Beach
Maui: Island
Miami: Beach
Panama: Beach and Latin American nation.
Pebbles: Flintstones’ daughter and plural of Pebble Beach, a cute name for a Palomino.
Phoenix: Desert city
Rivera: Coastline in France
Rosemary: Beach
Sahara: Desert
Savannah: Port, beaches, and African plains, Savannah is uni
Tucson: Desert city.
Tybee: Island
Zuma: Beach
Cute Names for Palominos from Spanish
As we mentioned earlier, Spanish royalty has prized the palomino coloring for centuries. The great Spanish Queen Isabella kept no less than 100 palominos in the royal stables at any given time. In fact, the word palomino is derived from the Spanish word, paloma, meaning little dove. Today the palomino is still a sought after horse for parades, as well as show horses for Western and English competitions. These names for palomino horses evoke the Spanish fascination with the golden horse. (See also Royal horse names.)
Amarilla: Yellow, feminine (Amarillo, masculine)
Bella: Beautiful
Bonita: Pretty
Bronce: Bronze
Chica: Girl
Chico: Boy
Crema: Cream
Cruz: Cross
Diablo: Devil
Diego: Teacher, makes a nice male palomino horse name.
Dorada: Golden feminine (El Dorado masculine)
Escondido: Hidden
Felina: Female name, lucky, successful or cat-like.
Feliz: Happy
Frida: Peace
Frito: Golden corn chips
Gaucho: South American cowboy.
Javier
Loco: Crazy
Macho: Manly
Nacho: Corn chips
Oro: Gold
Pancho: Short for Francisco
Paso: Step or pace
Pepe: To be spirited
Pico: Peak
Pilar: Hairy
Princesa: Princess
Principe: Prince
Rosa: Cantina owner in El Paso.
Rosaura: Golden rose
Rubio: Blonde
Sol: Sun
Solana: Sunny spot
Taco: Corn based Mexican street food
Tito: Uncle
65 Western Names for Palomino Horses
In the Western TV culture of the 1950s and 1960s, the good guys rode white horses or palominos, just as they wore white hats. If a bad guy was on a palomino, that would not last for long. No doubt the villain would be thrown and the golden gelding returned to his rightful, good-guy owner. These horse names from TV and movie westerns include iconic locales, gunmen, and cowboy tack.
Ace
Apache
Arizona
Arrow
Beau or Bow
Belle
Boone
Bowie
Buck
Buckshot
Bullet
Butch
Calamity
Caliche
Cassidy
Cody
Chisum
Crockett
Dakota
Denver
Destry
Dodge
Dollar
Drifter
Duke
Durango
Dusty
Eureka
Hopi
Kiawah
Kid
Kiddo
Liberty
Marshall
Mesa
Navaho
Nelson
Nevada
Patsy
Pistol
Rebel
Reno
Rio
Roper
Sage
Sagebrush
Scout
Sedona
Shane
Sherriff
Sierra
Sioux
Spur
Star
Stetson
Sundance
Target
Tonto
Trigger
Trooper
Vegas
Virginia
Waylon
Wesson
Wrangler
45 Names for Palomino Horses from Wine Makers and Distillers
Happy Hour can make for some unique palomino mare names as well as male horse nicknames. These pale and golden elixirs bespeak quality and luxury, as well as care in craftsmanship. If you are a training perfectionist, one of these names may well fit your high standards for your palomino.
Bacardi
Beringer
Bollinger
Brandy
Cambria
Chablis
Champagne
Chandon
Chardonnay
Chateau
Chivas
Cristal
Cruzan
Cuvee
Dewar
Gallo
Harvey
Hennessey
Jack Black
Jackson
Kendall
Lodi
Luna
Macallan
Martell
Moet
Mondavi
Monterey
Napa
Perrier
Piper
Remy
Roederer
Ron Rico
Rosé
Sancerre
Sebastiani
Sherry
Sonoma
Souverain
Sterling
Tattinger
Taylor
Walker (Johnny)
Whiskey
Parade Inspired Palomino Horse Names Female
These famous parades from around the world make cute names for palomino mares.
Bastille: The Bastille Day Parade
Calgary: The Calgary Stampede.
Carnival
China: Chinese New Years Parades.
Circus
Citrus: Citrus Parade.
Disney: Land of parades.
Easter: Famous parade day and movie title, Easter Parade.
Macy: Thanksgiving Parade.
Mardi Gras: A week of parades!
May – May Day Parade.
Olympia: Olympic opening and closing ceremonies parades.
Rose: The Rose Bowl Tournament of Roses Parade.
Palomino Horse Names Male from Famous Parades
Marksmen: Marksmen’s Parade in Hannover.
Patrick: St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Puerto: Puerto Rican Day Parade.
Ticker: Ticker-tape parade.
Trooper: Trouping the Colors, British parade.
Naming Tips for Horses
Choosing a stable name: select a name that is one or two syllables. If your horse comes with a preregistered name, try to make a play off of that name. For instance, Crockett’s Gamble could result in the stable name Davey or Leapy Lad could be called Ladd or Laddie.
Selecting a registered name: If you are starting your own breeding program, include your part of your stable’s name in it. You can also take a page from the racetrack, where the names of the parents or grandparents in the pedigree are incorporated into the registered names of the offspring. For instance, Our Brenda bred to Middle Brother produced the name Middle Hour.
Always select a name that shows your horse in the best light and demonstrates your pride in him. Your horse will reward you for it!