Golden Retriever Name Generator

Gold, honey and Highland names for golden retrievers

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Find a call name for a golden retriever: gold and sun names like Nugget, Saffron and Doubloon, Scottish names from the breed's Highland home like Affric and Tweed, coat shades like Shortbread and Russet, and wordplay such as Midas Well and Karat Cake.

About golden retriever names

Most golden retriever names start with the coat. Gold itself gives you coins and treasure (Doubloon, Ducat, Guinea, Bullion, Nugget), minerals (Topaz, Citrine, Heliodor, Pyrite) and the word for gold in other languages, such as Oro, Aurum, Kulta, Sona and Arany. Honey, sunshine and yellow flowers do the same job more softly: Honeycomb, Nectar, Sunbeam, Soleil, Marigold, Dandelion, Jonquil and Forsythia. Lighter and darker dogs have their own shades, from Cream, Buttermilk and Shortbread to Copper, Russet and Auburn.

The second big source is Scotland. The breed was developed in the Highlands by Dudley Marjoribanks, the first Lord Tweedmouth, at his Guisachan estate near Glen Affric. In 1868 he bred his yellow retriever Nous to Belle, a Tweed Water Spaniel, and the pups of that litter were named Crocus, Cowslip and Primrose. All five names are in the list, together with Scottish given names such as Hamish, Eilidh and Lachlan and with glens, lochs and rivers like Affric, Rannoch, Spey and Tay.

The rest follows the dog's character and work: water and fetch names (River, Splash), gundog names (Drake, Mallard, Softmouth), happy names (Joy, Chipper), Scots words like Braw and Bannock, autumn trees, tawny animals, family classics like Cooper, breakfast and bakery names, a few goldens from film and television, and wordplay like Midas Well and Au Gratin.

How to choose golden retriever names

  • Let the coat decide the family of names. A pale cream dog suits Buttermilk, Parchment or Champagne, a classic mid gold suits Honey, Saffron or Doubloon, and a dark red golden suits Copper, Russet, Auburn or Persimmon.
  • Keep the call name to one or two syllables and save the joke for the long form. Au Gratin can be Augie, Rumpelstiltskin can be Rumple, and Here Comes the Sun is Sunny at the park.
  • Say the name the way you will shout it across a field or a lake. Short, clear names such as Oro, Midas, Tay and Skipper carry much better than long soft words.
  • Avoid names that sound like cues. Ray and Bay are both close to stay, and Fetcher will confuse a dog that is learning fetch.
  • For two goldens, pick a pair from the same family that does not rhyme: Crocus and Cowslip, Nous and Belle, Spey and Tay, or Ducat and Florin.

Frequently asked questions

What are good names for a golden retriever?

Names that point at the coat are the classic choice: Nugget, Honey, Amber, Saffron, Marigold, Topaz and Midas. For something less common, try a gold coin such as Doubloon, Ducat or Bezant, a mineral such as Citrine or Heliodor, or a Highland name from the breed's home, such as Affric, Tweed or Guisachan.

Which names come from the history of the breed?

Guisachan is the Highland estate where Lord Tweedmouth developed the breed, and Tomich, Plodda, Affric and Strathglass are places around it. Nous was his yellow retriever and Belle the Tweed Water Spaniel he bred to Nous in 1868; Crocus, Cowslip and Primrose were the pups of that litter. Tweed and Tweedmouth are in the list for the same reason.

Which names in the list belong to golden retrievers from film and TV?

A small share do. Buddy and Air Bud come from the Air Bud films, and Rosebud, Budderball, Mudbud and B-Dawg from the Air Buddies films that followed. Shadow is from Homeward Bound, Comet from Full House, Dug from Up, Brinkley from You've Got Mail, Bailey from A Dog's Purpose, Enzo from The Art of Racing in the Rain, Einstein from Watchers and Brandon from Punky Brewster, and Napoleon and Fluke are the title dogs of their films.

What are some funny golden retriever names?

The best jokes play on gold and sunshine. Au is the chemical symbol for gold, which gives Au Gratin, Au Jus, Au Lait and Au Contraire, and the coat gives Midas Well, Karat Cake, Fool's Gold, Goldbrick and Fort Knox. For the dog that sheds on everything, there are Sir Sheds-a-Lot, Shedward and Tumbleweed.

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All 1,000 golden retriever names

This is the complete list the generator above draws its random batches from, sorted A to Z and grouped by first letter.

Plain text, one name per line.

A: 61 names

  • Abeille
  • Acacia
  • Ada
  • Aditya
  • Affric
  • Afterglow
  • Agrimony
  • Ailie
  • Ailsa
  • Air Bud
  • Alasdair
  • Alchemy
  • All That Glitters
  • Almond
  • Aloha
  • Altin
  • Amaretto
  • Amarillo
  • Ambassador
  • Amber
  • Amigo
  • Amulet
  • Angus
  • Annan
  • Apricity
  • Apricot
  • Arany
  • Archie
  • Argo
  • Argyll

A, continued

  • Arkaig
  • Arnica
  • Arran
  • Arun
  • Asphodel
  • Atalanta
  • Atholl
  • Au Contraire
  • Au Gratin
  • Au Jus
  • Au Lait
  • Au Naturel
  • Au Pair
  • Au Poivre
  • Au Revoir
  • Auburn
  • Aurea
  • Aureate
  • Aurelia
  • Aurelian
  • Aurelie
  • Aurelio
  • Aureole
  • Aureus
  • Auric
  • Aurinko
  • Aurora
  • Aurum
  • Autumn
  • Aviemore
  • Awe

B: 91 names

  • B-Dawg
  • Backstroke
  • Bailey
  • Baklava
  • Ball Hog
  • Ballarat
  • Banana Bread
  • Banana Split
  • Banchory
  • Bangle
  • Bannock
  • Barley
  • Barra
  • Bay
  • Beach Bum
  • Beachcomber
  • Beacon
  • Beamer
  • Bear
  • Beau
  • Beauly
  • Bee's Knees
  • Beech
  • Beekeeper
  • Beeswax
  • Beignet
  • Belle
  • Bellhop
  • Belly Flop
  • Beryl
  • Best Boy
  • Best in Show
  • Bestie
  • Bezant
  • Big Yellow
  • Biscuit
  • Bisque
  • Black-Eyed Susan
  • Blair
  • Blessing
  • Bling
  • Bliss
  • Blondie
  • Blythe
  • Boathouse

B, continued

  • Bonanza
  • Bonnie
  • Boomerang
  • Bosun
  • Bothy
  • Bounce
  • Bounty
  • Bourbon
  • Bowie
  • Bracken
  • Brae
  • Braemar
  • Brandon
  • Brandy
  • Bravo
  • Braw
  • Bridie
  • Bright Eyes
  • Brightside
  • Brimstone
  • Brinkley
  • Brioche
  • Brittle
  • Brocade
  • Brodie
  • Brook
  • Broom
  • Brora
  • Bruce
  • Buckskin
  • Budderball
  • Buddy
  • Bullion
  • Bulrush
  • Bumblebee
  • Bumper
  • Buoy
  • Busy Bee
  • Bute
  • Butter
  • Buttercup
  • Butterfingers
  • Buttermilk
  • Butternut
  • Butterscotch
  • Buzz

C: 87 names

  • Cairn
  • Cairngorm
  • Calendula
  • Callander
  • Callum
  • Camel
  • Cameron
  • Campfire
  • Canary
  • Candlelight
  • Cannich
  • Cannonball
  • Canny
  • Canoe
  • Captain Fetch
  • Caramel
  • Carat
  • Carnelian
  • Cashew
  • Catch
  • Catriona
  • Ceilidh
  • Celandine
  • Chalice
  • Chamomile
  • Champ
  • Champagne
  • Chance
  • Chardonnay
  • Charlie
  • Cheddar
  • Cheer
  • Chicken Nugget
  • Chief Snuggle Officer
  • Chipper
  • Chrysos
  • Chum
  • Cider
  • Cinnamon
  • Citrine
  • Citron
  • Class Clown
  • Clova

C, continued

  • Clyde
  • Co-Pilot
  • Cobbler
  • Cognac
  • Coll
  • Colonsay
  • Comet
  • Compadre
  • Concierge
  • Confetti
  • Conker
  • Conon
  • Cooper
  • Copper
  • Coreopsis
  • Corn Dog
  • Cornbread
  • Cornfield
  • Cornsilk
  • Coronet
  • Corrie
  • Cosmos
  • Counter Surfer
  • Cove
  • Cowslip
  • Cranachan
  • Cream
  • Crème Brûlée
  • Crieff
  • Crocus
  • Croesus
  • Croft
  • Croissant
  • Cromarty
  • Crown Jewel
  • Cruller
  • Crumb Catcher
  • Crumble
  • Crumpet
  • Cub
  • Cuddles
  • Cuillin
  • Culham
  • Custard

D: 45 names

  • Daffodil
  • Dahlia
  • Daisy
  • Dandelion
  • Dandy Lion
  • Daric
  • Dawn
  • Dawson
  • Daybreak
  • Daylight
  • Daylily
  • Dazzle
  • Decoy
  • Dee
  • Delight
  • Demerara
  • Deveron
  • Diadem
  • Dijon
  • Ditto
  • Dobla
  • Dochart
  • Dockdiver
  • Dockside
  • Doon
  • Dorado
  • Dorée
  • Dornoch
  • Double Eagle
  • Doubloon
  • Dougal
  • Douglas
  • Drake
  • Driftwood
  • Ducat
  • Duckling
  • Dudley
  • Dug
  • Duke of Wagsworth
  • Dulce
  • Dumpling
  • Duncan
  • Dune
  • Dunkeld
  • Dust Bunny

E: 22 names

  • Earn
  • Ecru
  • Eddy
  • Effie
  • Eggnog
  • Eilidh
  • Einstein
  • Eldorado
  • Electrum
  • Elgin
  • Elio
  • Ellie
  • Elspeth
  • Enzo
  • Eos
  • Equinox
  • Escudo
  • Esk
  • Etive
  • Ettrick
  • Eureka
  • Ewan

F: 54 names

  • Faith
  • Farrar
  • Fawn
  • Feather Duster
  • Featherpants
  • Feathers
  • Felicity
  • Felix
  • Fen
  • Fenella
  • Fennec
  • Fennel
  • Fergus
  • Feshie
  • Fetcher
  • Field Marshal
  • Field Trial
  • Fields of Gold
  • Fiesta
  • Fife
  • Filigree
  • Finch
  • Finders Keepers
  • Findhorn
  • Fingal
  • Finlay
  • Finn
  • Fiona
  • Firefly
  • Firth
  • Flagtail
  • Flapjack
  • Flare
  • Flavia
  • Flax
  • Flaxen
  • Fleece
  • Flicker
  • Flora
  • Florin
  • Fluke
  • Fool's Gold
  • Forsythia
  • Fort Knox
  • Forth
  • Fortune
  • Forty-Niner
  • Foula
  • Frangipani
  • Fraser
  • Freesia
  • French Toast
  • Fur Real
  • Furnado

G: 78 names

  • Gala
  • Gavin
  • Genista
  • Gentle Giant
  • Gerbera
  • Giggles
  • Gilda
  • Gilded
  • Gilder
  • Gillie
  • Gilt
  • Gilty Pleasure
  • Ginger
  • Ginger Snap
  • Ginkgo
  • Gladly
  • Gleam
  • Glee
  • Glencoe
  • Glimmer
  • Glint
  • Glitter
  • Glitterbug
  • Glow
  • Go for Gold
  • Gold Digger
  • Gold Dust
  • Gold Leaf
  • Gold Medal
  • Gold Rush
  • Gold Standard
  • Gold Star
  • Golda
  • Goldbrick
  • Goldcrest
  • Golden Age
  • Golden Boy
  • Golden Brown
  • Golden Chain

G, continued

  • Golden Child
  • Golden Delicious
  • Golden Egg
  • Golden Gate
  • Golden Girl
  • Golden Goose
  • Golden Hind
  • Golden Hour
  • Golden Oldie
  • Golden Ratio
  • Golden Rule
  • Golden Slumbers
  • Golden Ticket
  • Goldenrod
  • Goldfinch
  • Goldie
  • Goldilocks
  • Goldmine
  • Goldsmith
  • Good as Gold
  • Good Boy
  • Goofball
  • Gordon
  • Gorse
  • Gosling
  • Goud
  • Gouda
  • Granola
  • Greer
  • Greeter
  • Gregor
  • Grouse
  • Guilder
  • Guinea
  • Guisachan
  • Guld
  • Gunner
  • Gus
  • Gusto

H: 50 names

  • Halcyon
  • Half Eagle
  • Hallmark
  • Halo
  • Hamish
  • Happy
  • Harbor
  • Harris
  • Harvest
  • Haymaker
  • Haystack
  • Heart of Gold
  • Hearth
  • Heath
  • Hector
  • Heirloom
  • Helia
  • Helianthus
  • Heliodor
  • Helios
  • Helmsdale
  • Here Comes the Sun
  • Hickory
  • High Five
  • High Noon
  • Hinata
  • Hive
  • Hollandaise
  • Honey
  • Honey Badger
  • Honey Bear
  • Honey Pie
  • Honeybee
  • Honeybun
  • Honeycomb
  • Honeydew
  • Honeymoon
  • Honeypot
  • Honeysuckle
  • Honig
  • Hooray
  • Hope
  • Howdy
  • Hoy
  • Hugsy
  • Hunaja
  • Hurrah
  • Hushpuppy
  • Huzzah
  • Hyperion

I: 11 names

  • Iain
  • Idun
  • Ilchester
  • Ingot
  • Innes
  • Inti
  • Iona
  • Ishbel
  • Isla
  • Islay
  • Ivory

J: 12 names

  • Jacinth
  • Jackpot
  • Jed
  • Jessie
  • Jetty
  • Jock
  • Johnnycake
  • Jolly
  • Jonquil
  • Joy
  • Jubilee
  • Jura

K: 27 names

  • Kanak
  • Karat
  • Karat Cake
  • Karat Stick
  • Karma
  • Katrine
  • Keeper
  • Keepsake
  • Keir
  • Kelso
  • Kelvin
  • Kenna
  • Kenneth
  • Kernel
  • Kestrel
  • Kettle Corn
  • Kin
  • Kingcup
  • Kinkajou
  • Kintyre
  • Kiran
  • Kirsty
  • Klondike
  • Koban
  • Kogane
  • Koi
  • Kulta

L: 42 names

  • Laburnum
  • Lachlan
  • Laddie
  • Laggan
  • Lagoon
  • Lake Monster
  • Lakeside
  • Lantern
  • Lapdog
  • Larch
  • Laurel
  • Ledi
  • Lemon
  • Lemon Drop
  • Lemonade
  • Lennox
  • Leo
  • Leven
  • Lewis
  • Liberty
  • Lifeguard
  • Lilias
  • Linden
  • Linen
  • Lion
  • Lochy
  • Locket
  • Lode
  • Logan
  • Lomond
  • Lorna
  • Lorne
  • Lossie
  • Lost and Found
  • Louis d'Or
  • Lovey
  • Lucky
  • Lucy
  • Lugh
  • Lumen
  • Luster
  • Lyon

M: 75 names

  • Macadamia
  • Macaroni
  • Madeleine
  • Madhu
  • Maggie
  • Magnus
  • Mahogany
  • Mairi
  • Maisie
  • Maize
  • Malcolm
  • Mallard
  • Mango
  • Manuka
  • Maple
  • Maree
  • Marguerite
  • Marigold
  • Marina
  • Marmalade
  • Marsali
  • Marsh
  • Marshmallow
  • Mayor
  • Mead
  • Meadowlark
  • Medalist
  • Melbury
  • Meli
  • Melissa
  • Melrose
  • Merry
  • Midas
  • Midas Touch
  • Midas Well
  • Midsummer
  • Miel

M, continued

  • Miele
  • Millet
  • Millie
  • Mimosa
  • Minnow
  • Mirabelle
  • Mirren
  • Mirth
  • Miss Sunshine
  • Mohur
  • Moidore
  • Moira
  • Molasses
  • Monarch
  • Moor
  • Moose
  • Morag
  • Morar
  • Moray
  • Moriston
  • Morlich
  • Morning Glory
  • Morven
  • Motherlode
  • Mr. Congeniality
  • Mr. Sunshine
  • Mud Magnet
  • Mudbud
  • Muddy Paws
  • Mudpie
  • Mull
  • Mullein
  • Mungo
  • Munro
  • Murdo
  • Murphy
  • Murray
  • Mustard

N: 19 names

  • Nairn
  • Napoleon
  • Narcissus
  • Nasturtium
  • Naver
  • Nectar
  • Nectarine
  • Neep
  • Ness
  • Nethy
  • Nevis
  • Niall
  • Nith
  • Noodle
  • Noranby
  • Nous
  • Nudge
  • Nugget
  • Nuzzle

O: 19 names

  • Oatcake
  • Oatmeal
  • Oban
  • Ochre
  • October
  • Omelet
  • Ophir
  • Orchard
  • Orchy
  • Oriana
  • Oriole
  • Orkney
  • Orla
  • Ormolu
  • Oro
  • Otter
  • Over Easy
  • Oxlip
  • Oykel

P: 45 names

  • Pactolus
  • Paddle
  • Pal
  • Palomino
  • Pantaloons
  • Papaya
  • Paperboy
  • Paprika
  • Parchment
  • Pardner
  • Paydirt
  • Paz
  • Peach
  • Pebble
  • Peebles
  • Persimmon
  • Phoebus
  • Pier
  • Pintail
  • Pippin
  • Pistole
  • Placer
  • Plaid
  • Plodda
  • Plume
  • Plumeria
  • Pollen
  • Popcorn
  • Popover
  • Porridge
  • Portree
  • Pot o' Gold
  • Prairie
  • Praline
  • Prim
  • Primrose
  • Primula
  • Prize
  • Professor Wigglebutt
  • Prosecco
  • Prospector
  • Ptarmigan
  • Puddle
  • Pure Gold
  • Pyrite

Q: 3 names

  • Queen Bee
  • Queenie
  • Quince

R: 32 names

  • Ra
  • Rabbie
  • Radiance
  • Ramsay
  • Ranald
  • Ranger
  • Rannoch
  • Rapids
  • Ravi
  • Ray
  • Ray of Sunshine
  • Red
  • Redwood
  • Reed
  • Return to Sender
  • Rhona
  • Riley
  • Ripple
  • Rise and Shine
  • River
  • Romp
  • Rory
  • Rose Gold
  • Rosebud
  • Royal Jelly
  • Ruaridh
  • Rufus
  • Rumbledethumps
  • Rumpelstiltskin
  • Russet
  • Rusty
  • Rye

S: 123 names

  • Sadie
  • Safflower
  • Saffron
  • Sahara
  • Sandbar
  • Sandcastle
  • Sandstone
  • Sandy
  • Saule
  • Savanna
  • Sawyer
  • Scarecrow
  • Scone
  • Scout
  • Selkie
  • Senga
  • Seonaid
  • Sequin
  • Shadow
  • Shams
  • Shandy
  • Sheaf
  • Shed Zeppelin
  • Shedder Cheese
  • Shedward
  • Sheen
  • Sherry
  • Shimmer
  • Shoe Bandit
  • Shona
  • Shortbread
  • Shortcake
  • Shortie
  • Sidekick
  • Sif
  • Signet
  • Silence Is Golden
  • Sir Fetch-a-Lot
  • Sir Sheds-a-Lot
  • Skep
  • Skerry

S, continued

  • Skimmer
  • Skipper
  • Skye
  • Slipper
  • Sluice
  • Smiley
  • Sneezeweed
  • Snipe
  • Snuggles
  • Sockthief
  • Softie
  • Softmouth
  • Sol
  • Solana
  • Solar
  • Soleil
  • Solid Gold
  • Solidus
  • Solstice
  • Solveig
  • Sona
  • Sorcha
  • Sorley
  • Sorrel
  • Sourdough
  • Sovereign
  • Spark
  • Sparkler
  • Spean
  • Special Delivery
  • Spey
  • Splash
  • Splashdown
  • Sporran
  • Spud
  • Squeaker
  • Staffa
  • Starshine
  • Stater
  • Stay Gold
  • Stella

S, continued

  • Stick
  • Stirling
  • Strathglass
  • Straw
  • Strawberry Blonde
  • Struan
  • Strudel
  • Summer
  • Sun Chaser
  • Sunbather
  • Sunbeam
  • Sunburst
  • Suncatcher
  • Sundae Best
  • Sundance
  • Sunday
  • Sundew
  • Sundial
  • Sundog
  • Sunflower
  • Sunkissed
  • Sunlit
  • Sunna
  • Sunniva
  • Sunny
  • Sunny Side Up
  • Sunporch
  • Sunray
  • Sunrise
  • Sunset
  • Sunshine
  • Sunshower
  • Sunspot
  • Sunstone
  • Sunup
  • Surf
  • Sutter
  • Swarna
  • Sweet Tea
  • Sweetheart
  • Swimmer

T: 55 names

  • Tablet
  • Tagalong
  • Tailwagger
  • Taiyo
  • Talisman
  • Tam
  • Tamarack
  • Tamarin
  • Tanner
  • Tansy
  • Tartan
  • Tattie
  • Tavish
  • Tawny
  • Tay
  • Teacher's Pet
  • Teak
  • Teal
  • Teddy
  • Teith
  • Tennis
  • Teviot
  • Thresher
  • Thurso
  • Tiara
  • Tide
  • Tigereye
  • Tilt
  • Tinsel
  • Tiree
  • Tobermory
  • Toffee
  • Tomich
  • Tonatiuh
  • Top Banana
  • Topaz
  • Torc
  • Torquil
  • Torridon
  • Treacle
  • Treasure
  • Trefoil
  • Trophy
  • Trove
  • Tucker
  • Tug
  • Tumbleweed
  • Tummel
  • Tupelo
  • Turmeric
  • Tweed
  • Tweedmouth
  • Twenty-Four Karat
  • Twig
  • Twinkle

U: 2 names

  • Ullapool
  • Unst

V: 3 names

  • Vanilla
  • Velvet Ears
  • Vermeil

W: 25 names

  • Waffles
  • Wags
  • Wagtail
  • Wahoo
  • Walking on Sunshine
  • Wallace
  • Wallflower
  • Water Wings
  • Wattle
  • Wave
  • Welcome Mat
  • Westray
  • Wheat
  • Wheaten
  • Whin
  • Whisky
  • Whistle
  • Wicker
  • Wigeon
  • Wigglebutt
  • Wiggles
  • Wildflower
  • Windfall
  • Wingman
  • Winston

X: 1 name

  • Xanthe

Y: 10 names

  • Yarrow
  • Yeller
  • Yellow Brick Road
  • Yellowhammer
  • Yippee
  • Yolk
  • Yorkshire Pudding
  • You Are My Sunshine
  • Ythan
  • Yukon

Z: 8 names

  • Zahava
  • Zecchino
  • Zenith
  • Zest
  • Zinnia
  • Zircon
  • Zlata
  • Zoomies