Great Danes are one of the tallest dog breeds in the world, and despite the name, they come from Germany, where they were bred to hunt wild boar and guard estates. In Germany the breed is called the Deutsche Dogge, and fans have long nicknamed it the “Apollo of dogs” for its noble build. Today’s Danes are famous for being sweet, calm couch potatoes who think they’re lap dogs.
Here are more than 100 Great Dane names, sorted by theme, from boy and girl favorites to names for fawn, brindle, harlequin, blue and black coats, big and mighty names for a giant breed, German names that honor its roots, and funny names that play with their enormous size.
Jump to: Boy names for Great Danes · Girl names for Great Danes · Names for fawn, brindle, harlequin, blue and black Great Danes · Big and mighty Great Dane names · German Great Dane names · Funny Great Dane names for gentle giants
Boy names for Great Danes
Great Dane boys are towering, gentle and loyal. These names suit a big dog with an even bigger heart.
- Duke: noble leader
- Moose: huge and gentle
- Thor: Norse god of thunder
- Bruno: brown, strong
- Murphy: sea warrior
- Zeus: king of the Greek gods
- Hank: ruler of the home
- Winston: English statesman
- Tank: big and sturdy
- Brutus: Roman name meaning heavy
- Gunner: bold warrior
- Rocco: rest
- Jasper: treasured gem
- Bentley: classic English charm
- Diesel: powerful engine
- Odin: chief of the Norse gods
- Maximus: the greatest
Girl names for Great Danes
Great Dane girls are elegant, graceful and devoted. These names match their quiet, regal charm.
- Luna: moon
- Athena: Greek goddess of wisdom
- Stella: star
- Nova: new star
- Freya: Norse goddess of love
- Olive: peaceful
- Bella: beautiful
- Hazel: warm brown
- Penelope: faithful
- Sadie: princess
- Willow: graceful tree
- Juno: Roman queen of the gods
- Pearl: precious gem
- Matilda: mighty in battle
- Ivy: evergreen and loyal
- Greta: pearl
- Delilah: delicate
Names for fawn, brindle, harlequin, blue and black Great Danes
Great Danes come in several recognized coats, including fawn with a black mask, brindle stripes, harlequin white with black patches, mantle black with a white collar, solid blue and solid black.
- Fawn: soft golden tan
- Goldie: golden fawn coat
- Maple: warm golden brown
- Tiger: brindle stripes
- Stripes: brindle pattern
- Domino: black and white like a harlequin
- Patches: harlequin spots
- Dottie: spotted coat
- Oreo: black and white mantle
- Tux: mantle coat that looks like a tuxedo
- Blue: steel-gray blue coat
- Slate: blue-gray stone
- Storm: stormy blue-gray
- Smokey: smoky gray
- Onyx: shiny black stone
- Raven: glossy black bird
- Midnight: solid black
Big and mighty Great Dane names
Danes are true giants, and some stand taller than their owners when they stand on their hind legs. These names honor their size and strength.
- Titan: Greek giant
- Atlas: titan who held up the sky
- Goliath: biblical giant
- Hercules: legendary strongman
- Apollo: from the breed’s nickname, Apollo of dogs
- Colossus: giant statue
- Everest: tallest mountain
- Kong: giant ape
- Samson: biblical strongman
- Ajax: mighty Greek hero
- Bear: big and strong
- Boulder: huge rock
- Sequoia: giant tree
- Kodiak: huge Alaskan bear
- Rex: king
- Admiral: high-ranking officer
- Major: great
German Great Dane names
The breed was developed in Germany, where it guarded noble estates and hunted boar. These German names honor that heritage.
- Fritz: peaceful ruler
- Hans: God is gracious
- Klaus: victory of the people
- Otto: wealth
- Heidi: noble
- Gisela: pledge
- Liesel: God’s promise
- Gretchen: little pearl
- Wolfgang: traveling wolf
- Dieter: people’s warrior
- Ludwig: famous warrior
- Emil: eager
- Frieda: peace
- Anka: grace
- Berlin: German capital
- Bavaria: German region
- Dogge: from Deutsche Dogge, the German breed name
Funny Great Dane names for gentle giants
Great Danes are huge dogs who act like puppies and lap dogs. These names have fun with the contrast.
- Tiny: the joke never gets old
- Peanut: small snack for a big dog
- Pebble: tiny rock for a giant
- Bitsy: itty-bitsy
- Shorty: classic big-dog joke
- Scooby: the famous cartoon Great Dane
- Marmaduke: the comic strip Great Dane
- Clifford: big friendly dog
- Biggie: big personality
- Hoss: large and strong
- Lurch: tall and lanky
- Stretch: long legs
- Gigantor: giant robot
- Sasquatch: big and hairy
- Chewie: tall and loyal like Chewbacca
- Nugget: little nickname for a big dog
- Mouse: small name for a big dog
Bonus Great Dane names
Still looking? Here are a few more ideas: Archie, Blaze, Cleo, Dexter, Ella, Finn, Gus, Harley, Kona, Lola, Mabel, Nala, Otis, Rosie, Sam, Toby, Vera, Walter, Zara, Ziggy.
How to choose from these Great Dane names
Spend a few days getting to know your Great Dane before you decide. Is your pup a dignified guardian, a goofy clown or a shy couch potato? A one- or two-syllable name is easy to call across a park, and a coat or German name will still fit when your puppy grows into a giant. Try your favorites at treat time and keep the one that makes those big ears perk up.
- Great Danes are sensitive and eager to please, so choose a name you can say in a calm, friendly voice and use gentle, reward-based training.
- Start training early, because a 30-pound puppy grows into a 150-pound adult who still thinks he’s small.
- Avoid names that sound like cues such as “no,” “sit” or “down” to keep training simple.
- Once you pick a winner, Get a custom name tag so your gentle giant is easy to identify if he wanders off.
Generate more Great Dane names
Want hundreds more ideas? Use our free generator below. It’s preset for dogs, and you can pick a gender, style and color to fine-tune the results. Every name comes with a short meaning.
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Frequently asked questions
What are popular Great Dane names?
Duke, Luna, Moose, Athena, Thor, Stella, Zeus, Hazel, Bruno and Freya are popular Great Dane names.
Are Great Danes really from Denmark?
No. Despite the name, Great Danes were developed in Germany, where the breed is called the Deutsche Dogge. The English name likely came from French naturalists who called it the Grand Danois in the 1700s.
What are famous Great Danes called?
Famous Great Danes include the cartoon dog Scooby-Doo, the comic strip dog Marmaduke and Zeus from Michigan, who was named the world’s tallest dog by Guinness World Records.
More name ideas: dog name generator, German Shepherd names, Rottweiler names, Boxer names, funny dog names, and our free pet name generator.
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