Vizsla Name Ideas

Happy almost-New Year! Anyone getting a new puppy in 2013?

At my husband's suggestion, here's a list of 10 Vizsla Names for 2013: Popular names that seem to be trending, based on reader responses on Facebook, Vizsla's we've met, plus a dash of my own opinion - in other words, not based on any sort of statistics at all :-)

So here we go- in no particular order, great names for new Vizslas in 2013:

• Boagie - This was actually one of the names in the running when we were deciding what to call Captain. It sounds distinguished and fun at the same time, and I love it. 
• Riley- We've met quite a few Vizsla Rileys, and have heard about others. It's cute and playful and works for a boy or girl!
• Molly- Molly seems to be a common and universally loved dog name. My grandfather's lab was named Molly, and I will forever love her- and this name. 
• Penny- Another common, cute, playful girl's name that seems particularly well-suited for a Vizsla!
• Whiskey or Rye- A Facebook fan posted that he has a Whiskey and a "Ry" (short for Myriah, sounds like Rye)- I love the originality, the fact that these names suit their color, and the boozey reference ;-)
• Arrow- From another Facebook fan- OK, maybe it's not so common or "trending", but I listed it because I love how unique this name is, and how it evokes thoughts of speed- perfect for a Vizsla!
• Chase - Another speedy name!
• Ollie- Spunky and cute but still a little traditional- fits the Vizsla well.
• Sadie - Another cute girl's name.
• Ellie- We have met a few Ellies and Allies and it suits their happy energetic personalities.

Of course, my favorite male name is, not surprisingly, Captain  :-)  For more on why and how we picked this name, see my name post. But wait, there's more- read on for more names!

More great names...
I love the traditional names- like Annie, Maddie, Gracie, Lucy, Sophie, and Max, but also especially love names that are a little different, unique, and original, that you don't quite expect- like these from readers & friends: Augie, Thurman (Thurman Murman! I love it!), Tano, Mavie, Roscoe, Jefferson, Leia, Stryker, Bolt.

If we ever get a little girl Vizsla, I want to name her Leisl. There, I'm copyrighting it :-) I love the ring- Leisl the Vizsla. And, yes, ok, I was a fan of the Sound of Music growing up, of course, and I just *might* have run around singing "I am sixteen, going on seventeen..." :-)

If- or should I say when- we get another boy Vizsla, I have a few ideas that reference Vermont... because I love Vermont and it feels like home. Barnet and Cabot are two that I've thought about...

And these are some of my favorite non-Vizsla names:

• Tator - fit him perfectly; he was a stout tan-colored Frenchie with tons of spunk!
• Nacho- another name that would fit a Frenchie or bulldog... I picture someone adorably chunky ;-)
• Stewie- again, I think this name suits a little guy!

Now I just need another dog so I can name him/her :-) Unfortunately, there are no plans for that in the near term for us.... I would literally get dragged down the street if I had any more weight than Captain at the end of my leash. Plus, Captain is my first baby, and he seems to like the spoiled only child life. But who knows, maybe one day down the line!

Have more name ideas, or did I miss a popular name? List in comments below!  

And lastly, a few naming tips:

• Try not to pick a name that sounds like a command. We had a cat I named Noel when I was growing up- a Christmas kitty- who never learned the meaning of the word "no" because we called her Noey. She used to bite everyone who tried to pet her, including me- hard- and hide under my bed. Despite this, I thought I was a cat person and I still loved her- she was my first pet, and she definitely was cute as a kitten... she just got a little testy with age ;-)
• Pick a name that's not too long- you are going to be saying it a lot!
• Probably not a good idea to call your dog what Steve Martin's character did in The Jerk - even though my husband jokes about it ;-)

In the end, the best dog's names are ones that mean something to their owners- some special memory or place or reason for the name, something unique, or something you just love the sound of! My niece picked out her dog's name: Murphy- and I think it's awesome- completely suits him and is classic and cute, and it means something because she picked it herself. But no matter what you name your little fur-bundle of joy, surround them with love and you're all set. And share some pics on our Facebook page if you are getting a puppy in 2013!