200+ Lord of the Rings Dog Names: LOTR Picks for Boys & Girls

Lord of the Rings dog names are some of the best in the fandom—Tolkien spent decades inventing languages, lineages, and creatures, which means you have an entire world of meaningful names to choose from. Whether you've got a tiny brave hobbit of a pup, a hulking Rohirrim warhorse of a dog, or a quietly wise elf, there's a Middle-earth name with the exact right vibe. The 200+ ideas below are sorted by race, region, and language so you can find one that fits your dog's personality—not just your favorite character.

Quick picks: our top 10 Lord of the Rings dog names

If you don't have time to scroll, here are the names we recommend most often when friends adopt a Middle-earth pup.

• Frodo — for a small, brave dog with a big heart (Frodo Baggins, Ring-bearer).
• Sam — for the most loyal pup in the world (Samwise Gamgee).
• Arwen — for an elegant, ethereal girl (Arwen Undómiel, "Evening Star").
• Aragorn — for a noble, regal dog with main-character energy (the king himself).
• Legolas — for an agile, sharp-eyed runner (the elf prince of Mirkwood).
• Gimli — for a stout, fierce, lovable pup (the dwarf of the Fellowship).
• Pippin — for a mischievous troublemaker (Peregrin Took).
• Merry — for a cheerful prankster sidekick (Meriadoc Brandybuck).
• Eowyn — for a fierce, brave girl who won't be told no (the shieldmaiden of Rohan).
• Shadowfax — for a fast, gray-coated beauty (Gandalf's mearas horse).

Hobbit dog names

Hobbits and dogs are basically the same creature—small, food-obsessed, loyal, and surprisingly brave. These are among the most beloved Lord of the Rings dog names for a reason.

• Frodo — Frodo Baggins, the Ring-bearer; perfect for a small, brave hero.
• Bilbo — Frodo's uncle and original adventurer; great for a senior pup.
• Sam — Samwise Gamgee, the most loyal friend in literature.
• Samwise — fuller version; "Sam" is the everyday call.
• Pippin — Peregrin Took, the mischievous Took cousin.
• Peregrin — Pippin's full name; works for a more formal dog.
• Merry — Meriadoc Brandybuck, Pippin's partner in crime.
• Meriadoc — full version.
• Rosie — Rosie Cotton, Sam's sweetheart and eventual wife.
• Elanor — Sam and Rosie's eldest daughter; means "sun-star."
• Goldberry — Tom Bombadil's golden-haired partner.
• Tom — short for Tom Bombadil; great unfussy classic.
• Bombadil — for a dog with weird, unstoppable energy.
• Gaffer — Hamfast Gamgee, Sam's gardening dad.
• Hamfast — Gaffer's first name.
• Lobelia — Lobelia Sackville-Baggins, the Shire's nosy neighbor.
• Belladonna — Belladonna Took, Bilbo's adventurous mom.
• Took — the famously adventurous hobbit family.
• Baggins — the famously homebound hobbit family.
• Bree — the village outside the Shire.
• Buckland — the Brandybuck family land.
• Drogo — Frodo's father.
• Primula — Frodo's mother.
• Fatty — Fredegar "Fatty" Bolger, Frodo's pal.
• Fredegar — Fatty's full name.
• Hamfast — Sam's dad, the Gaffer.

Elf dog names

Elegant, graceful, and a little otherworldly. Elf names suit dogs who walk like they know they're being watched.

• Arwen — Arwen Undómiel, "Evening Star;" Aragorn's queen.
• Undómiel — Arwen's full title.
• Legolas — the Mirkwood elf prince of the Fellowship.
• Elrond — the half-elven lord of Rivendell.
• Galadriel — the Lady of Lothlórien; for an ethereal girl dog.
• Celeborn — Galadriel's husband; for a silver-coated boy.
• Glorfindel — the elf-lord who carries Frodo to Rivendell.
• Tauriel — the warrior elf from The Hobbit films.
• Thranduil — Legolas's father, king of the Woodland Realm.
• Haldir — the Lothlórien guard captain.
• Elladan — Elrond's twin son.
• Elrohir — Elladan's twin.
• Celebrían — Elrond's wife and Galadriel's daughter.
• Aredhel — "Noble Elf," sister of Turgon.
• Idril — princess of Gondolin.
• Lúthien — Tolkien's most beautiful character; great for a graceful girl.
• Finrod — the noble elf-king who dies for Beren.
• Fingon — High King of the Noldor.
• Fingolfin — Fingon's father; perfect for a regal pup.
• Maedhros — the eldest son of Fëanor.
• Fëanor — the elf who made the Silmarils.
• Maglor — Fëanor's musical son.
• Earendil — the mariner whose ship became a star.
• Elwing — Earendil's wife.
• Gil-galad — the last High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth.
• Círdan — the shipwright of the Grey Havens.
• Mithrandir — Gandalf's elvish name ("Grey Pilgrim").
• Melian — the Maia queen of Doriath; mother of Lúthien.
• Nimrodel — the elf-maiden of the Silver River.
• Amroth — the elf-king who loved Nimrodel.

Wizard, Maia, and Vala dog names

For dogs with main-character energy who deserve to be addressed like the immortal beings they clearly are.

• Gandalf — the Grey, the White; a top-tier wizard name.
• Mithrandir — Gandalf's elvish name.
• Saruman — Gandalf's corrupted rival.
• Radagast — the brown wizard, friend of beasts.
• Alatar — one of the Blue Wizards.
• Pallando — the other Blue Wizard.
• Manwë — King of the Valar.
• Varda — Manwë's queen, kindler of stars.
• Yavanna — the Valie of growing things.
• Aulë — the Vala who made the dwarves.
• Oromë — the Vala of the hunt.
• Tulkas — the warrior Vala.
• Vána — the Valie of youth.
• Nessa — the dancer of the Valar.
• Melkor — the original dark Vala, before Morgoth.
• Morgoth — Melkor's later name; for a chaotic dog who only sometimes listens.
• Eonwë — Manwë's herald.
• Arien — the Maia of the sun.
• Tilion — the Maia of the moon.

Men, Rohirrim, and Gondor dog names

Brave, dramatic, and loud. These names suit big dogs with thunderous personalities.

• Aragorn — the king of Gondor; suits any noble pup.
• Strider — Aragorn's ranger name; great for a leggy walker.
• Boromir — the heroic captain of Gondor.
• Faramir — Boromir's gentler younger brother.
• Denethor — Steward of Gondor.
• Theoden — King of Rohan.
• Eomer — Theoden's nephew and successor.
• Eowyn — Eomer's sister; for a fierce girl.
• Erkenbrand — Marshal of Rohan.
• Hama — Theoden's loyal door warden.
• Grima — Wormtongue; for a sneakier pup.
• Beregond — the Gondorian guard who befriends Pippin.
• Imrahil — Prince of Dol Amroth.
• Halbarad — Aragorn's Ranger kinsman.
• Bard — the bowman who slays Smaug.
• Beorn — the bear-man from The Hobbit; great for a big shaggy dog.
• Elendil — founder of Gondor; ancient and regal.
• Isildur — Elendil's son who took the Ring.
• Anarion — Isildur's brother.
• Gilraen — Aragorn's mother.
• Arathorn — Aragorn's father.
• Lothiriel — Eomer's queen.
• Hild — sister of Helm Hammerhand.
• Helm — the king of Rohan, namesake of Helm's Deep.
• Haleth — the brave warrior-woman of the First Age.
• Morwen — mother of Túrin Turambar.
• Túrin — the tragic hero of the First Age.
• Nienor — Túrin's sister.
• Beren — the man who loved Lúthien.
• Hurin — Túrin's father; legendary warrior.

Dwarf dog names

For stocky, fierce, lovable dogs with strong opinions. Dwarves and corgis are basically the same vibe.

• Gimli — the Fellowship's only dwarf.
• Gloin — Gimli's father.
• Thorin — Thorin Oakenshield, king under the mountain.
• Balin — Thorin's company member and Moria explorer.
• Dwalin — Balin's brother.
• Fili — Thorin's nephew.
• Kili — Fili's younger brother.
• Bombur — the stout dwarf of Thorin's company.
• Bofur — the hat-wearing dwarf.
• Bifur — Bofur's cousin.
• Oin — the dwarf healer.
• Dori — eldest of three brothers in the company.
• Nori — middle of the three.
• Ori — the youngest scribe.
• Durin — the first King of the Dwarves.
• Dain — Dáin Ironfoot, Thorin's cousin.
• Thror — Thorin's grandfather.
• Thrain — Thorin's father.
• Frerin — Thorin's brother.
• Dis — Thorin's sister; mother of Fili and Kili.

Place name dog names

Sometimes the perfect name isn't a person—it's a location. These work great for big, vibey dogs that match the energy of a Middle-earth place.

• Rohan — the land of horse-lords.
• Gondor — the kingdom of men.
• Mordor — for a moody dog with attitude.
• Rivendell — Elrond's elf valley.
• Lothlorien — Galadriel's golden forest.
• Lorien — short for Lothlórien.
• Shire — perfect for a homebody hobbit-type pup.
• Bree — the village near the Shire.
• Erebor — the Lonely Mountain.
• Mirkwood — Thranduil's elf forest.
• Fangorn — the ancient forest of Treebeard.
• Isengard — Saruman's tower.
• Moria — the dwarven kingdom.
• Khazad — short for Khazad-dûm.
• Minas — short for Minas Tirith.
• Tirith — the white city of Gondor.
• Edoras — capital of Rohan.
• Gladden — Gladden Fields, where Isildur died.
• Anduin — the Great River.
• Esgaroth — Lake-town.
• Hobbiton — the village in the Shire.
• Buckland — Merry's hometown.
• Eriador — the region containing the Shire.
• Arnor — the lost northern kingdom.
• Arda — the world itself.
• Aman — the Undying Lands.
• Valinor — home of the Valar.
• Numenor — the lost island kingdom.
• Gondolin — the hidden elf city.
• Doriath — Melian's hidden realm.

Elvish word dog names (Quenya and Sindarin)

For the deep-cut Tolkien fans. These are real words from Tolkien's invented languages, with their meanings.

• Anor — Sindarin for "sun;" great for a golden pup.
• Ithil — Sindarin for "moon;" great for a silver one.
• Estel — Sindarin for "hope" (also Aragorn's childhood name).
• Mellon — Sindarin for "friend;" the password to Moria.
• Naur — Sindarin for "fire."
• Galad — Sindarin for "light."
• Nin — Sindarin for "water."
• Aewen — Sindarin for "bird."
• Eryn — Sindarin for "wood/forest."
• Glor — Sindarin for "gold."
• Lass — Sindarin for "leaf."
• Mith — Sindarin for "grey."
• Nim — Sindarin for "white."
• Sereg — Sindarin for "blood;" intense but cool.
• Aiya — Quenya for "hail!"
• Elen — Quenya for "star."
• Mára — Quenya for "good."
• Vanya — Quenya for "fair/beautiful."
• Calma — Quenya for "lamp."
• Telpe — Quenya for "silver."
• Laure — Quenya for "gold."
• Tinco — Quenya for "metal."
• Vinya — Quenya for "new."

Creature, animal, and beast dog names

Tolkien is full of memorable animals—horses, wolves, eagles, even spiders. Some of these are already dogs in spirit.

• Shadowfax — Gandalf's mearas horse; the chief of all horses.
• Snowmane — Theoden's beloved white horse.
• Arod — the horse Legolas and Gimli share.
• Hasufel — Aragorn's borrowed horse.
• Firefoot — Eomer's horse.
• Brego — Aragorn's loyal horse in the films.
• Bill — Bill the Pony, Sam's beloved pack pony.
• Huan — the loyal hound of the elf-prince Celegorm; the ultimate good boy of the legendarium.
• Carcharoth — the great wolf of Angband.
• Draugluin — sire of werewolves.
• Warg — the dire wolves of Mordor.
• Fang — one of Farmer Maggot's dogs.
• Grip — another of Maggot's dogs.
• Wolf — the third of Maggot's dogs.
• Gwaihir — the Lord of Eagles; Gandalf's rescuer.
• Landroval — Gwaihir's brother eagle.
• Meneldor — another great eagle.
• Smaug — the dragon under the mountain; for a fierce pup.
• Glaurung — the father of dragons.
• Shelob — the giant spider; only for the boldest girl dog.
• Ungoliant — Shelob's even-more-terrifying ancestor.
• Roac — the wise raven of Erebor.
• Mearas — the noble horse race of Rohan.

Object and item dog names

For the Tolkien lore nerds. These suit dogs with specific, distinctive features.

• Anduril — Aragorn's reforged sword, "Flame of the West."
• Sting — Bilbo's (and then Frodo's) glowing elf-blade.
• Glamdring — Gandalf's sword.
• Narsil — the broken sword of Elendil.
• Orcrist — Thorin's sword.
• Mithril — the precious silver-steel; for a gray or silvery dog.
• Nenya — Galadriel's ring of water.
• Narya — Gandalf's ring of fire.
• Vilya — Elrond's ring of air.
• Palantir — the seeing stones.
• Silmaril — the iconic jewels of the First Age.
• Arkenstone — the heart of the mountain.
• Precious — Gollum's name for the One Ring.
• Elfstone — Aragorn's name from Galadriel.
• Mathom — a hobbit word for a hand-me-down treasure.
• Lembas — elven waybread; for a snack-loving pup.
• Pipeweed — for a chill, lazy dog who loves naps.
• Athelas — Aragorn's healing herb; kingsfoil.

Villain and dark side dog names

For dogs whose dramatic energy needs a powerful name. Use sparingly; villains have strong vibes.

• Sauron — the Dark Lord himself.
• Morgoth — Sauron's even-more-evil master.
• Melkor — Morgoth's earlier name.
• Saruman — the fallen white wizard.
• Gollum — for a small dog with weird obsessions.
• Smeagol — Gollum's softer, original self.
• Grima — Wormtongue, Theoden's slippery advisor.
• Wormtongue — same character, fuller name.
• Nazgul — the Ringwraiths.
• Witch-king — the lord of the Nazgûl.
• Khamul — the second of the Nazgûl.
• Lurtz — the lead Uruk-hai who killed Boromir.
• Ugluk — the Uruk captain who captured the hobbits.
• Gothmog — Lord of Balrogs.
• Balrog — for a fiery, dramatic dog.
• Durin's Bane — the Moria Balrog.

How to pick the perfect Lord of the Rings dog name

Tolkien's world is enormous, which means it's easy to get overwhelmed. Here's how to narrow it down:

• Match the name to your dog's energy. A small, sweet rescue is a Frodo or a Sam. A noble Saint Bernard is an Aragorn or a Boromir. A fast, agile lurcher is a Legolas or a Shadowfax. The character's vibe should match the dog's vibe.
• Stick to one or two syllables for daily use. Sam, Frodo, Bilbo, Pip, and Arwen all roll off the tongue. Longer names like Galadriel or Glorfindel are gorgeous—but pick a shorthand ("Galad," "Glor") for everyday calls.
• Avoid villain names you'll regret. Sauron and Mordor sound cool now; they sound less cool when your dog gets sick and you have to tell the vet "Sauron's not eating."
• Test the name across a dog park. Say it loudly. If it doesn't carry, or it gets confused with a command word, pick a different one.
• Honor the lore. Tolkien's names mean something—Estel means hope, Mellon means friend, Elanor means "sun-star." Picking a name with meaning makes the story of how you named your dog more fun every time you tell it.

Looking for more inspiration? Try our roundups of Harry Potter dog names, Star Wars dog names, dog names from movies, and our deep dive into Greek mythology dog names.

Frequently asked questions about Lord of the Rings dog names

Whatever name you pick, the right one will feel as inevitable as Frodo carrying the Ring to Mordor. Trust your gut, say it out loud, and welcome your new Middle-earth pup home.