Naming Your Puppy

Choosing a name for your new Border Collie is an exciting step in welcoming them home.

For many families, it’s the easiest part of puppy preparation — but for others, it can feel surprisingly tricky!

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A good name should:

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• Be easy to say

• Be easy for your puppy to recognise

• Not sound too similar to training cues (e.g., Kit may sound like sit, Bo like no, Ray like stay)

• Roll off the tongue quickly (short or 2-syllable names work best)

• Feel like a fit for your dog’s personality

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Tips for Picking the Perfect Puppy Name

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• Say it out loud — you’ll be using it a lot! If it feels awkward or too long, keep searching.

• Test the “park call” rule — can you call it loudly across a field or dog park without hesitation?

• Avoid confusing sound-alikes with other pets or family members in the house.

• Consider your puppy’s future — tiny puppies grow into adult dogs. “Baby” might suit a 10-week-old, but does it still fit at 5 years?

• Names ending in a strong vowel sound (-y, -ie, -a, -o) are often easier for dogs to hear at a distance.

• Check your nickname options — most dog names evolve into shortened versions naturally!

• Let your puppy inspire you — sometimes the right name doesn’t reveal itself until you meet them.

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Emerald Park Puppy Name Suggestions

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Male Names

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Ace, Angus, Archie, Axle
Bandit, Banjo, Bear, Ben, Benji, Bentley, Bo, Bobby, Bolt, Breeze, Brinley, Brynn, Buddy
Caesar, Captain, Chaos, Chaser, Charlie, Chief, Chip, Clancy, Cody, Colt
Darcy, Dash, Dingo, Draft, Drift, Duke, Dusty, Dylon, Dylon
Felix, Fergus, Fin, Flash, Flint, Floki
Griffin, Guinness, Gus
Harley, Hawk, Hemp, Hendry, Hunter
Jack, Jax, Jessie, Jester, Jet, Jimmy, Jock, Joker
Kai, King, Kobe, Kole
Laird, Lance, Leo, Liam, Lucky
Mac, Magic, Mate, Max, Mickey, Milo, Monty, Morgan, Moss, Murphy
Ollie, Oscar
Pepper, Peter, Pippin, Prince
Ranger, Rascal, Raven, Reece, Riley, Rip, Risk, River, Rocky, Rogue, Rowan, Rusty
Sabre, Sam, Savy, Scout, Seamus, Shade, Shadow, Sidney, Slick, Smokey, Snap, Spike, Sprint, Sprocket, Storm, Swift
Tank, Tiger, Toby, Tommy, Tyler, Tweed
Warrior, Wolf
Yale
Zack, Ziggy, Zues

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Female Names

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Abbie, Allie, Alyssa, Angel, Annie, Anya, April, Asia, Asta, Ava
Bailey, Bella, Bessie, Beth, Blair, Blondie, Bonnie, Brandy, Brook
Cain, Callie, Candy, Casey, Cassie, Charlie, Cherry, Chilli, Chloe, Claire, Coco
Daisy, Dakota, Dallas, Dawn, Delilah, Destiny, Dixie, Dusty
Echo, Ella, Ellie, Elsie, Ester, Etsy, Eva
Faith, Feather, Fern, Foxy
Gabby, Ginger, Glory, Gracie, Gypsy
Hallie, Hanna, Hazel, Heidi, Holly, Honey, Hope
Indi, Indiana, Indigo, Iris, Izzy
Jade, Jassie, Jenny, Jewel, Josie, Joy, Julie
Kate, Kaya, Kayla, Kelly, Krissy
Lacy, Lady, Leah, Lee, Lexie, Libby, Lilac, Lilly, Lola, Lucy
Macy, Maddie, Maggie, Mandi, Maple, Marie, Marley, Mia, Mira, Misty, Missy, Mocha, Molly, Mouse, Millie
Narla, Nessa, Nikita, Nikki, Nina
Olivia, Opal
Penny, Pepper, Phoebe, Piper, Pixie, Polly, Poppy
Rain, Raven, Riley, Reagan, Rosie, Roxie, Ruby
Sandy, Sally, Sasha, Sassy, Scarlet, Shadow, Shelby, Sierra, Skye, Sophie, Sugar, Summer
Tammy, Tansy, Tasha, Tess, Tilly, Tory, Trisha
Utah
Vixen
Whisper, Willow, Winter
Xena
Zara, Zelda, Zoe

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Want to Make It Even More Meaningful?

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Many owners love choosing names based on themes such as:

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• Nature Inspired - River, Moss, Fern, Feather, Whisper, Willow, Winter, Wolf, Bear, Breeze

• Australian Flair - Banjo, Clancy, Dingo, Dusty, Tansy, Utah, Yale, Zara

• Myth & Legend - Zues, Xena, Warrior, Prince, King, Guinness, Zelda

• Blue-Themed for Border Collies - Skye, Storm, Drift, Drift, Shade, Swift, Echo, River

• Sports & Speed - Bolt, Breeze, Sprint, Swift, Flash, Jet, Drift, Rogue

• Classic Timeless Names - Max, Charlie, Bella, Molly, Toby, Annie, Oscar, Ruby

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Final Thought

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There are no perfect rules — only the perfect name for your puppy.

Trust your instincts, enjoy the process, and don’t rush it. The right name always finds its way.

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And remember ..… the best names are spoken with love. 🐾