Are you on the hunt for dog names that start with the letter ‘R’? To save you from sifting through the entire alphabet, I’ve put together a list that’s all about the radiant letter ‘R.’ Whether you’re into timeless names, unique names or something with a little humor, I’ve got you covered.
Classic and Timeless Dog Names
Classic names never go out of style. They’re like the vintage jean jacket you have hanging in your closet that was worn by your mom in her day, or even your grandma in hers. If you’re considering a classic name, just remember, it’s more than just a name — it’s a legacy that never fades.
- Rags
- Rain
- Raja
- Rambo
- Ranger
- Rascal
- Reese
- Rex
- Rhea
- Rigby
- Ringo
- Riley
- Rizzo
- Robin
- Rocco
- Rockie
- Rolo
- Roma
- Rory
- Rosie
- Rovers
- Roxy
- Ruby
- Rudy
- Rufus
- Ruff
- Rollie
- Remy
- River
- Rusty
If you have a favorite era, look up the most popular dog names during that time period — or even the most popular baby names.
R Dog Names From Pop Culture
If you adore pop culture, these names could be for you. Here’s a list of 30 dog names inspired by pop culture characters, celebrities, and trendy animated characters that start with the letter R.
- Radar: From MASH
- Rafiki: The wise baboon from The Lion King
- Rags: From the movie Rags about a dog turned into a man
- Rain: After the South Korean singer and actor
- Ralph: Wreck-It Ralph from the animated movie
- Rambo: The iconic action movie character
- Rami: Inspired by Rami Malek from Bohemian Rhapsody
- Rapunzel: From Tangled, the princess with the long hair
- Rascal: After Rascal Flatts
- Raven: From Teen Titans
- Ray: Ray Charles, the legendary musician
- Reba: After Reba McEntire
- Red: Red Foreman from That '70s Show
- Reese: Like Reese Witherspoon
- Regina: From Mean Girls
- Remus: From Harry Potter
- Remy: The talented rat from Ratatouille
- Reno: As in Reno 911!
- Rex: The lovable dinosaur from Toy Story
- Rhea: After actress Rhea Perlman
- Rhianna: Inspired by Rihanna
- Ricardo: For fans of the classic, Ricardo Montalban
- Rick: Rick Grimes from The Walking Dead
- Ricky: As in Ricky Martin
- Riddick: From The Chronicles of Riddick series
- Riff: From West Side Story
- Rihanna: The iconic Barbadian singer.
- Ripley: The heroine from the Alien movie series.
- River: Inspired by River Phoenix or the character River Song from Doctor Who.
- Rocket: The raccoon from Guardians of the Galaxy.
Nature Names For Dogs That Start with R
Giving your dog a nature-inspired name is an elegant way to cherish the planet we all call home. If your pup’s the adventurous, outdoor-loving type, it’s even more fitting. Plus, they give your dog that extra sparkle to show off their unique charm.
- Rainbow
- Raven
- Reed
- Reef
- Ridge
- Rill
- River
- Robin
- Roe
- Rolling
- Rose
- Rosemary
- Rouge
- Rowan
- Rubble
- Ruby
- Rue
- Rumble
- Rune
- Rush
- Russet
- Rustic
- Rusty
- Rye
- Ryegrass
- Ryl
- Ryokan
Cities of the World
Inspiration can come from unusual places. Have you ever thought about naming your pup after a city? It's a fun way to bring a piece of the world into your home and give your pup a name with a story behind it.
- Rabat: Morocco
- Raleigh: North Carolina, USA
- Recife: Brazil
- Regina: Saskatchewan, Canada
- Reno: Nevada, USA
- Riga: Latvia
- Rockford: Illinois, USA
- Rome: Italy
- Rosario: Argentina
- Roscommon: Ireland
- Roskilde: Denmark
- Roswell: New Mexico, USA
- Rostov-on-Don: Russia
- Rotorua: New Zealand
- Rouen: France
- Rusten: Rustenberg, South Africa
City names are incredibly unusual and can spark conversations at the dog park.
Literary Names
Calling all book lovers — you can absolutely name your dog after your favorite book. As a total book nerd, this list was hard to come up with. I mean — how do you even choose? If you have tons of different names floating in your head, or can’t think of any that start with R, I’ve got you covered.
- Radagast: A wizard from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth works
- Raoul: From Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera
- Ralph: From William Golding's Lord of the Flies
- Rearden: Hank Rearden from Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged
- Regan: One of King Lear's daughters in Shakespeare's King Lear
- Remus: Also from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
- Renfield: From Bram Stoker's Dracula
- Robinson: From Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe
- Roderick: From Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher
- Roderigo: From Shakespeare's Othello
- Romeo: The romantic hero from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
- Ron: Ron Weasley from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series
- Rory: From Doctor Who novels and shows
- Rosalind: From Shakespeare's As You Like It
- Rosaline: From Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
- Rosencrantz: From Shakespeare's Hamlet
- Rudy: From Markus Zusak's The Book Thief
- Ruth: From Elizabeth Gaskell's Ruth
- Rhett: From Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind
- Rima: From W.H. Hudson's Green Mansions
- Richard: From Shakespeare's Richard III
- Rhett: From Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind
Cute Girl Dog Names That Start With R
Girl dog names that start with R can range from elegant to adorable. Choose a name that not only reflects your own preferences, but captures your dog's unique personality and looks. From sophisticated names like Reagan, to adorable names like Ruby, we got you, girl.
-
Reagan
- Reba
-
Renee
- Rhonda
- Rita
-
Rivka
- Robin
- Rochelle
- Roma
- Rory
- Rosie
-
Roxanne
- Roxy
- Ruby
- Rue
- Ruth
Fun Boy Names That Start With R
If you have a boy dog, an R name could be just the ticket. There’s quite a variety, so choosing one that best suits your dog shouldn’t be a problem. Look through the list and choose the one that sounds most like your sweet pup.
- Racer
- Raider
- Rainier
- Ralph
- Rambo
- Ramsey
- Rascal
- Ray
- Raymond
- Rebel
- Red
- Reece
- Reggie
- Remington
- Reno
- Rex
- Rhett
- Rhodes
- Rico
- Rocky
- Roman
- Romeo
Unique R Names
If you’re looking for a name as unique as your dog, there are a handful of R names that nearly no one else has. Choosing a unique name not only makes your dog stand out from the crowd, but can be a useful tool in dog training with its unusual sound.
- Radley
-
Ragamuffin
-
Rainbow
-
Raizy
-
Ramira
-
Rawley
-
Ravioli
- Rea (Ray-uh)
-
Reid
- Reyna
- Rhapsody
-
Rhiannon
- Rigby
- Rikki
- Roland
- Rolla
-
Rooney
-
Roosevelt
- Ryka
-
Rylan
Take a Look
Choosing a name for your pup is an exciting journey, and starting with a letter in mind can make the naming process easier. Whether you're leaning towards a classic or a modern twist, the letter 'R' offers a rich treasure trove of names. I know it's hard to decide, but you've got this!
