Selecting the perfect name for your horse is a significant decision. After all, it's a moniker that will accompany your equine friend throughout its life, serving as a key part of your connection. Whether you're seeking a name for a racehorse, a pet horse, or a show horse, this compilation of over 200 names is sure to inspire you.
Many of the top names for horses are drawn from well - known sources. "Billy" holds the record as the oldest horse, while "Black Beauty" comes from Anna Sewell's classic novel of the same name. "Chad" pays homage to the famous horse racing trainer Chad C. Brown, and "Chance" is a name that has graced a racehorse. "Charlie" is inspired by the book Charlie the Horse by Deanie Humphrys - Dunne. "Chief" was the last U.S. cavalry horse, and "Chip" has ties to the famous horse Zips Chocolate Chip. "Cinnamon", "Dakota", "Dash", "Doug", "Dusty", "Flash", "Fury", "Gypsy", "Hidalgo", "Jack", "Jackie", "Joey", "King", "Lucky", "Magic", "Maximus", "Mister Ed", "Misty", "Mocha", "Molly", "Napoleon", "Nutmeg", "Parmesan", "Poppy", "Ranger", "Rose", "Ruby", "Rusty", "Scout", "Silver", "Snowball", "Sparky", "Spirit", "Star", "Sugar", "Sunny", "Sunshine", "Teddy", "Toffee", and "Trixie" are also names that have become popular due to their associations with books, movies, TV shows, or well - known horses.
Names like "Enigma", "Midnight", "Noir", "Onyx", "Storm", "Alastor", "Ebony", and "Jet" are perfect for black horses. "Alastor" is fitting as it is associated with the Greek God Hades' black horse, while "Ebony" draws inspiration from the dark wood. "Jet" not only represents the speed of horses but also suits their black color.
For chestnut - colored horses, "Cedar", "Chai", "Chestnut", "Henna", "Scarlet", "Carmine", and "Flame" are great choices. "Carmine" means "red" in Latin, and "Flame" is ideal for horses with warm red coats.
Horses with bay or brown coats can be named "Cocoa", "Espresso", "Mahogany", "Merlot", "Mocha", "Barley", "Brandy", "Brownie", "Cappuccino", "Carrot", "Cash", "Cinnamon", "Butterscotch", "Macchiato", "Nutmeg", "Walnut", and "Buttermilk". "Barley" is inspired by the grain that horses love to eat, and "Brandy" gets its name from the liquor's rich, golden - brown hue.
"Pinto" horses, with their distinctive coat patterns, can be named "Aurora", "Domino", "Moonshadow", "Shadow", "Sky", "Patches", "Jigsaw", "Pollock", and "Pie". "Patches" is a straightforward name for horses with large white patches, while "Jigsaw" is inspired by the unique color patterns that resemble puzzle pieces.
"Goldie", "Nevada", "Sandy", "Sonora", "Sundancer", "Anwen", "Bianca", "Blondie", "Dolly", "Isabella", "Isolde", "Pippa", and "Butterscotch" are suitable for palomino and buckskin horses. "Anwen" means "fair" in Welsh, making it a great name for palominos, and "Bianca" means "white" in Italian, fitting for pale palominos.
Gray horses can carry names such as "Ash", "Dusky", "Pewter", "Smokey", "Starlight", "Gandalf", "Capilet", "Stormy", and "Nokk". "Gandalf", known as the "Gray Pilgrim" in The Lord of the Rings, adds a touch of magic to silver - hued horses.
Gender - Specific Names
For male horses, whether they are geldings or stallions, names like "Al", "Albert", "Angus", "Barbaro", "Bart", "Bert", "Benjamin", "Benny", "Blaze", "Bucephalus", "Buddy", "Carl", "Cash", "Chuck", "Chucky", "Dart", "Dennis", "Denny", "Doggy", "Donnie", "Ed", "Edison", "Edward", "Elmer", "Frankel", "Freckles", "Godolphin", "Jameson", "Jim", "Joe", "Manny", "Marengo", "Marvin", "Max", "Ned", "Ollie", "Opus", "Pal", "Percy", "President", "Sergeant Reckless", "Sheldon", "Sheriff", "Stewart", "Stewie", "Tank", "Ted", "Timmy", "Traveller", "Trigger", "Boaz", "Cheval", "Chevy", "Colt", "Hengroen", "Philip", "Ryder", and "Roan" are excellent options. "Marengo" was the name of Napoleon's famous gray Arabian warhorse, and "Philip" means "friend of the horses" in Greek.
If you have a mare or a filly, consider names like "Abby", "Annabelle", "Annie", "Autumn", "Bella", "Berta", "Betsy", "Bossy", "Carly", "Caroline", "Chloe", "Cookie", "Daisy", "Dolly", "Eleanor", "Ellie", "Fancy", "Flo", "Ginny", "Hailey", "Holly", "Jade", "Jasmine", "Jenny", "Juliet", "Lady", "Ladybird", "Luna", "Marigold", "Martha", "Mary", "Meadow", "Nancy", "Nel", "Nelly", "Pearl", "Penny", "Piper", "Princess", "Queen", "Queenie", "Roseanne", "Rosebud", "Rosie", "Sadie", "Sally", "Sassy", "Shania", "Shelby", "Shirley", "Valerie", "Venus", "Wanda", "Wendy", "Willow", "Annie", "Belle", "Diana", "Dottie", "Elsa", "Epona", "Fiona", "Honey", "Jorunn", "Jument", "Llamrei", "Merla", "Misty", "Poppy", "Rosalind", "Rosamund", "Rose", "Saya", "Tallulah", "Wynonna", "Belle", "Bonney", "Cinnamon", "Dolly", "Freckles", "Honey", "Judy", "Luna", "Misty", "Poppy", "Ruby", "Sally", "Wendy", and "Willow". "Annie" honors Wild West icon Annie Oakley, and "Belle" is a classic name for a dressage champion.
Horses evoke the spirit of the Old West, and names like "Clint", "Goldrush", "Reno", "Roy", "Stetson", "Boone", "Davy", "Dallas", "Cheyenne", "Jasper", "Marshall", "Montana", "Traveller", "Trigger", "Wyatt", and "Butch" can capture that essence. "Clint" pays tribute to actor Clint Eastwood, known for his Western roles, and "Roy" honors Western film legend Roy Rogers.
Large draft horses need names that make a statement. "Diesel", "Excalibur", "Maverick", "Renegade", "Thunderbolt", "Goliath", and "Bronco" are fitting choices. "Goliath" is suitable for big breeds like Clydesdales, which can reach impressive sizes.
For athletic horses, names that convey speed and strength are ideal. "Ferrari", "Jet", "Rocket", "Turbo", "Victory", "Apollo", "Arrow", "Bolt", "Comet", and "Racing Stripes" are great options. "Ferrari" is known for its speed and beauty, much like a fast - running horse.
If you're looking for something out of the ordinary, consider names like "Camelot", "Carnival", "Furby", "Ferris", "Grazer", "Harley", "Hay Fever", "Houdini", "Hoof Hearted", "Lollipop", "Night Rider", "Pinto Bean", "Snowglobe", "Turnip", "Abraxas", "Adobe", "Arvana", "Asva", "Boreas", "Bronte", "Capala", "Chapal", "Dothraki", "Kelpie", "Nixie", "Nuggle", "Phantom", "Sequoia", "Silili", "Sterope", and "Unicorn". "Abraxas" has roots in Greek mythology as one of the immortal horses of Helios, and "Adobe" can reference a clay - colored coat or a specific location.
The world of racehorses has its own set of naming rules, resulting in creative and sometimes comical names. "American Pharaoh", "Apollo", "Big Brown", "Canonero II", "Gallant Fox", "Grindstone", "Jet Pilot", "Joe Cotton", "Omaha", "Seabiscuit", "Secretariat", "Sir Barton", "Twenty Grand", "Unbridled", "War Emblem", "Whirlaway", "Carpe Diem", "Oscar Nominated", and "Imawildandcrazyguy" are examples. These names often honor the horse's parents, owner, jockey, trainer, or place of birth.
Inject some humor into your horse's name with choices like "BoJack" (a nod to the animated horse BoJack Horseman), "Bucky" (referring to a horse's bucking behavior), "Bunny" (a cute and unexpected name), "Buttons" (perfect for speckled breeds), "Cookie" (like the baked good), "Dottie" (for spotted horses), "Freckles" (a cute name for a spotted steed), "Jigsaw" (for horses with unique coat patterns), "Pie" (for piebald horses), "Pirate" (if the horse has patch markings around its eyes), "Ponyboy" (from The Outsiders), and "Snickers" (named after the candy bar).
When naming your horse, it's important to find a name that feels right to you. Avoid names that sound like common training commands such as "whoa", "walk", "trot", or "easy" to prevent confusion during training. You can draw inspiration from your horse's breed history, coat color, personality, or your favorite books, movies, and TV shows. If you have a retired racehorse, you might consider using its track name, and if you rescued your horse, the location where you found it could be a source of inspiration.