Dog Names By State >> North Carolina Dog Names

North Carolina Dog Names

Updated: April 22, 2024

Welcome to a unique collection of appellations inspired by the charming southeastern state known for its diverse landscapes, ranging from Atlantic Ocean beaches to Appalachian mountains. This page is dedicated to all dog owners who have a special connection or admiration for the Tar Heel State, and are looking for that perfect moniker for their four-legged companions.

If you're keen on finding a name that reflects your love for this state's rich history, culture, or natural beauty, you've come to the right place. From names reminiscent of its famous landmarks and cities to ones that echo its rich cultural heritage and famous personalities, this page boasts an array of names that encapsulate the essence of this beautiful state.

Whether you're a native, a recent transplant, or just an admirer of the Old North State, these names are sure to give a nod to the state's charm and your dog's personality. So, sit back, relax, and peruse through our carefully curated list of names that are distinctly Carolinian.

Name Reason to Choose
Ashe For the lovely city of Asheville
Avalon For Avalon Pier, a popular spot in Kill Devil Hills
Avery This name is after a county in the mountains of North Carolina
Azalea Wilmington hosts an annual Azalea Festival
Banner Inspired by Banner Elk, a town in the mountains of North Carolina
Barbecue North Carolina is known for its barbecue
Beacon Beacon Heights is a beautiful trail in NC
Biltmore Inspired by the famous Biltmore Estate
Biscuit Southern cuisine, including biscuits, is a NC staple
Blackbeard The infamous pirate who frequented the NC coast
Bladen This name is after one of the oldest counties in North Carolina
Blowing Named after the town of Blowing Rock
Blue Inspired by the Blue Ridge Mountains
BlueRidge For the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway
Bodie A tribute to Bodie Island, a barrier peninsula near Nags Head
Bogue Inspired by Bogue Sound
Boone After the famous American pioneer Daniel Boone
Brasstown Named after Brasstown Bald, the highest point in the state
Brevard Inspired by a city located in Transylvania County
Buck In reference to the abundant wildlife in the state
Bunker Inspired by the Battle of Bunker Hill
Cabarrus For Cabarrus County, home of the Charlotte Motor Speedway
Cackalacky It's a fun nickname for North Carolina
Camden Inspired by a county located in the northeastern part of North Carolina
Cape Named after the state's beautiful cape areas
Cardinal The state bird of North Carolina
Carrboro Named after a town in Orange County, North Carolina
Cary Inspired by Cary, a town in the Research Triangle
Cashiers Named after a popular mountain getaway in North Carolina
Catawba Named after the Catawba River
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Sports-Inspired Names

North Carolina is home to many sports teams. Names inspired by the teams or their players can be a fun choice for sports fans.
Name Description
Aho In honor of Sebastian Aho, a key player for the Carolina Hurricanes
BlueDevil Taken from the Duke University Blue Devils
BrindAmour After Rod Brind'Amour, Carolina Hurricanes' head coach
Buzz A tribute to the mascot of the Charlotte Hornets
Cam Named after Cam Newton, a famous former Panther player
Dean Named for Dean Smith, the legendary UNC basketball coach
Demon Derived from the Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Hornet In tribute to the Charlotte Hornets, an NBA team
Hurricane In homage to the Carolina Hurricanes, an NHL team
Jordan After Michael Jordan, who played college basketball at UNC
Krzyzewski In honor of Mike Krzyzewski, the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils basketball team
Luke After Luke Kuechly, a beloved Carolina Panthers player
Mudcat After the Carolina Mudcats, a minor league baseball team
Niner Inspired by the Charlotte 49ers
Panther Named after the Carolina Panthers, an NFL team
Phoenix An homage to the Elon Phoenix
Pirate From the East Carolina University Pirates
Rameses The Tar Heels' mascot, a Dorset Horn sheep
Sly Inspired by Sly the Fox, the mascot for the Carolina Thunderbirds
Spartan From the UNC Greensboro Spartans
Tarheel Inspired by the nickname for North Carolinians, often used for sports teams
Tarzan The Tar Heels' mascot is Rameses, a Dorset Horn sheep, and Tarzan is a fun twist on that
Wahoo The unofficial nickname for a UNC fan
Wolfpack A nod to the NC State University Wolfpack
Zebulon Zebulon B. Vance was a governor of NC, and the Carolina Mudcats stadium is in Zebulon, NC
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Southern Cuisine Names

North Carolina is in the South and known for its delicious food. Names like Biscuit, Grits, or Barbecue could be fun and unique.
Name Description
Andouille Named after a type of sausage used in Southern cooking
Barbecue A nod to North Carolina's famous barbecue tradition
Beignet Inspired by the popular Southern fried dough pastry
Biscuit A prevalent feature in Southern cuisine, often paired with gravy
Bourbon References the whiskey that's a key ingredient in many Southern recipes
Cajun References the spicy flavor profile typical in Southern cuisine
Cobbler A tribute to the popular Southern dessert, often made with peaches
Collard Named after collard greens, a staple in Southern cooking
Cornbread Symbolizes a Southern staple side dish
Crawfish A nod to a popular Southern seafood delicacy
Etouffee A tribute to the classic Creole dish prevalent in Southern cuisine
Fritter A tribute to the deep-fried treats found in Southern cuisine
Gravy Inspired by the sauce that's a must-have in Southern cooking
Grit A reference to the classic Southern dish, grits
Gumbo A tribute to the hearty Southern soup with meat and vegetables
Gumbo A tribute to the hearty Southern soup with meat and vegetables
Hushpuppy Inspired by the Southern fried cornmeal balls
Jambalaya A rich, flavorful dish often found in Southern cuisine
Julep Inspired by the mint julep, a classic Southern cocktail
Okra A nod to the vegetable commonly used in Southern stews and gumbos
Peach Peaches are a popular fruit in Southern pies and cobblers
Pecan Pecans are a main ingredient in many Southern desserts
PoBoy A reference to the famous Southern sandwich
Praline A nod to the sweet Southern candy made with pecans and caramel
Roux A nod to the mixture of flour and fat that's the base of many Southern sauces
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Nature-Inspired Names

North Carolina is known for its natural beauty, so names inspired by its mountains, rivers, or flowers can be fitting for a dog.
Name Description
Ash Ash trees are native to North Carolina, making it an apt name
Azalea Azalea, a common flower in North Carolina, is a good choice for a pretty pooch
Blossom A nod to the many blossoming trees in North Carolina
Blue This name is homage to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina
Breeze A tribute to the breezy coastline of North Carolina
Brier Inspired by the brier bushes that grow wild in North Carolina
Cedar Cedar trees are a common sight in North Carolina
Dogwood Dogwood is the state flower of North Carolina, making it a fitting name
Fern Ferns are abundant in North Carolina's forests
Hatteras Inspired by Cape Hatteras, a beautiful natural landmark in North Carolina
Hickory This name is inspired by Hickory, a city in North Carolina and also a type of tree
Holly The holly tree is common in North Carolina, a great name for a female dog
Laurel Named after the laurel shrubs found in the North Carolina mountains
Magnolia Magnolia trees are abundant in North Carolina
Meadow A tribute to the beautiful meadows found throughout North Carolina
Moss Moss grows in abundance in the damp forests of North Carolina
Pine North Carolina is known for its pine forests, a suitable name for a dog
Pisgah Mount Pisgah is a famous peak in North Carolina
Rain North Carolina is known for its frequent rain showers
Ridge The Blue Ridge Mountains are a prominent feature in North Carolina
River North Carolina has an extensive network of rivers, hence this name
Sage Sage plants grow in the wild throughout North Carolina
Shell A nod to the state's beautiful coastline
Smokey The Great Smoky Mountains are a significant part of North Carolina's landscape
Tulip Tulip trees are native to North Carolina
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Historical Figure Names

Names from famous historical figures from North Carolina can be a great way to pay homage to the state's rich history.
Name Description
Aycock For Charles B. Aycock, a North Carolina governor known for his work in education
Bickett A tribute to Thomas W. Bickett, governor of North Carolina during World War I
Bodie Inspired by the Bodie Island Lighthouse, a significant historical landmark
Broughton Paying respects to J. Melville Broughton, a governor of North Carolina
Caswell A tribute to Richard Caswell, the first governor of the independent state of North Carolina
Catawba Named after the Catawba tribe, original inhabitants of North Carolina
Cherokee A tribute to the Native American tribe that resided in North Carolina before European settlers
Croatan A nod to the Croatan tribe, part of North Carolina's early history
Ehringhaus Honoring J.C.B. Ehringhaus, a notable Governor of North Carolina
Ellis In honor of John W. Ellis, a governor of North Carolina during the Civil War
Graham For Frank Porter Graham, a U.S. Senator from North Carolina
Hatteras Inspired by the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, a historical landmark in North Carolina
Holden A tribute to W. W. Holden, a two-term governor of North Carolina
Kerr For John H. Kerr, a U.S. Representative and Senator from North Carolina
Lumbee Named after the Lumbee tribe, the largest tribe in North Carolina
Manteo Named after Manteo, a Native American chief who was friendly to the English settlers
Morehead Honoring John Motley Morehead, a notable Governor of North Carolina
PeeDee Named after the Pee Dee tribe of Native Americans from North Carolina
Raleigh Named after Sir Walter Raleigh who established the Roanoke Colony
Roanoke Named after the Roanoke Colony, the first English settlement in North Carolina
Sequoyah Paying respects to Sequoyah who created the Cherokee writing system
Tryon In honor of William Tryon, a colonial governor of North Carolina
Wilma A tribute to Wilma Dykeman, a renowned writer and environmentalist from North Carolina
Wright In homage to the Wright brothers, who achieved the first successful airplane flights in North Carolina
Zebulon In honor of Zebulon Baird Vance, a Civil War governor of North Carolina
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City-Inspired Names

Names inspired by cities in North Carolina like Raleigh, Charlotte, or Asheville can be unique and meaningful.
Name Description
Apex A rising city in North Carolina, it's also a cool name for a top dog
Asheville Asheville is a vibrant city in North Carolina known for its vibrant arts scene and historic architecture
Burlington A city in North Carolina known for its textile manufacturing history
Cary Named after a town in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Region
Chapel Inspired by Chapel Hill, a city in North Carolina, home to the University of North Carolina
Charlotte This is a chic name inspired by the largest city of North Carolina
Clemmons Inspired by a village in Forsyth County, North Carolina, known for its community spirit
Concord Concord is a bustling city in North Carolina with a rich motorsports history
Durham Durham is a creative city in North Carolina, home to Duke University
Fayetteville This city in North Carolina is known for the historic Liberty Point
Gastonia Named after a city in North Carolina known for its beautiful Crowders Mountain State Park
Greensboro Greensboro is a city in North Carolina known for its civil rights history
Havelock This city in North Carolina is home to the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Hickory Hickory is a city in North Carolina known for its connection to the furniture industry
Highpoint A city in North Carolina known for its furniture, textiles, and bus manufacturing industries
Hillsborough A small town in North Carolina, it's known for its rich historical background
Huntersville A rapidly growing city in North Carolina, could also be a great name for a hunting dog
Kinston Kinston is a historic city in North Carolina with a thriving arts and food scene
Monroe This city in North Carolina is known for its charming downtown and rich history
Mooresville A lakeside town in North Carolina, known as 'Race City USA'
Morehead Morehead City is a port town in North Carolina, known for its maritime history
Raleigh A sophisticated name taken from the capital city of North Carolina
Statesville A city in North Carolina known for its hot air balloon rallies
Wake Wake County is a vibrant region in North Carolina, home to the state capital
Wilmington A coastal city in North Carolina, known for its charming riverfront
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