Whether one is a fan of classic Russian literature or not, at least a few should be familiar with the stray dog named Sharik (translates as a "small ball") from Bulgakov's novel "Heart of a Dog." Sharik, together with Argos ("The Odyssey") and Lassie ("Lassie Come-Home"), and many more literary puppers, belong to classic dog names from literature. Interestingly, while today it's unlikely to meet a young person with a 'vintage' name, it's not uncommon for owners to call their puppers classic, old-fashioned dog names. Hence, we can only imagine many Shariks, Lassies, and Argos running around somewhere!
In America, for example, we have classic dog names like Buck, Buddy, Rex, and Spot, which, despite being called old-fashioned dog names, are still quite common and well-liked. However, do other countries also have their own equivalents of vintage dog names? Have you ever thought about this? Well, Old Reddit user Dr_Edge_ATX did. They asked, "Non-Americans, does your culture have "old-fashioned" dog names like we do in America, such as Fido, Rex, Spot, Rover, etc., and what are some?" As was revealed by the answers left under the thread, non-Americans surely do!
Below, we've compiled some of the best answers from the thread, revealing non-American equivalents of classic, old-fashioned names for dogs in the rest of the world. Like any of the names? Let us know by giving them an upvote! Also, do you know any more cute old-fashioned dog names like the ones below? Let us know in the comments!
#1
"Swedish kindergarten kid to other swedish kindergarten kid:
"Are you a boy or a girl?"
"I don’t know."
"What is your name?"
"Måns"
"Oh, then you are a cat.'"
Report
23points
#2
"In Singapore, male dog: Boy Boy. Female dog: Girl Girl. We’re not a creative people."
Report
16points
#3
"Well, in Chile there's a lot of dogs named Cholo or Cholito, which is a word meaning mestizo (mixed race' or crossbreed in English) so it's a name given to most strays, or even just a term to refer to strays in general. There's also a law called Ley Cholito made for responsible pet ownership inspired by a dog who was named that."
Report
14points
#4
"Musti (Blackie). Finland. It's considered a classic but I've never actually met a dog with that name."
Report
13points
#5
Serend1ppa said:
"Tuzik, Bobik (Russian), Sirko (Ukrainian). No one gives them to dogs any more but they are still used in pet-related jokes."
"Tuzik, Bobik (Russian), Sirko (Ukrainian). No one gives them to dogs any more but they are still used in pet-related jokes."
svartalf replied:
"And Sharik also."
"And Sharik also."
Report
13points
#7
Lumppu said:
"Rekku."
"Rekku."
nouveauspelaea replied:
"A variation of Rex."
"A variation of Rex."
Report
12points
#8
le_yellowrat said:
"Solovino."
"Solovino."
bizcho replied:
"For the non-Spanish speakers solovino sounds like a Spanish name but it came from the frase "solo vino" or "he came alone" meaning the dog was probably a stray dog and the family adopted it."
"For the non-Spanish speakers solovino sounds like a Spanish name but it came from the frase "solo vino" or "he came alone" meaning the dog was probably a stray dog and the family adopted it."
Report
12points
#9
"Pochi in Japan. Also I work at a vet clinic and there are way too many small white dogs named Lucy. And they’re always mean."
Report
12points
#11
"In Hungary we have:
Csibész (Rascal)
Morzsa / Morzsi (Crumbs)
Fickó (Guy / Lad)
Cézár (Caesar)"
Report
12points
#12
"(Thai) Top of my head: Daang ("Spots"), Toob (for floppy-eared), Ouan ("Fat"), Foofoo ("Fluffy"), Toong ngern ("Bag of silver"), Toong tong ("Bag of gold"), and a lot of times we just call them by their colors like Dum for black, Dang (red) for orange-brown, or Khow for white."
Report
11points
#14
RoryRabideau said:
"My neighbors are from Ireland, their dogs name is Cú. Said it's some mythical/historical name and super common."
"My neighbors are from Ireland, their dogs name is Cú. Said it's some mythical/historical name and super common."
ebeth_the_mighty replied:
"It means dog or hound in Irish."
"It means dog or hound in Irish."
Report
11points
#15
"Lucky, Baby, Snowy - white dog, Blackie - black dog, Xiao bai - little white, Xiao hei - little black is extremely common. Cause we Chinese like simple English names and telling it like it is. P.S. was not trying to be racist, apologies in advance if I offend.
I noticed that all the Chinese names for dogs are almost all either a) colour related or b) luck related. The reason for b) is cause of the (bazi, or eight characters), because we Chinese are superstitious as hell, feel that you need to give a lot of meaning in naming a baby or a pet. It sort of sets your whole life’s journey, like e.g. getting rich or wiser when you get older. And a) is maybe cause they just basic, lol."
Report
11points
#16
"Wang Wang - I’ve met so many dogs in China named this, which is just a Chinese onomatopoeia to the “woof” sound dogs make."
Report
11points
#20
"I think Totó is the name most associated with dogs in Brazil even though is not that usual anymore."
Report
10points