Shih Tzu Dog Names

Shih Tzu Dog Names     by Janice Jones     |Last Updated 10-20-2022

Can't decide what to name your new Shih Tzu puppy? 

We've done a little research and came up with a list of some popular dog names by breed based on what our puppy buyers have chosen as the perfect Shih Tzu puppy dog names.

This is what we found out about Shih Tzu owners: Shih Tzu owners tend to choose names based on a variety of criteria.

• The color of their dog
• A Yummy Food
• A favorite human name
• A name that describes their personality or temperament
• A name based on size
• A royal name
• An Asian name
• A famous animal name from television or movies
• A famous duet
• A memory or experience from their past
• Favorite character from TV, Movies, Cartoons, or Music idols

Shih Tzu Dog Names

Shih Tzu Dog Names Based on Foods

Some owners like to call their dogs by names that remind them of delicious foods such as Cupcake, Cookie, Candy, Brownie, or Smores. Twinkie, Pretzel, or Crackers.

Read more about dog names based on food

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Shih Tzu Dog Names Based on Human Names

Since Shih Tzu dogs seem more like children than pets, their owners will choose a name based on popular boy and girl names.  Names that are chosen by new parents-to-be are also used by dog owners-to-be.  

Look at any name list and you are likely to see dogs named Eva, Izzi, Sophia and Emily.  If the fur baby is a boy, you might find names such as Noah, Jacob, Liam and Jackson.  

More traditional human names remain popular such as Charlie and Sam but the trend tends to be on the road toward unique and unusual.

Sometimes it is acceptable to choose a more common name but find a unique spelling to make it more distinctive.  Think of all the ways you could spell the name Zoe—
Zoey, Zoie, Zoy, Zoee. 

Girl Shih Tzu Names                       Boy Shih Tzu Names

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Dog Names Based on Personality

Many Shih Tzu dog owners want a name that describes their dog's personality or mocks the real temperament of the Shih Tzu dog.  

Cute names that fall into this category include Cuddles, Sweetheart, Cutie Pie, Baby Doll, Shadow, Buddy, Sassy, or Precious. 

Those names that mock the true nature of the Shih Tzu personality include Bear, Bruiser, Samson and Tiger.

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Shih Tzu Dog Names Based on Size

Names that depict the size of the dog are also very popular such as Pixie, Peanut, Tiny, Dwarf, Tink, Tinkerbell, Speck, Poco if you want to describe the small nature of this breed. 

Some will name their tiny dogs with big names such as Samson, Alpha, Hercules, Zeus or Merlin, Diesel, Giant, or Bear.

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Dog Names Based on Royalty

Because Shih Tzu dogs seem so noble in nature, many owners will choose a regal name such as Princess, Queen, Duke, or Starr.

Sometimes Shih Tzu owners will name their dogs after real life royalty such as Elizabeth, Victoria, Charles, or Henry.  Have you considered Diana, Fergie, Anastasia, or Harry?

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Shih Tzu Dog Names Based on their
Country of Origin

Since the Shih Tzu breed originated in Asia, some Shih Tzu owners want to use a Chinese or other Asian name.

Popular names in this category include Ming Sue, Mei Ling, Mei Lee, Saki, Bonsai, Haiku, Sushi,  Yoshi, Kim-chi, Geisha, Chang, Chopsticks, Chow Mein, Honda, Hoshi, Kabuki, Kei-ko, Ling-Ling, Suki, Sumo, Tokyo, Tori, Yang, Yoko, Tai Pan

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Shih Tzu Dog Names Based on TV & Movie Characters

Famous dog or animal names are still always popular including Snoopy, Benji, Marley, Bob and Blue.  Other tried and true names include Rin Tin Tin, Lassie, Beethoven and Winn-Dixie.

There is always a Disney character that will share his name your Tzu.  Consider Micky, Minnie, Pluto, Donald, Daisy, Daffy, Jasmine, Mulan, Bambi, or Alice.  Lion, King,

More Disney Dog Names

Great Names Based on Cartoons

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Shih Tzu Dog Names for the Tech Savvy

Some new techno names have emerged in the last few decades that people will use to name their dog.  Consider the following

• Google
• Yahoo
• Nano
• Widget
• Byte
• Beta
• Cyber
• Panda (also good for a black and white dog)
• Penguin (also good for a black and white dog)Wyswyg
  

More Names For the Tech Savvy Dog

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Shih Tzu Names Based on Favorite Movie Characters:  Star Wars

What do Shih Tzu puppies resemble?  Many think they look like a character from Star Wars.  Flat faced lovable characters such as Chewbacca or Chewy for short.  It's not a stretch to imagine that may Shih Tzu puppies are named after characters from the the Star Wars Movies.  In fact, so many of my puppies have been named from memorable characters that I couldn't resist the temptation to add a few here "just for the record."  AND yes, even a few of my own mamas and papas have those names because, I too, love Star Wars,  Check out our mama's and papas pages for Princess Leia and Obi Won-Tzu-Nobi.

Shih Tzu Dog names Based on Famous Duets

Shih Tzu Names Based on Previous Shih Tzu Puppy Buyers

The names of this list below are actual names given by Shih Tzu puppy buyers to give you some ideas to inspire your creativity.  You can also check out More top Shih Tzu names for more ideas.

Did I forget to list your dog's name?  My apologies.  Just contact me and remind me to add it to the list.

Naming Your Shih Tzu

There are a five thoughts to keep in mind when naming that sweet fur baby. The name you decide should follow certain canine rules.  My Shih Tzu puppy buyers are extremely clever about their Shih Tzu puppy's name.  Here are some of those names that come immediately to mind.

1.  Dogs Hear the First Syllable

By that I mean that dogs tend to learn their names, but will only pay attention to the first syllable. If you ever wondered why we only use one syllable words when training such as sit, stay, come, or heel, it is for this very reason. So when your dog's name is Chocolate Smores, for example, the dog is going to hear "Chock." This does not mean that you must come up with a name that has only one syllable.  If you have more than one dog, consider each name careful. Dogs seem to know each other by the names we give them.

2. Consider the Human Names in the Household

The second thing to keep in mind regarding this first syllable rule is to choose a unique name that does not have the same first sound as another person in the household. This can be very confusing to the dog.

It is acceptable to choose a name with the same letter as long as the beginning sound is different. For example, it would be very confusing to two pets in the same household named Alexander and Alexandra. It would be OK to name two pets Abby and Alexander.

3. Remember, You will use her name frequently during training

A third thing to keep in mind is that dogs do learn their names and you should use their names frequently. When training a dog to perform a new trick, it's always easy to say the dog's name first, then the command. "Zoey, Sit."  

Using your puppy's name in a happy tone and praising them when they respond will go a long way towards training. Once the dog knows his name, it is much easier to call out the name and then a command.

4.  Choose a Name that Withstands the Test of Time

The Fourth factor to keep in mind when choosing a name is how well it will stand the test of time.  I once named a dog of mine, Geordi after a Star Trek character popular at the time.  By the time this little dog reached the ripe old age of 18, only die-hard “Trekkie” fans could relate to the name, even though the dog probably did not care.  

5. Assure You Love the Name

Finally, it is so important to understand that you will be calling your dog’s name numerous times a day, in your own home and out in public. Make sure that the name you choose works equally well in the quiet of your home and on a noisy street.  

Think about how you will feel when your dog has gotten away from you and you are trying to retrieve it.   Can you see yourself yelling your dog to come home, “lovey-dovey-sweetie-pie, come home to mama.”

Remember too, that others are likely to need to call your dog by his name.  Don't embarrass your vet tech, groomer, day care worker, or dog walker with names that they might not want to use in public.

What's the Story Behind Your Dog's Name?

Every name has a story to tell.  What's Yours?  Care to Share?

Just to get you started, I'll share a name I've chosen for dogs I've owned.

Clifford (a beautiful red and white Shih Tzu -- You'll find his picture scattered around this website.  His registered name is Clifford, my little red dog.  He's named after Clifford, The Big Red Dog (children's book and TV show).  Now it's your turn.

About Janice

Janice is the voice behind Miracle Shih Tzu. Having lived with dogs and cats most of her life, she served as a veterinary technician for ten years in Maryland and twelve years as a Shih Tzu dog breeder in Ohio.

Her education includes undergraduate degrees in Psychology with a minor in biology, Early Childhood Education, and Nursing, and a master's in Mental Health Counseling.

She is a lifelong learner, a dog lover, and passionate about the welfare of animals. Her favorite breed for over 50 years has been the Shih Tzu.

When not writing, reading, or researching dog-related topics, she likes to spend time with her eight Shih Tzu dogs, her husband, and her family, as well as knitting and crocheting. She is also the voice behind Small Dog Place and Smart-Knit-Crocheting.