Dog Names By State >> Kentucky Dog Names

Kentucky Dog Names

Updated: April 19, 2024

Welcome to a page dedicated to celebrating the spirit of the Bluegrass State through unique and charming names for your furry friends. Kentucky, known for its rich history, iconic horse racing, and notable bourbon distilleries, offers a wide range of inspiration for naming your beloved canine companion.

Whether you're a fan of the Kentucky Wildcats, a lover of bluegrass music, or simply an admirer of the state's beautiful landscapes, there's something for everyone. Explore this page, where we've gathered a collection of names that beautifully capture the essence of Kentucky's traditions, culture, and landmarks. These names are sure to add a touch of Southern charm to your pet's identity.

From names inspired by the state's famous bourbon to those that honor its famous horse races, these names are a tribute to the unique heritage of Kentucky. So, if you are looking for a name that's as special as your pup, this is the perfect place to find one. We hope you'll find a name that fits your dog as perfectly as a mint julep on a Kentucky summer day.

Name Reason to Choose
Acorn Acorns are abundant in the forests of Kentucky
Appalachia A significant part of the state is in the Appalachian region
Ashland A city in the state
Bardstown Named after a city in Kentucky
Barren A county in Kentucky
Beaver Beavers are a part of the state's wildlife
Belle The Belle of Louisville is a historic steamboat
Benton A city in the state
Berea A city in Kentucky
Biscuit A nod to the popular buttermilk biscuits of Kentucky
Blaze A tribute to the fiery spirit of Kentucky
Bluebell Kentucky's state flower is the Goldenrod, but since that's a bit of a mouthful, Bluebell is a pretty alternative
Bluegrass Kentucky is known as the 'Bluegrass State'
Boone For Daniel Boone National Forest
Bourbon Kentucky is known for its bourbon distilleries
Buck It's a common term for male deer, which are found throughout Kentucky
Buckeye Buckeye trees are common in Kentucky
Cadiz A city in the state
Cardinal The mascot of the University of Louisville
Casey Casey County is a part of Kentucky
Cave The state is home to the longest cave system in the world
Clay Henry Clay, a famous politician from the state, also represents the fertile soil of Kentucky
Coal An ode to Kentucky's coal mining heritage
Colonel For the Kentucky Colonels, a part of the state's history
Copper A nod to the copper stills used in bourbon production
Corbin After a city in Kentucky
Cotton Cotton production is significant in the state
Covington Named after a city in the state
Crane For the sandhill cranes that migrate through Kentucky
Creek Kentucky has numerous creeks
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Kentucky Nature Dog Names

Names inspired by Kentucky's native flora, fauna, and natural landscapes.
Name Description
Appalachia Kentucky is in the Appalachian region
Barkley after the Lake Barkley, a major lake in Kentucky
Barren after Barren River, a prominent river in Kentucky
Bluebell a wildflower native to Kentucky
Bluegrass referencing the state's famous Bluegrass region
Bourbon a nod to the state's bourbon distilling
Cardinal the state bird of Kentucky
Coal reflects Kentucky's rich coal mining history
Colonel honoring the Kentucky Colonels
Cumberland named after the Cumberland River
Derby for the world-renowned Kentucky Derby
Hickory a tree species found in Kentucky
Horse references the state's horse racing heritage
Julep the famous drink of the Kentucky Derby
Limestone the stone is abundant in Kentucky
Magnolia a common tree in Kentucky
Mammoth reflects the Mammoth Cave National Park
Paducah a city located in Kentucky
Pikeville a city in Eastern Kentucky
Poplar a nod to the tulip poplar, Kentucky's state tree
Raven after the Raven Run Nature Sanctuary
Shawnee after the Shawnee National Forest
Thoroughbred Kentucky is known for its thoroughbred horses
Tobacco tributes the state's tobacco farming
Tulip named after tulip poplar, Kentucky's state tree
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Kentucky Basketball Dog Names

Names inspired by the University of Kentucky's basketball team, its players, and its history.
Name Description
Adolph For Adolph Rupp, the most successful coach in their history
Blue Referencing the team's color
Bounce To symbolize the bouncing of a basketball
Calipari After the successful coach John Calipari
Champion To commemorate Kentucky's successful basketball history
Checkers A playful nod to the checkered past of the basketball program
Dribble A nod to the fundamental basketball skill
Dunk After the exciting basketball move
Foul A term used in the game of basketball
Hoops A colloquial term for basketball
Jumper For the jump shot, an essential skill in basketball
Knight Bob Knight, a legendary figure in college basketball
Net For the basketball net, a key component of the game
Pat To commemorate Pat Riley, a basketball icon from Kentucky
Pistol To honor Pete Maravich, a basketball legend from the area
Pitino After Rick Pitino, a former coach
Pivot A critical move in basketball
Rebound After the critical basketball action
Rex Rex Chapman, a famous former player
Rupp For Rupp Arena, where the team plays
Shooter A tribute to the sharpshooting players
Slam Another term for a powerful dunk in basketball
Swish The satisfying sound of a perfect shot
Tubby In honor of Tubby Smith, a former coach
Wildcat After the University of Kentucky's mascot
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Kentucky City Dog Names

Names inspired by cities and towns in Kentucky, such as Louisville, Lexington, and Frankfort.
Name Description
Ashland One of the oldest cities in the state
Berea Named after a city in Madison County, Kentucky
Bowling Bowling Green is a city in southern Kentucky
Covington A city in northern Kentucky
Danville Named after a city in Boyle County
Elizabethtown A city in Hardin County, Kentucky
Erlanger A city in Kenton County
Florence A city in Boone County, Kentucky
Frankfort The capital city of Kentucky
Georgetown Named after a city in Scott County
Henderson A city on the south bank of the Ohio River
Hopkinsville A city in the Pennyrile region
Lexington Named after the city known for its horse racing
Louisville The largest city in Kentucky
Madisonville For a city in the Western Coal Field region
Maysville A city in Mason County
Murray A city in Calloway County, Kentucky
Nicholasville A city in Jessamine County
Owensboro Named after a city in western Kentucky
Paducah For a city located at the confluence of the Tennessee and Ohio rivers
Pikeville A city in Pike County, Kentucky
Radcliff A city near Fort Knox
Shelbyville The county seat of Shelby County
Somerset The Pulaski County seat in Kentucky
Winchester A city in eastern Kentucky
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Kentucky Bourbon Dog Names

Names inspired by the iconic bourbon whiskey which originated in Kentucky.
Name Description
Barkeep Refers to the bartender, a key figure in any bourbon bar
Barley An ingredient in bourbon brewing
Barrel Bourbon is aged in barrels, a nod to Kentucky tradition
Bluegrass Bluegrass music is a part of Kentucky's identity
Bourbon The state is known for its bourbon production
Char Refers to the charring of bourbon barrels
Chaser A term used in drinking bourbon
Colonel In honor of the Colonels in Kentucky's bourbon industry
Corn Main ingredient in bourbon production
Derby Kentucky is renowned for its horse racing event, the Kentucky Derby
Hops Though more associated with beer, it's a recognizable term in brewing
Julep Mint julep is a classic Kentucky cocktail
Malt A term from the bourbon brewing process
Mash Referring to the mixture of grains used in bourbon production
Mint Mint juleps are a popular bourbon cocktail in Kentucky
Neat A way to serve bourbon without water or ice
Proof Measures the alcohol content of bourbon
Racer For Kentucky's iconic horse racing culture
Rye One of the grains used in bourbon production
Sipper Bourbon is often enjoyed slowly
Sour Whiskey sour is a popular bourbon cocktail
Stave Staves make up the bourbon barrel
Still Refers to the distillation process of bourbon
Thoroughbred Breed of horse famous in Kentucky
Toddy Hot toddy is a bourbon-based cocktail
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Kentucky Derby Dog Names

Names inspired by the famous horse racing event, the Kentucky Derby, and its winners and participants.
Name Description
Bluegrass This is a reference to Kentucky's nickname, the Bluegrass State
Bourbon One can't think of Kentucky without thinking of its world-famous bourbon
Churchill This name is inspired by the Churchill Downs, where the Kentucky Derby is held
Colonel An homage to Colonel Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken
Cumberland A reference to the Cumberland River, a major waterway in Kentucky
Dam In horse breeding, dam is the term for the mother of a horse
Derby Directly named after the famous horse race
Filly A term for a young female horse
Furlong A unit of measure in horse racing
Gallop A term for a horse's fastest gait
Gelding A term for a castrated horse often used in racing
Jockey A tribute to the athletes who ride the horses in the derby
Mammoth Named after Mammoth Cave, a famous Kentucky landmark
Minty A cute name referencing the mint julep, the traditional drink of the Kentucky Derby
Oaks Kentucky Oaks is a prestigious horse race for three-year-old fillies held on the day before the Kentucky Derby
Paddock This refers to the area where horses are saddled and paraded before the race
Post This is a reference to the starting post in horse racing
Quaker Quaker is a reference to the Quaker State, another nickname for Kentucky
Silks This term refers to the brightly colored and patterned jackets worn by jockeys
Sire In horse breeding, sire is the term for the father of a horse
Stakes This term is used for races where owners put up stakes or money for the prize
Stirrup A part of the saddle used in horse racing
Thoroughbred A nod to the breed of horse that runs in the Kentucky Derby
Triple A short form of Triple Crown, the highest honor in thoroughbred racing
Winning A tribute to the ultimate goal of the Kentucky Derby
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