Hi! My name is Cristian — welcome to Puppy-Namer! 👋🐾
I've been a software developer for over 20 years, and today I lead engineering teams and build digital products. But beyond technology, I've always been passionate about dogs — especially the incredible Belgian Malinois.
Just like many new dog owners, I went through the emotional (and surprisingly stressful) mission of choosing the perfect name. And that's how this whole project began.
The Story Behind Puppy-Namer
My first experience with dog naming goes way back to 1998. I was around 15–16 years old when my dad bought me a German Shepherd. There wasn't much information available back then — no real inspiration, no name databases, nothing. So I ended up naming him Max, simply because it was popular and easy to think of. I still remember wishing I had some kind of book of dog names to help me choose a more unique one.
Years later, I got my first Belgian Malinois — a female — and the name Danika just popped into my mind. It was the perfect fit. But when I bought my male Malinois about a year ago, the naming struggle returned. I spent hours searching through website after website, scrolling endless generic lists… and still couldn't decide.
That's when I stumbled on something interesting: a public dataset from New York containing real dog names by breed (https://catalog.data.gov/dataset) . I downloaded it, started exploring, and finally found THE name that clicked instantly:
Graffalo.
It was unique. It had personality. And the list was filled with thousands of real names used by real owners — exactly the kind of inspiration I had always wished existed.
So I cleaned up the data, organized it by breed, and decided to build a website so others could benefit from the same discovery. And that's how Puppy-Namer.com was born — from a real dog owner's struggle, a lot of scrolling, and one "aha!" moment.
My Goal
I want this site to become:
- 1The most useful and inspiring dog-name database
- 2Built from real names, not random AI lists
- 3A place where dog owners can explore, smile, and find the perfect name for their new best friend
If Puppy-Namer helps even one owner avoid hours of frustration and find a name they truly love, then this project is worth it.
Thank you for being here and for loving dogs as much as I do.
I hope you find the name — the one that feels just right. ❤️🐶
— Cristian, founder of Puppy-Namer.com
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Puppy-Namer get started?
After struggling to find the perfect name for my Belgian Malinois, I discovered a public dataset from New Jersey containing real dog names by breed. This inspired me to build a comprehensive database of real dog names to help other dog owners avoid the frustration of choosing the perfect name.
Are the names on Puppy-Namer real?
Yes! All names in our database are real names from actual dog owners. We use data from public datasets and organized real dog names by breed, rather than generating random AI suggestions.
What makes Puppy-Namer different?
Unlike other dog name websites that use generic lists or AI-generated suggestions, Puppy-Namer is built from thousands of real names used by real dog owners, organized by breed. This provides authentic inspiration for finding the perfect name for your new puppy.