There are thousands of horror films out there. Plenty of fans are committed to these scary movies—and will drag anyone into the dungeon to watch them, including their precious pups. If you’re among these fright-obsessed cinephiles, why not choose a horror movie name for your dog? Halloween, or any other time of year, is the perfect way to show the world how dark and twisty you (and your doggo) really are.
Browse this list to find a perfectly chilling name for your new dog.
Hitchcock Horror Dog Names
Charlie
Uncle Charlie offers the menace while Charlie (short for Charlotte) hopes for the possibility of life being shaken up in Hitchcock’s “Shadow of a Doubt.” This is a gender-neutral name we can all appreciate.
Marnie
If you’ve got a blonde with a dark past, one of Hitchcock’s most fascinating protagonists from “Marnie” would suit your dog best.
Rebecca
You’d do both Daphne du Maurier and Hitchcock proud by naming your dog after the novel/film “Rebecca.”
Mrs. Danvers
Pair your Rebecca with her very own Mrs. Danvers. Please ensure that they are never split up.
Scottie
I’m not saying you should name your Scottish Terrier after “Vertigo’s” lead character, but … actually, I am.
Madeleine
If you want an air of mystery, no name is better than Kim Novak’s Madeleine in “Vertigo.”
Judy
Mess with your friends by referring to Judy exclusively as Madeleine for a while. If they like “Vertigo,” they’ll get it. (Your dog may suffer from identity issues at some point, though.)
Brandon and Phillip
If you have a pair of dogs, why not name them after this devious duo in “Rope”? Buy them tiny suits and martini glasses for Halloween.
Jeff
Does your dog like staring out of windows? “Rear Window’s” L.B. “Jeff” Jefferies sounds ideal for you.
Marion
If your dog hates showers, at least you’ll know it’s because you named your dog after “Psycho’s” Marion Crane.
Norma Bates
If you have a female dog, a penchant for horror, and maybe some deep-seated mommy issues, why not honor the greatest mother in cinematic history?
Norman Bates
If you use Norma as a name for a mother dog, it only makes sense to use Norman for her child.
Stephen King Horror Dog Names
Cujo
Maybe naming your new pup after a killer dog movie is not the best idea. Then again, the big dog at the center of “Cujo” is possibly the most famous dog in horror history.
Christine
If your dog is a big fan of riding in cars, it only feels right to name them after this killer car from the Stephen King novel of the same name.
Carrie
Please do not bathe this dog with pig’s blood. They deserve better.
Margaret
Another horrible cinematic mother, also from the novel “Carrie.” With this great name, you can pretend all of your dog’s barks are actually fake Bible quotes.
Jack
All work and no play makes Jack a dull dog. And this male dog name works to refer to either Jack Torrance or Jack Nicholson, the actor who played him in the Stanley Kubrick adaptation of “The Shining.”
Wendy
For the timid but persistent girl dog, try naming them after one of Shelley Duvall’s greatest performances/characters: “The Shining’s” Wendy.
Danny
Tell people your dog has “the shining,” just like the son in King’s novel, whenever they walk up to them.
Tony
You don’t even need a dog for this one. Just tell people it’s Danny’s imaginary friend.
Dick
If you’re bringing in an older dog to keep a younger one company, here’s hoping they’ll form a bond just like Mr. Hallorann and Danny did.
Annie
I truly hope you never injure yourself at home because this dog might never call for help, enjoying your “Misery” all too much.
Church
Name your dog after the cat from “Pet Sematary”—but when it’s time, maybe aim for cremation instead of a burial.
It
Just name your dog It. Then you can explain, “I called it It, from ‘It,’” in hilariously repetitive fashion. (Bonus: If It has a child, call it It Chapter Two.)
Pennywise
Dress this dog up as a clown as often as possible. “It” will appreciate it.
Salem
What better name than the fictional town of “Salem’s Lot”?
Classic Horror Dog Names
Faust
Ever wonder if your dog has made a pact with the Devil? Faust’s tale has been around and adapted dozens of times onto film since the 1900s.
Caligari
Name your dog after the German expressionist masterpiece, “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.” Bonus points if their doghouse looks like a nightmare.
Cesare
If not Caligari himself, why not our sleepwalking man forced to murder innocent souls by Dr. Caligari?
Jekyll
What a cute, smart-looking dog!
Hyde
Oh god, no! He’s a monster!
Nosferatu
Nothing says “they’re a biter” like the name of a literal vampire.
Orlok
If Dracula is too popular for you, why not go for F.W. Murnau’s name for the great count?
Dracula
Then again, going with the classic vampire name is never a bad idea.
Bela
Speaking of Dracula, how about Bela Lugosi, best remembered for his iconic portrayal of the count.
Van
Abraham Van Helsing was ready to hunt down Dracula. Give your dog a cute little crucifix to carry around.
Frankenstein
Not the monster, just the scientist (who himself, is—gasp!—the true monster).
Victor
Or you could just use Dr. Frankenstein’s first name.
Boris
Nothing says you’re a horror fan like naming your dog after Boris Karloff, of “Frankenstein” and “The Mummy” fame.
Imhotep
Speaking of “The Mummy,” get ready to wrap your dog up in toilet paper this Halloween.
Tod
Give your dog a simple name like this to celebrate director Tod Browning, who brought us “Dracula,” “Freaks,” and more.
Lon
Best known as “The Man of a Thousand Faces,” actor Lon Chaney could transform into anyone from the Hunchback of Notre Dame to the Phantom of the Opera.
Claude
Clause Rains played The Invisible Man, and his name packs a nice mystique.
Frank N. Furter
If they’re a Dachshund, it’s especially appropriate to name your dog after “Rocky Horror Picture Show’s” mad doctor.
Herbert
One of our favorite mad scientists—just ensure your dog doesn’t become a “Re-Animator.”
Pamela
Celebrate “Friday the 13th,” not with Jason, but with Pamela Voorhees, the OG killer of the series.
Jason
But you can also use Pamela’s son’s name, the popular figure we all know too well.
Laurie
AKA Jamie Lee Curtis’ iconic babysitter from “Halloween.”
Michael
Have your pet, Laurie, face off against your pet, Michael Myers. They’ll eternally be in battle with each other.
Samuel
Throw in a third dog to the bunch and hope that this one, named after Dr. Loomis, can psychoanalyze your pet Michael.
Shaun
Hopefully, there won’t be any zombies lurking around your backyard, so this dog won’t become “Shaun of the Dead.”
Stevie
One of the best radio DJs in cinema, Stevie Wayne from “The Fog” is a great low-key reference.
William
Sam Neill’s mad doctor in space from “Event Horizon” is an ideal name for your male dog.
Alice
If you’re a fan of the “Resident Evil” films, its leading lady offers a perfect name for your pup.
Sidney
Who doesn’t love a true “Scream” queen? Sidney Prescott is an absolute favorite.
Gale
Name your dog after the best reporter in horror history, Gale Weathers from “Scream.”
Dewey
No Gale would be complete without a Deputy Sheriff Dewey in tow to haphazardly help out and bumble through the killings.
Brody
Is your dog afraid of sharks? I mean, who isn’t? So why not go with the last name of “Jaws”’ protagonist?
Quint
Move over, Ahab and your boring whale. We’ve got an obsessive shark hunter here in “Jaws.”
Nancy
The original gal from “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” whose subsequent appearances only made her more unique.
Heather
We’ve also got to include Heather [Langenkamp] who played not only Nancy, but also herself in Wes Craven’s genius “New Nightmare.”
Freddy
No “Nightmare” would be complete without everyone’s favorite villain, Freddy Kreuger.
Martin
One of horror director George Romero’s best films is “Martin”—and it makes a perfect name.
Pinhead
One of Clive Barker’s most notable characters, from “Hellraiser,” it’d be pretty amusing to name your dog this.
Vincent
Nothing says “I love horror” like a dog named for the iconic Vincent Price.
Ash
Truly one of the best protagonists of horror cinema, from Sam Raimi’s “Evil Dead” series.
Ripley
Celebrate amazing women in horror like Ellen Ripley in “Alien.”
Ellen
Ripley’s first name speaks for itself.
Rosemary
The main role of “Rosemary’s Baby.” You’ll probably want to make sure your dog is spayed.
Guy
Rosemary’s husband, Guy Woodhouse, is a real piece of work—but who doesn’t want to yell “Guy” across the room whenever you want your dog to come running over?
Minnie
No, not the mouse, but Ruth Gordon’s unforgettable neighbor from “Rosemary’s Baby.”
Damien
When you want to let everyone else know your dog is an absolute angel, “The Omen” works best.
Jigsaw
Name your dog after the man from “Saw” who created some of the most absurd, and frankly monstrous, traps and scenarios to get people to appreciate their lives if they escape.
Henry
Your dog will be the ideal “Portrait of a Serial Killer.”
Frank
Dennis Hopper’s madman from “Blue Velvet.”
Dorothy
Another “Blue Velvet” reference, this name embraces Isabella Rossellini’s beauty as Dorothy Vallens.
Laura
David Lynch’s most iconic protagonist from both TV and film, “Twin Peaks”’ Laura Palmer is the name to choose.
Dale
On the flip side of “Twin Peaks,” special agent Dale Cooper is a great option.
Blade
Wesley Snipes gave us a better movie and character than most of what Marvel puts out nowadays, so here’s to “Blade.”
The Thing
John Carpenter called his masterpiece “The Thing.”
R.J.
Instead of “The Thing,” maybe go with Kurt Russell’s amazing R.J. MacReady.
Pazuzu
The greatest demon of them all, messing with two priests and a young girl in “The Exorcist.”
Regan
For any dog who acts like a demon possesses them, Linda Blair’s young Regan from “The Exorcist” is the perfect name.
Clarice
The sole reason to name your dog this is to say “Quid pro quo, Clarice” to your dog at any given moment, imitating Anthony Hopkins’ voice from “Silence of the Lambs.”
Hannibal
Name your dog after the world’s best-known cannibal.
Bill
You can also expand this one to Buffalo Bill if your heart desires.
Darla
Buffalo Bill’s precious white Toy Poodle deserves some recognition here.
Bub
How about going with one of the few good zombies in cinema: Bub from “Day of the Dead.”
Jennifer
She’s got a great body and she knows how to use it. Karyn Kusama’s underrated “Jennifer’s Body” deserves a fierce pup named after it.
Leatherface
Named for “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” villain.
Chucky
Everyone’s favorite killer doll from the “Child’s Play” series.
Tiffany
Chucky’s bride is just as much of a treat as the man-doll himself. Now imagine your dog with Jennifer Tilly’s wonderful voice.
Buffy
If your dog has a silly side, name them after “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” the comedy/horror film that launched the popular TV series.
Cruella
OK, Disney’s “101 Dalmatians” isn’t a horror film—but its villain, the puppy-killer Cruella DeVil, is certainly horrific.
Horror Director Dog Names
Dario
After Dario Argento, one of the best Italian horror directors of the ‘70s and ‘80s, who brought us “Suspiria” and “Profondo Rosso.”
Alfred
Hitchcock, of course, whose “Psycho” and “The Birds” inspired fear in us all.
Tobe
After Tobe Hooper, the man who gave us “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and other horror classics.
Ed
Ed Wood, everyone’s favorite queer cult filmmaker, gave us “Glen or Glenda” and “Plan 9 From Outer Space.”
Sam
Sam Raimi brought us not only the “Evil Dead” series but gems like “Drag Me to Hell” and “Darkman” (not to mention the best “Spider-Man” films to date).
Wes
As in Craven, who gave us everything from “A Nightmare on Elm Street” to “Scream” and beyond.
David
This name does double director duty. It could refer to Cronenberg, the master behind Videodrome, Crash, The Brood, and more, or Lynch, the creator of Eraserhead, Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, and more.
Burton
Tim Burton’s films typically have a gothic aesthetic regardless of genre.
Foreign Horror Dog Names
Peter and Paul
Get yourself two dogs who look very similar and send them to your neighbors’ house to harass them with a note for eggs attached. These dogs might get up to some “Funny Games.”
Michel
Name your dog after the cheating husband from “Les Diaboliques,” because who among us doesn’t love a good cinematic bad guy?
Asami
Who can ever forget the first time they saw “Audition” and witnessed what Asami could do to a man?
Sadako
If your dog has long, black hair, name them after Sadako, of “The Ring” fame. (You can also use the English language remake name of Samara)
Eli
“Let the Right One In’s” young vampire has the best name for a best friend you could ask for.
Ofelia
Why not roll with the marvelous child from Guillermo del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth” as your name of choice?
We may have listed over 100 horror movie names for dogs, but there are hundreds more pet names to be found. Maybe they’re lurking in your closet right now. Maybe they’re hiding under your bed. Maybe they’re waiting in your dreams. Or maybe tonight, instead of feeling your dog’s weight jumping into bed by your feet, you’ll feel something different. Something spectral. Something is pulling at your leg. Something … slobbering? No, wait, that’s definitely my baby Xenomorph trying to eat me alive.
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