Ask some dog lovers and they will tell you that their dog has the soul of a wolf. What does that mean? Maybe their dog is brave, fierce, savage, the protector of his pack. Maybe he’s a loner. Maybe he’s proud or a cunning leader.
Or perhaps you have a dog that resembles a wolf. Many of our modern breeds still have a wolf-like appearance such as the Siberian Husky, the Alaskan Malamute, the German Shepherd, and some mixed breeds. Individuals of these breeds and mixes can be dead ringers for a wolf at times.
Are you drawn to the spirit of the wolf? Does it call to you like the call of the wild? If you have a dog that shares these feelings, why not give your dog a name to honor this connection?
There are many beautiful and appropriate names to honor the wolf, for both males and females. Here are some names that we liked.
Native American Names for Wolves
Native Americans have had a unique relationship with wolves. They offer many beautiful names for the wolf.
| Hemene | Nez Perce | Wolf |
| Tikaani | Inuit | Wolf |
| Kiyaya | Yakima | Howling Wolf |
| Amarog | Inuit | Wolf |
| Honi | Arapaho | Wolf |
| Honiahaka | Cheyenne | Little Wolf |
| Maikoh | Navajo | Wolf |
| Maiyun | Cheyenne | Wolf |
| Maheegan | Algonquin | Wolf |
| Waya | Cherokee | Wolf |
| Tëme | Lenape | Wolf |
Native American Names Meaning Chief, Boss, or Leader
| Desna | Inuit | Boss |
| Akiak | Inuit | Brave |
| Micco | Seminole | Chief |
| Alii | Hawaiian | Chief |
| Kahuna | Hawaiian | Held in High Esteem |
| Hiamovi | Cheyenne | High Chief |
| Awan | Algonquin | Somebody |
| Yuma | Navajo | Son of the Chief |
| Bidziil | Navajo | He Who is Strong |
The Word “Wolf” in Different Languages
The wolf has been widespread throughout the world. Even today, it’s believed that all of the places listed below still have at least a small wolf population. Using the word for “wolf” in one of these native languages would provide a unique name for your dog with a wolf spirit. (This information comes from Wolf Song of Alaska https://www.wolfsongalaska.org/chorus/about which has some fascinating information about wolves.)
Language Word for “Wolf”
| Ahtna | tikaani |
| Albanian | ujk / vjuk |
| Algonquin | mahigan |
| Apache | ba’cho, ba’uchaahi, ma’cho |
| Arabic | dib |
| Armenian | gayl |
| Asturiano | llobu, lloba |
| Athabascan | teekon |
| Bulgarian | walk |
| Catalonian (Spain) | Llop |
| Central India | nekra, bighana, hurar |
| Chechen | bworz |
| Cherokee | wahy’a |
| Chemehuevi | tivaci |
| Cheyenne | ho’nene; maiyun |
| Chinese | yitiao lang |
| Chinook | lelou, leloo |
| Chipewyan | segolia, nuniye |
| Choctaw | nashoba |
| Cree | Mahigan |
| Croation | vuk |
| Czech | vlk |
| Danish | ulv |
| Dogrip | nodi |
| Dutch | Wolf |
| English | Gray Wolf |
| Estonian | Hunt |
| Farsi | gorg |
| French | loup |
| Finnish | susi |
| German | wulf |
| Georgian | mgeli |
| Gitano (Gypsy) | orú |
| Greek | liekos/ lyk |
| Greenland-Inuit | amarog |
| Havasupai | hatagwila |
| Hawaiian | ‘ilio hae |
| Hebrew | Ze’ev |
| Hindi | hundar bheriya |
| Hopi | kweeuu |
| Hualapai/Walapai | hatkwil |
| Hungarian | farkas |
| Inuktitut | singarti |
| Inupiat | amaguk |
| Italian | lupo |
| Iranian | Gorg |
| Japanese | ookami |
| Kanarese | thola, vraka |
| Kiliwa | mlti’ tay / mlti’ pelas msaap |
| Kiowa | uy kuy |
| Korean | iri / neuk dae |
| Lakota | shunkaha |
| Lakota tanka | suuk manitu |
| Latin | lupus |
| Latvian | vilks |
| Lenape | mohegan, te-me |
| Lithuanian | vilkas |
| Malayalam | chennaya |
| Malaysia (Bahasa Melayu / Malay) | serigala |
| Marathi | landga |
| Maricopa | xatkuly |
| Mohave; | hatekulye |
| Mohawk | mahiingan |
| Mongolian | tchono |
| Montenigrin | volk |
| Navajo | ma’iitsoh |
| Nepali | Bvaso |
| Nootka | lokwa’ |
| Norwegian | ulv/ ulven |
| Nahuatl | cuetlachtli / nexcoyotl |
| Ojibwe | Maengun |
| Otomí | gamiñ’o |
| Pashtu | scheermach, leeva |
| Pawnee | skiri’ ki |
| Polish | wilk |
| Portuguese | lobo |
| Purhépecha (Tarasco) | jiuatsï |
| Quechua | atuc / intutu / lubu |
| Romanian | lup |
| Russian | volk/ wolk |
| Seminole | o-ba-ho-she |
| Seneka | kyiyu |
| Serb | vuk |
| Shawnee | m-weowa |
| Shoshone | beya ish |
| Sioux | tala |
| Slovakian | vlk (obyca iny) |
| Slovenian | volk |
| South Slavey | digah |
| Swedish | ulv / varg |
| Spanish | lobo |
| Tarahumara | naríbochi / naríwari |
| Tamil | onai |
| Telegu | Thodelu |
| Tibetan | bhangi |
| Turkish | kurt (modern) or böri (ancient/traditional) |
| Urdu | bheria |
| Ute | sinapu |
| Welsh | blaidd |
| Yaqui | kwewu |
| Zapoteco Cajono | bez beco’ |
Famous Wolves
It’s little surprise that creatures as beautiful, powerful, and intelligent as the wolf have been incorporated into human myths, folk tales, movies, and literature. Here are some famous wolves. You may know some of them. Others might come from novels or films that you don’t know.
Akela
Amarok
Aragh/Aargh, a medieval English wolf
Asena
Baree, wise leader of the wolf pack in The Jungle Book
Beja, Mathias, tierney, and Murdock, magical wolves
Bigby Wolf
Brokefang and Frostfur, leaders of the wolf pack
Brynach and Briavel
Canim
Direwolves
Faolan
Fell
Fenrir
Garmr (different sources call Garmr either a wolf or a dog)
Geri and Freki
Grendel, from Beowulf
Greycub
Gmork
Hati Hróðvitnisson
Huttser and Palla
Kazan
Ladybird
Larka
Lupa, the she-wolf that nursed Romulus and Remus
Marta
Maugrim
Nashoga
Nighteyes
Nitka
Raksha
Runt
Skoll
Warg
Wepwawet
Werewolf
White Fang
White Wolf
Names That Mean “Wolf”
As any parent knows, books with baby names are full of fun, interesting meanings for names.
Here are some names that have wolf meanings.
Accalia – She-wolf (Latin)
Adalwolf – Noble wolf (German)
Adalwolfa/Adolpha – Noble she-wolf (German)
Adolfo – Noble wolf (Latin)
Adolph/Adoff – Noble wolf (German)
Amaruq – Grey wolf (Inuit)
Amoux – Eagle wolf (French)
Arnou – Eagle wolf (French)
Bardawulf – Ax wolf (English)
Beowulf – Intelligent wolf (English)
Boris – Wolf, short (Russian)
Channing – Young wolf (Irish)
Channon – Young wolf (English)
Conan – Hound, wolf (Irish)
Connery – Wolf farmer (Celtic)
Connor – Wolf lover (Irish)
Eyolf – Lucky wolf (Norwegian)
Gonzalo – Wolf (Spanish)
Gorg – Wolf (Iranian)
Gunnolf – Fighting wolf (Norwegian)
Lelou / Leloo – Wolf (Chinook)
Lobo – Wolf (Spanish/Portuguese)
Lowell – Wolf cub / little wolf (Old French)
Lupo – Wolf (Italian)
Lupus – Wolf (Latin)
Nashoba – Wolf (Choctaw)
Odolf – Prosperous wolf (German)
Onai – Wolf (Tamil)
Ookami – Wolf (Japanese)
Rafe – Council of the wolf (German)
Raff – Red wolf (English)
Ralph – Wolf counsel, fearless advisor (English)
Rand/Randall – Shield wolf (Anglo-Saxon)
Randolph – House wolf, protector (English)
Raoul – Wolf council; red wolf (English)
Rodolfo – Famous wolf (Spanish)
Rolf – Red wolf (Teutonic)
Rolo – Famous wolf (Teutonic)
Rudolph – Famous wolf (Old German)
Skoll – Wolf that chased the sun (Norse)
Tamaska – Mighty wolf (Native American)
Ulmer – Fame of the wolf (English)
Ulfred – Wolf of peace (Old English)
Ulmer – Fame of the wolf (Norse)
Ulrich – Female wolf (English)
Vilkas – Wolf (Lithuanian)
Volk – Wolf (Slovenian)
Warg – Grey wolf, evil wolf (Norse)
Wilk – Wolf (Polish)
Wolfgang – Son of the wolf (German)
Wolfram – Wolf raven (Teutonic)
Wolfrik – Wolf ruler (German)
Woolsey – Victorious wolf (English)
Wulfgar – Wolf-like spear (English)
Evocative wolf names
Of course, there are many possible names for your dog that simply evoke the idea or image of the wolf without actually referring to a specific wolf. We think some of these names would make a good choice for dogs with a wolf look or personality.
Alaska
Alpha
Ash
Blizzard
Dakota
Denali
Eskimo
Gray
Hunter
Juneau
Klondike
Kota
Lance
Lobo
Loki
Lupo/Lupa
Shadow
Sierra
Silver
Smoke
Spirit
Storm
Totem
Tundra
Twilight
Conclusion
There are many beautiful, fascinating names for wolves. If your dog has qualities that make you think of a wolf, we hope you can find a name that fits him or her. Let us know if one of the names here has helped you.
