Wolf Names – Naming a Dog After His Ancestors

grey wolf

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.

HemeneNez PerceWolf
TikaaniInuitWolf
KiyayaYakimaHowling Wolf
AmarogInuitWolf
HoniArapahoWolf
HoniahakaCheyenneLittle Wolf
MaikohNavajoWolf
MaiyunCheyenneWolf
MaheeganAlgonquinWolf
WayaCherokeeWolf
TëmeLenapeWolf

Native American Names Meaning Chief, Boss, or Leader

DesnaInuitBoss
AkiakInuitBrave
MiccoSeminoleChief
AliiHawaiianChief
KahunaHawaiianHeld in High Esteem
HiamoviCheyenneHigh Chief
AwanAlgonquinSomebody
YumaNavajoSon of the Chief
BidziilNavajoHe 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”

Ahtnatikaani
Albanianujk / vjuk
Algonquinmahigan
Apacheba’cho, ba’uchaahi, ma’cho
Arabicdib
Armeniangayl
Asturianollobu, lloba
Athabascanteekon
Bulgarianwalk
Catalonian (Spain)Llop
Central Indianekra, bighana, hurar
Chechenbworz
Cherokeewahy’a
Chemehuevitivaci
Cheyenneho’nene; maiyun
Chineseyitiao lang
Chinooklelou, leloo
Chipewyansegolia, nuniye
Choctawnashoba
CreeMahigan
Croationvuk
Czechvlk
Danishulv
Dogripnodi
DutchWolf
EnglishGray Wolf
EstonianHunt
Farsigorg
Frenchloup
Finnishsusi
Germanwulf
Georgianmgeli
Gitano (Gypsy)orú
Greekliekos/ lyk
Greenland-Inuitamarog
Havasupaihatagwila
Hawaiian‘ilio hae
HebrewZe’ev
Hindihundar bheriya
Hopikweeuu
Hualapai/Walapaihatkwil
Hungarianfarkas
Inuktitutsingarti
Inupiatamaguk
Italianlupo
IranianGorg
Japaneseookami
Kanaresethola, vraka
Kiliwamlti’ tay / mlti’ pelas msaap
Kiowauy kuy
Koreaniri / neuk dae
Lakotashunkaha
Lakota tankasuuk manitu
Latinlupus
Latvianvilks
Lenapemohegan, te-me
Lithuanianvilkas
Malayalamchennaya
Malaysia (Bahasa Melayu / Malay)serigala
Marathilandga
Maricopaxatkuly
Mohave;hatekulye
Mohawkmahiingan
Mongoliantchono
Montenigrinvolk
Navajoma’iitsoh
NepaliBvaso
Nootkalokwa’
Norwegianulv/ ulven
Nahuatlcuetlachtli / nexcoyotl
OjibweMaengun
Otomígamiñ’o
Pashtuscheermach, leeva
Pawneeskiri’ ki
Polishwilk
Portugueselobo
Purhépecha (Tarasco)jiuatsï
Quechuaatuc / intutu / lubu
Romanianlup
Russianvolk/ wolk
Seminoleo-ba-ho-she
Senekakyiyu
Serbvuk
Shawneem-weowa
Shoshonebeya ish
Siouxtala
Slovakianvlk (obyca iny)
Slovenianvolk
South Slaveydigah
Swedishulv / varg
Spanishlobo
Tarahumaranaríbochi / naríwari
Tamilonai
TeleguThodelu
Tibetanbhangi
Turkishkurt (modern) or böri (ancient/traditional)
Urdubheria
Utesinapu
Welshblaidd
Yaquikwewu
Zapoteco Cajonobez 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.

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