Famous Author Dog Names

While there may not be too many examples of famous dogs with famous author names, there is undoubtedly a connection between great writers and their appreciation for canines. 

The timeless author Kurt Vonnegut was often seen cavorting about with his dog Pumpkin and also had a Hungarian sheepdog named Sandy, which was also the name of the narrator’s dog in the highly famous work Slaughterhouse Five. If there was any question of his understanding of life and the human and dog relationship, it was surely quelled when he wrote, “Be patient. Your future will come to you and lie down at your feet like a dog who knows and loves you no matter what you are.”

John Steinbeck had a similar regard for his dogs, going so far as to watch their responses to his writing in order to gauge its worth. He’s quoted as saying, “I’ve always tried out my material on my dogs first,” and despite the frustration it must have caused him, laughed off the moment when his Setter, Toby, destroyed the first manuscript of Of Mice and Men, saying, “I was pretty mad but the poor little fellow may have been acting critically.”

Regardless of what you choose, giving your dog a famous author name will surely help them to secure a memorable identity, stick out in the minds of yourself and others, and help make them as timeless as those they are named after. 

Considerations for this type of naming abound, but in this case are a truly an embarrassment of riches. Fortunately for those who have to do the choosing, there is not only a fantastic number of unique options thanks to a swelling breadth of talented minds throughout history, but angles from which to see to help generate ideas. 

Certain writers have a specific writing style, just as certain dogs have specific personalities. For instance, a sulky, brooding dog would be a surefire fit for the name Faulkner, thanks to all of his dark, nearly Gothic subject matter and delivery. The same would hold true for a dog named Edgar or Poe - especially if it had a mustache. If more strange or whimsical in behavior, maybe Seuss or Gaiman would be a more appropriate fit. 

Appearances too, should be taken into account, as many authors had very distinct looks throughout their careers. A poodle named Vonnegut after his strikingly curly hair would be apt, while Melville and Tolstoy would be great names for dogs that are heavily-bearded such as a Schnauzer, Affenpinscher, or Airedale. 

The best part is, there’s no wrong answer. Thousands of literary figures, like their authors, have been bestowed the unlikeliest of names, only to have them stick in our heads and hearts as unforgettable characters, just like your pet will when you finally make your pick on what name to give them.