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Horses are beautiful, majestic creatures that have lived and worked alongside humans for thousands of years. Having one as a companion is like nothing else you will ever experience. When it comes time to name a new horse in your life, you want to give a name that is worthy of their splendor and as unique as they are.
There are plenty of ways to find name inspiration and the options are endless, but we’re here to provide you with some unique ideas to consider for your new equine counterpart.
For Colts, Geldings, & Stallions
- Abe
- Amos
- Apollo
- Atlas
- Apache
- Baron
- Beckley
- Boone
- Brutus
- Buck
- Cadiz
- Caddo
- Cash
- Chief
- Clyde
- Cole
- Comanche
- Conway
- Creek
- Crooks
- Crowley
- Cyrus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Diablo
- Dixon
- Duke
- Drake
- Durant
- Eli
- Enzo
- Ezra
- Forbes
- Frisco
- Geronimo
- Grant
- Griffin
- Gulliver
- Guthrie
- Hank
- Harlan
- Hugo
- Hydro
- Ike
- Ivan
- Jed
- Jett
- Kane
- Keel
- Knox
- Kirby
- Kronos
- Langston
- Laredo
- Leland
- Leon
- Lincoln
- Luca
- Marshall
- Mason
- Maverick
- Moose
- Murphy
- Murray
- Nash
- Norman
- Pax
- Pecos
- Perry
- Picasso
- Pontiac
- Porter
- Pratt
- Ramsey
- Ranger
- Renegade
- Ridgely
- Rio
- Ripley
- Roddy
- Rogan
- Rory
- Ross
- Ryder
- Salem
- Samson
- Sawyer
- Tecumseh
- Tex
- Theo
- Toby
- Tucker
- Ulysses
- Wagoner
- Warner
- Willie
- Whiskey
- Wrangler
- Zeb
- Zeke
For Fillies and Mares
- Abilene
- Ada
- Alice
- Arbor
- Aspen
- Aurora
- Bindi
- Blair
- Blanca
- Blythe
- Bonnie
- Bren
- Callie
- Celia
- Charm
- Cherokee
- Cheyenne
- Clementine
- Clover
- Dakota
- Dahlia
- Daphne
- Darla
- Davina
- Delta
- Denali
- Dixie
- Echo
- Eden
- Enid
- Esme
- Etta
- Evie
- Ewa
- Faith
- Fallon
- Faye
- Fern
- Fiona
- Flora
- Gemma
- Gentry
- Ginger
- Gwen
- Gypsy
- Halley
- Harrah
- Helena
- Idabel
- Iris
- Isla
- Ivy
- Jade
- Jovie
- Juno
- Kiona
- Laurel
- Liberty
- Linden
- Lottie
- Lyla
- Mable
- Mae
- Mairi
- Margo
- Maya
- Mila
- Millie
- Moira
- Morgan
- Nellie
- Nita
- Nora
- Nova
- Opal
- Pearl
- Penny
- Phoebe
- Piper
- Poppy
- Posy
- Raven
- Reba
- Roma
- Rose
- Ruby
- Sage
- Salina
- Scarlett
- Selma
- Sequoia
- Shelby
- Sierra
- Sioux
- Starla
- Stella
- Terra
- Torrie
- Viola
- Willow
Tips for Naming Your Horse
Bringing home a new horse is a very exciting time, and while naming is a lot of fun, it can also be easy to get hung up in the process. Having some tips can’t hurt, so we’ve listed some things to keep in mind during the hunt for the perfect name for your horse:
1. Consider Personality
You always want to aim for the name suiting the personality, so get to know your horse and figure out what they are all about as you throw around ideas. Names will often tell a story, so go with one that fits your horse’s unique disposition.
2. Use Size and Color as Inspiration
Many horse owners will use their horse’s size, coat color, and markings as inspiration for their name. For example, the name Blanca listed above means “white and pure,” making a great choice for an all-white mare or filly. The name Jett could be an ideal option for a jet-black male horse. The options are vast, and you can easily search name meanings to help you along.
3. Pick a Name That Will Grow With Your Horse
Horses have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years, so you want to choose a name that is able to grow along with you both through the decades and hold close meaning to you and your family. You want to find something that will not only suit them when they are young, but throughout their entire lives.
4. Avoid Long Names or Choose One That Can Be Shortened
Lengthy names with three syllables or more can be more difficult for your horse to recognize and remember. One to two syllables is recommended to make it easier on the horse and have them understand their name quicker.
That being said, there are some great lengthy names out there, so if you find a longer name that you absolutely love, consider coming up with a shortened version or nickname if they have trouble picking up on it.
5. Consider That You’ll Be Calling It Out Often
You’ll be using your horse’s name often, so make sure it’s something you are comfortable shouting aloud and sharing with others. You can even try shouting out some of the options you’ve narrowed down to see how you feel when it rolls off your tongue.
6. Avoid Names That Sound Like Any Commands
Your horse is going to have certain commands that are a necessity to learn, so avoid naming them anything that sounds similar and could be confused with a specific command. Go over your list of training commands and consider ruling out anything that rhymes or sounds a bit too close to any of them.
7. Gather as Many Ideas as Possible
Don’t short yourself on ideas. Talk to your friends and family, pull out your favorite movies, TV shows, and books, and don’t be afraid to search away. You never know when you’ll run across something that just fits, so you don’t want to limit your criteria. After you’ve found some favorites, you can narrow them down and see which ones make it to the top spots.
8. Try to Avoid Changing the Name of an Older Horse
Horses are incredibly intelligent creatures that are very responsive to their given names, and while coming up with names is a lot of fun, you should consider keeping an older horse’s name. This is especially true if your ownership begins later in their life, and they’ve had the same name for many years. This isn’t a necessity, but something to consider. You could also try your best to ensure their new name sounds very similar to their old name if you are set on changing it.
In Conclusion
Choosing a name is just one of the many exciting parts of bringing home a new horse. There are limitless choices out there, but coming up with a unique name that suits your horse perfectly can be more difficult than you think. We hope you’ve enjoyed the suggestions above and that they’ve helped you along in the process.
You may also like:
- The 30 Most Common Horse Names
- 185 Male Horse Names for Geldings and Stallions: Ideas that are Unique and Popular
Featured Image Credit: Sabine Hagedorn, Shutterstock
