Celebrity Inspired Dog Names

Naming dogs after celebrities and famous personalities is quite a common practice. Not only are there lots of options to choose from, it also helps spice up your dog’s overall image and personality. Not only that, you also get to pay homage to your favorite celebrity. There are several renowned dogs who have been named after celebrities. In Hollywood, there is a trend of celebrities naming their dogs after other celebrities. For instance, singer Nick Jonas has a dog named Elvis, after the King of Rock n’ Roll Elvis Presley. Sisters Kylie and Kendall Jenner also have dogs named after famous designers; Kylie owns Dolce while Kendall owns Gabbana. In pop culture works, there are also numerous dogs with celebrity-inspired names. Probably the most recognizable out of these dogs is Marley, from the novel and film entitled Marley and Me.

Marley is a yellow Labrador Retriever who was named after reggae superstar Bob Marley. He became the subject of the 2005 autobiographical novel by John Grogan. Told in a first-person point of view, Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog details how Grogan and his family dealt with Marley for thirteen years and all the difficulties that came along with it. Even during the time that he was still a puppy, Marley has exhibited some issues, including being overly destructive and showing poor behavior. However, Marley does not do this intentionally and is actually really good-natured.

Somewhat high-strung and uncontrollable, Marley was initially a lot to handle for the Grogan family. At one point, the family considered that Marley may have some mental condition which made him act the way he did. Even though he was a headache at the beginning, Grogan and his family came to love and accept Marley. His devotion, loyalty and love for his owners and closeness with the Grogan children until they were adults made it all the more heartbreaking when Marley eventually passed away. His cause of death was a stomach disorder known as gastric dilatation volvulus resulting from old age.

The book became a success and was named as a New York Times bestseller. While the novel is popular in its own right, it was the 2008 film adaptation that really made Marley a household name. The comedy-drama film Marley & Me, starred Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston. During its time in the box office, the film set a record for the biggest Christmas day opening. It is also credited as one of the most popular dog films of all time and helped immortalize Marley’s legacy.