Introduction
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a fun, compassionate dog that enjoys playtime with its family and other friends. Playfully called “Staffie”, this breed was first developed in the region of Staffordshire in England, hence the name. Staffies were originally meant for bull baiting, which was a huge sport during the 19th century. However, the interest in the sport died down, and so did the breed’s popularity. It was not until the 20th century when Staffordshire Bull Terriers became prominent again, especially in the United States. Since then, the Staffie has become a family favorite for a pet dog and a staple in most households. Choosing a name for this strong and attractive breed will be a fun task.
Staffordshire Bull Terrier Dog Names in Pop Culture
Staffordshire Bull Terriers are among the most well-known dog breeds not only in the United Kingdom, which is its country of origin, but also all over the world. In fact, one of the most popular pieces of literature featuring the dog breed hails from South Africa. The book Jock of the Bushveld, written by Sir James Percy FitzPatrick, details the true story of his travels in the 1880’s with his Staffie, named Jock. During this period, FitzPatrick lived in South Africa’s Bushveld region and took on several jobs, including a prospector’s assistant, ox-wagon transport rider and journalist, among others.
Jock’s mother was a dog in FitzPatrick’s camp. She gave birth to six puppies, with Jock being the runt of the litter. Since all puppies except the runt was claimed, FitzPatrick decided that he would take it as his pet. He decided to name the pup Jock. In the story, FitzPatrick also talks about the instant connection that he and Jock forged right away, with the puppy even following him on his way home without being coached.
The adoption of Jock was the start of an adventure-filled life for FitzPatrick. Growing up, Jock started to become a fearless and exploratory dog who was loved by many. For the duration of his life, Jock went on many undertakings with Percy. His steadfast dedication and loyalty to his owner was legendary, so much so that Percy decided to use the tales of their adventures as bedtime stories for his children. When FitzPatrick moved up and became a prominent figure, he decided that the loving memory of Jock was too good not to be shared. So, with the insistence of his children, Percy ended up immortalizing their story by writing the book Jock of the Bushveld.
First published in 1907, the book became an instant hit and was considered a South African classic. In the long run, the book started to become popular overseas, with over 100 different versions and translations. FitzPatrick’s daughter also built bronze statues and plaques across the different places where Percy and Jock shared memories together in order to commemorate the story.
The book’s popularity spawned a few film adaptations, released in 1986 and another in 1994. An animated version of the story was also created. The film was called Jock the Hero Dog and was aired on July 2012, with singer Bryan Adams voicing the titular character.
Jock’s story is just one of the many adventurous tales involving a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. His account helped raise the recognition of the breed and helped make it the popular pet choice that it is today.
Staffordshire Bull Terrier Dog Name Considerations
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a cute, loving dog breed that deserves a special name to match its special personality. When choosing a name for your Staffie, try to pick one that is not too long. Remember, most, if not all dogs recognize the first syllable of their name the most. Therefore, it is important to not give your dog too long of a name. If ever you do want to a really cool but long name, make sure that you have a shorter version for it. For instance, if you are a Star Wars fan who named your Staffie as “Darth Vader”, make sure you have a short form for when you are calling your dog, such as “Darth”.
Another important factor to take into account is the physical appearance, temperament or any memorable habits that your Staffie might have. Since Staffies have a muscular build, you may opt for a name that depicts strength and power. A good example of such a name is “Rocky”, which is also the name of the famous fictional boxer portrayed by Sylvester Stallone. Staffordshire Bull Terriers are also known for being extremely playful with their owners, which can be another basis for choosing a name. By considering your unique pup’s many features, you will surely be able to come up with a long list of possible names for your Staffie.
Male Staffordshire Bull Terrier Dog Names
| Votes | Name | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| 22 |
Loki
A Norse mythology god known for his mischievous acts; good for playfully naughty Staffies
|
|
| 16 |
Bear
A kind of wild, dog-like animal
|
|
| 15 |
Apollo
Goddess of healing in Greek mythology
|
|
| 14 |
Thor
God of thunder and protector of mankind in Norse mythology; good for strong-willed and protective Staffies
|
|
| 3 |
Buster
Someone who likes to break or overpower something
|
|
| 2 |
Draco
Latin name meaning “dragon”
|
|
| 0 |
Major
A high-ranking military officer
|
|
| -1 |
Harley
From renowned motorcycle brand Harley-Davidson; depicts toughness
|
|
| -1 |
Maxx
Pet form of the Latin term “Maximus”, which means “greatest”
|
|
| -2 |
Rusty
Pet form of the name Ruston, also means “one with a reddish complexion”; good for Staffies with reddish coat
|
|
| -4 |
Tank
A huge metal vehicle used for combat
|
|
| -5 |
Snow
Ice crystals that fall from the sky, usually during winter; good for white-colored Staffies
|
|
| -6 |
Chaos
Means “mayhem”; good for playful Staffies who likes to make a mess
|
|
| -6 |
Bruiser
A tough person, often aggressive
|
|
| -6 |
Gus
Derived from Latin name “Augustus” meaning “majestic”
|
|
| -6 |
Achilles
A hero during the Trojan war in Greek mythology
|
|
| -7 |
Beau
French term meaning “handsome”
|
|
| -8 |
Scout
Someone who keeps watch; good for Staffies who also serve as watchdogs
|
|
| -8 |
Samson
A character in the Bible known for his strength
|
|
| -9 |
Brock
Old English name meaning “badger”
|
|
| -9 |
Butch
Masculine in behavior or look
|
|
| -10 |
Rufus
Means red-haired in Latin; good for Staffies with reddish coats
|
|
| -11 |
Rogers
From the comic character Steve Rogers aka Captain America
|
|
| -12 |
Dredd
From comic character Judge Dredd
|
|
| -12 |
Zach
Hebrew name meaning “pure”
|
|
| -13 |
Argus
Greek name meaning “bright”; good for white or light-colored Staffies
|
|
| -13 |
Popeye
From cartoon character of the same name
|
|
| -13 |
Walter
German name meaning “ruler of the army”
|
|
| -17 |
Clark
From comic character Clark Kent aka Superman
|
|
| -19 |
Gaius
Latin name meaning “to rejoice”
|
Female Staffordshire Bull Terrier Dog Names
| Votes | Name | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| 20 |
Nyla
Arabic name meaning “winner”
|
|
| 13 |
Koda
Native American word meaning “ally” or “friend”
|
|
| 12 |
Kaia
Hawaiian name meaning “sea”; good for Staffies with a blue-ish coat
|
|
| 6 |
Ivory
A solid white material made out of animal teeth or tusks; good for white or light-colored Staffies
|
|
| 5 |
Athena
Goddess of wisdom and war in Greek mythology
|
|
| 5 |
Xena
A comic character known as the Warrior Princess
|
|
| 4 |
Coco
A French pet name
|
|
| -1 |
Leia
From fictional character Princess Leia of the Star Wars franchise
|
|
| -2 |
Chica
Spanish term meaning “small girl”; a funny, ironic name for a female Staffie
|
|
| -3 |
Empress
Female ruler with great power
|
|
| -3 |
Fleur
French term meaning “flower”
|
|
| -3 |
Poppet
A British slang term referring to a sweet, little girl
|
|
| -3 |
Artemis
Greek goddess of the hunt and twin sister of Apollo
|
|
| -3 |
Lana
Gaelic name meaning “little rock”
|
|
| -4 |
Ebony
A kind of black hardwood; good for dark-colored Staffies
|
|
| -4 |
Siren
A type of femme fatale in Greek mythology; good for Staffies with a sweet bark
|
|
| -5 |
Pandora
Greek name meaning “bearer of all gifts”
|
|
| -6 |
Callisto
Greek name meaning “most beautiful one”
|
|
| -7 |
Nyx
Greek goddess of the night; good for dark-colored Staffies
|
|
| -8 |
Honey
A kind of sugar-like food substance; good for sweet Staffies that are brownish in color
|
|
| -8 |
Gertie
German name meaning “strong spear”
|
|
| -8 |
Psyche
Goddess of soul in Greek mythology who completed impossible tasks to win back her husband, Eros; good for loyal Staffies
|
|
| -8 |
Mulan
From Disney character of the same name
|
|
| -8 |
Matilda
German name meaning “strong in battle”
|
|
| -8 |
Lakin
African-American name meaning “found treasure”
|
|
| -10 |
Joan
From historical figure Joan of Arc
|
|
| -12 |
Helen
A Greek mythology character known as “the face that launched a thousand ships”; good for Staffie showdogs
|
|
| -14 |
Pax
Latin term meaning “peace”; also pertains to the Roman goddess of peace
|
|
| -18 |
Miranda
Latin name meaning “worthy of admiration”
|
|
| -20 |
Sundance
A native dance performed to honor the sun and to show bravery
|
Written by a Shiba Inu lover Pam Gueco
Published: 01/26/2018, edited: 01/03/2024
More articles by Pam Gueco
Community Dogs with Staffordshire Bull Terrier Names
Named after Prince Naseem Hamed boxer.
I had her name picked out before I met her
My female staffy had puppy's and tank was the first born he was really big a fatty and out the litter of 9 he was always the biggest and even today at 4 years old he's still the biggest but he has a loving caring nature and thinks he's my baby still
He is named it because he had lts of ptches on him when he was a pup The white one on the photo
PPPIINKY is named holly because we like the name PPPIINKY.
PPPIINKY is named holly because we like the name PPPIINKY.
Gemma means "jewel" or "gem",and she certainly is our precious gem- so the name just fit like a puppy glove!
We wanted a name that represent a brightful night with all the stars and the shinning moon for our little puppy and I came with "Nyx", the goddess of the night. I needed something powerful and poetic, juste like her. Actually she's kind of scared in the dark lol.
He is gray like the colour of a blade of a butchers knife
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