🏷️ Dog Breeds · 📅 Updated November 2, 2026 · ✍️ By Riley Fox · ⏱ 10 min read
"Dachshund" means "badger dog" in German. A dog brave enough to chase a badger underground deserves a name with some character.
The most popular Dachshund names of 2025 were Gus, Fritz, Heidi, Otto, and Frank, according to Rover's data from U.S. pet parents. German names dominate the list, which makes sense for one of the most German breeds there is. The Dachshund is also on a roll: it ranked No. 5 in the AKC's 2025 rankings, back in the top five for the first time in more than two decades.
This guide covers 130+ Dachshund names: the real top 20, German names with meanings, names by coat type and color, names from famous Dachshunds, and bold names for a dog with big-dog energy.
🐾 The Dachshund at a glance
Dachshunds come in two sizes and three coat types, and each combination can inspire a different name:
| Name meaning | "Badger dog" (Dachs = badger, Hund = dog) |
| AKC popularity | No. 5 of all breeds in 2025 |
| Sizes | Standard: 16–32 lb · Miniature: 11 lb or less |
| Coat types | Smooth (most common), longhaired, and wirehaired |
| Life expectancy | 12–16 years |
| Temperament | Clever, funny, mischievous, and a little reserved with strangers |
Size, coat, life expectancy, and temperament from Chewy's Dachshund breed guide.
🏆 The top 20 Dachshund names of 2025
Rover's ranking for the breed is a mix of German classics, sausage jokes, and everyday favorites:
- Gus
- Fritz
- Heidi
- Otto
- Frank
- Greta
- Max
- Bruno
- Liesl
- Leo
- Slinky
- Dachs
- Coco
- Rudy
- Mitzi
- Oskar
- Freya
- Winston
- Willow
- Pepper
Notice how many of these are German: Fritz, Heidi, Otto, Greta, Liesl, Mitzi, and Oskar all made the top 20. Even "Dachs," the German word for badger, made the list at No. 12.
🇩🇪 German names and their meanings
Dachshunds were developed in Germany to hunt badgers, so German names are a natural fit. Here are the classics, with what they mean:
Fritz
"Peaceful ruler." Short for Friedrich, and No. 2 in 2025.
Otto
"Wealth." Round, friendly, and very German.
Gus
Short for Gustav or August. 2025's No. 1.
Oskar
The German spelling of Oscar. Classic and charming.
Rudy
Short for Rudolf, "famous wolf." Bold for a little dog.
Heidi
"Noble." A warm classic, No. 3 in 2025.
Greta
"Pearl." Elegant and easy to call.
Liesl
A sweet form of Elisabeth, made famous by The Sound of Music.
Mitzi
A playful German-Austrian nickname for Maria.
German endearments work beautifully for such a cuddly breed: Schatzi ("little treasure"), Liebling ("darling"), and Knödel ("dumpling").
✨ Names by coat type
Smooth, longhaired, and wirehaired Dachshunds look like three different dogs, so their names can too.
Smooth
Sleek, shiny, and the classic look.
Velvet · Satin · Bullet · Slinky · Penny
Longhaired
Silky, flowing, and a little glamorous.
Willow · Silky · Fluffy · Duchess · Winston
Wirehaired
Scruffy beard, bushy eyebrows, old-professor energy.
Scruffy · Bristle · Professor · Einstein · Wolfie
🎨 Names by coat color
Dachshunds come in an impressive range of colors and patterns, from classic red to dapple and "wild boar," a grizzled mix of dark-tipped hairs.
| Coat | Name ideas |
|---|---|
| Red | Penny, Copper, Rusty, Ginger, Cinnamon |
| Black and tan | Shadow, Bandit, Tux, Klaus |
| Chocolate and tan | Cocoa, Nutmeg, Truffle, Hershey |
| Cream | Latte, Biscuit, Butter, Honey |
| Dapple | Dapple, Domino, Freckles, Pepper |
| Wild boar | Badger, Smokey, Bristle, Hedge |
🏅 Names from famous Dachshunds
Dachshunds have starred at the Olympics, in art history, and in one of the most famous movie franchises ever:
Waldi
A striped Dachshund who became the first official mascot of the Summer Olympics, at Munich 1972, chosen for the breed's endurance, tenacity, and agility.
Lump
His name means "rascal" in German. Lump lived with Pablo Picasso for six years and appears in 15 of his paintings after Velázquez's Las Meninas.
Slinky
The loyal spring-bodied toy Dachshund from Toy Story, and No. 11 on Rover's 2025 list.
💪 Bold names for big-dog energy
Badgers fight back, and the dogs bred to face them underground had to be fearless. That attitude is still part of the breed, so a big, brave name fits a Dachshund better than you'd think:
Badger
Named after the very animal the breed was built to chase.
Spartacus
A gladiator in a pocket-sized body.
Titan
Equal parts accurate and hilarious.
Tank
Low, solid, and unstoppable.
Boss
Because every Dachshund already thinks it is one.
Gunner
Brave, fast, and always first out the door.
Want the funny side? Sausage puns like Frank, Oscar, Vienna, and Pretzel have their own guide: Wiener Dog Names: 66 Funny, German & Classic Ideas. For more contrast humor, see Tiny Titans & Gentle Giants.
🎓 Naming and care tips for a long-backed dog
Dachshunds are clever but famously stubborn, so make the name easy to win:
- One or two syllables for the everyday call name, as the AKC recommends. Love "Sir Schnitzel von Wiggles"? Call him Schnitz.
- Avoid command sound-alikes, like "Kit" (sit) or "Joe" (no).
- Reward every response. A stubborn hound works best for treats and praise.
One important care note: research has found that Dachshunds have an elevated risk of spinal disc disease, as Fortune notes. Ask your vet about keeping your dog at a healthy weight and using ramps for sofas and beds. For training basics, see our dog training tips.
🎲 Find more Dachshund names in the generator
Select Dog in our generator and pick a theme: Multicultural for German names like Fritz, Liesl, Rudy, Oskar, and even Waldi; Coat Color for Dapple, Nutmeg, and Copper; Food for Pretzel, Schnitzel, and Slinky; or Ironic for big names like Titan and Spartacus. Add the Brave or Playful trait to fine-tune the list.
❓ Dachshund naming FAQ
What is the most popular Dachshund name?
Gus was the most popular Dachshund name in Rover's 2025 data, followed by Fritz, Heidi, Otto, and Frank. Many of the top 20 are German names, reflecting the breed's origin.
What does "Dachshund" mean?
Dachshund means "badger dog" in German, from Dachs (badger) and Hund (dog). The breed was developed in Germany to chase badgers into their underground burrows.
What is a good German name for a Dachshund?
Popular German Dachshund names include Fritz, Otto, Oskar, and Rudy for males and Heidi, Greta, Liesl, and Mitzi for females. Schatzi, meaning "little treasure," works for either.
What is the most famous Dachshund?
Famous Dachshunds include Waldi, the first official mascot of the Summer Olympics in Munich 1972; Lump, Pablo Picasso's companion; and Slinky Dog from Toy Story.
What's the difference between "Dachshund names" and "wiener dog names"?
They're the same breed. "Wiener dog" and "sausage dog" are nicknames inspired by the Dachshund's long body. For pun-heavy ideas like Frank and Vienna, see our wiener dog names guide.
Sources
Still searching for the perfect Dachshund name?
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Riley Fox is the pen name of the independent web developer who built and runs Pet Name Generator from Campo Grande, Brazil, a tree-lined city at the edge of the Pantanal. Riley shares home with three cats, Mindinha (a tuxedo), Kuku (a Siamese) and Lelinho (an orange tabby), plus Mille, a very sociable Shih Tzu. Riley writes every naming guide and pet-care tip on the site, researching each one with veterinary and animal-welfare sources. Not a vet, just a dedicated pet parent. More on the About page.
