24 Playful Pups Named After their Pawrents’ Favorite Video Game Characters

Author image for Laurent Shinar
Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Jan 21, 2026 3:00 PM EST

You might have thought that naming a pupper is a piece of pie, but once you take a look at these complex and convoluted canine names you will most certainly challenge that pawspetive. Doggo naming traditions just got turned on their head.

More than ever in all of our history we are spending extravagant amounts of time on our gaming consoles. Playing storyline based games that take up several evenings if not weeks or even months of our lives. So it is only natural that these games would start to influence things in our life. Perhaps causing us to be a t-shirt we would not have considered in the past or even a themed mouse mat.

But much to our surprise these games have gone as far as influencing what we name our canine children and we have to say we are a little lost of words. So instead of words we made this list so that you can see what has become socially acceptable in the arena of dog names in 2026. It can only get more outlandish from here on out and we are here for the carnage. So kick back and enjoy the madness.

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  • 01
    This is Faendal. He's named after the elven archery trainer from Skyrim.
    via itskatybro

  • And well, we have to agree that this cute canine certainly lives up to his namesake. You can see him, in this exact field holding a bow to his brow. Looking off into the distance with focus and ferocity, locked into his target. A fresh breeze making his ears wriggle in the wind. Ok, we will cop to it, we do not really know what Skyrim is like, but what we do know is that this doggo has got a proper Scooby Doo vibe to him and it is truly a missed opportunity. There are not too many doggos who really give off that mystery gang vibe, so it really is a missed opportunity. But who are we to argue with this doggo’s pawrents and their naming wisdom.

  • 02
    Zelda <3
    via itskatybro
  • 03
    Princess Zelda.
    via itskatybro
  • 04
    Moxxi (Borderlands)- her daddy has helped make the game from the beginning
    via itskatybro
  • 05
    Dutch (or rather DuuUUUUuuUuUUUUUtch, whats the plan DuuuuUUuuuUUuuuttchhh?!?!)
    via itskatybro
  • 06
    This is Princess Kairi. From Kingdom Hearts.
    via itskatybro
  • 07
    This is Elwynn. As in Elwynn Forest at the front gates of Stormwind in World of Warcraft.
    via itskatybro
  • 08
    Crash when he was a wee-lad, named after Crash Bandicoot. We had no idea how accurate the name was going to become
    via itskatybro

  • It is often said that the name which a pawrent bestows upon their canine child is what that dog will grow up to inhabit and fulfil. So you know if you were to name your dog Champ, or Ace you could expect great things from them. But if you decided in your infinite or shall we say very finite wisdom to call them something like Crash, well, you have set yourself up. We can only hope that there was nothing fragile in that home.

  • 09
    This is Gimli (the German Shepherd) and Zelda (Australian Shepherd). They've both passed, but they lived good long lives and we love them. Now we have Elwynn (pictured elsewhere in this post). We do all video game names in our house. Correction: Not all video game names, but I guess more fantasy fiction names. Though we often land on video game names.
    via itskatybro
  • 10
    Another Zelda in the threads
    via itskatybro
  • 11
    Maybe not solely a video game but has been in video games, but this is Poe Dameron.
    via itskatybro
  • 12
    Axel, (not Axl Rose from Guns n Roses) but named after the Axel from Kingdom Hearts series
    via itskatybro
  • 13
    His name was dog meat, and he was the very best boy.
    via itskatybro
  • 14
    Lulu (Purple collar) Final Fantasy 8
    via itskatybro
  • 15
    My Gunner (Fallout)
    via itskatybro
  • 16
    This is Rocky Boo. The Boo part of his name was inspired by Boo from Mario. When we first got him, he only came out of his hiding place when you'd turn around and walk away. Once we did, he'd come out and follow us lol. But if you turned back around to look, he would run away and hide again. Hence, the Boo part of his name.
    via itskatybro
  • 17
    This is Spyro
    via itskatybro
  • 18
    The late great Bowser, named after the villain in the Mario games. RIP G www
    via itskatybro
  • 19
    Hoi, am Temmie! (Undertale)
    via itskatybro
  • 20
    Shadow which ended up being perfect fit since he literally shadows your every move
    via itskatybro
  • 21
    Luffy after the anime One Piece
    via itskatybro
  • 22
    He crossed the rainbow bridge in 2021 but here is my Yoshi
    via itskatybro
  • 23
    Max. Max Payne.
    via itskatybro
  • 24
    My boy Sekiro :)
    via itskatybro

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pups dog photos funny dogs favorite characters pawrents playful video games Video name
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