93 Best Horse Names

One of the toughest decisions you may have when you get a new horse is trying to find the perfect name. Maybe you want a name related to your horse’s personality, color, or a name associated with a favorite memory. When you’re competing with your horse, it gets even more complicated. You’ll probably want an impressive show name for competitions as well as a nickname for your horse. In this article, we offer some inspiration to help you name your next horse.

Personal Thoughts for Naming Your Horse

Most show horses have a show name and a barn name. Show names are often created using a combination of the horse’s bloodlines. Michelle, one of our team members here at The Farm House, has a horse named Drumfields Ellusion. (She spells it with an “e” because his sire is named Escapade, and she wanted to use the first letter of the stud’s name.) Drumfields Ellusion is the name she uses on the horse’s formal paperwork and for competition. But back at home, she calls him Lego. (After all, who is going to yell across the barn, “Drumfields Ellusion, stop chewing on your halter right now!”?) Barn names make everyday communication with your horse much easier. 

Popular Horse Names

If you want to simply choose a popular name for your horse that strikes your fancy, here are some of the most common horse names to consider.

  • Sugar
  • Cash
  • Dakota
  • Cisco
  • Spirit
  • Dusty
  • Sunshine
  • Chief
  • Dash
  • Magic
  • Jasper
  • Rebel
  • Scout
  • Gypsy
  • Star
  • Willow
  • Lucky
  • Chance

Best Horse Names by Color

Naming a horse after its coat color is another popular option and common practice since a horse’s coat color is a very visible and distinctive aspect. Here are some options.

Brown and Chestnut Horse Names

  • Cinnamon
  • Nutmeg
  • Toffee
  • Autumn
  • Brownie
  • Copper 
  • Rusty
  • Cocoa
  • Chocolate
  • Cappuccino
  • Teddy
  • Mocha

Black Horse Names

  • Ebony
  • Onyx
  • Jaguar
  • Noir

Grey Horse Names

  • Snowball
  • Pepper
  • Napoleon

Other Horse Names Related to Coat

You might also choose a name related to the pattern of your horse’s coat. For example, Freckles is a great name for a spotted horse, and Domino is a popular black and white horse name. You might see pintos named Scout, Pirate, Rembrandt, and Jigsaw, given their white and black or brown coloring. For Palomino and buckskin horses with tan coloring, Blondie is an option, and I’ve also seen other great names like Spirit, Echo, and Trapper. Some popular white horse names include Snowflake and Blizzard.

Best Horse Names by Gender

If you’re having trouble finding just the right name for your horse, consider some different horse names by gender. 

Male Horse Names

  • Tucker
  • Cody
  • Ranger
  • Franklin
  • Joey
  • Wilbur
  • Trigger
  • King

Female Horse Names

  • Bella
  • Lady
  • Rosie
  • Lucy
  • Dolly
  • Annie
  • Molly
  • Princess

Best Show Names

We’ve heard a lot of great show names over the years. For example, Lost My Sock is a horse with three white lower legs and one leg that is black. A friend of ours recently got a gray horse that she named Snowglobe, as gray horses have a tendency to like to get dirty. And one of our all-time favorites is Still Deciding! But the funniest we’ve ever heard is Don’t Tell Daddy!

A few more show names:

  • Saved the Best for Last
  • Celtic Harlequin
  • Weekend Shakeup
  • Out Like a Light
  • Ice on the Bey
  • Debutante

Take some time with this decision and have some fun. You’re going to have your horse for a long time, and you want to love the name just as much ten years from now as you do today!

Best Barn Names

Barn names are your casual name for your horse, more like a nickname. For a barn name, you want something shorter than a show name that just rolls off the tongue. It can take some time to figure out your horse’s personality, so sit on your decision for a bit to see what really fits. You might consider a shortened version of your horse’s show name, or maybe you want to choose another name entirely for the barn name. Here are some great options:

  • Sheriff
  • Blazer
  • Buckeye
  • Buck
  • Lego
  • Merlin
  • Amigo
  • Blue
  • Moxie
  • Phoenix
  • Quincy

You can even name your horse after your favorite city. Consider names like Paris, Sydney, London, or even Berlin. Or maybe you’ll choose a name you love from a favorite book, song, or artist, such as Frodo, Purple Rain, or Michelangelo.

Looking for more inspiration? Check out our list of 28 Famous Horse Names

Nothing will ever come close to your relationship with your horse. You’ll spend a lot of time together, both in and out of the show ring. Choosing your horse’s name is also a reflection of your relationship with your horse. Get creative and have some fun!

No matter what name you choose for your horse, The Farm House has everything you need to care for your new friend. From grooming supplies to saddles, we offer a collection of customer-loved and staff-tested products that will serve your horse well. Explore ourfull collection of horse tack, and if you have questions about any of the tack we carry, give us a call at 864-457-3557. We’re always glad to help!


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27 Responses

anna
anna

September 11, 2023

help me name my new baby poni and we got cinnamon

Fudayl
Fudayl

August 29, 2023

I have a few horses that fit perfectly into some of these names so I choose Cinnamon, Mocha, Snowball, Jaguar, Spirit

Max
Max

July 31, 2023

I named my horse Suskina

Ainsley
Ainsley

July 19, 2023

i love those names so much, and i am trying to get a horse and those were great suggestions

Alice
Alice

July 19, 2023

I got cinnamon and scout thanks so much for this app

Henzley
Henzley

July 19, 2023

Absolutely love the name sugar

Isabel
Isabel

July 19, 2023

Love this. It is great for the game horse riding tales. Game is highly recommend and this is perfect

Abigail
Abigail

June 05, 2023

Thanks for this I really like Annabella for my new horse 🐴❤️ she is a chestnut.

Ava Geier
Ava Geier

May 31, 2023

Thanks a lot this was so helpful

Mikayla
Mikayla

May 31, 2023

I Named My horse CowGirl,Banjo,Whisky,Black Beauty,and Walion

Fred LeBlanc
Fred LeBlanc

May 18, 2023

This was so helpful! I came up with only a few, Koda, Balloo, Major, Tucker, Spade, and Charm.💗🐴

Tayla
Tayla

May 18, 2023

I still didn’t find a name for my horse yet please help me

Trissa
Trissa

April 19, 2023

I love the name trigger I named my horse that is the best name ever thank you so much.

clover
clover

April 19, 2023

Ty for this I rlly loved princess and blue

Reggie
Reggie

March 15, 2023

I like the Name and I have a horse named reggae

avap
avap

March 12, 2023

my favourite names are; (for stallion, probably a chestnut) Rooster! i love the idea of naming animals after other animals, and i love rooster for a horse. a nickname would be “roose.” for a mare i would go Pandora, so elegant right? and a nickname would be “panda”

Lina Ahmouda
Lina Ahmouda

March 12, 2023

I found one from a serie raven is a good name I think

Olivia
Olivia

March 12, 2023

This really is helpful when looking for horse names thank you!

Harley
Harley

March 01, 2023

OMG where having Foals! im thinking Phoenix and Trigger THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

Olivia
Olivia

February 27, 2023

This really is helpful when looking for horse names thank you!

Emma butler
Emma butler

February 23, 2023

But I did really liked the names Phoenix and Chance

Emma butler
Emma butler

February 23, 2023

Thanks this really helped but I think I am going to stick with the name I have in mind.

Carter Hefley
Carter Hefley

January 23, 2023

I found it BUCKEYE

Kylie
Kylie

January 23, 2023

I wrote down a bunch of these names for my horses so whenever one of them needs to name. I can go through the list and see which one fits the horse perfectly

Thomas Billiman
Thomas Billiman

December 15, 2022

Thanks for the horse 🐴 names I found one SCOUT and AMIGO

Amiee Rohman
Amiee Rohman

November 30, 2022

This helped me choose the name for my new bay Newforest. I chose Cinnamon

Janoeheb
Janoeheb

August 18, 2022

The name should be ACICIA LOG

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