The Shih Tzu is an ancient breed that hails from China, where they were lap dogs to royalty and emperors. When you bring home a dog with such auspicious beginnings, they deserve a fitting name.

If you have drawn a blank trying to find the perfect name for your new bundle of love, look no further than this extensive list of great Shih Tzu names.

Hopefully, as you browse these names, you will find the one that is perfect for your new pup!

How to Pick the Perfect Shih Tzu Name

Many pet owners use their dog’s appearance to think of a name. This can include their color or coat pattern or something unique about their size and shape.

You can also look at your favorite authors, actors, musicians, or other celebrities. If you admire a character in a book or TV show, you can use their name or a similar one that you find inspiring. If your Shih Tzu has a quirk or a distinctive personality trait, this can lead to a fun name.

You can even use your Shih Tzu’s quirky traits and personality combined with another source, such as video game characters or food.

Shih Tzu Colors

Shih Tzus come in a fairly wide variety of colors, so let us go over these before diving into all the names. They might give you a few ideas.

Certain Shih Tzus also have a black mask, which could give you an idea for a name. Think about fictional characters famous for wearing a black mask, such as Zorro, Batman, and Darth Vader.

Female Shih Tzu Names

If you have a female Shih Tzu, there are many feminine names for you to consider. Some of these can be shortened (like Josephine into Josie), and we included famous women from history here too. Hopefully, one of these will suit your female Shih Tzu!

Male Shih Tzu Names

If you have a male Shih Tzu and would like to give him a typical boy’s name, take a look through these names. Many of these can be shortened, and we also included a few historically famous men.

Genderless Shih Tzu Names

If you don’t feel like giving your Shih Tzu a male or female name and would prefer a gender-neutral name, here are interesting ones:

Shih Tzu Names Based on Food and Drinks

Using food and drinks to name your new dog can be a great way to capitalize on your Shih Tzu’s color or personality. These names can be ironic or just silly.

Names Based on Food

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Names Based on Drinks

Shih Tzu Names Based on Colors

If your Shih Tzu is black, there are quite a number of colors that mean black. The same principle goes for all the other colors. Some of these are just different names for the color, and others are things that most people associate with the color. There is overlap with other themes, so you’ll find a few foods here too.

Black

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Blue

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White/Silver

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Brown

Shih Tzu Names Based on Mythology

Many of these names are from Greek mythology, but there are also a few from other mythologies, including Chinese mythology, which would be quite appropriate for the Shih Tzu. Read through your favorite mythology stories for more ideas if the right one isn’t here.

Shih Tzu Names Based on Fictional Characters

This is a short list of fictional characters—there are just far too many to list here! If you don’t like any of these names, we hope that it has at least given you more ideas of what to look for.

Use Your Imagination!

Naming your Shih Tzu doesn’t need to be complicated. Try saying the names out loud when you believe that you have narrowed the choice down to one or a few.

Even better, try calling the name like you would call your dog in the backyard. Does one of the names sound better than the others? Does it feel embarrassing?

You can also give your Shih Tzu an honorific or title for fun. Tack on one of the following to your dog’s name, and it can add something special!

Conclusion

These Shih Tzu names are just a drop in the bucket compared to the multitude of names out there. While that might sound daunting, just remember to focus on how your dog looks, what color they are, and even what kind of personality they have.

Pick up a thesaurus to look up other words that can describe your Shih Tzu’s color (like Ruby if your dog is reddish) or temperament (like Whimsy). Once you’ve hit on the right name, you’ll know it immediately, and it should be as unique as you and your Shih Tzu!

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Featured Image Credit: Pattarit S, Shutterstock