It is very surprising to know that Dog has more than 20 names in Sanskrit! To be frank, I also did not know about them, and came to know only when I thought of creating this post.
Many of them are based on the unique qualities that this ‘best friend of man’ possesses. You will be surprised to know the literal meaning of these names.
Some of course have their etymological origin as the words have in any language.
I have tried to provide the literal meaning of some of these names too but I could not get all the meanings. I have also provided the transliteration in English language so that people who can’t read or understand Devnagiri script could easily know these Sanskrit names of a dog.
If you would like to provide feedback or suggest any meaning, please feel free to write through the comment section.
| Sanskrit (Devnagiri) | English (Transliteration) | Literal Meaning |
| श्वा | Śvā | |
| श्वन् | Śvan | |
| कुक्कुरः | Kukkuraḥ | |
| कुकुरः | Kukuraḥ | |
| शुनकः | Śunakaḥ | |
| भषकः | Bhaṣakaḥ | |
| मृगदशकः | Mṛgadaśakaḥ | |
| वक्रपुच्छः | Vakrapucchaḥ | Whose tail is distorted |
| वक्रबालधिः | Vakrabāladhiḥ | |
| ललजिव्हः | Lalajivhaḥ | Whose tongue is lolling |
| जिव्हालिट् | Jivhāliṭ | |
| वृकारिः | Vṛkāriḥ | |
| ग्रामसिंहः | Grāmsiṁhaḥ | Village lion |
| शीघ्रचेतनः | Śīghracetanaḥ | Who awakes early |
| रात्रिजागरः | Rātrijāgaraḥ | Who keeps awake during night |
| कृतज्ञः | Kṛtajñaḥ | Who is grateful |
| सारमेयः | Sārmeyaḥ | |
| वान्तादः | Vāntādaḥ | |
| शरत्कामी | Śaratkāmī | |
| शवकाम्यः | Śavakāmyaḥ | |
| कौलेयकः | Kouleyakaḥ |