Horse Illustrated Magazine

The purchase, birth, or adoption of a new horse is always an exciting time in the life of a horse enthusiast. If your horse isn’t already named, choosing the perfect moniker is one of your first decisions and one of the most important, too!

Need inspiration? See our list of 124 best horse names >>

Many of today’s horse owners wish to find a name that truly fits their horse’s individual personality or appearance. Yet with literally thousands of possibilities, it isn’t always easy to decide on the best name for your equine companion.
Consider the following points:

• • Heritage: Choosing a name that reflects your horse’s heritage often provides interesting options. For instance, selecting a name with Swedish roots—like “Freya” or “Nils”—for your Swedish Warmblood is a great way to honor the origin of your horse’s breed. Or go the Frozen route and name your Norwegian Fjord “Olaf.”
    
    Your horse’s pedigree can also provide suggestions and ideas. Honor one of your horse’s ancestors by using a related version of the name or a name with a similar theme. When I needed a barn name for my Welsh filly six years ago, I considered dozens of possibilities before settling on “Cadi”, inspired by the name of my filly’s great-great-great-great-grand-dam.

• • Multiple horse situations: Ideally, your horse should have a name that is distinctive from the other horses that reside at your barn. On the other hand—it can be fun if the names complement each other or involve a specific theme. For example, “Maggie” and “Murphy” are similar without sounding too much alike, whereas “Bess” and “Beth” are practically identical and might cause confusion. While it will probably be quite easy for you and your family to tell the names (and horses) apart, stable managers and others around the barn may get confused by a pair of horses with names like “Charm” and “Champ.”

• • Breed registry restrictions: Many breed registries have rules and regulations regarding the names of horses. For example, the Welsh Pony and Cob Society of America limits registered names to 30 characters, and The Jockey Club has a lengthy list of criteria for names (see this link). The American Trakehner Association requires that a purebred horse’s name must begin with the same letter as its dam. Always consider registry regulations when naming your horse so you don’t get your heart set on a name that you can’t use.

• Registered names vs. barn names: Should they be connected in some way? Or can the barn name be completely separate and unrelated to the registered name? In all practicality, you can go either way. Sometimes a registered name automatically lends itself to a barn name, such as a horse named “Yellow Jacket” but called “Jack”—and sometimes it doesn’t, such as a horse named “Miracle Maker” but called “Willie.”

These tips should get you started on a long, happy journey with your newly named horse. A beautiful, well-suited name is the perfect gift for your beloved equine companion.

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