200+ Literary Names from the Bard

If you’re a book lover—or just appreciate a dramatic flair—Shakespearean names can give your dog a touch of timeless charm. Whether your pup is noble and brave, mischievous and clever, romantic and dreamy, or delightfully dramatic, there’s a name in the works of William Shakespeare to match.

Below you’ll find more than 200 Shakespeare-inspired dog names drawn from heroes, heroines, villains, clowns, royalty, magical beings, and even a few famous places—each with a brief meaning or description to help you choose the perfect fit. And, for those who like comedy with their Shakespeare, we’ve thrown in some Shakespeare puns you might consider.

There’s something especially delightful about giving a dog a grand Shakespearean name — only to watch them immediately roll in the grass.

Shakespeare Pun Names

Shakespeare is a gold mine for clever wordplay. Here are a few puns for lovers of the Bard.

• Shakespaw
• Shakespup
• Shakesfur
• William Shakespaw
• Willie Wag-speare
• Barkiam Shakespeare
• MacBark
• Lady MacBark
• The Bardog
• Bardolfo
• Stratfur-on-Avon

Famous Shakespearean Heroes & Heroines

• Hamlet: prince of Denmark in Hamlet
• Ophelia: tragic heroine of Hamlet
• Romeo: romantic hero of Romeo and Juliet
• Juliet: devoted heroine of Romeo and Juliet
• Macbeth: ambitious Scottish lord
• Lady Macbeth: powerful and persuasive noblewoman
• Othello: Moorish general of Venice
• Desdemona: loyal wife of Othello
• Cordelia: honest daughter in King Lear
• Lear: aging king in King Lear
• Prospero: magician duke in The Tempest
• Miranda: gentle daughter in The Tempest
• Perdita: lost princess in The Winter’s Tale
• Orlando: romantic hero of As You Like It
• Rosalind: witty heroine of As You Like It
• Viola: resourceful heroine of Twelfth Night
• Sebastian: Viola’s twin brother
• Beatrice: sharp-tongued heroine of Much Ado About Nothing
• Benedick: witty bachelor in Much Ado About Nothing
• Cymbeline: British king in Cymbeline
• Imogen: devoted heroine of Cymbeline
• Helena: determined lover in All’s Well That Ends Well
• Bertram: count in All’s Well That Ends Well
• Isabella: virtuous heroine in Measure for Measure
• Claudio: romantic soldier in Much Ado About Nothing

Royal & Noble Names

• Henry: several English kings in Shakespeare’s histories
• Richard: king in Richard III
• Edward: royal name in multiple histories
• Clarence: noble title in Richard III
• Margaret: queen in Henry VI
• Anne: Lady Anne in Richard III
• Duncan: king in Macbeth
• Malcolm: prince in Macbeth
• Catherine: queen in Henry V
• Hotspur: fiery nobleman in Henry IV
• Gloucester: noble title in several plays
• York: royal house in the history plays
• Somerset: noble house name
• Buckingham: duke in Richard III
• Norfolk: English noble title
• Brutus: Roman senator in Julius Caesar
• Cassius: conspirator in Julius Caesar
• Octavius: future emperor in Julius Caesar
• Antony: Roman leader in Antony and Cleopatra
• Cleopatra: queen of Egypt

Villains & Dramatic Characters

• Iago: manipulative villain in Othello
• Shylock: moneylender in The Merchant of Venice
• Tybalt: hot-tempered cousin in Romeo and Juliet
• Goneril: ambitious daughter in King Lear
• Regan: scheming daughter in King Lear
• Claudius: king in Hamlet
• Polonius: advisor in Hamlet
• Edmund: schemer in King Lear
• Aaron: villain in Titus Andronicus
• Caliban: wild island inhabitant in The Tempest
• Don John: antagonist in Much Ado About Nothing
• Volumnia: proud mother in Coriolanus
• Coriolanus: Roman general

Comedic & Lighthearted Names

• Puck: mischievous fairy in A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Bottom: comic weaver in A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Titania: fairy queen
• Oberon: fairy king
• Feste: clever fool in Twelfth Night
• Touchstone: witty fool in As You Like It
• Dogberry: bumbling constable in Much Ado About Nothing
• Bardolph: companion of Falstaff
• Falstaff: comedic knight
• Launce: servant in Two Gentlemen of Verona
• Speed: servant in Two Gentlemen of Verona
• Autolycus: rogue in The Winter’s Tale
• Trinculo: jester in The Tempest
• Stephano: comic character in The Tempest
• Fluellen: quirky captain in Henry V

Romantic & Poetic Names

• Ariel: airy spirit in The Tempest
• Cressida: heroine of Troilus and Cressida
• Troilus: Trojan prince
• Hero: romantic lead in Much Ado About Nothing
• Valentine: lover in Two Gentlemen of Verona
• Silvia: beloved in Two Gentlemen of Verona
• Lysander: lover in A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Hermia: romantic heroine
• Demetrius: suitor in A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Helena: romantic heroine
• Juliana: feminine variation of Juliet
• Portia: clever heroine in The Merchant of Venice
• Bassanio: suitor in The Merchant of Venice
• Jessica: daughter in The Merchant of Venice
• Orsino: lovesick duke in Twelfth Night

Roman & Historical Names

• Caesar: Roman ruler in Julius Caesar
• Cinna: conspirator in Julius Caesar
• Lepidus: Roman leader
• Pompey: Roman general
• Horatio: loyal friend in Hamlet
• Marcellus: guard in Hamlet
• Lucius: son in Julius Caesar
• Flavius: tribune in Julius Caesar
• Agrippa: Roman general
• Enobarbus: soldier in Antony and Cleopatra

Place Names from Shakespeare

• Verona: city of Romeo and Juliet
• Venice: setting of The Merchant of Venice
• Athens: setting of A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Illyria: setting of Twelfth Night
• Denmark: setting of Hamlet
• Scotland: setting of Macbeth
• France: location in several plays
• Navarre: kingdom in Love’s Labour’s Lost
• Bohemia: setting of The Winter’s Tale
• Windsor: setting of The Merry Wives of Windsor

Additional Shakespearean Character Names

• Angelo: official in Measure for Measure
• Escalus: judge in Measure for Measure
• Mariana: devoted woman in Measure for Measure
• Lucio: witty gentleman
• Benvolio: peace-loving cousin in Romeo and Juliet
• Mercutio: witty friend in Romeo and Juliet
• Paris: suitor in Romeo and Juliet
• Friar: mentor figure
• Gratiano: friend in The Merchant of Venice
• Nerissa: Portia’s companion
• Rosencrantz: courtier in Hamlet
• Guildenstern: courtier in Hamlet
• Osric: courtier in Hamlet
• Laertes: son of Polonius
• Fortinbras: prince of Norway
• Kent: loyal nobleman in King Lear
• Oswald: steward in King Lear
• Tamora: queen in Titus Andronicus
• Lavina: daughter in Titus Andronicus
• Bianca: character in Othello and Taming of the Shrew
• Petruchio: suitor in The Taming of the Shrew
• Katherina: strong-willed heroine
• Hortensio: suitor in The Taming of the Shrew
• Lucentio: romantic lead
• Tranio: clever servant
• Pandarus: matchmaker in Troilus and Cressida
• Theseus: duke in A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Hippolyta: queen of the Amazons
• Egeus: father in A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• Adriana: wife in The Comedy of Errors
• Antipholus: twin brothers in The Comedy of Errors
• Dromio: comic twin servants
• Sebastian: twin in Twelfth Night
• Olivia: countess in Twelfth Night
• Antonio: friend in multiple plays
• Sebastiana: feminine variation
• Montague: Romeo’s family name
• Capulet: Juliet’s family name
• Plantagenet: royal house name
• Westmoreland: noble in Henry IV
• Seyton: attendant in Macbeth
• Banquo: nobleman in Macbeth
• Ferdinand: prince in The Tempest
• Stephania: feminine variation of Stephano
• Valeria: noblewoman in Coriolanus
• Luciana: sister in The Comedy of Errors
• Belarius: lord in Cymbeline
• Cloten: foolish nobleman
• Marina: heroine in Pericles
• Pericles: prince in Pericles
• Thaisa: queen in Pericles
• Camillo: lord in The Winter’s Tale
• Leontes: king in The Winter’s Tale
• Paulina: noblewoman in The Winter’s Tale
• Florizel: prince in The Winter’s Tale

Shakespearean names are timeless, dramatic, romantic, and sometimes delightfully mischievous—just like many of our dogs. Whether your pup is noble like Henry, playful like Puck, fierce like Tybalt, or loyal like Horatio, there’s a Bard-inspired name waiting to take center stage in your home.

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Paris Permenter is the award-winning author of over 30 pet and travel books and 2000 magazine articles for publishers ranging from Reader’s Digest to Simon and Schuster. Paris is a certified canine enrichment specialist with a focus on enriching your daily dog walks.

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