100 Royal Pet Names from the Tudor Court (with meanings)

Before you order a Renaissance portrait of your pet, you might consider giving them a Renaissance name — even just for the portrait's nameplate. The Tudor court (1485-1603) produced some of history's most evocative names. Below is a curated list of 100, sorted by type and energy. Italics indicate the historical person, dog, or cat the name belonged to.

Names from the Tudor Royal Family

• Henry — for a dignified, slightly imperious dog. Best suited to large breeds. (Henry VIII, who reportedly kept hunting spaniels and greyhounds)
• Anne — graceful, watchful, intelligent. Perfect for a quietly observant cat. (Anne Boleyn, who owned a small spaniel named Pourquoi)
• Bessie — warm, affectionate, beloved. (Elizabeth I's childhood nickname)
• Mary — steadfast, calm. (Mary Tudor)
• Edward — young, sweet-natured, slightly fragile. (Edward VI)

Names from Tudor-era court figures

• Wolsey — clever, ambitious, slightly mischievous. (Cardinal Thomas Wolsey)
• More — wise, principled, gentle. (Thomas More)
• Cromwell — strategic, sharp-eyed. (Thomas Cromwell)
• Cecil — quiet, organized, loyal. (William Cecil, Baron Burghley)
• Walsingham — alert, slightly suspicious. (Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth I's spymaster)

Names from actual Tudor pets

• Pourquoi— Anne Boleyn's spaniel. French for “why,” reportedly chosen because Anne asked the question often.
• Crab — Shakespeare's reference to a dog in Two Gentlemen of Verona. Mischievous and beloved.
• Boy— Prince Rupert of the Rhine's famous white poodle, who was rumored to be magical and accompanied him to battle.

Honorifics and titles

Don't want to change your pet's actual name? Add a Tudor honorific to the portrait nameplate:

• Sir [name] — for a male dog or cat. Works particularly well for protector breeds.
• Lady [name] — for a female. Conveys gentle, refined energy.
• Lord [name] of [your city] — landed gentry energy. Works for any pet who acts like they own the house.
• Dame [name] — for an older female pet of distinguished character.
• The Right Honourable [name] — for the truly pompous. Especially good for cats.

When you order a portrait, you can specify the nameplate text. We recommend keeping it to two lines: the honorific and name on the first, the “dates of office” (birth year onwards) on the second.