A quizzical look though our list of hound names.
There’s an art to naming hounds — part tradition, part inspiration, and part “what on earth were we thinking?”
Some years ago, I was once assured that it was an ‘absolute unwritten rule’ that every hound in every pack should be given a two-syllable name by the huntsman to make it easy to remember. I was then asked, “What is this nice young pup called?” “Antimony” I replied.
With over 7000 names in our free to use hound list (https://bailyshuntingdirectory.com/hound-name-selector) with more to come, we appreciate that the names given to a working pack are more than just labels; they’re single-word portraits, capturing a flash of a hound’s heritage, personality, perhaps a memory from a day in the field, or sometimes, just the first word that popped into a Master’s head after a particularly long lunch solving a frustrating crossword clue. They can be said to weave the very fabric of the pack’s history, whispered on the wind across the countryside.
From the centuries-old lineage of names like Ponder and Fidelity to some wonderfully unexpected modern twists, a hound’s name is the first clue to its character. The twenty names below are taken from our listing and are some of those that made us smile, snort, or seriously wonder what captivating story lies behind them, which is perhaps a question for whomever gave Lord Bentinck’s hounds the ‘politically incorrect’ monikers of ‘Tosspot’ and ‘Toilet’!
Here are another twenty names from our list that have at times made us smile, snort, or wonder what story lies behind them.
The Comedians and the Characters
These are the hounds whose names practically write the jokes themselves:
- Scrambler sounds like he’s never quite sure which direction to go — uphill, downhill, or just headlong through the hedge and over the hidden wall. A true master of the unexpected detour.
- Chaplin, clearly the Joker (Yes, we have one of those) of the pack, a hound that probably can’t resist a bit of slapstick in the kennel yard, tripping over his own feet or stealing the kennelman’s handkerchief.
- Arsenic — every Master’s nightmare and every Whipper-in’s favourite challenge. You just know this one has an extra dash of mischief. Handle with gloves, and possibly a long lead.
- Targeteer must have been named by an optimist, an amateur whip with a day job in statistics — or perhaps a hound with a knack for knocking things over rather than actually hitting the intended mark. A specialist in collateral damage.
- Fuchsia, delightfully pink in name if not in nature, likely brings a literal splash of colour to the field.
- Estimate — possibly named after what the feed bill might be next month after a particularly enthusiastic run.
- Cormorant, ever hungry, known for his bottomless appetite and talent for pinching sandwiches right out of a Master’s saddlebag. If food goes missing, look no further.
The Exotics and the Unexpected
A nod to the worldly, the grand, and occasional simply baffling choices:
- Tapenades — continental, sophisticated, and probably refuses to run in the rain. We imagine this hound only responds to commands given in French and only drinks sparkling mineral water.
- Starfish — we can only assume someone had a very memorable seaside holiday before naming that litter. Perhaps he lies belly-up for extended periods engaged in contemplation.
- Tarboush, exotic and dignified, perhaps the one hound who manages to look noble while completely covered in mud, whilst giving off an air of refined disapproval.
- Platt, short, punchy, and impossible to shout three fields away without sounding like a tractor misfire. The kind of name that makes you glad you can delegate calling it to the new Whipper-in.
- Azrael, the Angel of Death in canine form, or just a softie who snores so loudly he can wake the entire kennel block, much like his brother Demon.
The Dependables and the Dignified
The names that speak of steadfastness, hard work, and good manners (mostly):
- Fieldfare suggests refinement and birdlike grace, though we suspect he rolls in the same appalling puddles as the rest, shedding his dignity the moment he hits the grass.
- Carter, the hard-working dependable soul . A non-commissioned officer who actually gets the job done, never complains, and is always found right where you need him. A pack pillar.
- Bugler — who, if he’s true to his name, can’t resist making a noise at entirely the wrong moment, usually just as the Master is trying to have a very serious discussion.
- Rector, serious, steady, and earnestly believes he’s in charge of moral guidance for the whole pack, issuing silent, judgmental stares to any younger hound misbehaving.
- Lewis, every pack’s solid all-rounder — the hound equivalent of a dependable junior officer with a steady gait, good manners, and an infallible memory for the best pubs on the route home.
- Audrey, always perfectly charming, with a lovely gait and sweet face, until she finds something absolutely revolting to roll in, and thus delights in ruining the picture of canine elegance.
- Caleb, loyal and good-natured, the chap everyone secretly loves best, often found leaning against a leg human or table our Caleb is not fussy, asking for an ear scratch with his soft, earnest gaze.
- Envy, because sometimes the best-looking hound in the pack just is, and the name acknowledges the quiet resentment of his less photogenic kennel mates.
A Story in Every Syllable
Every single name in a working pack is a small vessel of history. It’s the moment a name is spoken, and over two hundred years of tradition echoes, even when that tradition is interrupted by a hound named Knucklehead (a Basset, just in case you wondered). They are testament to the wit, the warmth, and the long relationship between humans and the hounds who share their lives. Each of these names tells a story — of humour, heritage, and the sheer, unending joy of being with hounds who make us laugh as often as they make us proud.
Please let us know what is the most unusual or funniest hound name you’ve ever encountered?
