233 of the Best Names for a Horse (2024)

Horses are companions, therapists, competitors, and friends, and they need a horse name that suits them well. If you care for a horse for their entire life, this name will need to grow with you both since horses commonly live to be in their 20s, if not 30s. Regardless of how you got your horse, how old they are, or what their primary purpose or function with you is, finding the perfect name will help strengthen the bond you share.

Here are 233 of the best horse names that are perfect for any type of horse.

Top Horse Names

Many of the top names for horses come from popular books, movies, and famous racehorses.

Billy: the oldest horse on record
Black Beauty: from the novel Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Chad: a famous horse racing trainer, Chad C. Brown
Chance: a racehorse
Charlie: from the book Charlie the Horse by Deanie Humphrys-Dunne
Chief: the last U.S. cavalry horse
Chip: from Zips Chocolate Chip, a famous horse
Cinnamon: a racehorse
Dakota: a racehorse
Dash: from the book Dash by J. Elizabeth Mills
Doug: a racehorse
Dusty: from the show The Backyardigans
Flash: from the movie Flash
Fury: from the TV series Fury
Gypsy: from Gypsy King, a famous Gypsy Vanner horse
Hidalgo: from the movie Hidalgo
Jack: a racehorse
Jackie: from Jackie’s Warrior, a famous racehorse
Joey: from the book Joey: How a Blind Rescue Horse Helped Others Learn to See by Jennifer Marshall Bleakley
King: a horse in the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame
Lucky: from the TV show Yellowstone
Magic: a famous miniature therapy horse
Maximus: from the movie Tangled
Mister Ed: from the TV show of the same name

Misty: from Misty the Pony
Mocha: a racehorse
Molly: from Molly the Pony
Napoleon: a racehorse
Nutmeg: a racehorse
Parmesan: from the book Parmesan, the Reluctant Racehorse by Jacqui Halpin
Poppy: from the book Poppy the Police Horse by Gavin Puckett
Ranger: a racehorse
Rose: from the book Robert the Rose Horse by Joan Heilbroner
Ruby: a racehorse
Rusty: a famous horse actor
Scout: from the TV show The Lone Ranger
Silver: from the TV show The Lone Ranger
Snowball: from the movie The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Sparky: from the TV show Sheriff Callie's Wild West
Spirit: from the movie Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Star: a famous horse actor
Sugar: a horse that went viral
Sunny: a famous horse
Sunshine: a racehorse
Teddy: a famous horse
Toffee: a racehorse
Trixie: a horse actor

Coat Color Names

When you’re not sure what to name your horse, consider naming them after their beautiful coat color.

Black Horse Names

Enigma
Midnight
Noir
Onyx
Storm

Chestnut Horse Names

Cedar
Chai
Chestnut
Henna
Scarlet

Bay and Brown Horse Names

Cocoa
Espresso
Mahogany
Merlot
Mocha

Pinto Horse Names

Aurora
Domino
Moonshadow
Shadow
Sky

Palomino and Buckskin Horse Names

Goldie
Nevada
Sandy
Sonora
Sundancer

Gray Horse Names

Ash
Dusky
Pewter
Smokey
Starlight

Male Horse Names

Whether you have a gelding or a stallion, these following names are great ideas for any male horse.

Female Horse Names

If you have a mare or a filly, here are some good female horse names.

Abby
Annabelle
Annie
Autumn
Bella
Berta
Betsy
Bossy
Carly
Caroline
Chloe
Cookie
Daisy
Dolly
Eleanor
Ellie
Fancy
Flo
Ginny
Hailey
Holly
Jade
Jasmine
Jenny
Juliet
Lady
Ladybird
Luna
Marigold
Martha
Mary
Meadow
Nancy
Nel
Nelly
Pearl
Penny
Piper
Princess
Queen
Queenie
Roseanne
Rosebud
Rosie
Sadie
Sally
Sassy
Shania
Shelby
Shirley
Valerie
Venus
Wanda
Wendy
Willow

Names for Horse Pairs

If you have a pair of horses, you can give them names that go together perfectly.

Bonnie and Clyde
Fortune and Cookie
Romeo and Juliet
Venus and Serena
Yin and Yang

Western Horse Names

Horses can remind you of the Old West, and that could inspire some names, such as the following.

Clint
Goldrush
Reno
Roy
Stetson

Draft Horse Names

A large draft horse deserves a name that stands out. Below are a few ideas.

Diesel
Excalibur
Maverick
Renegade
Thunderbolt

Sport Horse Names

For your athletic horse, you can choose a name that projects speed and strength.

Ferrari
Jet
Rocket
Turbo
Victory

Unique Horse Names

If you want to give your horse a unique name, consider the following.

Camelot
Carnival
Furby
Ferris
Grazer
Harley
Hay Fever
Houdini
Hoof Hearted
Lollipop
Night Rider
Pinto Bean
Snowglobe
Turnip

Gypsy Vanner Horse Breed Profile

Racehorse Names

The racehorse world is full of rules around horse naming, leading to comedic and creative names, names that are a little longer than you'd expect, and names that honor the names of the parents of the horse or horse's owner, jockey, trainer, or place of birth.

American Pharaoh
Apollo
Big Brown
Canonero II
Gallant Fox
Grindstone
Jet Pilot
Joe Cotton
Omaha
Seabiscuit
Secretariat
Sir Barton
Twenty Grand
Unbridled
War Emblem
Whirlaway
Wintergreen

40+ White Horse Names

Tips for Naming Your Horse

Some good horse names are taken from books, movies, and television shows while others are a reflection of your horse's color or personality. If you own a retired racehorse, you may want to utilize their track name, or if you rescued your horse, perhaps the location of where they came from.

Find something that feels comfortable for you to say when talking to your horse, and you'll know when you find the right name. Stay away from names that may sound like common commands you would give like "whoa," "walk," "trot," "easy," and other words that could cause confusion during training.

9 Fun and Useful Horse Name Generators