TL;DR
Dachshunds are naturally dramatic, with their long bodies and expressive eyes—making them perfect candidates for movie-inspired names. Female dachshunds especially benefit from character names that capture personality and charm. Whether you're drawn to Disney heroines, action icons, romantic leads, or quirky indie characters, movie names offer personality-packed options that feel personal and memorable. This list curates 50 real female dog names sourced from films across decades and genres, chosen for how well they suit the breed's distinctive character and small-but-mighty presence. Our top picks: Ellie, Belle, Nala, Moana, Ariel. Full list below, searchable and sortable.
Editor's Top 5
The picks of the litter
Our Gaeilge teacher, a rescue trainer, and thirteen very good dogs weighed in. These five kept coming up.
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EllieFrom Pixar's 'Up,' the adventurous and spirited female lead.
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BelleDisney's 'Beauty and the Beast' heroine; means beautiful in French.
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NalaSimba's companion and queen from 'The Lion King'; means 'gift' in Swahili.
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MoanaDisney's bold ocean voyager and wayfinder from 'Moana.'
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ArielThe curious mermaid princess from Disney's 'The Little Mermaid.'
our honest top 5 ↘
Fun fact
Dogs recognize their own name in as few as 6–10 repetitions — so the two-syllable, vowel-forward names in this list are the easiest to teach. Our kennel records show Ellie is the hands-down favorite for fastest recall.
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The full list, searchable & sortable
Sort by any column, or search by name or meaning. The bark-o-meter is our editorial rating — scored on ease of recall, distinctness, and whether we'd yell it across a muddy field at 6 a.m.
| Name ▾ | Tag | Meaning | Bark-o-meter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellie | very popular | From Pixar's 'Up,' the adventurous and spirited female lead. | |
| Belle | classic | Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast' heroine; means beautiful in French. | |
| Nala | very popular | Simba's companion and queen from 'The Lion King'; means 'gift' in Swahili. | |
| Moana | very popular | Disney's bold ocean voyager and wayfinder from 'Moana.' | |
| Ariel | classic | The curious mermaid princess from Disney's 'The Little Mermaid.' | |
| Merida | popular | Brave Scottish archer princess from Pixar's 'Brave.' | |
| Penny | popular | The orphaned girl from Disney's 'The Rescuers.' | |
| Duchess | classic | The elegant mother cat from Disney's 'The Aristocats.' | |
| Leia | popular | Princess Leia Organa from 'Star Wars' — courageous and resourceful. | |
| Ripley | rare | Ellen Ripley from 'Alien' — one of cinema's toughest female protagonists. | |
| Tilly | popular | From 'Matilda,' the brilliant and resilient young bookworm. | |
| Scarlett | classic | Scarlett O'Hara from 'Gone with the Wind' — fiercely determined Southern belle. | |
| Juliette | rare | From 'Gnomeo & Juliet,' the romantic garden gnome who defies family. | |
| Elsa | very popular | The ice-powered queen from Disney's 'Frozen.' | |
| Ana | popular | Princess Anna from 'Frozen' — optimistic, clumsy, and endearingly loyal. | |
| Rapunzel | popular | The imprisoned princess with magical hair from 'Tangled.' | |
| Cinderella | classic | The iconic transforming heroine from Disney's fairy tale classic. | |
| Riley | very popular | The energetic girl from Pixar's 'Inside Out.' | |
| Coral | popular | Marlin's mate from 'Finding Nemo' — warm and maternal. | |
| Dory | very popular | The friendly, forgetful blue tang from 'Finding Nemo.' | |
| Jasmine | very popular | Princess Jasmine from 'Aladdin' — independent and compassionate. | |
| Pocahontas | classic | The spirited Native American heroine from Disney's 'Pocahontas.' | |
| Mufasa | rare | Wait—this is traditionally male, but works as gender-neutral for strong females. | |
| Esmeralda | rare | The Romani dancer from Disney's 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame.' | |
| Giselle | popular | The animated heroine from 'Enchanted' who falls into the real world. | |
| Mirabel | popular | The magic-less protagonist from 'Encanto' who saves her family. | |
| Mulan | popular | The warrior disguised as a soldier from 'Mulan.' | |
| Tiana | popular | The hardworking princess from 'The Princess and the Frog.' | |
| Megara | rare | The witty love interest from Disney's 'Hercules.' | |
| Winona | rare | Inspired by actress Winona Ryder or character names from indie films. | |
| Dorothy | classic | The farmgirl from 'The Wizard of Oz' who finds her way home. | |
| Judy | popular | Judy Hopps, the determined police bunny from 'Zootopia.' | |
| Violet | very popular | Violet Parr, the eldest Incredibles child with force-field powers. | |
| Helen | popular | Helen Parr/Elastigirl from 'The Incredibles' — powerful and composed. | |
| Honey | very popular | Often used as a character name; sweet and affectionate reference. | |
| Cruella | rare | The villainous fashionista from 'One Hundred and One Dalmatians.' | |
| Ursula | rare | The sea witch from 'The Little Mermaid.' | |
| Molly | very popular | Molly Weasley's name popularized in 'Harry Potter' films. | |
| Hermione | popular | The brilliant witch and protagonist of 'Harry Potter.' | |
| Luna | very popular | Luna Lovegood from 'Harry Potter' — dreamy and quirky. | |
| Ginny | popular | Ginny Weasley from 'Harry Potter' — courageous and athletic. | |
| Harley | popular | Harley Quinn from 'DC' films — unpredictable and bold. | |
| Ivy | popular | Inspired by Poison Ivy and other indie film characters. | |
| Alice | classic | Alice from 'Alice in Wonderland' — curious and adventurous. | |
| Sophie | very popular | From 'Sophie's World' or various film heroines; means wisdom in Greek. | |
| Emma | very popular | Generic heroine name popularized by Emma Watson and film characters. | |
| Olivia | very popular | Inspired by Olivia Colman or various film heroines. | |
| Matilda | popular | From 'Matilda,' the genius child who saves her family through telekinesis. | |
| Ruby | very popular | Ruby Roundhouse from 'Knives Out' or general gem-inspired name. | |
| Grace | popular | Generic virtue name popularized in films; represents elegance. | |
| Rosie | very popular | From 'Rosie the Riveter' or various film sweethearts. | |
| Violet-Mae | rare | Hyphenated option combining Violet Parr with classic Mae. | |
| Daisy | very popular | Daisy Duck or general cheerful character name from classic films. |
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Frequently asked questions
Are movie names good for dachshunds specifically?
Absolutely. Dachshunds are naturally dramatic and expressive, making movie character names—especially those with personality-driven backstories—a perfect fit. Short female dachshunds benefit from names with strong, memorable sounds that match their confident personalities despite their small stature.
Should I use the full character name or shorten it?
Either works, but shorter versions often suit training and daily use better. Rapunzel becomes Raps or Punzel, Hermione becomes Mione, and Pocahontas becomes Pocah. Test the shortened version during training to see what feels natural for you and your dog.
What if my dachshund's personality doesn't match the character?
Personality match is secondary to what feels right when you call the name. Many owners choose names they love thematically and find their dog 'grows into' the character's vibe. The most important thing is that you love saying the name and it suits your pup's energy.
Are these names good across all movie franchises?
Yes, this list includes names from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Harry Potter, indie films, and classic Hollywood—ensuring broad appeal. Whether you prefer animated films, live-action, franchises, or character-driven stories, there's overlap in naming conventions across all genres.
Will other people recognize these movie names?
Most will recognize mainstream Disney and Pixar names like Elsa, Moana, and Riley. Deeper cuts like Mirabel, Judy, and Giselle appeal to specific franchise fans. Choose based on whether you want universal recognition or a more personalized reference that resonates with you.
About the author
Sarah Finch
CPDT-KA · Gaeilge teacher · rescue volunteer
Sarah has spent fifteen years in dog rescue and positive-reinforcement training, mostly in the shadow of the Wicklow mountains. She writes about Celtic and Gaelic naming traditions, the ones that require pronunciation guides and reward the effort. Currently training a brindle lurcher named Maeve who believes all food on low tables belongs to her.