50 Unique Name Ideas (with Meanings) for Male Papillons

It’s been a long time since I’d had to think about naming a dog.  My two “puppies”, Kitsune the papillon and Fenrir the Alaskan klee kai, are 13 and 7.  But I’ve been writing a lot more serious papillon content lately, and I thought this type of post might be a fun break.  I remember how much fun my partner and I had while we were naming our own two dogs.  If you recently had a male papillon join your pack, and you’re trying to figure out a name for him, maybe you’ll find one that fits from this list!

Butterfly Themed Names for Male Papillons

Papillon is the French word for butterfly, after all.  Papillons are often referred to as “butterfly dogs” because of their large, frilly ears.  So it seemed fitting to start off our name list with butterfly themed names…

1. Skipper – “Skippers” is a term used to refer to butterflies in the family Hesperiidae.  The term referrers to their erratic way of flying.
2. Admiral –  After the red admiral butterfly.
3. Duke – After the duke of burgundy butterfly.
4. Argus – After the brown argus butterfly.
5. Grayling – After the grayling butterfly.
6. Copper – After the small copper butterfly.
7. Ekval – An Indian name meaning “butterfly”.
8. Monarch – After the monarch butterfly, also means “king”.
9. Tarralikitak – A unisex name that means “butterfly” in Inuit.
10. Adonis – After the adonis blue butterfly, Adonis is also a figure from Greek mythology.
11. Danaus – Danaus is the great grandson of Zeus, but is also a type of butterfly.
12. Flutur – This Albanian name translates to “butterflies”.
13. Icarus –  This is the name of a butterfly, but also a figure from Greek mythology.
14. Memphis – This Greek name, with Egyptian origins, means “beautiful and enduring”, and it’s also a type of butterfly.
15. Orion – Orion is a type of  butterfly.
16. Apollo – Apollo refers to a type of butterfly, and is also a figure in Greek and Roman mythology.
17. Titus – In reference to the Satyrium Titus butterfly.
18. Ulysses – Ulysses is part of the Latin name for the blue emperor butterfly.
19. Faranak – This Persian name means “buttefly”.
20.  Chō – Chō means “butterfly” in Japanese.
21. Aponi – Native American word for butterfly.
22. Pepper – After the peppered moth.
23. Atlas – After the atlas moth.
24. Attacus – Also after the atlas (Attacus atlas) moth.
25. Hawk – After the Hummingbird hawk moth.

Other Name Ideas for Your Male Papillon

These are just some other, not necessarily butterfly/moth related, name ideas for a male papillon.

1. Zephyr – This is a Greek name meaning “west wind”.
2. Colt – A colt is a young/baby horse.
3. Dash – This name can mean “handsome/dashing”, but also refers to running/moving quickly.
4. Ranger – A French origin name meaning “forest guardian”.
5. Jett – In Hebrew, this name means “excellence/abundance”.
6. Blaze – This name has Latin origin and means “fire”.
7. Griffin –  A griffin is a mythological animal with the body of a lion, and the head/wings of an eagle.
8. Ryker – A version of the name Richard, which means “powerful leader”.
9. Tristian – One of the knights of the round table.
10. Wyatt – Means “from wood” or “from the wide water”.
11. Wilder – Means “untamed/wild”.
12. Ace – A Latin name meaning “one/unity”.
13. Axel – A Scandinavian variation of the name Absalom, meaning “father of peace”.
14. Neo – A Latin name meaning “new or gift”.
15. Hendrix – A name with Dutch/German origin meaning “estate holder”.
16. Loki – Loki is the Norse god of mischief.
17. Buck – A male deer or rabbit.
18. Kenji – A Japanese name meaning “strong and vigorous”.
19. Zale – A Polish name meaning “the other side of the wood”.
20. Arlo – A name thought to be derived from an Irish town, means “between two highlands”.
21. Wren – A unisex name that refers to a small bird.
22. Finn – A name with Irish origin meaning “fair or white”.
23. Cosmo – A Greek boy’s name meaning “order/beauty”.
24. Ozzy – A name that means “divine power/divine protector”.
25. Pax – A Latin name meaning “of peace”.

Comment below!  How did you select a name for your dog?  If anyone uses a name from this list, especially for your male papillon, you’ll have to comment and let me know!