Did ancient cultures name their dogs/cats? if so, what were some common/stereotypical names?

by VitaAeterna
Alkibiades415

Of course they named their animals! The Roman poet Ovid re-tells the story of Diana and Actaeon in his epic Metamorphoses (III.206-252), in which the hunter Actaeon accidentally gets a peep at Diana while she is bathing. Mortals can't see a goddess nekked without consequences, and so Diana makes Actaeon's own hunting dogs tear him apart (not fair, I know). Ovid gives us a wonderful list of names for the dogs:

Aello (Ἀελλώ) – “Tempest”

Agre (Ἄγρα) – “Chase”

Alce (Ἀλκή) – “Stout”

Argiodus (---) – “White-Tooth”

Asbolos (Ἀσβόλος) – “Soot”

Canache (Καναχή) – “Noisy”

Cyprius (---) – “Cyprian”

Dorceus (Δορκεύς) – “Gazelle”

Dromas (Δρομάς) – “Runner”

Harpalos (< ἁρπάζω) – “Grasper”

Harpyia (Ἅρπυια) – “Snatcher”

Hylactor (< ὑλακτέω) – “Howler”

Hylaeus (Ὑλαῖος) – “Woody”

Ichnobates (Ἰχνοβάτης) – “Trail-Seeker”

Labros (Λάβρος) – “Fierce”

Lachne (Λάχνη) – “Shaggy”

Lacon (Λάκων) – “Spartan”

Ladon (Λάδων) – “Catcher”

Laelaps (---) – “Hunter”

Leukon (Λευκόν) – “White”

Lycisce (Λυκίσκος) – “Wolf-Dog”

Melampos (Μελάμπους) – “Black-Foot”

Melanchaetes (Μελαγχαίτης) – “Black-Hair”

Melaneus (Μελανεύς) – “Black”

Nape (Νάπη) – “Vale”

Nebrophonos (Νεβροφόνος) – “Fawn-Killer”

Oresitrophos (---) – “Crag-Born”

Oribasos (Ὀρείβασος) – “Mountain-Climber”

Pamphagos (Παμφάγος) - “Everything-Eater”

Poemenis (Ποιμήν) – “Shepherd”

Pterelas (Πτερέλας) – “Winged”

Sticte (Στικτή) – “Spot”

Theridamas (---) – “Killer”

Thēron (---) – “Whirlwind” [or “Summer”]

Thoos (Θοός) – “Quick”

Tigris (Τίγρις) – “Tiger”

che-ez

Greetings! I asked a similar question, specifically about ancient Egypt back in Oct. 2015. I don't have any information myself, but I'll link you to my thread, which has a few magnificent answers.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3qj2s0/in_ancient_egypt_would_pet_cats_be_given_what_we/

harisher

Also in Homer's Odyssey, Odysseus had a dog called Argos (Αργος).