Best Names for Horses and Mares

Best Names for Horses and Mares

We've all been there - finding a name that's both unique and elegant for our horse is actually a quite difficult task. After all, this is a word that you will repeat for years. Whether we want names for show horses, a competitive race horse name or simply a good name for our equine best friend, we'll also share it with our friends and family, as well as strangers. It's best if nobody hates it!

If you've decided to adopt a horse, but you still don't know what to call them, don't worry. Here at AnimalWised we've compiled an exhaustive list the best names for horses and mares so you can pick and choose. Read on to find the most inspiring names for horses and mares to either use or help you come up with your own.

How to pick a proper name for your horse

Horses are noble, beautiful and intelligent animals and they never take long to learn their new name. They are creatures of habit, so repetition is a key factor in their learning.

Unlike most other animals, horses and mares have a very special ability to understand humans and build relationships with them. Horses can interpret human feelings and sensations, even if they can't communicate directly through language. They are able to feel sadness, happiness and fear, and these emotions are shared in our bond with them.

Therefore, it is important to pick an appropriate name for your new horse or mare. They deserve all your respect and love, and this starts with a proper name. Here are some things you should take into account before picking a name for your horse:

  • A horse's name should be easy to remember.
  • It must sound clear. The easier to pronounce and understand, the better.
  • Don't use a confusing name, such as names that sound like commands.

Choosing a name for a female horse is just the same as choosing a name for a male horse. For both, you will need to consider their personality as well as their physical characteristics. Something as simple as the color of a horse can provide the right inspiration. Whether you are looking for names for black horses, white horses or horses of any other color, there are many ideas for horse names associated with their colors. The simplest is of course to call a horse by the name of their color, with Chestnut being a particularly popular horse name. Of course, you could also call a black horse Chestnut if you have an ironic streak.

When choosing a name for a mare, there is a stereotype to think of cute girl names for female horses. While there are some adorable horse names on this list, there are just as many female horse riders who prefer to choose badass names for female horses because they know their horse is a tough girl. Of course this doesn't mean a tough name for a female horse can't equally be elegant.

You want a name for your horse which represents their personality, but since they won't be able to understand the actual meaning of the name, you can use your personality to influence it too. Also, it doesn't hurt to look at horse culture in general. Many people want to choose southern or western names for horses because of the fine tradition of horse riding associated with these regions. The best thing you can do to choose a name for a horse is to think about what they mean to you. Here is a list of some names to get you started.

Names for male horses

Here you have a long list of possible names for your new male horse. It's always a good idea to find a name that matches their physical appearance or their personality. You can maybe to name him after a star or character you admire. Horse names can sound a bit pompous sometimes, but it only goes to show the nobility of the species - and they can also sound fun. Of course, it's not uncommon for males to be pompous or fun, so maybe these names for stallions will be ideal.

If you don't find a male horse name here, keep reading for our unisex horse name list below. Our favorite names for male horses are:

Horse names according to appearance:

  • Russell
  • Goliath
  • Atlas
  • Magnus
  • Beau
  • Thunder

Horse names according to personality:

  • Gallant
  • Ardent
  • Marquis
  • Ambition
  • Spirit
  • Lucky
  • Napoleon
  • Reckless
  • Stormy
  • Sultan
  • Píccard
  • Charming
  • Rogue
  • Necromancer
  • Emperor
  • Scout
  • Traveler
  • Czar
  • Thunder
  • Ace
  • Sargent
  • Fervor
  • Vicarious
  • Lightning
  • Major
  • Victor

Other horse names:

  • Kentucky
  • Zorro
  • Randolph
  • Dagger
  • Dasker
  • Risk
  • Michigan
  • Charming
  • Arthur
  • Ohio
  • Charles - and why not add a number, as in Charles III?
  • Argo
  • Huckleberry
  • Venom
  • Bullitt
  • Mars
  • Blue Eyes
  • Spartan
  • Sapphire
  • Bandit
  • Coral
  • Nile
  • Weston
  • Angus
  • Alexander
  • Nicanor
  • Odin
  • Darcy
  • Rolo
  • Hemingway
  • Heathcliff
  • Black Beard
  • Wyld
  • Pious
  • Vincent
  • Atticus
  • Holden
  • Pompeii
  • Jade
  • Silvester
  • Simeon
  • Shadow
  • Pegasus

Names for female horses

The factors to take into account when choosing a female name for your mare are the same as for male horses. For equestrian sports such as dressage or show jumping, it is common to see many female riders. For this reason, there is a stereotype that female horses should be given cute and adorable names. Magical names such as Jewel and names derived from stones are especially popular, as are goddesses and literary characters.

While these names are great, stereotyping women riders as wanting just one type of name for their mare is not helpful. This diverse list is great to inspire all types of riders:

Mare names according to appearance:

  • Rose / Black Rose
  • Maxima
  • Kit Kat
  • Autumn
  • Pippi
  • Bonnie
  • Misty
  • Dolly
  • Beauty / Black Beauty
  • Belle
  • Chica
  • Nyx
  • Willow

Mare names according to personality:

  • Enchantress
  • Czarina
  • Empress
  • Victoria
  • Grace
  • Flame
  • Fortunate
  • Storm
  • Duchess
  • Witch
  • Nightmare
  • Queen
  • Calamity

Other names for mares:

  • Gypsy
  • Arabella
  • Aguamarina
  • Alabama
  • Libia
  • Arkansas
  • Agatha
  • Mischief
  • Indiana
  • Harley
  • Vera
  • Arizona
  • Dulcinea
  • Indigo Blue
  • Indy
  • Esmeralda
  • Luna
  • Freya
  • Danvers
  • Storm
  • Dakota
  • Banana
  • Legend
  • Babiera
  • Hera
  • Nebraska
  • Electra
  • Turquoise
  • Triana
  • Beretta
  • Ivy
  • Sioux
  • Kitty
  • Beatrix
  • Amethyst
  • Davina
  • Dorothea
  • Blossom
  • Athenea
  • Kenia
  • Genevieve
  • Getrude
  • Laurel
  • Petra
  • Priscilla
  • Hope
  • Frida
  • Stella
  • Holy Smoke

Unisex names for horses and mares

Looking at either male or female horse names is a great way to find inspiration. However, there are many names for horses which can fit both sexes. If you're not convinced by any of the previous lists, you can consider these unisex names:

Unisex horse names according to appearance:

  • Brandy
  • Cinnamon
  • Colorado
  • Raven
  • Pepper
  • Ebony
  • Onyx
  • Jet
  • Pepsi
  • Bolt
  • Coal
  • Muffin
  • Chocolate
  • Ruby
  • Spot
  • Mocha
  • Freckles
  • Ivory
  • Blondie
  • Snow
  • Cookie
  • Strawberry
  • Dusty

Unisex horse names according to personality:

  • Brave
  • Chili
  • Alpha
  • Noble
  • Constance
  • Challenger
  • Trigger
  • Angel
  • Arrow
  • Babe
  • Bullet
  • Magic

Other unisex horse names:

  • Aeneas
  • Burbank
  • Ekene
  • Ambrose
  • Monie
  • Chance
  • Attilah
  • Eddie
  • Beau
  • Rumor
  • Briar
  • Cyrene
  • Irresistible
  • Abiah

If you have a show jumping horse, don't hesitate to read our AnimalWised article for some more name inspiration. If you haven't found the best name for you yet or if you have any other ideas, please share them in the comments section!

Famous names for horses

If your horse reminds you of famous horses from history, television, or literature you may want to choose a famous name for your horse. In case you don't already have one in mind, here are some famous names for horses that may inspire you:

  • Arod - Legolas's horse in the Lord of the Rings
  • Artax - the horse from The Neverending Story
  • Binky - Death's horse from Terry Practhet's Discworld novels
  • BoJack Horseman - the titular horse from BoJack Horseman
  • Boxer and Clover - From Orwell's Animal Farm
  • Bullseye - the horse from Toy Story
  • Capilet - from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
  • Flicka - from the book and film Flicka
  • Gulliver - form the Horse Whisperer
  • Hidalgo - from the film Hidalgo about long distance horse racing
  • Khan - the family horse from Disney's Mulan
  • Kolstomer - protagonist horse of the Tolstoy story Kolstomer
  • Lilla Gubben - Pippi's horse from Pippi Longstocking
  • Man o' War - considered one of America's greatest racehorses
  • Pegasus - the winged horse of Greek mythology
  • Rocinante - Don Quixote's horse
  • Seabiscuit - the famous racehorse who had a film made after him
  • Shadowfax - Gandalf's horse in the Lord of the Rings
  • Silver Blaze - from the Sherlock Holmes story Silver Blaze
  • Sleipnir - the horse of Norse god Odin
  • The Pie - racing horse from the book and film National Velvet
  • Tornado - Zorro's black horse

We hope you found this list useful in choosing the perfect name for your horse or mare!

If you want to read similar articles to Best Names for Horses and Mares, we recommend you visit our Names category.