235+ Donkey Names (Cool Male And Female Burro Ideas)

Donkeys are fantastic, smart animals. They’ve been a trusted farm worker for centuries, taking up residence on ranches and homesteads.

If you’re one of those lucky enough to have such a creature, you quickly learn they make wonderful companions who are adorable and love to play.

As with any new pet addition to the family, you will have to name your donkey or burro with a great donkey name. 

This allows for bonding and the repeated use of its name will clue them into when you are calling or making a command.

Let’s dive into the lists.

Donkey Names Infographic

Male Donkey Names

Finding the perfect name for a male donkey offers many possibilities. When you go through the list, think about your donkey and how that name sounds in connection to it.

If you don’t find any of these 44 good male donkey ideas suitable, you could always check out our horse naming guides for assistance.

  1. AJ
  2. Alfie
  3. Alvin
  4. Antonio
  5. Arthur
  6. Arturo
  7. Avery
  8. Barney
  9. Barry
  10. Beau
  11. Boris
  12. Bruce
  13. Bruno
  14. Buddy
  15. Chester
  16. Dave
  17. Desmond
  18. Eddie
  19. Esteban
  20. Felix
  21. Geoffrey
  22. George
  23. Harry
  24. Herbert
  25. Hubert
  26. Humphrey
  27. Ignacio
  28. Jack (a male donkey is called a jack which makes for a perfect fit!)
  29. Jacob
  30. Juan
  31. Julian
  32. Logan
  33. Oliver
  34. Oscar
  35. Oscar
  36. Pete
  37. Rodrigo
  38. Rusty
  39. Scooter
  40. Shaun
  41. Steve
  42. Trevor
  43. Trevor
  44. Wilfred

Female Donkey Names

With 51 names for good female donkeys listed here, the possibilities are plentiful and creative. They can be feminine and playful or gentle and subtle.

Remember, no matter what name you choose, it’s always best to keep it simple and no more than three or four syllables.

  1. Amber
  2. Bella
  3. Bonnie
  4. Brandy
  5. Callie
  6. Carol
  7. Chloe
  8. Claire
  9. Daisy
  10. Dorothy
  11. Emily
  12. Emma
  13. Eva
  14. Fiona
  15. Gracey
  16. Hazel
  17. Hilda
  18. Jasmine
  19. Jenny (a female donkey is called a jenny)
  20. Juanita
  21. Julianne
  22. Lacy
  23. Lily
  24. Lucy
  25. Luna
  26. Maggie
  27. Magnolia
  28. Margarita
  29. Maribel
  30. Matilda
  31. Mavis
  32. Miriam
  33. Molly
  34. Muriel
  35. Nala
  36. Natalie
  37. Opal
  38. Pam
  39. Penny
  40. Polly
  41. Puebla
  42. Rose
  43. Roxy
  44. Sasha
  45. Sophia
  46. Stella
  47. Tessa
  48. Victoria
  49. Violet
  50. Wanda
  51. Winifred

Good Names For Donkeys

Donkey Names

The following list of 31 names offers a nice and basic way to identify your donkey. 

These are very typical and many people tend to use them often, but they could be a good match for your beautiful burro.

  1. Ace
  2. Archie
  3. Barley
  4. Buck
  5. Buster
  6. Carter
  7. Charlie
  8. Chase
  9. Clover
  10. Darwin
  11. Derry
  12. Destiny
  13. Diamond
  14. Diesel
  15. Dynamo the Donkey
  16. Felipe
  17. Gibson
  18. Harley
  19. Hector
  20. Heracles
  21. Honker
  22. Lemon
  23. Lucky
  24. Ned
  25. Nugget
  26. Pearl
  27. Pecos
  28. Pepper
  29. Shadow
  30. Sidney
  31. Storm

Best Donkey Names

If you’re looking for a prime and superb name for your donkey, peruse the list below for some ideas.  Some of these are common for people to use and some are unusual in nature.

These 22 names may even inspire you to come up with your own.

  1. Baxter
  2. Blazer
  3. Blue
  4. Bonbon
  5. Bray
  6. Clyde
  7. Coco
  8. Diego
  9. Dobbin
  10. Duchess
  11. Duncan
  12. Franklin
  13. Gypsy
  14. Jasper
  15. Max
  16. Miguel
  17. Pascoe
  18. Pedro
  19. Piper
  20. Poncho
  21. Spud
  22. Vinnie
  23. Zephyr

Cute Donkey Names

When you’re donkey is as cute as a button, there’s no other type of name that will fit but an adorable one.

If you can’t discover one out of these 27, you can write down all the cutest aspects of your donkey and come up with a name for it from there.

Here is our list of cute inspired ideas perfect for any adult or baby donkey:

  1. Amigo
  2. Bailey
  3. Bandit
  4. Bitsy
  5. Brandy
  6. Brownie
  7. Butterscotch
  8. Caramel
  9. Cinnamon
  10. Cosmo
  11. Cricket
  12. Dash
  13. Flower
  14. Ginger
  15. Joy
  16. Jubilee
  17. Ladybird
  18. Meadow
  19. Otto
  20. Peanut
  21. Pickles
  22. Pixie
  23. Roscoe
  24. Skydancer
  25. Twiggy
  26. Willow
  27. Zipper

Funny Donkey Names

In the case that your donkey provides hilarious comedy and is a natural clown, a name that’s funny might just do the trick!

Give your hilarious pet any one of these 21 names to see if they sit in your funny bone and fit your furry friend.

  1. Winky Wonkey the Wookey Donkey
  2. Dumpy
  3. Taco
  4. Goober
  5. Boomer
  6. Polka Dot
  7. Dingbat
  8. Gizmo
  9. Assassin
  10. Hamish
  11. Krankey
  12. Nacho
  13. Sir Percy
  14. Lulu
  15. Tinkerbell
  16. Chalupa
  17. Hobo
  18. Mac Daddy
  19. Wonkey
  20. Wookey Dookey
  21. Zebra

Unique Names For Your Pet Donkey

Sometimes, donkeys are a personality and character all their own.  So, a typical and common name won’t do.  Not many owners name their four-legged friends these, but it’s not unusual.

Allow these 21 selections to spur your imagination to create your own if nothing here sparks your fancy.

  1. Aston
  2. Delaney
  3. Diablo
  4. Diva
  5. Donkers
  6. Genki
  7. Jazz
  8. Kendoy
  9. Leonardo
  10. Maya
  11. Momo
  12. Morena
  13. Nightmare
  14. Olive
  15. Picasso
  16. Sax
  17. Tiger
  18. Toro
  19. Yoshi
  20. Zamora
  21. Zebedee

Famous Names For Donkeys

The following shortlist of 19 names ranges from famous personalities, fictional characters, literary personas, prolific movie stars, and world-renowned music gods. Sometimes, a donkey will just portray these people in a cute and characteristic way.

  1. Apollo
  2. Balboa
  3. Bowie
  4. Chewbacca
  5. Coraline
  6. Elvis
  7. Hendrix
  8. Humphrey Bogart
  9. Maud
  10. Merlin
  11. Noah
  12. One of the Seven Dwarves (Sleepy, Dopey, Grumpy, Bashful, Happy, Doc, Sneezy)
  13. One of the Smurfs (Brainy, Papa, Painter, Jokey, Lazy, Hefty, Harmony and etc)
  14. Rocky
  15. Romeo
  16. Spunky
  17. Sylvester
  18. The Rock
  19. Tootsie
  20. Willie Wonka

Names For Donkeys Inspired By Movies

No list of names would be complete without well-known, famous characters from the movies. Donkey from Shrek is a popular favorite, but so is Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. 

Sometimes picking a name inspired by famous donkey characters is the best match for your pet. 

  1. Benjamin (“Animal Farm” novel by George Orwell)
  2. Conchita (Juan Valdez coffee bean logo)
  3. Dominick (Italian-American from the 1960s)
  4. Donkey (from Shrek)
  5. Eeyore (“Winnie the Pooh” classic animation)
  6. Francis (film series from the 1950s)
  7. Gus (a Disney creation)
  8. Lana (Juan Valdez coffee bean logo)
  9. Nestor (the Christmas Donkey cartoon)

Name Inspiration

Some donkeys are so big, unwitting people mistake them for horses. Alternatively, some donkeys act as if they are horses or have similar markings to specific horse breeds.

Or, they may even be a mirror for a famous movie or literature horse, this includes champion racehorses. 

Some people like a classic name from the days of yesteryear, like the Lone Ranger’s Silver or Mister Ed.

  1. Arabian
  2. Banker
  3. Barb
  4. Black Beauty
  5. Bronco
  6. Brumby
  7. Campolina
  8. Clydesdale
  9. Esperia
  10. Gallop
  11. Java
  12. Man O’ War
  13. Mister Ed
  14. Namaqua
  15. Nugget
  16. Palomino
  17. Pharaoh
  18. Pinto
  19. Seabiscuit
  20. Secretariat
  21. Silver
  22. Sorrala
  23. Sumba
  24. Trotter
  25. Warlander
  26. Wilbur

Help Choosing The Right Name For Your Pet Burro

Before sifting through the sea of names, there are a few things to think about to ensure a proper pick. It doesn’t have to be time-consuming or become a difficult chore. But you want to ensure the name fits the donkey well.

Think about its breed, behavior, mannerisms, attitude, coloring, and gender.  Different breeds have varying tones and markings that may lend themselves to a particular name, like Polka Dot.

It could be that your pet donkey is very feminine and diminutive in manner. This could make names like Luna, Skydancer, or Willow a perfect fit.

Breed

The myriad of donkey breeds produces a range of characteristics; everything from mood to demeanor and activity levels to displays of affection.

If you have one that’s more horse-like, you could name it something like Palomino or Bronco.

If your donkey or burro is small, Bitsy or Pixie might be an exact match. 

Color

Of course, the donkey’s coloring could also be the basis for its name.  Caramel, Butterscotch, Brownie, Cinnamon, or Ginger could all be great names that characterize your pet donkey.

Character

The moods and attitudes of your donkey could also inspire its name.  Joy or Krankie might be appropriate, depending on their general demeanor.  But if they’re silly or comedic, you might want to go with something like Gizmo or Dingbat.

Gender

If the donkey that’s wandered into your life is a true expression of their gender, selecting a solid name to reflect that may also be something to think about.  Bruno, Buck, Miguel, Boris, or Scooter could be great monikers for a male donkey.  Likewise, some adorable female names for a donkey are things like Jasmine, Juanita, Fiona, or Sasha.

Other Considerations

In the event that the above points of inspiration don’t suit the foundation for naming your donkey, you could consider a name that’s inspired by prolific books and movies.

Nestor, Donkey, Eeyore, and Francis are all famous donkeys.  But you could go a step further and name them after famous personalities or fictional characters like Hendrix, Elvis, Merlin, or Willie Wonka.

Donkey Response

Also, whether male or female, it might be a good idea to pick a few different names to see which one the donkey best responds to when you say it. It will make training and bonding a much better experience for both of you.

Conclusion

With over 235 names, the possibilities for your donkey are almost endless.  Remember, you want to pick a name that’s best for your little burro of love. It should be an expression of its most crowning feature, from its color and breed to behavior and demeanor.

For some donkeys, this will surround their shining personalities and yet other donkeys will exude their gender in an undeniable fashion. Even still, a few donkeys will be particularly unique and so only a unique name will do. Likewise, silly, comedic, and funny donkeys should have a name that reflects that trait.

Once you’ve found a few that have a nice ring to them, test them out on your donkey and see which one it responds to best. This will make your relationship much better and more assured because the donkey will understand that you’re calling or commanding them to do something.

If you’re still looking for more inspiration, check out these awesome lists of horse names!