Old Horse Names (871 Ideas For Your Wise Steed)

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Finding the perfect name for your horse can be something of a conundrum. There are endless options, which one do you pick?

Sometimes it’s best to go with something from the old west. But, there are some interesting choices in old English and Irish too.

Hopefully, this list will spur on your verve and help you to find a good old horse name. You want it to be an exact and unique portrayal of the horse’s personality, preferences, coat colors, mannerisms, and markings.

Best Old Horse Names

The list of names are famous horses to basic nomenclature; some include ones people used to give to their horses from days long gone.

Anthem
Apache
Arizona
Arrow
Artemis
Bailey
Bale
Barrel
Biscuit
Blaze
Boots
Bourbon
Brisket
Bunny
Cash
Cherokee
Colt
Crown Royal
Curly
Dawn
Dooby
Dorito
Double Indemnity
Doulton
Draft
Drago
Dragonfly
Dryad
Duchess
Duck
Dudley
Dulcinea
Dumplin’
Duo
Dutch
Dynamite jack
Easy Rider
Easy Street
Emerald
Esteem
Evening Mist
Everlast
Eye of the Storm
Fidget
Five Star
Flamboyant
Flaming Hearty
Flash of Light
Flint
Fliss
Flopsy
Fly Me to the Moon
Flyer
Flying Trapeze
Footsie
Forever Bliss
Foxtrot
Foxy
Freak
Freckles
Freedom
Friday
Frilly
Frisky
Frolic
Frosted
Fudge
Fuerte
Gabriel
Gadget
Galaxy
Gemstone
Genuine
Giggles
Gilly
Glazer
Graceland
Grandstand
Graphite
Gravy Train
Gray
Grazer
Greased Lightning
Grits
Gusto
Gusty
Hairy
Haley’s Comet
Half Pint
Happy
Hawk
Heart
Heaven’s Devil
Hemlock
Hero
Hidden Treasure
Highlight
Hollywood
Home Wrecker
Hoofin It
Hotshot
Hurricane
Hustler
Justice
Landon
Legend
Limerick
Micah
Morgan
Outlaw
Paisley
Pirate
Pony Express
Rawhide
Rebellion
Rider (or Ryder)
Roper
Rummy
Sir Jumpsalot
Snake
Spot
Stormy
Sundance
Sunday
Zeus

Old Male Horse Names

The monikers you see below are for any male horse. Whether it’s a black stallion, a chestnut gelding, or some other type, see if any of the names are suitable.

Alfie
Amos
Angus
Apollo
Argo
Atlas
Atticus
Bailey
Bandit
Banjo
Benjamin
Billy
Billy Ray
Black Beard
Bobby
Bogart
Bramble
Buck
Buck
Buddy
Bullitt
Butch
Buzz
Cameron
Canal King
Captain Canada
Carter
Carver
Castle Rock
Caviar
Champion
Charles
Charlie
Charming
Chester
Chesterfield
Christopher
Cisco
Clancy
Clifford
Clyde
Cody
Colonel
Cowboy
Czar
Damien
Daniel
Danny
Darby
Dexter
Diego
Doc
Duke
Dylan
Ed
Elijah
Erwin
Esquivo
Garrett
General
George
George
Geronimo
Grainger
Gunner
Gunslinger
Hank
Harry
Harvey
Henry
Holden
Hooper
Huckleberry
Humphrey
Hunter
Jack
Jeb
Jimmy
Johnny
Jonny
Knight
Lawrence
Leo
Lincoln
Magnus
Marshall
Matthew
Maximus
Murphy
Patch
Peter Pan
Pious
Pompeii
Ranger
Rhett
Rick
Ringo
Rocket
Rodeo
Rolo
Russell
Sergeant
Scout
Shooter
Silvester
Simeon
Steel
Strongbow
Sunny Jim
Tex
Thor
Tucker
Tulsa
Venom
Vince
Vincent
Wade
Wally
Waylon
Whiskey
Wyatt
Wyld
Xavier
Zinc

See more male horse names!

Old Female Horse Names

When you have a female horse that takes on characteristics of the old west, only a classic horse name will do. In the case your mare or filly displays a spirit of being an old soul, her name should be a mirror of that.

Abbie
Amara
Amber
Amethyst
Angelina
Anita
Annabelle
Annie
Audrey
Aurora
Autumn
Babs
Beatrix
Bell of the Ball
Bella
Bess
Betsy
Bianca
Black Rose
Blossom
Blue Angel
Bluebell
Bree
Briana
Brooke
Candy
Carnation
Cassandra
Celeste
Cera
Cha Cha
Charisma
Charity
Charlotte
Chelsea
Cheyenne
Chiquita
Chloe
Cinderella
Cindy
Cinnamon
Cleo
Coco
Constanza
Cowgirl
Cristabell
Crystal
Daisy
Darcy
Dava
Dee Dee
Delilah
Delphine
Desirae
Diva
Dixie
Dora
Echo
Edelweiss
Edna
Elita
Ellie
Elvira
Emily
Emma
Emmy
Empress
Erika
Etta
Evita
Fair Maiden
Faith
Fancy
Felicity
Fiona
Flower
Gabriella
Gallena
Gayle
Gazelle
Geisha
Genevieve
Genie
Georgia
Gigi
Gina
Ginelle
Glass Slipper
Gracie
Gypsy
Gypsy Rose
Jess
Jolene
Justice
Kate
Kitty
Lady
Lillianna
Loretta
Luna
Maybelle
Penny
Rose
Rose of Sharon
Sadie
Sally
Starr

See more female horse names!

Old Western Horse Names

Quarter horses and race horses do very well with a name straight out of the old west. This could be actual famous people from the Gold Rush or fictional characters.

Abacus
Ace of Spades
Aces High
Acorn
Airborne
Alacazam
Ally
Amarillo Rose
Amazing
America
Anchor
Ancient
Angel
Annie Oakley
Apache Kid
Apple
Arkansas Tom
Babe
Balderdash
Bamboozle
Bandero
Baron
Basil
Bell
Bella Baby
Big Nose Kate
Bill Doolin
Billy the Kid
Bitter Creek
Black Bart
Blaze Carson
Bluegrass
Bogie
Bonnie
Boomer
Brave
Breeze
Broken Doll: 1910 Western
Bronco
Bruiser
Buck Garrett
Buck Taylor
Bueno
Bumbles
Bumpkin
Butch Cassidy
Butterball
Buttercup
Butterfly
Buttermilk
Cactus
Cadence
Calamity Jane
Calico
Cameo
Candlelight
Cannon
Caol
Capricorn
Carry Nation
Casanova
Caspian
Cattle Kate Watson
Caviar
Celandine
Champagne
Chance
Chaos
Chap
Cherish
Cherokee Bill
Cherokee Charlie
Chess
Chief
Cisco Kid
Classy Dancer
Clever Trick
Clover
Clyde
Cobweb
Cochise
Coconut
Commander
Copper
Cosmo
Cougar
Crazy
Creole
Crossroad
Cuervo
Cupid
Deadwood Dick
Deuce
Doc Holliday
Dollar
Dream
Durango
El Dorado
Eureka
Feller
Flat Nose
Gold Rush
Goldie
Gunslinger
Howdy Doody
Iron Eyes Cody
Jesse James
Jewel
Kid Cassidy
Lawless
Lillie Langtry
Little Beavers
Maverick
Mesquite
Mischief
Montana
Odyssey
Old Blue
Old Thunder
Outlaw Kid
Pally
Partner
Pawnee Bill
Pearl Heart
Poco
Ponca
Raider
Ranger
Rawhide Kid
Red Ryder
Richard Bullock
Ringo Kid
Rodeo
Sam Bass
Samuel Colt
Santa Fe
Sawdust
Scamp
Scar
Scuds
Shanty
Sheriff
Shooter
Shotgun
Silver
Silver Bullet
Silver Cloud
Skedaddle
Sunfish
Taco
Tequila
Tex Morgan
Texas Kid
The Apache Kid
The Durango Kid
The Squaw Kid
The Tall Texan
The Wyoming Kid
Thunderhead
Tonka
Topper
Trigger
Tulsa Jack
Tumbleweed
Two-Gun Kid
Western Kid
Whoa
Will Rogers
Yeehaw
Yukon

See more western horse names!

Cool Old West Horse Names

If you’re a real horse lover, you’ll appreciate the monikers detailed in this special list. Even if you don’t choose a horse name from here, they are the coolest of the cool and certain to put a smile on your face.

Adios
Aphrodite
Archer
Arion
Athena
Balius
Bella Starr
Binky
Black Jack
Blue Boy
Blueskin
Boxer
Buckpasser
Burmese
Cadoc
Captain
Chica
Cigarette
Cloud
Clover
Curlin
Czarina
D’Angelo
Dagobaz
Damsel
Daniel Boone
Dante
Daredevil
Dawn Run
Deadwood
Deputy
Desert Sand
Destiny
Devious
Dewdrop
Diablo
Diabolo
Dixie Land Delight
Don Juan de Onate
Doncaster
Double Trouble
Dover
Dream Weaver
Dreams of Silver
Driftwood
Dynamite
Eclipse
Enchantress
Equinox
Exterminator
Firefoot
Flame
Frankel
Freya
Fru-Fru: featured in Leo Tolstoy’s ‘Anna Karenina’
Fury
Galiban
Galileo
Gemma
Ginger
Greatheart
Gringolet
Gunpowder
Hwin
Incitatus: horse of Emperor Caligula
Joey
Khartoum
Lark
Lightfoot
Magua
Maximus
Merrylegs
Mollie
Moonlight
My Little Pony
Nara
Nelson
Oberon
Palomino
Peach Blossom
Pepper
Phillip
Pied Piper
Pilgrim
Popcorn Delights
Reckless
Rival
Sampson
Secret
Sham
Silver
Smiley
Spirit
Sundance Kid
Sunfire
Sylvester
Tempest
The Bronze Buckaroo
The Lone Rider
The Phantom
Topthorn
Trojan
Trotsky
Warrior
Whirlwind

See more cool horse names!

Old Fashioned Horse Names

If you’re one of those who love the traditional days of yesteryear, perhaps one of these names will fit your horse. But, allow the mane and tail of your equine pal to be a major influence.

April
Ara
Ash
Bard
Barnaby
Beau
Beauty
Beethoven
Bell
Bolt
Bonnie
Boots
Buster
Buttons
Cash
Challenger
Champ
Chief
Chopin
Churchill
Clyde
Cookie
Cowgirl
Da Vinci
Dallas
Dancer
Dazzle
Debutante
December
Dickinson
Dolly
Duchess
Dusty
Elaine
Esther
Evelyn
Fancy
Flame
Flicka
Flopsy
Fortunate
Genie
Goliath
Grace
Gwendolyn
Henrietta
Hera
Hetty
Holly
Honey
Isabella
Ivy
Jackson
Jasper
Jet
Jigsaw
Juliet
Lacey
Little Joe
London
Lucky
Lupin
Lyla
Major
Mario
Marquis
Max
Maya
Mia
Mika
Millie
Misty
Mona
Monty
Moonshine
Mozart
Napoleon
Nellie
Nevaeh
Newton
Nina
Oakley
Olaf
Peanut
Pepper
Pharaoh
Pip
Pirate
Plum
Popcorn
Poppy
Queen
Rembrandt
Rio
Rocky
Rowan
Ruby
Sapphire
Sasha
Scout
Seashell
Shelly
Shimmer
Sienna
Sioux
Snowball
Sweet pea
Tigger
Tilly
Traveler
Trigger
Universe
Vanderbilt
Versailles
Victoria
Victory
Wildflower

Old English Horse Names

Horses with ancestry from the British Isles should have an old English name to indicate their spirit, energy, and attitude. Refer to an old English dictionary if you don’t like any of the ones here.

Ábrecan: break or vanquish; take by storm
Ágeolwan: to become yellow or to make glitter like gold
Beowulf: warrior from the classic tale
Biorn: warrior or soldier
Blican: glitter or dazzle
Blonca: white or gray horse
Cempestre: female warrior
Crypel: crippled horse
Cylew: spotted or speckled
Cyrtenes: elegance or beauty
Dawn: morning
Dinne: tempest
Dústswearm: dust cloud
Eoh: horse
Fealu: yellow, dusky or gray
Freca: warrior hero
Gawain: knight at King Arthur’s Round Table
Gebleod: beauty with variegated colors
Gelew: yellow bay
Genip: mist or obscurity; storm cloud
Geolo: yellow
Geoluread: yellow-red or orange
Gesplottod: spotted
Glæm: glamour
Gunnian: horse’s neigh
Gwenyfar or Gwenivere: King Arthur’s wife
Hearding: brave man; hero or warrior
Hengst: stallion or gelding
Herewosa: one who is fierce in fighting
Herewulf: warrior
Hiwness: beauty or fairness
Hnægan: neighs happily
Hors: horse
Hwisprian: whisper
Igraine: King Arthur’s mother
Llamrei: famous horse of King Arthur
Mearh: mare or horse
Morgaine: King Arthur’s sister
Oferweder: storm tempest
Ofost: haste
Onrid: riding horse
Rádhors: riding horse with a saddle
Reod: red
Rún: whisper
Sceám: white horse
Sciéno: elfin beauty
Scilfor: yellow golden glittering
Scur: shower; as in rain, snow or hail
Sigeróf: victorious
Sir Lancelot: knight at King Arthur’s Round Table
Snúd: swiftness
Specfall: full of spots
Spéd: speed in prosperity
Spircan: sparkle
Stéda: stud horse
Storm: storm
Stott: inferior horse
Strácian: wild horse
Styrman: stormy
Swancor: slender and trim horse
Týtan: sparkle shine
Unweder: bad weather
Uther Pendragon: King Arthur’s father
Weder: weather
Wederwolcen: cloud
Windhreose: wind storm
Windræs: wind storm
Wóda: storm flood or danger

Old Irish Horse Names

Having a horse called by an Old Irish word could be great for a bay gelding that has a fairy-like, mysterious quality. Perhaps your horse has unusual markings, special horse click of the hooves, or projects a sort of other-worldliness.

Read an old Irish pronunciation guide to ensure you say the word right.

Áilleacht: beauty
Aingeal: angel
Aoibhinn: glorious; beautiful
Báirseach: an intimidating woman referred to as a dragon
Ballach: spotted
Banríon Sí: fairy queen
Bean Sí: banshee
Beithíoch: horse
Bogha Báistí: rainbow
Breac: spotted
Breáthacht: beautiful landscape
Bua: victory
Buí: yellow
Calma: brave
Capall: horse
Carbad: chariot
Ceol Sí: fairy music
Cladhartha: cowardly
Cróga: brave
Dearg: red
Deatach: smoke
Dílseacht: loyalty
Donn: brown haired
Dragan: dragon
Draíocht: mysterious power
Each: horse
Fiaphoc: male deer
Galánta: glorious; beautiful
Gliondar: delight
Glórmhar: glorious; illustrious
Litir Ghrá: love letter
Luas: speed
Lúcháir: delight
Maise: beauty
Meata: coward
Misniúil: brave
Oirirc: glorious; illustrious
Raicleach: an intimidating woman referred to as a dragon
Réimse Fairsing: wide range of colors, rainbow-like
Ríméad: delight
Rua: red haired
Scamall Báistí: rain cloud
Scéimh: beauty
Scread Chráite: banshee wail
Seansaighdiúir: warhorse
Searrach: foal
Sióg: fairy
Smálaithe: spotted, as in stained
Stoirm: storm
Tintreach: lightning, electricity
Toirneach: thunder
Toit: smoke
Tormáil: rumbling noise (female)
Tormán: rumbling noise (male)
Tuar Ceatha: rainbow

See more Irish horse names!

Horse Name Inspiration

When hunting a name possessing an old-time quality, there are many sources to glean inspiration. If you’re an old west history buff, there’s a plentitude of resources you can read to refresh your knowledge. Or, in the case you adore old western movies, peruse IMDB to review some classic characters.

Also, if the old English or Irish names are too difficult to say, you could refer to the movie, “Lord of the Rings.” Not only will you get a little help with pronunciation, but you may find one of the characters a perfect match.

Help Choosing The Right Name

Allow the horse to become part of the process. Let its personality clue you in. As a tip, your black horse or dark brown horse doesn’t have to indicate the color directly. As an example, you could call your black stallion, “Gunpowder.” This signifies his color but also portrays a subtle element of an explosive and strong personality.

Conclusion

No matter what name you decide for your equine buddy, you want to ensure it responds to it well. So, select a few names you think suit the character of your horse. Say each one a few times and observe the horse’s reaction. If nothing seems to stick, keep trying until you find the perfect one.

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