Western Horse Names (350+ Ideas For Cowboys And Cowgirls)

Naming your horse is fun, but it can be a challenge, especially if you specifically want a “western” name. You may want something that feels like it’s right out of a cowboy movie, but it also will have to match your horse in some way.

There are many ways you can approach this task. Do you want to go with a famous name, one that describes your horse, or one that matches your interests? Do you want one that’s totally unique?

This extensive list of western horse names is the ultimate guide because it will help you narrow down your horse’s name choices by category.

Now you can sit back, relax, and see if any of these names jump out and “brand” you as you ride along the western horse-naming trail.

Western Horse Names

Famous Western Horse Names

Due to the popularity of TV and movie westerns, a famous western horse name will make any horse lover’s face light up with recognition when they hear it.

Names of some of the most famous horses and their riders are shown below.

  1. Taco – Chito Rafferty 
  2. Pal – Bob Allen 
  3. Target – Annie Oakley 
  4. Stormy – Wild Bill Elliott 
  5. Ollie – Maverick 
  6. Scar – James Stewart 
  7. Silver – The Lone Ranger
  8. Tumbleweed – Audie Murphy 
  9. Sunny – Harry Carey 
  10. Pardner – Buddy Roosevelt 
  11. Diablo – Cisco Kid 
  12. Tonka – Sal Mineo 
  13. Tornado – Zorro 
  14. Goldie – Hoot Gibson 
  15. Falcon – Buster Crabbe 
  16. El Loaner – James Garner 
  17. Trigger – Roy Rogers
  18. Little Champ – Gene Autry 
  19. Banner – John Wayne 
  20. Whiskey – Kirk Douglas 
  21. Old Thunder – Gregory Peck 
  22. Topper – Hopalong Cassidy 
  23. Tony – Tom Mix 
  24. Dice – Gregory Peck 
  25. Buster – Clint Eastwood
Click here to see more famous horse names from movies!

Old Western Horse Names

Vintage names can be beautiful, interesting, and trendy. They can bring out a nostalgic sense of yesteryear that many people crave these days.

Here are some good old names harkening back to the days of the American west frontier:

  1. Gunner
  2. Outlaw
  3. Skedaddle
  4. Muse
  5. Bodega
  6. Deuce
  7. Saloon
  8. Bogus
  9. El Dorado
  10. Scuds
  11. Cannon
  12. Sheriff
  13. Gunslinger
  14. Chief
  15. Bounty
  16. Baron
  17. Shotgun
  18. Scamp
  19. Shanty

Western Horse Names For Mares 

If you’re looking for a lovely name for your new female horse, the sky’s the limit. Inspiration can come from anywhere, including prairies, wildflowers, or other natural earth elements.

You can even name your mare after your mom, sister, wife, or best friend. (Maybe check with them first to see if they’d mind.)

  1. Sally
  2. Daisy
  3. Maybelle
  4. Montana
  5. Dakota
  6. Sweetheart
  7. Tulsa
  8. Annabelle
  9. Charlotte
  10. Bella
  11. Betsy
  12. Arizona
  13. Rose
  14. Jolene
  15. Dumplin’
  16. Paisley
  17. Justice
  18. Dawn
  19. Bailey
  20. Kate
  21. Dolly
  22. Diamond
Click here to see more female horse names!

Western Horse Names For Geldings And Stallions

If you’re seeking a masculine name for your big boy, there are plenty to choose from. Some stallion names you might consider include:

  1. Angus
  2. Amos
  3. Biscuit
  4. Bucky
  5. Bronco
  6. Romeo
  7. Hunter
  8. Grainger
  9. Senator
  10. Rudolph
  11. Brisket
  12. Scout
  13. Falcon
  14. Cash
  15. Rodeo
  16. Rhett
  17. Mischief
  18. Yukon
  19. Ranger
  20. Cowboy
  21. Duck
  22. Cody
  23. Cactus
  24. Starr
  25. Ringo
  26. Wade
  27. Bandit
  28. Henry
  29. Sonny
  30. Colonel
  31. Butch
  32. Smoky
  33. Arrow
  34. Carter
  35. Reno
  36. Whoa
  37. Grazer
  38. Jeb
Click here to see more male horse names!

Cowboy Horse Names

What’s a western horse without a cowboy (or a cowgirl, for that matter)? Here are some western cowboy/cowgirl names that may be the perfect match for your horse:

  1. Doc
  2. Rider
  3. Tex
  4. Bandero
  5. Casanova
  6. Shooter
  7. Annie
  8. Buckaroo
  9. Oakley
  10. Cassidy
  11. Tequila
  12. Rawhide
  13. Yee-haw
  14. Billy
  15. Banjo
  16. Ambush
  17. Dillon
  18. Howdy
  19. Chaps
  20. Wyatt
  21. Calamity
  22. Bandit
  23. Sawdust
  24. Tombstone
  25. Dixie
  26. Kid
  27. Whiskey
  28. Dale
  29. Bamboozle
  30. Jesse

Good Western Horse Names

Do you want your horse to project a positive image? If so, try a few of these really good western names on for size:

  1. Buttercup
  2. Dancer
  3. Sunshine
  4. Sunny
  5. Angel
  6. Happy
  7. Smiley
  8. Sweetie
  9. Pride
  10. Fortune
  11. Sundance
  12. Goldie
  13. Breeze
  14. Blaze
  15. Lucky

Unique Western Horse Names

Why not give your horse a western name based on something unexpected, like an object from a western movie scene, or maybe even a Spanish word?

How about one of these:

Objects:

  1. Coyote
  2. Flamenco
  3. Gambler
  4. Robber
  5. Lasso
  6. Bullet
  7. Camp
  8. Colt
  9. Mesa
  10. Monsoon
  11. Gold Dust
  12. Saddle

Spanish words:

  1. D’Oro
  2. Rey
  3. Isabella
  4. Rio
  5. Sol
  6. Arroyo
  7. Reyna
See more unique horse names!

Western Horse Show Names

Do western horse shows inspire you? Maybe these names, all having to do with horse shows or specific riding skills, will give you a head start:

  1. Jogger
  2. Pleasure
  3. Show-Low
  4. Loper
  5. Com-Pete
  6. Trotter
  7. Champ
  8. Barrel
  9. Penn
  10. Balance
  11. Roper

Horse Show winners sometimes have long or unique names.

Here are a few:

  1. Second Balcony (1980, Carte Blanche Grand Prix)
  2. Touch of Class (1985, Mercedes Grand Prix of New York)
  3. Crown Royal Legato (1998, Budweiser Grand Prix of New York)

However, if these sound a little too classy to you, maybe it would be better to go with something funny or clever, like these actual show horse names:

  1. None of Your Business
  2. Daddy’s Money
  3. Bill E Idol
  4. Iron I Lucky
  5. Under the Influence
  6. The Biggest Loser

Western Names For White Horse

Your white horse may be well suited to a name that is light and bright. Why not choose a name that matches its stunning coloration?

Something on this list may catch your eye.

  1. Fleece
  2. Planet
  3. Snowflake
  4. Phantom
  5. Sleet
  6. Lamb
  7. Lacey
  8. Flash
  9. Smoky
  10. Hailey
  11. Spirit
  12. Cloud
  13. Pearl
  14. Lightning
  15. Star
  16. Firefly
  17. Blanket
  18. Opal
  19. Popcorn
  20. Smoke
  21. Snow
  22. Snowball
  23. Buttermilk
Click here to see more white horse names!

Western Names For Brown Horses

A brown horse can be enjoyable to name because there are so many color variations, from tawny to chestnut to almost black. Earthy and food-related names can go well with a brown horse.

Here are some to get you started:

  1. Copper
  2. Kit Kat
  3. Chocolate
  4. Tierra
  5. Autumn
  6. Brandy
  7. Cinnamon
  8. Spice
  9. Molasses
  10. Brownie
  11. Adobe
  12. Sierra
  13. Coco
  14. Cocoa
  15. Rust
  16. Mudd
Click here to see more brown horse names!

Western Names For Black Horses

There are plenty of options for black horses. Of course, you probably don’t want to go with the over-used name, “Black Beauty,” although we’re not telling you not to.

But check out this list of other names for dark steeds:

  1. Hawk
  2. Halloween
  3. Noir
  4. Vulture
  5. Bat
  6. Darth
  7. Onyx
  8. Morticia
  9. Spider
  10. Beetle
  11. Ebony
  12. Sable
  13. Knight
  14. Panther
  15. Evening
  16. Midnight
  17. Pepper
  18. Jaguar
  19. Caviar
  20. Fly
  21. Zorro
Click here to see more black horse names!

Western Names For Black And White Horses

With black and white horses, you need to put a little thought into it. Your black and white beauty deserves the very best name that will highlight its uniqueness.

These two-toned names will dazzle you:

  1. Oreo
  2. Freckles
  3. Domino
  4. Dottie
  5. Napoleon
  6. Boots
  7. Dot
  8. Spatter
  9. Paint
  10. Speckles
  11. Spot
  12. Patches

Horse Name Inspiration

Western locations, artists, authors, sports teams, and movie/TV titles can also give you ideas.

Here are just some of the many options:

Western locations:

  1. Yuma
  2. Yosemite
  3. Vegas
  4. Houston
  5. Napa
  6. Francisco
  7. Winchester
  8. Canyon
  9. Dallas
  10. Laramie
  11. Durango
  12. Nevada
  13. Phoenix
  14. Tucson
  15. Old Smokey
  16. Zion

Western artists:

  1. Remington
  2. Rockwell
  3. O’Keeffe
  4. Kahlo

Western authors:

  1. Zane
  2. L’Amour
  3. Abbey

Western sports teams:

  1. Spurs
  2. 49er
  3. Charger
  4. Raider
  5. Bronco
  6. Seahawk
  7. Dodger
  8. Padre
  9. Rocky
  10. Laker
  11. Supersonic
  12. Nugget
  13. Clipper
  14. King
  15. Jazz

Western movie and TV titles:

  1. Easy Rider
  2. Little Big Man
  3. Searcher
  4. Stagecoach
  5. True Grit
  6. Shane
  7. Clementine
  8. Lonesome Dove
  9. Josey Wales
  10. Gunsmoke
  11. Maverick
  12. Bonanza
  13. Liberty

Help Choosing The Right Name

More help for horse names can come from anywhere around you. Just take a look around at the weather, vegetation, and minerals we see in the west and elsewhere:

Weather:

  1. Rain
  2. Shadow
  3. Hurricane
  4. Thunder
  5. Lightning
  6. Storm
  7. Stormy

Vegetation:

  1. Maple
  2. Ash
  3. Bee
  4. Cactus
  5. Pollen
  6. Eclipse
  7. Aspen
  8. Birch
  9. Saguaro
  10. Prickly pear
  11. Manzanita
  12. Palo

Minerals:

  1. Goldie
  2. Copper
  3. Turquoise
  4. Ruby
  5. Quartz
  6. Garnet
  7. Feldspar

Other horse owners will probably be more than willing to share ideas with you. Perhaps you’ll even want to name your horse along with theirs, as a pair.

Here are some horse pair ideas:

  1. Charles and Diana
  2. Lee and Grant
  3. Fred and Barney
  4. Winston and Churchill
  5. LaVerne and Shirley
  6. Mary and Rhoda
  7. Bonnie and Clyde
  8. Sonny and Cher
  9. Black and Decker
  10. Fred and Ginger
  11. Harry and Sally

Above all, you’ll want to choose a name that ages well. Don’t pick something you’ll regret next year.

For example, naming your horse “Facebook,” or giving him or her the name of your latest crush, are big no-no’s.

You might want to consider selecting a name that’s easy to spell (or hard to misspell, anyway). Names like “Pharaoh” can spell disaster.

Lastly, you may have a special interest in the arts, music, or geography that will cause you to lean in that direction. Or maybe you’ll want to choose a name that just sounds good to your particular ear. 

Conclusion

A horse’s name lasts forever. You’ll want to choose one you know fits your horse to a T.

Things to consider include not only the color, gender, breed, and personality of your horse, but whether or not you want him or her to have an old-fashioned, positive, famous, or quirky name.

If you want a western name, there are plenty of options. But remember: Horses have been associated with the wild, wild west for over a century, so most horse names will sound a bit “western” anyway.

Be open-minded when choosing a name, and one should pop out at you as just perfect for your new equine partner.

Whatever you choose, you can feel confident about your final decision because you took the time to think about many possibilities. 

Now pat your new horse, whisper its name in its ear, and go for a nice, long ride. Happy trails!

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

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