Small Pets Exotic Pets Exotic Pet Names

92 Names for Cows

Cream-colored cows grazing behind wire fence

The Spruce / Autumn Wood

Naming your cow, whether it be a family pet or a productive family animal, can make you bovine friend feel like family. Whether it be naming one cow, a pair of cows, or a small herd, we've pulled 92 cow names to help spark your own creativity.

Top Cow Names

  • Bessie
  • Brownie
  • Buttercup
  • Clarabelle
  • Dottie
  • Guinness
  • Magic
  • Nellie
  • Penelope
  • Penny
  • Rosie
  • Snowflake
  • Sprinkles
  • Sugar

Tips for Naming Your Cow

As you start your quest for a great name for your cow, consider some of your cow’s defining characteristics. First, is your cow male (called a bull or a steer) or female (called a cow or heifer)? Also important is your cow’s color, which is often linked to its breed. For instance, Angus cattle are usually black, Holstein cattle are black and white, and Jersey cattle are brown. Don’t forget about the type of cow you own. Even if your cow’s sole purpose will be as your treasured pet, is your cow a dairy cow or beef cow? Also, think about how many cows you have to name. Coming up with names that rhyme or themed names for two, three, four, or more cows is always fun. All of these features can help inspire you as you start thinking about the perfect name for your cow.

Finally, let’s address a bit of a tough topic. Some people keep cows strictly as pets, but for others, cows serve a purpose, providing milk or meat. Naming your pet cow or your dairy cow is a wonderful exercise, but it’s not a good idea to name a calf or cow that will someday become someone’s sustenance. The act of naming a creature is bonding and personal, which makes it hard when it’s time to say goodbye.

More Cow Name Ideas

The following lists of cow names include tried-and-true classic cow names, names that pay homage to your cow’s color, and more. Remember, you can name your cow anything you want, so have some fun with it.

Traditional Cow Names 

Some cow names are simple classics, used as bovine monikers for centuries. Note the abundance of names with “bell” in them. It’s possible they were inspired by the cowbells traditionally placed on cows so their owners could keep track of the cow’s whereabouts. Take a gander at some of these time-honored cow names:

  • Annabelle
  • Bella
  • Bessie
  • Betty
  • Betsie
  • Bossy
  • Clarabelle
  • Daisy
  • Flossie
  • Gertie
  • Henrietta
  • Nellie
  • Rosie

Names for Black Cows  

Some cow names based on the color black include:

  • Angus
  • Black Beauty
  • Blackjack
  • Ebony
  • Emery
  • Espresso
  • Guinness
  • Magic
  • Midnight
  • Onyx
  • Shadow
  • Smokey
  • Storm
  • Thunder

Names for Black and White Cows  

What could be more quintessentially bovine than the black and white cow? Some fun names to consider include:

  • Cookies and Cream
  • Domino
  • Dot
  • Dottie
  • Oreo
  • Panda
  • Patches
  • Polka Dot
  • Speckles 
  • Spot
  • Sprinkles
  • Tux (short for Tuxedo)

Names for Brown Cows

How about these names for a brown cow? Here are some ideas based on the color brown:

  • Brownie
  • Butterscotch
  • Cocoa
  • Hershey
  • Hickory
  • Honey
  • Mocha
  • Molasses
  • Moose
  • Nutella

Names for Red Cows

Some red cow name ideas include:

  • Amber
  • Brandy
  • Cabernet
  • Cayenne
  • Copper
  • Crimson
  • Foxy
  • Ginger
  • Goldie
  • Peaches
  • Penny
  • Red
  • Rosie
  • Ruby

Names for White Cows  

White cows are beautiful to behold. Consider some names based on a white cow’s striking color:

  • Angel
  • Bianca
  • Coconut
  • Crystal
  • Diamond
  • Ivory
  • Marshmallow
  • Milky
  • Pearl
  • Popcorn
  • Snowball
  • Snowflake
  • Snowy
  • Sugar

Female Cow Names 

It’s cute to choose an extra-girly name for a female cow. Consider some of these feminine cow names:

  • Arabella
  • Buttercup
  • Chloe
  • Ella
  • Emma
  • Maggie
  • Melody
  • Millie
  • Minnie
  • Muffin
  • Penelope
  • Phoebe
  • Princess
  • Sadie
  • Sweetie

For more pet name ideas, check out: