150 Moo-arvelous Cow Names for Your Cattle

herd of grazing cows on the field
150 Moo-arvelous Cow Namesfhm - Getty Images


If you’re a novice or veteran bovine guardian, settling on a name for a new addition to your family can feel like a daunting task. These well-known farm animals are highly intelligent, have unique personalities, and distinct physical characteristics that may factor into their names. Giving a fitting name to beloved cows (formally called cattle) can be a bit of a challenge if your herd is big or small. Whether you’re a lover of traditional names, unique ones, or monikers that describe their physical appearance, you have free rein to decide your approach to selecting a name.

Overall, it’s important to take your time with choosing a name that embodies your cow’s special qualities, physical traits, or personality. Read on to discover a variety of favorite cow names that are old-fashioned, male or female appropriate, color-inspired, food-themed, nature-inspired, fit for a miniature cow, and funny.

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cow names
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Country Living’s Favorite Cow Names

• Beau
• Bell
• Buttercup
• Daisy May
• Dolly
• Faith
• Honeybun
• Norma
• Pepper
• Stella
• Sweetie Pie
• Willow

Old-Fashioned Cow Names

• Annabelle
• Bessie
• Betsy
• Brownie
• Clarabelle
• Duke
• Earl
• Homer
• Ladybug
• Mabel
• Maggie
Maybelle
• Missy
• Sadie

cows on a meadow
Christoph Jorda - Getty Images

Cow Names for Males

• Angus
• Armor
• Bruno
• Bully
• Chester
• Curly
• Dandy
• Diesel
• Duke
• Elvis
• Ferdinand
• Horns
• Hydro
• Jasper
• Larry
• Maverick
• Moe
• Oliver
• Rex
• Rusty
• Sage
• Simba
• Tank
• Tiger
• Tink

Cow Names for Females

• Amber
• Anna
• Barbie
Bell
• Charlotte
• Clara
• Clementine
• Cookie
• Darla
• Elsie
• Faith
• Georgia
• Irene
• Jolene
• Marge
• Opal
• Paula
• Penny
• Poppy
• Rosie
• Ruby
• Ruby Anne
• Sunshine
• Suzie
• Trixie

cows near hag's head, county clare, ireland
by Andrea Pucci - Getty Images

Color-Inspired Cow Names

• Ash
• Auburn
• Blue
• Cocoa
• Ebony
• Fawn
• Freckles
• Jet
• Lavender
• Lilac
• Midnight
• Nutmeg
• Pinky
• Red
• Speckles
• Tansy

Food-Inspired Cow Names

• Almond
• Apple
• Bacon
• Barley
• Butter
• Buttercup
• Cinnamon
• Cupcake
• Ginger
• Java
• Pancake
• Peaches
• Plum
• Sir Loin
• Sprinkles
• Strawberry
• Tabasco

funny portrait of cow close up
Oleg Breslavtsev - Getty Images

Nature-Inspired Cow Names

• Acorn
• Camellia
• Clover
• Delilah
• Ginger
• Jasmine
• Junebug
• Lily
• Petunia
• Piper
• Primrose
• Pumpkin
• Rose
• Rosemary
• Spring
• Tulip
• Violet

Miniature Cow Names

• Baby
• Danny Boy
• Little Red
• Little Lady
• Pearl
• Precious
• Sugar

minature scottish highland cattle in a field
levers2007 - Getty Images

Funny Cow Names

• Bandit
• Betsy Moo
• Bossy
• Bumblebee
• Calamity-Jane
• Cowboy
• Miss Muffet
• Moo
• Moolissa
• Mootilda
• Sassy
• Snuggles
• Sparky
• Spock
• Tabasco
• Turbo

What to Consider When Selecting Your Cow’s Name

  • Gender: If your cow is male (commonly called a bull or steer) or female (commonly called a cow or heifer), you may want to look at traditional cattle names that are also popular among humans.

  • Color: Your cattle may have distinct color that may be common in their particular breed. For instance, Aberdeen Angus cattle can be black or red-colored. You can easily pick a name that correlates with their color.

  • Type and Breed: If you have a dairy cow, one with horns, or beef breed select a name that factors in the type of cow.

  • Number of Cows: If you have a small group of cattle or a bigger herd, picking names based on this fact can either simplify your choices or make it more complicated. For instance, if you have a group of three steers, they could be named after the Three Stooges (i.e. Moe, Larry, and Curly)! Feel free to get creative with your choices.

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