Horse Names, Equine Names
Names for horses, burros, mules, donkeys, etc. Equine-related names. Names that
mean horse, mare, steed, fleet-footed, etc. Also see Fire Names for names that mean
Flame, Fiery, etc. See Weather Names for Thunder and Lightning names.
 
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"A good horse sholde have three propyrtees of a man, three of a woman, three of a foxe, three of a haare, and three of an asse.

• "Of a man. Bolde, prowde, and hardye.

• "Of a woman. Fayre-breasted, faire of heere, and easy to move.

• "Of a foxe. A fair taylle, short eers, with a good trotte.

• "Of an asse. A bygge chynn, a flat legge, and a good hoof."

--Wynkyn de Worde (1496).

• UNISEX:

  1. AGRIPPA: Latin biblical name of the Herod Agrippa of the New Testament who ordered the execution of the apostle James, and the imprisonment of Peter. The name is used as a feminine name in Russia, it is therefore a unisex name, meaning "wild horse."

  2. CLAVILENO: "Wooden-pin wing-bearer." Gradasso's horse. This is the name of the wooden horse Don Quixote and Sancho Panza mounted to achieve the liberation of Dolori'da and her companions. Variants: Alfana, Algie'ro Clavile'no, Aligero Clavileno.

  3. DOOMSTEAD: Scandinavian name of the horse of the Norns.

  4. ILDERIM: Arabic word for a model Arabian stallion.

  5. KELPY or KELPIE: "Of the color of kelp/sea-weed." Myth name of the water-horse of fairy mythology.

  6. PODARGE: "Fleet-foot." Greek unisex myth name of several characters: 1) one of the Harpies who was the mother of Balius and Xanthus; 2) it was another name that the rainbow goddess Iris was known by; and 3) it was Priam's birth name; he changed it after buying his life from Herakles.

  7. ROAN BARBARY: Name of King Richard II's favorite horse. "When Bolingbroke rode on Roan Barbary, That horse that thou so often hast bestrid." Shakespeare: Richard II., v. 5. Roan means "reddish-brown." Barbary means "foreign lands," from Latin barbarus, meaning "barbarous," possibly ultimately from Greek barbar, a word used to describe the sound of the unintelligible speech of foreigners.

  8. SHADOWLESS: This was the name of the horse belonging to Cao Cao, the last Chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty in China.

• MALE:

  1. ABASTOR: Greek myth name of one of Pluto's (Aidoneus) four night-black steeds, meaning "away from the stars" or "deprived of the light of day," and said to "outspeed the stars."

  2. ABATOS: Greek myth name of one of Pluto's (Aidoneus) four night-black steeds, meaning "inaccessible," in reference to the infernal realm. This steed was said to be as "fleet as thought."

  3. ABRAX: "Shining one." Name of one of the steeds of Aurora. The other is Phaeton.

  4. ABRAXAS: Greek myth name of one of the horses belonging to the sun god Helios. It is also the name of a demon of lies and deceit. The letters of the name add up to 365, the number of days in the year. It has been found in Greek magical texts and may be related to the word abracadabra, itself possibly from Aramaic avra kedabra, meaning "I will create as I speak."

  5. ACTAEON (Actæ'on): Greek myth name of one of the horses of the sun god Helios, and a hunter who was torn apart by his own dogs, meaning "effulgence."

  6. AETHON (Æthon): Greek myth name of one of the horses of the sun god Helios, meaning "fiery red."

  7. AETON (A'eton): Myth name of one Pluto's horses, meaning "swift as an eagle."

  8. AGRIPIN: Russian masculine form of Latin Agrippina, meaning "wild horse." 

  9. AHEARN: Variant of Irish Ahern, meaning "lord of horses." 

  10. AHERIN: Variant of Irish Ahern, meaning "lord of horses." 

  11. AHERN: "Lord of horses." Irish surname transferred to forename use, itself from the Gaelic surname Ó hEachthighearna "descendant of Eachthighearna."

  12. AHERNE: Variant of Irish Ahern, meaning "lord of horses." 

  13. ALASTOR: English variant of Irish Alastar, meaning "defender of mankind." This is also a Greek myth name of one of Pluto's four black horses.

  14. AQUILINE: "Like an eagle." In Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered, this is Raymond's steed, bred on the banks of the Tagus.

  15. ARCHIPPOS: "Master of horses." Greek name, derived from the elements archos "master" and hippos "horse."

  16. ARION: "Martial; war-horse." Greek myth name of the horse Hercules gave to Adrastos. This was a horse of Neptune which he brought out of the earth by striking it with his trident. Its right feet were those of a human. It spoke with a human voice and ran with incredible speed. 

  17. ARKHIP: Russian form of Greek Archippos, meaning "master of horses."

  18. ARVAK and ALSVID: "Early riser/splendid" and "All-swift/all-scorching." In Norse mythology, these were the names of two horses who pulled the sun goddess Sunna's chariot. It was said that the sunlight came from their manes, while the sun, itself, only gave off heat. They are also called Arvakur and Alsvidur.

  19. BAJARDO: "Bay color." Name of Rinaldo's horse, once the property of Amadis of Gaul. It was found by Malagigi, the wizard, in a cave guarded by a dragon which the wizard slew. According to tradition, the horse still lives, but flees at the approach of man, so that no one can ever hope to catch him.

  20. BALIUS and XANTHUS: "Dappled" and "Blonde." Some sources say their names mean "Swift" and "Chestnut." In Greek mythology, these were the names of the two immortal horses belonging to Achilles. They were the offspring of the harpy Podarge ("swift-foot") and the west wind Zephyros. Variants: Balios and Xanthos.

  21. BAYARD: As a derivative of Middle English and Old French baie, the name means "reddish brown" or "bright bay color." If a derivative of baiard, it may have been a byname for someone "foolhardy." In medieval romances, this was the name of a magic horse from the legends of the chansons de geste ("Songs of Heroic Deeds") which was given to Renaud by Charlemagne. It belonged to the four sons of Aymon, and had the ability to grow larger or smaller as one or more of the four sons mounted it. According to tradition, one of its foot-prints may still be seen in the forest of Soignes, and another on a rock near Dinant. Variants: Baiardo, Bayardo.

  22. BRIGADORE, or BRIGLIADORE [Bril-yar-dore]: Name of Sir Guyon's horse in Spencer's Faërie Queene, which had a distinguishing black spot in its mouth, like a horse-shoe in shape.

  23. BRIGLIADORO [Bril-ya-doro]: "Golden-bridle." Orlando's famous charger in Orlando Furioso, second only to Bayardo in swiftness and wonderful powers. 

  24. BRONTE: "Thunder." Name of one of the horses of the Sun. Bronte is an altered form of Irish Prunty, itself a form of Gaelic Ó Proinntigh, meaning "descendant of Proinnteach." In Prunty's altered form (Bronte) the name is identical to the Sicilian place name which literally means "thunder." Prunty was probably purposely altered to Bronte by bearers of the name who admired Lord Nelson who was awarded the title of Duke of Bronte in 1799 by Ferdinand, King of the Two Sicilies.

  25. BRONZOMARLE: "A mettlesome sorrel." Name of the horse of Sir Launcelot Greaves. 

  26. BUCEPHALUS: "Ox-head." Latin form of Greek Bucephalos, name of Alexander the Great's horse, said to be descended from the Mares of Diomed. Alexander was the only person who could mount Bucephalos, and Bucephalus always knelt down to take up his master. He was thirty years old at death, and Alexander built a city for his mausoleum, which he called Bucephala.

  27. CELER: "Swift." Name of the horse of the Roman Emperor Verus. It was fed on almonds and raisins, covered with royal purple, and stalled in the imperial palace. 

  28. CENTAUR: In Greek mythology, this was the name of a type of creature part human and part horse. They were depicted as being wild, lawless and inhospitable, having truly animalistic passions. However, two centaurs, Pholus ("of the cave or den") and Chiron ("surgeon"), are said to have been good-natured centaurs.

  29. CERUS: "Fit." Name of the horse belonging to Adrastos that was swifter than the wind.

  30. EACHANN: "Brown horse." Scottish name composed of the Gaelic elements each "horse" and donn "brown."

  31. EACHTHIGHEARNA: "Lord of horses." Gaelic name composed of the elements each "horse," and tighearna "lord, master."

  32. EMBARR: "Imagination." In Irish mythology, this was the name of the heroine Niamh's magical horse that could cross the sea and land without touching the water or the ground.

  33. EOOS: "Day-break." Myth name of one of the horses of the Sun.

  34. ERYTHREOS: "Red-producer." Myth name of a horse of the Sun.

  35. ETHIOPS: Myth name of one of the horses of the Sun, meaning "flashing."

  36. ETON: Greek myth name of one of Pluto's (Aidoneus) four night-black steeds, said to be "swift as birds."

  37. FIREFOOT: This was the name of a horse owned by Eomer in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.

  38. FRONTALETTO: "Little head." This is the name of Sacripant's charger in Orlando Furioso. Variants: Frontin, Frontino.

  39. GALATHE: "Cream-colored." Greek name of one of Hector's horses.

  40. GRANE: "Grey-colored." In German legend, this is the name of Siegfrid's swift horse. 

  41. GREYFELL: Norse myth name of Sigurðr's horse.

  42. GRINGOLET: In Arthurian Legend, this was the name of Sir Gawain's horse, probably meaning either "white-hardy" or "handsome-hardy." Famous for his ability in combat. He first appears in Chretien de Troyes's Erec and Enide where he is borrowed by Sir Kay for a joust against Sir Erec.

  43. GULLTOPP: "Golden mane." Norse myth name of the horse of Heimdall. Variant: Gulltoppr.

  44. HAIZUM (Haïz'um): Name of the horse God gave to the archangel Gabriel. It was winged like Pegasus and could fly from one cosmic plane to another in a second.

  45. HARPAGOS: "One that carries off rapidly." Greek myth name of one of the horses of the Gemini twins Castor and Pollux.

  46. HENGIST: "Stallion." Brother of Horsa ("Horse"). A semi-legendary ruler of Kent who, according to some Arthurian legends, was killed by Uther Pendragon. 

  47. HENGROEN: "Old skin." In Arthurian Legend, this was the name of King Arthur's horse. Variant: Hen Groen.

  48. HEXMARK: This was the name of a steed belonging to Liu Bei, a powerful warlord and emperor of the Kingdom of Shu in ancient China.

  49. HIPOLIT: Polish form of Greek Hippolytos, meaning "horse-freer."

  50. HIPOLITO: Portuguese and Spanish form of Greek Hippolytos, meaning "horse-freer."

  51. HIPPOCRATES: Latin form of Greek Hippokrates, meaning "horse power."

  52. HIPPOKRATES: "Horse power." Greek name composed of the elements hippos "horse" and kratos "power."

  53. HIPPOLYTOS: "Horse-freer." Greek myth name of the son of Theseus, composed of the elements hippos "horse" and lyo "to loosen." 

  54. HOFVARPNIR: "Hoof-thrower." In Norse mythology, this was the name of a horse belonging to the goddess Gna, said to be able to move through the air and across water.

  55. HORSA: Old English semi-legendary name of the brother of Hengist, meaning "horse." 

  56. HRIMFAXI: See Skinfaxi and Hrimfaxi.

  57. INCITATUS: "Spurred on." Latin name of the horse belonging to Roman Emperor Caligula. It had an ivory manger, and drank wine out of a golden pail.

  58. IPPOLIT: Russian form of Greek Hippolytos, meaning "horse-freer."
  59. IPPOLITO: Italian form of Greek Hippolytos, meaning "horse-freer."

  60. LAMPON: "The bright one." Greek name of one of the Mares of Diomed.

  61. LAMPOS: "Shining like a lamp." Greek myth name of one of the steeds of the Sun at noon.

  62. LAMRI: "The curveter." In Arthurian Legend, this was the name of a steed belonging to King Arthur. 

  63. LUAGOR: "Host splitter." In Arthurian Legend, this was the name of Sir Caradoc's horse.

  64. MARENGO: "Of the sea." This was the name of Napoleon's horse which was captured by the British and outlived Napoleon by eight years. He was a gray Arabian, named after the Marengi Battle through which he carried his rider safely.

  65. NEPTUNE: Latin myth name of a god of horses and the sea, derived from Latin Neptunus. The etymology of both Neptune and Poseidon are uncertain, but Poseidon, also known as "earth-shaker," may mean "distribution-lord." Neptune is also the name of a planet in the solar system.

  66. NONIOS: Greek myth name of one of Pluto's (Aidoneus) four night-black steeds, said to be "quick as light."

  67. PEGASUS: Latin form of Greek Pegasos, myth name of the winged horse who was the son of Poseidon and the Gorgon Medusa, and brother of the giant Chrysaor. Like Athena, who was born of Zeus's head, Pegasos and Chrysaor are said to have been born of Medusa's neck when Perseus beheaded her. According to Hesiod, everywhere Pegasus struck hoof to earth an inspiring spring burst forth. The name was derived from the word pegaios, meaning "born near the pege (source of the ocean, spring, or well)."

  68. PHAETON: "The shining one." Name of one of the steeds of Aurora. The other is Abrax.

  69. PHALLAS: "Stallion." Name of the horse of Heraclios.

  70. PHLEGON: "The burning/blazing one." Greek myth name of one of the horses of the noon-day sun.

  71. PHOLOS: Original Greek form of Latin Pholus, myth name of a wise centaur, meaning "of the cave or den." He was a friend of Hercules who accidentally poisoned him; he surrendered his immortality to be rid of the agony of the poison.
  72. PHOLUS: Latin form of Greek Pholos, myth name of a wise centaur, meaning "of the cave or den."
  73. PHRENICOS: "Intelligent." Name of the horse of Hiero of Syracuse that won the Olympic prize for single horses in the seventy-third Olympiad.
  74. POLO: From the vocabulary word for a ball game played on horseback.
  75. POSEIDON: Greek myth name of a god of horses and the sea. Equated with Roman Latin Neptune. He is also known as the "earth-shaker." Of uncertain etymology, but possibly means "distribution-lord."
  76. PUROEIS: "Fiery hot." Greek myth name of one of the horses of the noon-day sun.

  77. PYROIS: Myth name of one of the horses of the Sun, meaning "fiery."

  78. RABICANO or RABICAN: "Dark tail but with some white hairs." Argalia's horse in Orlando Innamorato, and Astolpho's horse in Orlando Furioso. Its dam was Fire, its sire Wind; it fed on unearthly food. 

  79. RIMFAXI: see Skinfaxi and Hrimfaxi.

  80. SILENUS: "Moving to and fro in the wine trough." In Greek mythology, this was the name of one of the Ipotanes/Sileni, a race of beings having the ears, tail, and legs of a horse. They were followers of the wine god Dionysos and were said to have been ugly drunkards. Silenus was the oldest and wisest of the Ipotanes, possessing the knowledge and power of prophecy.

  81. SISERA: Biblical name of a Canaanite general and enemy of the Israelites, meaning "horse."

  82. SKINFAXI and HRIMFAXI: "Sheen mane" and "Rime or frost mane." In Norse mythology, these were the names of two horses belonging to Dagr "day" and Nott "night." Skinfaxi pulled a chariot across the sky from east to west bringing day, and Hrimfaxi, west to east while his bridle (or bit) dripped the morning dew (rime-drops) which every night bedewed the earth.

  83. SLEIPNIR: "Gliding; smooth." In Norse mythology, this was the name of Odin's grey, eight-legged steed, the greatest of all horses which could traverse either land or sea. He was the offspring of Loki (transformed into a mare) and Svadilfari.

  84. SPUMADOR: "The foaming one." Name of a horse belonging to King Arthur.

  85. SVADILFARI: "Disaster; ill-fated." In Norse mythology, this was the name of a magical stallion belonging to a frost giant.

  86. TASUNKE: Native American Dakota name meaning "horse."

  87. VEGLIANTINO [Vail-yan-te'-no]: "The little vigilant one." The famous steed of Orlando, called in French romance Veillantif, Orlando being called Roland. 

  88. XANTHIPPOS: "Yellow horse." Greek name composed of the elements xanthos "yellow" and hippos "horse." 

  89. XANTHOS: Original Greek form of Latin Xanthus, myth name of several characters and creatures, including a semi-divine horse belonging to Achilles, meaning "yellow" or "blonde."

• FEMALE:

  1. AGRAFENA: Russian form of Latin Agrippina, meaning "wild horse."

  2. AGRIPENA: Variant of Latin Agrippina, meaning "wild horse."

  3. AGRIPINA: Variant of Latin Agrippina, meaning "wild horse."

  4. AGRIPPINA: Feminine form of Latin unisex Agrippa, meaning "wild horse." 

  5. AGRIPPINE: Variant of Latin Agrippina, meaning "wild horse." 

  6. ALBORAK: See Borak.

  7. ALCIPPE: Latin form of Greek Alkippe, meaning "mighty mare." In Greek mythology, this was the name of a daughter of Ares.

  8. ALKIPPE: Original Greek form of Latin Alcippe, meaning "mighty mare." 

  9. AMETHEA (Amethe'a): Greek myth name of one of the horses of the sun god Helios, meaning "no loiterer."

  10. ARUNDEL: This is the name of the horse of Bevis of Southampton, meaning "swift as a swallow." Hirondelle is the French form of the name, meaning "a swallow."

  11. ATALANTA: "Equal in weight." Latin form of Greek Atalante, myth name of the fleet-footed maiden who refused to marry any man who could not beat her in a foot-race.

  12. ATALANTE: Greek myth name of the fleet-footed maiden who refused to marry any man who could not beat her in a foot-race.

  13. BABIECA: "A simpleton; stupid." This was the name of the white Andalusian steed belonging to El Cid. According to legend, Babieca was frail and wild and when El Cid chose her, his godfather exclaimed "Babieca!" and so this became his name. Babieca, however, was not stupid; he became a great and famous warhorse and El Cid loved him so much he requested that Babieca be buried with him in the monastery of San Pedro de Cardena; unfortunately, his wish was not granted. Instead he was buried before the gate of the monastery and two elms were planted to mark the site.

  14. BLACK AGNES: The palfrey of Mary Queen of Scots, given to her by her brother Moray, and named after Agnes of Dunbar, a countess. Agnes is the English form of Greek Hagne, meaning "chaste; holy." 

  15. BORAK: "Lightning." Arabic myth name of the horse which conveyed Mahomet from earth to the seventh heaven. It was milk-white, had the wings of an eagle, and a human face, with horse's cheeks. Every pace she took was equal to the farthest range of human sight. She is also called Alborak "the lightning." 

  16. DINOS: "The marvel." Name of one of the Mares of Diomed.

  17. EOWYN: A Tolkien invention created from Old English, meaning "horse-friend."

  18. EPONA: Derives from epos, meaning "horse," and epa, meaning "mare." This is the Celtic myth name of the goddess of horses and fertility. 

  19. EPONINE: Name of the eldest daughter of the Thénardiers in Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. Possibly an equine-related name, meaning "horse-like."

  20. GRUSHA: Pet form of Russian Agrafena, meaning "wild horse."

  21. HIPPOLYTA: Latin form of Greek Hippolyte, meaning "horse-freer."

  22. HIPPOLYTE: Feminine form of Hippolytos, meaning "horse-freer." Greek myth name of the daughter of Ares. 

  23. LLAMREI: In Arthurian legend, this was the name of a mare belonging to King Arthur. It may be a feminine form of Lamri, meaning "curveter."

  24. MARES OF DIOMED: In Greek mythology, these were four wild, man-eating horses belonging to the giant Diomed, Tyrant of Thrace (not Diomede, son of Tydeus); he fed his horses on the strangers who visited his kingdom. One labor of Hercules was to steal these horses; he vanquished the tyrant, gave the carcass to the horses to eat then took them to King Eurystheus who dedicated them to the goddess Hera. "Like to the Thracian tyrant who, they, Unto his horses gave his guests for meat, Till he himself was made their greedy prey, And torn to pieces by Alcides great."-Spenser: Faërie Queene, book v. canto 8.

  25. OGRIFINA: Russian form of Agrippina, meaning "wild horse."

  26. OGROFENA: Russian form of Agrippina, meaning "wild horse."

  27. OGROFENKA: Nickname for Russian Ogrifina, meaning "wild horse."

  28. OGRUFENA: Russian form of Agrippina, meaning "wild horse."

  29. OGRUFINA: Russian form of Agrippina, meaning "wild horse."

  30. PHILOGEA: Myth name of one of the horses of the Sun, meaning "earth-loving."

  31. ROCINANTE (Ros'inante): "No longer a nag." Name of Don Quixote's horse. Variant: Rosinante.

  32. ROS: Nickname for English Rosalind "tender-horse" and Rosamund "horse-protection."

  33. ROSALEEN: Variant of English Rosalyn, meaning "tender-horse."

  34. ROSALIN: Variant of English Rosalyn, meaning "tender-horse."

  35. ROSALINA: Latin form of English Rosalyn, meaning "tender-horse."

  36. ROSALIND: "Tender-horse." English name composed of the Germanic elements hros "horse" and linde "soft, tender, weak."

  37. ROSALINDA: Latin form of English Rosalyn, meaning "tender-horse."

  38. ROSALINE: Variant of English Rosalyn, meaning "tender-horse."
  39. ROSALYN: Medieval form of English Rosalind, meaning "tender-horse."
  40. ROSALYNNE: Variant of English Rosalyn, meaning "tender-horse." 
  41. ROSAMOND: Variant of English Rosamund, meaning "horse-protection."
  42. ROSAMUND: "Horse protection." English name composed of the Germanic elements hros "horse" and mund "protection."
  43. ROSE: Today, this name is most often given as a flower name, "rose," or used as a nickname for the herb name "Rosemary." However, it was in use throughout the Middle Ages (long before herb and flower names became popular) and probably originated as a nickname for longer Germanic names containing the element hrod, meaning "horse."
  44. ROSELYN: Variant of English Rosalyn, meaning "tender-horse."
  45. ROSEMONDE: French form of Rosamund, meaning "horse-protection."
  46. ROSLYN: Variant of English Rosalyn, meaning "tender-horse."
  47. ROZ: Variant of English Ros, a nickname for Rosalind "tender-horse" and Rosamund "horse-protection."
  48. XANTHIPPE: Feminine form of Greek Xanthippos, meaning "yellow horse."