Considering the Rocco dog name? Get tips on choosing the best name for your furry friend.

So, funny story about dog names. My sister, Sarah, recently decided to get a dog. She spent weeks, and I mean weeks, agonizing over the perfect name. She wanted something that sounded cool but wasn't too common, you know? Not another Max or Bella.

She'd call me up, "What about Buster?" Then five minutes later, "No, Buster sounds too old." Then, "Maybe Duke?" I swear, her list was endless. We went back and forth quite a bit. I was trying to help, throwing out suggestions, but she shot most of them down.

Finding 'The One'

Anyway, she finally adopted this little bulldog mix. Stubborn looking thing, but really sweet. The shelter had just called him "Buddy," which Sarah immediately vetoed. Too plain, she said. So, the search continued even after she brought him home. The poor dog was nameless for like, three days.

We were watching an old movie one night, some gangster flick from way back. And there was this character, kinda tough, kinda charismatic, named Rocco. Sarah suddenly perks up. "Rocco," she says out loud, trying it out. She looked over at the dog, who was currently attempting to wrestle with a cushion that was twice his size.

• Sounded strong, had a bit of an edge.
• Not super popular right now.
• Easy to yell across the park.
• Kind of suited his grumpy-but-lovable face.

She tried calling him Rocco a few times. He actually lifted his head and looked at her, which, knowing this dog now, was probably just a coincidence, but Sarah took it as a sign. "That's it! He's Rocco!" she declared.

And you know what? It totally works for him. He's got this tough-guy walk but is secretly a big softie who loves belly rubs. The name just fits his personality. It didn't come from some fancy baby name website or a long list, just randomly from an old movie. Sometimes that's just how you find the right name, I guess. It just clicks when you least expect it.