Charles Dickens gave the English language Scrooge, Fagin, Pickwick, and Pip — and as a pet name, Dickens carries all of that Victorian literary weight in six letters. It's the name for a dog with a complex inner life, strong opinions about social injustice, and a tendency to create elaborate plots to get what it wants. Also possibly the name for a mischievous cat, since "what the dickens" is a Victorian exclamation for mild chaos.
The Literary Surname Tier
Dickens belongs alongside Darwin, Kepler, and Twain in the category of famous-surname pet names that signal an owner with reading habits. Victorian-era surnames in particular have been growing as pet names — they carry a specific gravitas without being too obviously contemporary. English bulldogs and other distinctly British breeds suit Dickens with obvious cultural alignment.
The Exclamation Layer
"What the dickens" — meaning "what the devil" in mild Victorian English — gives the name a mischievous quality alongside its literary prestige. A cat named Dickens who regularly knocks things off shelves is living up to both registers simultaneously. The human name Dickens is essentially absent from SSA records, making the pet version's literary association entirely undiluted.
The Counter-Reading
Dickens is a surname, and surnames on pets invite the question of whether to use the full form or a nickname. Dick is the natural shortening and carries its own set of complications in contemporary American English. Most owners stick with the full Dickens, which is the better call. Browse more literary options at pet names.