Diesel

Diesel takes its name from Rudolf Diesel, the German engineer who invented the compression-ignition engine in the 1890s. The surname Diesel is of German origin, possibly related to the German word for "thistle." As a pet name, Diesel is used for its associations with raw power, mechanical strength, and a certain industrial energy.

Diesel ranks #167 among America's most popular pet names, and it is a name with a very specific aesthetic: powerful, somewhat dangerous-sounding, and absolutely devoted to their owner. Owners who name their companions Diesel are often making a statement about the pet's size, strength, or energy output — the one who hits the door at full speed, who has more enthusiasm than a reasonable creature should, and who could power a small vehicle on enthusiasm alone. It has a particularly devoted following among owners of large, athletic breeds.