Eskimo sits at rank 3,286 with 25 pets registered under the name across NYC and Seattle. It's a gender-neutral name that carries the weight of geography, indigenous history, and — for some owners — a very specific breed association. The conversation around this name is more layered than most pet names get.
The word, its history, and its complexity
Eskimo is an Algonquian-origin term historically applied to Arctic indigenous peoples, primarily the Inuit and Yupik. Its use as a self-identifier varies significantly: in Alaska and Siberia, it remains in common use (particularly among Yupik communities who distinguish themselves from Inuit); in Canada and Greenland, it is largely considered offensive and has been replaced by Inuit. The complexity of the term is real. In the context of pet naming, Eskimo is most commonly chosen for dogs specifically because of the American Eskimo Dog breed — a striking white spitz-type whose name itself dates to the early 20th century and carries the same contested history. American Eskimo Dogs named Eskimo are, in a sense, wearing their breed as a name badge.
The breed connection
The American Eskimo Dog — "Eskie" in breed-club shorthand — is one of the most visually distinctive dogs in any room: white or biscuit-colored, alert, and perpetually camera-ready. Naming one Eskimo is almost a tautology, but there's something charming about the literalness. It's in the same spirit as naming a Boxer dog "Boxer" — a wink at the obvious. Among the 25 registered pets, it's reasonable to assume a significant share are actually Eskies.
Who picks this name
Owners who choose Eskimo tend to be either breed enthusiasts leaning into the Eskie identity or owners drawn to the Arctic and snowy-landscape aesthetic — a cluster that also produces names like Tahoe and Dune. If you own an American Eskimo Dog and want a name that's more contextually aware of the breed's history, the breed page lists a range of alternatives that carry the same cold-climate energy without the semantic baggage.