Graham is the pet name equivalent of wearing a tweed jacket to a birthday party — self-aware, a little formal, and somehow completely charming because of it. It belongs to the wave of dogs given very serious human names as a deliberate aesthetic choice.
Old-Money Dog Names
The trend toward giving pets surnames or formal given names has been building for years. Graham fits alongside Nigel, Porter, and Crosby as names that signal a certain kind of owner: someone who appreciates a well-constructed sentence and probably has opinions about coffee. On a Scottish terrier, it borders on perfect.
Sound Utility
Graham is a solid training name. Two syllables with a strong consonant opening — the dog will hear it clearly, and it won't blur with commands like "sit" or "stay." The human name Graham has Scottish origins, from a place-name meaning "gravelly homestead," which adds a faint ruggedness beneath the formality.
The Counterpoint
The honest concern with Graham is the same one that applies to all names in this category: it works because it's unexpected, which means if it becomes too common, the joke stops landing. Right now at rank 916, Graham is rare enough to still earn the raised eyebrow. If you want something in the same register but even less expected, Dewey or Morty are worth a look.