Hoover is simultaneously a presidential surname, a British slang term for vacuum cleaner, and a perfect dog name for an animal that treats the kitchen floor as a personal buffet. The vacuum-cleaner reading is almost certainly the dominant intent at the pet-naming level — it's a functional joke that lands immediately and describes a real behavioral trait.
The Vacuum Joke
Dogs named Hoover are almost universally named for their eating habits. The vacuum cleaner brand became so dominant in British English that "hoovering" became a generic verb — and the behavioral parallel to certain food-motivated dogs is obvious. It's the kind of name that describes the dog rather than the owner's cultural references, which is its own valid approach. Compare Biscuit and Crumbs for similar food-adjacent behavioral naming.
The Presidential Layer
Herbert Hoover, the 31st U.S. president, is also in the etymology — and for owners who want a second layer of meaning, the surname-as-first-name reads as a statesman-dog joke. It suits Bloodhounds and Beagles, breeds whose noses essentially run their lives, making the vacuum metaphor structurally accurate.
The Counter-Reading: A One-Joke Name
Hoover's humor lands once and then settles into the background. After the first month, it's just a name. Owners who want something with longer narrative legs may find Hoover satisfying early and unremarkable later — which is fine, since most names work that way regardless.