Licorice

A distinctive pick — fewer than 62 pets share this name.

UnisexDistinctiveSweet
#1652

Meaning & Story

Licorice is an English word for the sweet, slightly medicinal root of the Glycyrrhiza plant, whose name comes from Greek glykyrrhiza meaning sweet root. As a pet name it is most commonly given to black-coated animals, with the dark candy providing the obvious color inspiration.

Licorice is a name for a black-coated pet with real distinction — it is specific enough to feel intentional, quirky enough to feel original, and sweet enough to match the animal's personality. The candy association adds a playful warmth that softens what could otherwise be a purely color-descriptive choice. Licorice works particularly well on sleek black cats, black labs, and any dark-coated animal whose owner wants to acknowledge their coloring with a touch of sweet humor. It is a name people always remember.

About the Pet Name Licorice

NamesPop Editorial TeamBy NamesPop Editorial Team··1 min read

Licorice appears 62 times at rank 1652 with no gender skew. It's a food name that functions primarily as a color description: owners naming a black pet Licorice are doing the same thing as owners who name them Midnight or Shadow, but with more personality and better food associations. The name is almost always paired with a black coat.

The Color-Description Food Name

Licorice belongs with Blackberry in the "things that are black" naming category, with the advantage of being both a food and a plant. The anise-flavored candy's distinctive color is the primary association for most owners. A black cat or dog named Licorice is perfectly named.

Sound and Practical Reality

LIK-uh-riss is three syllables, which means it will immediately become Licky or Lickie in daily use. Black Labs and all-black cats carry the visual pun completely. The gender-neutral registry distribution makes sense: black coats appear equally across male and female animals, so the naming logic applies regardless of sex.

The Counter-Reading

Licorice is a polarizing flavor in humans, strongly loved or strongly avoided, which gives the name a mildly divisive quality that its owners usually find amusing. At the vet's office, it consistently produces a moment of delight. Browse similar food names at pet names.

At a Glance

#1652
Overall Rank
62
Registered
Unisex
Popular With

Popular Breeds Named Licorice

Breeds that commonly use the name Licorice
BreedPets Named
Havanese15
Schnauzer, Standard9
Poodle, Toy7
Domestic Longhair2
American Shorthair1
Domestic Medium Hair1

Licorice's Personality

Pets named Licorice are most often described as:

  • distinctiveStrong match
  • sweetCommon
  • sleekSometimes
  • memorableOccasionally

Trait order based on owner reports across pet registries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Licorice a good pet name?

Licorice is a well-known pet name with 62 registered pets. Pets named Licorice are often described as Distinctive, Sweet, Sleek.

Is Licorice a boy or girl pet name?

Licorice is a unisex pet name, equally popular for male and female pets.

Last updated June 2026 · Data: NYC & Seattle pet licensing records · Methodology