Maurice registers 63 times at rank 1630 on male pets. It's a Latinate name with French roots that manages to feel simultaneously formal and approachable — the kind of name that sounds like it belongs to someone who has opinions about cheese. On a dog, that formality becomes a soft joke that the dog wears with complete obliviousness.
The Vintage-Formal Register
Maurice belongs with Reginald and Clarence in the category of names that have aged into charm through sheer persistence. The name was carried by Maurice Ravel, Maurice Sendak, and Maurice from Beauty and the Beast (Belle's inventor father), giving it both highbrow and Disney-adjacent associations. The human name trend is at /names/maurice.
Sound and Breed Fit
MOR-iss (American English) or moh-REECE (French-influenced) — the pronunciation varies by household, which adds a mild personalizing element. It's two syllables, calls cleanly, and has enough weight to suit a mid-to-large breed with dignified bearing. Standard Poodles and Basset Hounds carry it with particular grace.
The Counter-Reading
Maurice is not an ironic name, even though it often lands that way on animals. Owners who choose it are usually genuine vintage-name enthusiasts rather than comedians. Either motivation produces the same result: a dog with a name that consistently delights strangers and never requires explanation beyond the dog's bearing.