Moe is the friend's name, the regular at the diner, the guy who's always around and always reliable. At rank 986, it's a small-count name with a specific kind of appeal: it works because it sounds exactly like how it feels — unpretentious, friendly, and already familiar.
Cultural References Are Stacked
Moe Howard from The Three Stooges, Moe the bartender from The Simpsons, and Moe from Seinfeld give the name a reliable comedic backdrop that owners can deploy with varying levels of intent. The Simpsons connection is the most active reference in current usage. Any grumpy dog with a heart of gold has already earned the name.
The Nickname Quality
Moe functions as both a standalone name and a natural short form of Moses or Morris. On a dog, it works best as a given name — there's no need for the longer form, and the brevity is part of the appeal. Dogs with stocky builds and unimpressed facial expressions suit it especially well: English Bulldogs, Shar-Peis, and Pugs.
Short Name Longevity
Three-letter names like Moe have real staying power — easy to say, easy to spell, and impossible to mispronounce. The human name page for Moe covers the etymology if you want the full picture. Similar energy picks include Bo and Joe.