Rhubarb is a plant name: the tart, stalky vegetable-that-gets-used-as-fruit. As a pet name it lands squarely in the eccentric-botanical category: long, ungainly, surprisingly fun to say. This is a name that makes people smile in confusion before they decide they love it.
The Eccentric Food-Plant Name Tradition
Rhubarb sits at the far end of the food-name spectrum, past Ginger and Pickle, into genuinely unusual territory. The appeal is partly the word's inherent comedy: it's hard to say "Rhubarb" without something lightening. Owners who choose it are making a statement about their relationship with convention.
Breed Fit and Personality Match
Rhubarb works best on dogs with their own eccentric quality: Basset Hounds with solemn absurdity, Dachshunds with elongated drama, Shar-Peis with wrinkled gravity.
The Counter-Reading: Four Syllables of Pure Chaos
Rhubarb is four syllables and no one takes it seriously on first hearing. Vet visits and introductions will produce consistent amusement. Most owners who choose it find that social reaction part of the pleasure. The name is a conversation starter whether or not you want one.