Scully is a name with one overwhelmingly dominant reference for anyone who watched television in the 1990s: Dana Scully, skeptic, scientist, and FBI agent from The X-Files. Naming a female pet Scully signals a specific owner profile — analytical, pop-culture literate, probably has opinions about the mythology episodes — and the name has aged beautifully.
The X-Files Legacy
Dana Scully, played by Gillian Anderson, is a foundational character in the history of TV science fiction: a doctor and scientist who brought empirical rigor to paranormal investigations. She's been widely cited as a key influence on girls who went into STEM careers in the 1990s. Naming a pet Scully is a tribute with substance — it signals admiration for a specific kind of intelligence and competence. The name carries that without any explanation needed to X-Files fans.
Sound and Breed Fit
Two syllables — SKUL-ee, with a sharp consonant start and easy open ending. It's an excellent call name. For sharp, alert, intelligent female dogs, Border Collies, Belgian Malinois, Scully fits the competence register. Pairs perfectly with a dog named Mulder. See all pet names for the potential pairing.
Counter-Reading: The Partner Name Temptation
Scully almost demands a Mulder in the household. The pairing is beloved and the temptation is real, but owners should make sure Scully works on her own merits before planning around the duo, because Mulder is not a given, and Scully as a standalone name is excellent. Don't make a great name contingent on finding a companion name that completes the joke.