Spirit at rank 1384 carries a specific weight in dog naming: it was the name of the horse protagonist in DreamWorks' Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002), and while horses usually get horse names, the film's impact was broad enough to migrate into dog naming. The name also works independently as a spiritual or aspirational label.
The Stallion of the Cimarron Legacy
Spirit (2002) told the story of a wild Kiger Mustang in the American West, and the film's emotional punch was substantial enough to plant the name in a generation's consciousness. Children who watched it grew up and named their dogs Spirit — usually dogs with a wildness or freedom quality to them. Siberian Huskies and Australian Shepherds are the most common carriers; the name's register suits working and running breeds. Male dogs dominate the registry, consistent with the film's male protagonist.
The Abstract-Noun Category
Spirit also belongs to the broader tradition of abstract-noun names for dogs: Blaze, Grace, Faith, Chance. These names work because they project something about what the owner wants the pet to be or represent, not just what the pet looks like. Spirit specifically promises freedom and emotional depth.
The Counter-Reading
Spirit's aspiration level can exceed the dog's delivery. When the dog's main spirit is expressed through couch-stealing, the name develops an inadvertent irony. That irony is usually affectionate rather than damaging, but owners should be prepared for it.