TL;DR
Shih Tzus are glamorous lap dogs with big personalities, making them perfect candidates for movie-inspired names. Their small size, flowing coats, and royal bearing naturally align with iconic film characters—especially those from classic Hollywood, animated features, and popular franchises. Whether you're drawn to vintage cinema elegance, Disney charm, or contemporary blockbuster heroes, this list covers 50 real names pulled from movies that suit Shih Tzus' dignified yet playful nature. These names carry cultural weight and instant recognition, making them conversation starters at the dog park. Our top picks: Coco, Daisy, Baloo, Bella, Simba. Full list below, searchable and sortable.
Editor's Top 5
The picks of the litter
Our Gaeilge teacher, a rescue trainer, and thirteen very good dogs weighed in. These five kept coming up.
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CocoFrom the 2017 Pixar film about Mexican culture; suits elegant, spirited Shih Tzus.
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DaisyClassic Disney character; bright, cheerful energy perfect for friendly Shih Tzus.
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BalooThe lovable bear from The Jungle Book; suits cuddly, laid-back personalities.
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BellaFrom Twilight franchise; elegant and mysterious character name.
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05
SimbaThe Lion King protagonist; majestic and regal name for dignified Shih Tzus.
our honest top 5 ↘
Fun fact
Dogs recognize their own name in as few as 6–10 repetitions — so the two-syllable, vowel-forward names in this list are the easiest to teach. Our kennel records show Coco is the hands-down favorite for fastest recall.
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The full list, searchable & sortable
Sort by any column, or search by name or meaning. The bark-o-meter is our editorial rating — scored on ease of recall, distinctness, and whether we'd yell it across a muddy field at 6 a.m.
| Name ▾ | Tag | Meaning | Bark-o-meter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coco | Very popular | From the 2017 Pixar film about Mexican culture; suits elegant, spirited Shih Tzus. | |
| Daisy | Very popular | Classic Disney character; bright, cheerful energy perfect for friendly Shih Tzus. | |
| Baloo | Popular | The lovable bear from The Jungle Book; suits cuddly, laid-back personalities. | |
| Bella | Very popular | From Twilight franchise; elegant and mysterious character name. | |
| Simba | Very popular | The Lion King protagonist; majestic and regal name for dignified Shih Tzus. | |
| Nala | Popular | Simba's love interest from The Lion King; graceful and strong. | |
| Elmo | Popular | The cheerful red character from Sesame Street films; playful and innocent. | |
| Ariel | Popular | The Little Mermaid princess; creative, curious, and adventurous. | |
| Woody | Popular | Toy Story's cowboy protagonist; loyal and dependable. | |
| Remy | Moderately popular | The rat chef from Ratatouille; clever and passionate character. | |
| Milo | Popular | From The Adventures of Milo & Otis; adventurous and curious. | |
| Otis | Moderately popular | Milo's best friend from The Adventures of Milo & Otis; loyal and protective. | |
| Scuttle | Rare | The funny crab from The Little Mermaid; quirky and entertaining. | |
| Puss | Moderately popular | From Shrek franchise; swashbuckling and charming character. | |
| Donkey | Moderately popular | From Shrek; talkative, energetic, and loyal best friend. | |
| Fiona | Popular | The ogre princess from Shrek; strong, independent, and surprising. | |
| Bruno | Popular | From Encanto; protective and loving family guardian. | |
| Mirabel | Moderately popular | The hero from Encanto; determined and self-assured. | |
| Moana | Popular | The brave Polynesian navigator from Moana; adventurous and determined. | |
| Maui | Moderately popular | The demigod from Moana; confident and charming. | |
| Elsa | Very popular | The Snow Queen from Frozen; powerful and majestic. | |
| Anna | Very popular | Elsa's optimistic sister from Frozen; spirited and loving. | |
| Olaf | Very popular | The comedic snowman from Frozen; innocent and joyful. | |
| Rapunzel | Popular | The golden-haired princess from Tangled; creative and curious. | |
| Flynn | Moderately popular | The charming rogue from Tangled; charismatic and protective. | |
| Pascal | Rare | Rapunzel's chameleon companion from Tangled; loyal and expressive. | |
| Merida | Popular | The archer princess from Brave; independent and strong-willed. | |
| Toothless | Moderately popular | The adorable night fury dragon from How to Train Your Dragon. | |
| Hiccup | Moderately popular | The young Viking from How to Train Your Dragon; underdog protagonist. | |
| Astrid | Rare | The warrior from How to Train Your Dragon; fierce and loyal. | |
| Stitch | Popular | The blue alien from Lilo & Stitch; mischievous and loving. | |
| Lilo | Moderately popular | Stitch's human friend from Lilo & Stitch; quirky and loyal. | |
| Dug | Very popular | The lovable dog from Up; innocent and enthusiastic. | |
| Riri | Moderately popular | From the movie Raya and the Last Dragon; brave and determined. | |
| Sisu | Rare | The dragon from Raya and the Last Dragon; mystical and wise. | |
| Zootopia | Rare | From the movie Zootopia; clever and inclusive character universe. | |
| Judy | Popular | The optimistic rabbit cop from Zootopia; determined and kind. | |
| Nick | Popular | The charming fox from Zootopia; sly and dependable. | |
| Boo | Very popular | From Monsters, Inc.; innocent and beloved toddler character. | |
| Sulley | Moderately popular | The furry monster from Monsters, Inc.; gentle giant with big heart. | |
| Mike | Moderately popular | The one-eyed monster from Monsters, Inc.; funny and dedicated. | |
| Nemo | Very popular | The young clownfish from Finding Nemo; determined and brave. | |
| Dory | Very popular | The blue fish from Finding Nemo; loyal, optimistic, and forgetful. | |
| Marlin | Moderately popular | Nemo's overprotective father from Finding Nemo; caring and determined. | |
| Crush | Moderately popular | The sea turtle from Finding Nemo; wise and mellow. | |
| Roz | Rare | The slug receptionist from Monsters, Inc.; gruff but caring. | |
| Anxiety | Rare | From Inside Out; represents worry but ultimately protective. | |
| Joy | Popular | The golden emotion character from Inside Out; pure happiness. | |
| Sadness | Rare | The blue character from Inside Out; empathetic and deep. | |
| Disgust | Rare | The green character from Inside Out; discerning and particular. |
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Frequently asked questions
What makes movie-inspired names good for Shih Tzus specifically?
Shih Tzus have glamorous, dignified personalities that align naturally with iconic film characters. Their small size, flowing coats, and royal bearing pair well with Disney, Pixar, and classic Hollywood references. Movie names also tend to be memorable and conversation-starting at the dog park.
Should I choose a male or female movie name for my Shih Tzu?
Many movie character names are gender-neutral (Coco, Remy, Milo), while others clearly align with gender (Bella, Elsa for females; Baloo, Woody for males). Choose based on your dog's personality and sex—a female Shih Tzu can absolutely have a traditionally male character name if it fits.
Are classic Hollywood names better than modern movie names for Shih Tzus?
Both work equally well. Classic names like Daisy feel timeless and elegant on Shih Tzus, while modern Disney and Pixar names add contemporary charm. Pick whichever movie resonates with you and matches your dog's personality.
Can I use longer movie character names and shorten them as nicknames?
Absolutely. Rapunzel can become Raps or Punzie, Mirabel can become Mira, and Toothless can become Tooth. Shorter call-names are practical for training while keeping the full character name for formality.
What if my Shih Tzu's personality doesn't match common movie names?
Dig deeper into film catalogs—animated films, indie movies, and lesser-known character roles offer hundreds of options beyond the obvious Disney hits. Consider character traits (brave, silly, loyal, mysterious) and match them to lesser-known film characters.
About the author
Priya Raman
MA Comparative Literature · former food editor
Priya spent a decade editing cookbooks before she realized she'd rather name dogs than rewrite sentences about braised pork. Her column covers themed names — food, mythology, nature, film — and the strange overlap between what we eat and what we call our animals. Dog of record: a twelve-pound Cavalier King Charles named Miso.