Theres something magical about naming a horse. We start off as children with little plastic equines that we stable on our bookcases. We give those horses names like Star or Jet. Then we move up to digital models that we pilot through the pixelated worlds of our computer games. We give those horses names like Bramble or Lucky. But when it actually comes down to naming a real live horse, youll have to give it a little more thought.Photo by Terri Cage/Adobe StockWhile there may be 101 things that are far more important to consider when bringing home a new horse, somehow choosing the perfect name skyrockets to the top of the priority list. Whats more fun that carefully pondering all of the choices and ultimately selecting the best and most wonderful name? But with limitless possibilities, how do you narrow down the options and make your choice? You know only one name is going to be the right one. So how do you decide? When naming a horse, you want to choose a name that will be the perfect fit. Maybe the name will reference the horses color in some way, or its personality, or its breed or bloodlines. Below, weve compiled several different lists, each distinctly suited to different types of horses (and ponies!). Weve tried not to be too obvious, but if you truly feel that The Black is the best name for your ebony-coated equine, you can certainly feel free to go ahead and use it. But for the purposes of these lists, we have tried to move further away from clichs and find creative names that will capture your horses qualities and make you smile.Coat Color NamesHorses are often given names that refer in some way to their coat color or pattern. For example, chestnuts get red names like Garnet, Ginger, or Flame. A horses coat color is a distinctive part of who he is, so its natural to want to incorporate that characteristic into a name. Here are lists of color names that are a bit off the beaten path.Photo by Terri Cage/Adobe StockBlack Horse NamesEnigmaMidnightStormDahliaRavenCherryVelvetDomino (for a black horse with white markings)JaguarEbonyOnyxNoirBelleFlickaJetEchoAngusShadowPirateBlackjackHarleyPhantomBanditBay and Brown NamesClayClevelandAdobeMochaTeddyChewbaccaBearRustyKit KatBrandyBriarDustySnickersChestnut NamesToffeeCappuccinoBrownieCopperSwissNutmegPennyGingerBrickFawnCinnamonAutumnSableSandySiennaMapleHazelNutellaCocoaOpieWhiskeyAmberRedMarigoldTawnyHazelnutRussellGrizzlyRosePalomino and Buckskin NamesEclipsePlatinumBambiGlimmerSundropAuroraAureliaBiscottiNuggetSunburstClementinePalomaZeldaEponaLuxBlondieRapunzelSpiritTrapperEdBarbieSunnyDaisyGray Horse NamesSnowballNapoleonPepperLaceyTravellerGregCoalHugoPicassoCrystalMoonlightFrostyAlaskaJasperSnowdenSilverSterlingPegasusBlizzardPearlCloudPinto NamesScoutLittle JoeJigsawRainHidalgoPatchPirateMarbleSparkleBeanPaintPicassoSplashFlashFancyType-of-Horse NamesMany horsey people like to name their horses something that relates to their breed. Most breeds have a specific style of name; for example, Arabians are often given Egyptian-inspired names, while Welsh Ponies often sport Welsh-inspired names and spellings. Here, however, were going to take a look at wider categories of horse types instead of individual breeds.Photo by Rita Kochmarjova/Adobe StockDraft Horse NamesMonteBaymax (the lovable, inflatable robot from Disneys Big Hero 6)GoliathGiantThorBannerHerculesMaximusDenaliTankBrunoJupiterSport Horse NamesChallengerJetPowerVictoryFargoBoltBillie Jean (for tennis player Billie Jean King, winner of 39 Grand Slams, or choose the name of one of your favorite sports stars!)BradyJordanSimonePhelpsSerenaMessiLeBronKobeMontanaGretzkyBoPharaoh (or use the infamous misspelling Pharoah if youre a racing fan!)Western Horse NamesBonney (The surname of notorious outlaw Billy the Kid, this name is nevertheless more suited for a mare considering its pronunciation)TriggerChampOakleyBillyCiscoRioDaleGeneCashChisholmAugustusCochiseHankRangerWhiskeyGunnerMaverickBroncoChicoChampionBonanzaCalamity JaneReevesSundanceDavyCassidySheriffOakleyJessePony NamesButtonsMistyDollyCookieCharlie BrownOlafSebastianJakeLeoLottoPoloTinkerbellMarshmallowPixiePersonality NamesYou can go a few different routes with this kind of name. You can go by what your horse isa bit of an alpha mare, a rather quiet geldingand choose a name that reflects that, or you can give your horse a name that denotes a quality you would like him to have. These lists are just the beginninguse them as inspiration!Photo by Windhound Photo/Adobe StockElegant Horse NamesIsabelleDebutante (Choose this for her registered name, and Debbie can be her barn name)MarquisJulietHenriettaVanderbiltVersaillesBossy Horse NamesEl Jefe (You cant get much more literal than this; it means The Boss in Spanish, and is pronounced El HEH-fay. Use LA JEFA for a mare. )QueenBootsMajorBarkleyKingChiefCaptainSilly Horse NamesBarnabyWhiskersTiggerBusterGoofyScoobyBugsDaffyMickeyMopsyFlopsy (Mopsy and Cottontail would then be ideal names for stablemates)Names Tied to InspirationPerhaps you want to take inspiration from some of your other favorite things in life, like places youve been or dreamed of, or maybe art and music that makes you feel inspired. Naming a horse is a great opportunity to combine these passions with your greatest passion: your horse.Photo by Frank/Adobe StockNames Inspired by PlacesParisSicilyVancouverUtahSydneyBerlinCarolinaLondonGeorgiaOdessaAthensViennaAdelaideFlorenceAustinSavannahPhoenixCheyenneHavanaVegasGenevaBostonLaredoVeniceCairoNames Inspired by CultureMozartJacksonBeethovenMonaDickinsonBardDa VinciSullivanChopinMichelangeloBanksyMonetFridaNames for Horse PairsIn the special case in which you have not one, but two equines to name (you lucky duck!), the process becomes even more complex because its multiplied. Double the trouble, if you will. And if you want to choose names that go well together . . . thats enough to make even the most expert namer throw up their hands in defeat. So if youre trying to select two perfect names that sound like they belong in adjacent stalls, what better way than to pick a duo that is already famous? Check out this list for ideas!Photo by byrdyak/Adobe StockBonnie and ClydeFortune and CookieRomeo and JulietVenus and SerenaYin and YangJack and DianeGarfield and OdieSonny and CherFred and BarneyRhett and ScarlettLaverne and ShirleyTom and JerryBuzz and WoodyRick and MortyBert and ErnieBatman and RobinMac and CheeseMario and LuigiJim and PamKirk and SpockTimon and PumbaaHow about you? What are some of your favorite horse names? Leave a comment below and share your favorites! The post 305 of the Best Horse Names appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.