Racehorse name generator

Names for your Thoroughbred that fit The Jockey Club's 18-character limit, with a play on the sire and dam if you give them.

1 credit per search

90 racehorse name ideas

  • Thunder Over Dawn
  • Swift Verdict
  • Blaze Runner
  • Iron Gallop
  • Storm Chaser

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Racehorse names have rules

In North America, The Jockey Club registers every Thoroughbred name, and a name can have at most 18 characters, counting spaces and punctuation. It must not copy a famous horse, use a living person's name without permission, or be only numbers or initials. That is why famous winners have names like Secretariat, Seabiscuit and American Pharoah, misspelled on its registration and kept that way.

Give the sire's and dam's names, and anything about the horse, to get 20 names that fit the limit.

5 tips for naming a racehorse

  1. Count every character

    The 18 characters include spaces and punctuation. Count before you send the form: Thunder Over Dawn is 17 and fits, Thunder Over The Dawn is 21 and doesn't.

  2. Play on the parents

    Many names mix the sire and the dam. A colt by Storm Cat out of Midnight Lady might be Midnight Squall. Breeders and fans love spotting the link.

  3. Make it easy to call

    Track announcers call the name at full speed. A name that is hard to say gets mangled in the biggest race of your horse's life.

  4. Avoid famous names

    Names of Hall of Fame horses and big race winners are protected. A name too close to Secretariat will be refused.

  5. Send several choices

    The registry may already have your favorite. Owners usually send up to six names in order of preference, so have backups ready.

Want names made for yours? Describe what you're naming and Nomi finds names that fit.

Frequently asked questions

The Jockey Club allows 18 characters, including spaces and punctuation. Weatherbys in Britain and Ireland also limits names to 18 characters.

Names of famous horses, names of living people without written permission, names that are only initials or numbers, and names that are rude or commercial. The registry also refuses names already in use.

Because so many names are taken and the limit is 18 characters, owners get creative. Many names also hide a play on the sire and dam, which looks odd until you know the parents.

In North America, owners submit names to The Jockey Club online through Interactive Registration, usually up to six choices in order. Fees apply, and each name is checked against the registry.

Yes. All the names here are free to use for any horse. Only racing registries enforce the 18-character limit.

Yes. Type the sire's and dam's names and a word about the horse to get 20 names, each 18 characters or fewer.

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