Horse Name Ideas for Mares and Fillies
One of my favorite things about getting a new horse, or any pet for that matter, is coming up with a good name for them! If you’re wanting a mare or filly to call your own, you better start thinking of name ideas now! I’ve compiled different name ideas in this article to help you find the name that will best suit your mare or filly.
Mare & Filly Names Inspired By Food
Food has always been a popular inspiration for all pets and livestock names, and some of the best food-inspired names for mares and fillies are derived from sweets.
After all, how better to name your sweet friend than with a sugar-filled name? Below are some of my favorite sweet names for your female horse.
- Apple
- Caramel – this is a name that can be both food-inspired and color-inspired. If you have a sweet Sorrel or Chestnut, Caramel may be the perfect name for her.
- Cinnamon – I know a mini named Cinnamon; no one would describe her as particularly sweet, but she sure is cute, and the name fits her well.
- Cookie
- Donut
- Honey – This is the perfect name for a Palomino!
- Ice Cream
- Jellybean
- Marshmallow
- Sugar
Mares have a reputation for being moody at times. While I know some absolutely lovely mares and fillies, the reputation isn’t entirely unwarranted. Some mares can have a bit of an attitude (though most of these girls are loyal and protective of their human friends).
If you’re wondering if your fickle mare can pull off a sugary-sweet name, the answer is yes. Even if your sweet mare is known for her attitude, you can use irony to your advantage with a sweet name.
Mare & Filly Names Inspired By Color
Another area in which to gain inspiration for your horse’s name is her appearance – specifically, her coloring. If you like this idea but you don’t want to use a more obvious name like Chocolate or Stormy (though these, too, are fantastic names), we have you covered with some unique names that can be based on your filly’s fabulous coat.
- Chestnut – yes, we’re coming out of the gates with a rather obvious color-based name, but how better to describe your beautiful Chestnut mare or filly than with this holiday nut-inspired name?
- Ebony
- Cream
- Amber – this would be a great name for a darker Palomino or a light Sorrel.
- Ash
- Blush – a great name for a particularly shy Palomino or Sorrel.
- Goldie
- Ivory
- Fawn – this name can work for a range of “brown” horses, from Sorrel, to Chestnut, to Bay. This is a beautiful and sweet name that can reflect both a horse’s appearance and endearing personality.
- Ivory
- Russet – if you would like something a bit more unique for your Chestnut beauty, Russet is a great name, and you can call her Russ for short.
Media-Inspired Names For Mares & Fillies
Television, movies, and books can be great inspiration for your mare’s new name. You can pull a name from a classic like Black Beauty or from a cartoon like My Little Pony. Check out these media-inspired names, from the classics to the current.
- Black Beauty – in the original, Black Beauty is actually a stallion, though later adaptations have been made with Black Beauty as a mare. Regardless, this makes a lovely and classic name for a female horse.
- Flicka
- Rain – Rain is the girlfriend (wife? This is Disney, after all) of Spirit.
- Fluttershy – the next five names are courtesy of My Little Pony. Kids from the 1980’s on are familiar with this cartoon, so these are names that can grow with your mare. There are many names that you can use from My Little Pony, but these are some of my favorites.
- Princess Celestia
- Princess Luna
- Applejack
- Scoot-a-Loo
- Jesse – this is the cowgirl from Toy Story – her horse’s name is Bullseye.
Mare & Filly Names Based On Personality
Some of the best names come from a horse’s unique personality and temperament. While some equestrians like to have a name picked out for a mare or filly before even bringing her home, others prefer to wait a while – getting to know the horse before deciding what to call her.
If the latter is you, you are likely waiting to find a name that fits her personality well. Every mare or filly is different, and these names can help you get started.
- Sundance – a lovely name for a free-spirited horse who is always up for an adventure.
- Willow – when I hear this name, I think of someone who is full of peace and contentment.
- Joy – this is a name for a horse that is just naturally good-natured and rarely gets her feathers ruffled.
- Love – a great name for an in-your-pocket sweetheart of a horse.
- Lassie – this is a name for a protective, loyal horse.
- Beauty – a great name for a horse that is beautiful both on the outside and on the inside.
- Grace – for the particularly elegant horse.
- Athena – this is a fitting name for a horse that has a wise and intelligent presence.
- Belle – a great name for a kind and gentle horse.
Historical Names For Mares & Fillies
One way to pay homage to some of the most famous mares and fillies in history is to name your horse after one of them. Many of the horses with well-known names throughout history are known for their speed on the racetrack and are, therefore, most often stallions (think Secretariat, Man o’ War, and Seabiscuit).
If you dig a little deeper, however, you will find a wealth of mares who are more than deserving of the limelight themselves. Keep reading for some of the more well-known mares and fillies in history.
- Sergeant Reckless – a decorated warhorse and official member of the United States Marines. She was used as a pack horse during the Korean War and roamed the camp freely, even sleeping in the soldiers’ tents on particularly cold nights. She memorized her routes and performed supply runs on her own, and was awarded a variety of medals, including two purple hearts.
- Ruffian – known as the “Queen of Fillies,” Ruffian was a successful racing Thoroughbred who won ten consecutive races in the 1970s.
- Zenyatta – another champion racehorse, Zenyatta won 19 of her 20 starts and was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 2016.
- Gallorette – she was another Hall of Famer who raced in the 1940s.
- Natalma – though also a racehorse, Natalma is best known as one of the most influential broodmares and was dam to famous sire Northern Dancer.
- Annie Oakley – the next two are humans, not horses, but they make great names nonetheless. Annie Oakley was a famous Western sharpshooter. She won a shooting contest against an experienced marksman when she was only 15 years old.
- Calamity Jane – a famous frontierwoman and sharpshooter. She was known for both her love of adventure and risks and her compassion for those in need.
Funny Names For Mares & Fillies
If humor is more your style, below is a list of some of our favorite funny names for mares. Humor is an important and yet often under-appreciated trait, and choosing a funny name can not only give you a chuckle each time you call for your horse but can also be an excellent ice breaker when chatting with someone about your equine friend.
There are many paths you can take if using humor in your horse’s name – you can use puns, irony, or even rhyming. You can press into and use some of your mare’s less-than-favorable qualities (like using the name “Buck Buck Goose” for a mare who needs a bit of training), or you can use a name that is humorously the opposite of your mare or filly (like using “Wee Biscuit” for a 17.2 hh girl).
- Night Mare – I love this one for a moody mare.
- Gluteus Maximus – for your mare with particularly muscular hindquarters.
- Hay Girl
- Pony Tail
- Maple Stirrup
- Galloping Gertie
- Saddle Sore – this may work if your mare is a bit of a bumpy ride.
- Mane-iac
Finding The Right Name For Your Mare Or Filly
I hope this list of names has given you the inspiration you need to find a great name for your horse, but if you’re still undecided, try living with your sweet mare or filly for a while before narrowing down on a name. You might be surprised at what comes to you after spending time with your horse and getting to know her behaviors, personality, and unique quirks.