Latin Pet Names From the Law: 41 Legal Terms for Dogs and Cats (With Translations)

Law school taught you a whole second vocabulary. Most of it will never come up at dinner, but a surprising amount of it makes excellent Latin pet names for dogs and cats. They're short, distinctive, and they come with a story.

Here are our favorites, with translations, so you can explain the name to everyone who asks.

Single-word Latin pet names

• Amicus: "friend." Arguably the most fitting pet name in the law.
• Veto: "I forbid." For a pet who refuses every bath.
• Alibi: "elsewhere." For the cat who's never there when something breaks.
• Mandamus: "we command." A writ ordering someone to act, for a pet who issues orders at 6 a.m.
• Quorum: "of whom." For a multi-pet household where nothing starts until everyone shows up.
• Onus: "burden." Affectionately, for a large dog.
• Nexus: "connection." For the pet who holds the family together.
• Veritas: "truth."
• Lex: "law."
• Justitia: "justice," and the Roman personification of it.
• Fides: "faith" or "trust." The name "Fido" is often traced to the related word fidus, "faithful."
• Dicta: "things said," from obiter dicta, remarks made in passing. For a chatty cat.
• Cert: short for certiorari, "to be made more certain." Petition granted.
• Novo: from de novo, "anew." For a rescue pet starting over.
• Prima: from prima facie, "at first sight." Love at first sight, specifically.
• Ultra: from ultra vires, "beyond the powers." For a pet who goes where they're not allowed.
• Caveat: "let them beware." A warning label with whiskers.
• Subpoena: "under penalty." Comes when called, or else.
• Affidavit: "they have declared on oath." For a pet with very firm opinions.
• Magna: from Magna Carta, the "great charter." For a great big dog.
• Rem: from in rem, "against the thing." For a pet who attacks one specific toy.
• Tempore: from pro tempore, "for the time being." For a foster pet, until they become permanent.

Longer Latin names (with a nickname built in)

• Habeas Corpus: "you shall have the body." Nickname: Habeas.
• Bona Fide: "in good faith." Nickname: Bona, or Fido.
• Pro Bono: "for the public good." Nickname: Bono.
• Sua Sponte: "of its own accord." For a pet who does whatever it wants. Nickname: Sponte.
• Status Quo: "the state in which." For a pet who hates change. Nickname: Quo.
• Ipso Facto: "by the fact itself." Nickname: Ipso.
• Nolo Contendere: "I do not wish to contend." For a mellow pet who never fights. Nickname: Nolo.
• Caveat Emptor: "let the buyer beware." For the free kitten who turned out to be expensive.
• Res Ipsa: from res ipsa loquitur, "the thing speaks for itself." Every time something gets knocked off a shelf.
• Stare Decisis: "to stand by things decided." For a pet with rigid routines. Nickname: Stare.

Latin name pairs for two pets

• Supra & Infra: "above" and "below." For the cat on the bookshelf and the dog on the floor.
• Quid & Quo: from quid pro quo, "something for something." For two pets who trade toys.
• Ipso & Facto
• Bona & Fide
• Amicus & Curiae: friends of the court, and of each other.
• Habeas & Corpus
• Mens & Rea: "guilty mind." For two partners in crime.
• Pro & Bono
• Et & Al: from et al., "and others." For the third and fourth pets, who joined later.

Tips for choosing a Latin pet name

1. Plan the everyday nickname. Nobody calls "Habeas Corpus" across a dog park. Pick a name with a short form you like just as much.
2. Mind the command sounds. Dogs can confuse names with commands. "Novo" and "No" are a risky pair.
3. Be ready to translate. Half the fun is explaining it, so keep the translation handy for the vet's front desk.

Want more? For the finance side of the office, try our Wall Street dog names, or see our dog names for lawyers and cat names for lawyers and bankers.