Written by Roger R. Henderson
The best piece of naming advice I ever got came from an old horseman who’d been around horses for seventy years. We were watching a young colt playing in the pasture, and I asked him how he chose names. He smiled and said, “The horse tells you, if you listen.” That colt was bucking and prancing with such joy, and suddenly his owner called out “Party!” It was perfect. Names starting with ‘P’ have this wonderful punch to them – they’re playful like “Peanut,” powerful like “Phoenix,” elegant like “Princess,” or mysterious like “Phantom.” There’s something about that popping ‘P’ sound that horses seem to respond to instantly, their ears pricking forward with recognition.
Choosing a horse’s name is one of those decisions that feels monumentally important because, honestly, it is. This is the word that will define your relationship for years to come. You’ll say it thousands of times – in joy when they nail that difficult transition, in frustration when they decide the mounting block is definitely trying to eat them, in worry during late-night colic vigils, and in that special quiet voice reserved for just the two of you. The name becomes part of your shared story, a bridge between two very different species who somehow manage to understand each other perfectly.
In collecting these 200 ‘P’ names, I’ve drawn from every source imaginable – ancient mythology and modern pop culture, international languages and local barn slang, formal bloodlines and those nicknames that just happen. Some might immediately feel right, others might seem strange at first but grow on you, and hopefully, one will make you say, “That’s it. That’s my horse’s name.” Because the perfect name isn’t about what’s trendy or traditional – it’s about what captures the essence of your particular horse and the relationship you’re building together.
Traditional and Classic Names
These timeless names have graced horses for generations.
- Prince – Royal son
- Princess – Royal daughter
- Penny – Copper coin
- Pete – Rock, stone
- Polly – Wished-for child
- Patrick – Nobleman
- Pearl – Precious gem
- Paul – Small, humble
- Peggy – Pearl
- Percy – Pierce the valley
Strong and Powerful Names
For horses whose presence commands respect and admiration.
- Phoenix – Reborn from ashes
- Power – Strength, force
- Paladin – Holy warrior
- Predator – Hunter
- Phantom – Ghost, spirit
- Pistol – Firearm
- Python – Large snake
- Patriot – Country lover
- Prowler – Stealthy mover
- Pulsar – Neutron star
Nature-Inspired Names
Drawing from the natural world around us.
- Pebble – Small stone
- Pine – Evergreen tree
- Poppy – Red flower
- Prairie – Grassland
- Petal – Flower part
- Palm – Tropical tree
- Pepper – Spicy plant
- Peach – Sweet fruit
- Pumpkin – Orange gourd
- Parsley – Green herb
Playful and Whimsical Names
Perfect for horses with fun-loving personalities.
- Peanut – Small nut
- Pickle – Preserved cucumber
- Popcorn – Popped corn
- Pudding – Sweet dessert
- Pixie – Playful fairy
- Ping Pong – Table tennis
- Piglet – Small pig
- Poptart – Breakfast pastry
- Pancake – Flat cake
- Pogo – Bouncing stick
Elegant and Sophisticated Names
For horses that move with natural grace.
- Penelope – Weaver
- Portia – Pig, offering
- Priscilla – Ancient
- Pandora – All gifted
- Patricia – Noble
- Primrose – First rose
- Prudence – Caution
- Paloma – Dove
- Persephone – Bringer of death
- Philomena – Lover of strength
International and Cultural Names
These globally-inspired names bring worldly sophistication.
- Pablo – Small (Spanish)
- Pierre – Rock (French)
- Paolo – Small (Italian)
- Pasha – Lord (Turkish)
- Priya – Beloved (Sanskrit)
- Pedro – Rock (Spanish)
- Piotr – Rock (Polish)
- Paloma – Dove (Spanish)
- Petra – Rock (Greek)
- Pascal – Easter (French)
Mythology and Legend Names
Ancient stories provide powerful and meaningful names.
- Poseidon – Sea god
- Pegasus – Winged horse
- Pan – Nature god
- Prometheus – Fire bringer
- Psyche – Soul, butterfly
- Perseus – Greek hero
- Pollux – Twin star
- Pallas – Wisdom
- Proteus – Shape-shifter
- Parcae – Fates
Western and Ranch Names
The frontier spirit lives in these rugged names.
- Pistol Pete – Gunslinger
- Prairie – Grassland
- Ponderosa – Pine tree
- Pueblo – Native dwelling
- Pinto – Spotted horse
- Pioneer – First settler
- Palomino – Golden horse
- Pecos – Texas river
- Portland – Western city
- Powder – Gunpowder
Color-Inspired Names
When a horse’s coloring deserves recognition.
- Palomino – Golden color
- Pearl – White luster
- Pewter – Gray metal
- Platinum – Silver-white
- Plum – Purple fruit
- Paprika – Red spice
- Periwinkle – Blue-purple
- Pine Green – Dark green
- Pink – Light red
- Parchment – Off-white
Musical and Artistic Names
For horses that move like music or art.
- Piano – Keyboard instrument
- Piccolo – Small flute
- Prelude – Introduction
- Pitch – Musical tone
- Percussion – Drums
- Presto – Very fast
- Pastorale – Peaceful music
- Polka – Dance style
- Pianissimo – Very soft
- Prima – First, leading
Speed and Athletic Names
Built for speed or blessed with athletic ability.
- Pace – Speed, gait
- Piston – Engine part
- Propel – Drive forward
- Pursuit – Chase
- Pacer – Steady mover
- Playoff – Final game
- Pole Position – First place
- Power Play – Strong move
- Parkour – Movement art
- Pedal – Speed control
Royal and Noble Names
These regal names suit horses with commanding presence.
- Prince – Royal son
- Princess – Royal daughter
- Pharaoh – Egyptian king
- Palace – Royal residence
- Patrician – Nobleman
- Premier – First, chief
- Pageant – Royal display
- Paramount – Supreme
- Prestige – High standing
- Palatine – Palace officer
Adventure and Travel Names
For horses ready to explore the world.
- Paris – French capital
- Prague – Czech capital
- Peru – South American country
- Portland – Oregon city
- Phoenix – Arizona city
- Pittsburgh – Pennsylvania city
- Palermo – Italian city
- Panama – Central American country
- Pakistan – Asian country
- Plymouth – Historic city
Gemstone and Precious Names
Like rare gems, these names suggest unique value.
- Pearl – Ocean gem
- Peridot – Green gem
- Pyrite – Fool’s gold
- Prehnite – Green stone
- Pezzottaite – Pink beryl
- Painite – Rare mineral
- Phosphophyllite – Rare gem
- Pietersite – Tempest stone
- Purpurite – Purple mineral
- Prasiolite – Green amethyst
Literary and Historical Names
For the cultured owner, these reference great figures.
- Plato – Philosopher
- Poe – Edgar Allan
- Picasso – Artist
- Ptolemy – Astronomer
- Pasteur – Scientist
- Proust – French writer
- Pushkin – Russian poet
- Pericles – Greek statesman
- Pythagoras – Mathematician
- Polo – Marco, explorer
Food and Flavor Names
Sweet or savory, these culinary names add flavor.
- Pepper – Spice
- Peach – Sweet fruit
- Peanut Butter – Spread
- Pasta – Italian noodles
- Papaya – Tropical fruit
- Pesto – Basil sauce
- Pretzel – Twisted bread
- Praline – Sweet confection
- Pumpkin Spice – Fall flavor
- Pistachio – Green nut
Weather and Sky Names
These atmospheric names capture nature’s moods.
- Polar – Arctic cold
- Precipitation – Rain/snow
- Pressure – Atmospheric force
- Partly Cloudy – Sky condition
- Prism – Light splitter
- Photon – Light particle
- Plasma – State of matter
- Planetary – Of planets
- Polaris – North Star
- Penumbra – Partial shadow
Unique and Modern Names
Contemporary choices for those seeking something current.
- Pixel – Screen dot
- Podcast – Audio show
- Pinterest – Social media
- PayPal – Payment system
- Ping – Network test
- Plugin – Software add-on
- Platform – Base system
- Pokemon – Game creatures
- Proxy – Substitute
- Portal – Gateway
Spiritual and Meaningful Names
Names with deeper significance for connections.
- Peace – Tranquility
- Promise – Vow, pledge
- Prayer – Sacred request
- Pilgrim – Spiritual traveler
- Paradise – Perfect place
- Purity – Innocence
- Passion – Strong feeling
- Providence – Divine care
- Perseverance – Persistence
- Purpose – Reason for being
Final Ten Favorites
These last selections deserve special mention.
- Painted Sky – Sunset colors
- Perfect Storm – Powerful combination
- Prairie Wind – Grassland breeze
- Phoenix Rising – Rebirth symbol
- Precious Moment – Treasured time
- Polar Express – Magic journey
- Purple Rain – Unique beauty
- Promised Land – Hoped destination
- Pocketful of Dreams – Many hopes
- Peace of Mind – Mental calm
The Perfect ‘P’ Name Process
So here we are, 200 names later, and you might be thinking either “Perfect! I found it!” or “Please, I need more coffee before I can decide.” Both reactions are completely understandable. Naming a horse is like trying to sum up an entire personality, appearance, and future relationship in a single word. No pressure at all, right?
What I’ve discovered over the years is that the naming process is as unique as each horse-human pair. Some people have their horse’s name picked out before they even start horse shopping. Others meet their horse and instantly know what to call them. Still others try out different names for weeks, like trying on shoes, until one finally fits just right.
Here’s a practical approach that’s helped many people: narrow your list to your top five favorites, then test them out. Say them in different situations – the gentle voice you use during grooming, the firm voice for ground work, the excited voice when they do something amazing. Write them down and see how they look. Some names that sound perfect can be awkward to write repeatedly on forms.
Remember that many horses end up with completely different barn names than their registered names. “Prince Phillip’s Phenomenal Phoenix” might just become “Phil” around the stable, and that’s perfectly fine. This dual system lets you have elegance on paper and practicality in daily life.
Stories Behind the Names
Every horse name has a story, and these stories often become as treasured as the horses themselves. I know someone who named their rescue horse “Phoenix” because he rose from the ashes of neglect to become a champion. Another friend chose “Puzzle” because figuring out her mare’s quirks was like solving a complex puzzle – and she loved every minute of it. “Peppermint” was named by a little girl who thought her gray mare’s dapples looked like peppermint candy.
The naming process creates its own memories. Years from now, you’ll remember the evening you and your barn friends debated “Phantom” versus “Phoenix” over takeout. You’ll remember your mother suggesting “Precious” and how you rolled your eyes but then kind of loved it. You’ll remember that moment when you first called your horse by their chosen name and they turned to look at you, and something just clicked.
Names can shape perceptions in interesting ways. A horse named “Power” might be approached with more caution than one named “Peanut,” even if Power is the barn puppy and Peanut is the one who kicks. I’ve known fierce jumpers named “Pancake” and gentle therapy horses named “Predator.” The irony often becomes part of their charm and story.
A Final Thought
Whether you’ve discovered the perfect name in this list or it’s inspired something completely different, trust your gut. The right name doesn’t need to follow any rules or impress anyone else. It just needs to feel true when you say it, when you hear it called across the arena, when you write it on that first show entry form.
Your horse doesn’t care if their name is profound or silly, traditional or totally made up. What they care about is the emotion in your voice when you say it. They’ll learn that this particular sound means safety, partnership, and probably peppermints. They’ll learn to come when called (eventually), to nicker in greeting, and to pin their ears when someone uses the wrong nickname.
The relationship between horse and human is one of life’s great privileges, and naming is how we begin to define that relationship. Whether you choose “Phoenix” for resilience, “Peanut” for sweetness, “Power” for strength, or “Promise” for the future you’re building together, that name becomes the first word in your shared vocabulary.
So here’s to you and your soon-to-be-named horse. May the name you choose be spoken with joy for many years to come. May it echo across foggy morning pastures and be whispered during quiet evening barn checks. May it mark the beginning of adventures you can’t yet imagine and a partnership that will change you both in the best possible ways. Because the best horse names aren’t just labels – they’re love letters we speak out loud, one syllable at a time. Happy naming!