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    Guide

    Sub Names and Dom Names: 150 Titles and Pet Names

    Kinky Thinking is a plain-language, safety-first guide to kink for curious adults. Educational and non-graphic. About us

    5 min readPublished October 2026
    On this page
    1. How to choose a name
    2. Sweet pet names for subs
    3. Playful and bratty names
    4. Strict and formal names for subs
    5. Pet play names
    6. Degrading names (only if negotiated)
    7. Dom names and titles
    8. Gender-neutral dom titles
    9. Names for switches, or for both of you
    10. Asking for a name, and using it well
    11. FAQ

    A name is one of the simplest ways to feel a dynamic. Being called “pet” or saying “yes, Sir” can shift your headspace in a second, with no gear and no scene needed. This list has 150 sub names and dom names to choose from, from sweet and playful to strict, degrading and formal.

    Pick a few you both like, try them out, and keep the ones that land. Everything here is for consenting adults.

    How to choose a name

    • Choose it together. A name should make you both feel something good. A dom can suggest; a sub should get a real say, and either of you can veto.
    • Match the feeling of your dynamic. A nurturing dynamic suits sweet names; a strict one suits titles and protocol; a bratty one suits names with a grin in them.
    • Decide when it’s used. Only in scenes? All the time at home? In messages? Some names that work in bed feel odd over breakfast.
    • Keep it private. Never use a name in front of people who haven’t agreed to see your dynamic: friends, family, kids, colleagues or strangers. Pick a second, ordinary-sounding name if you want something to use out and about.
    • Check in over time. A name that thrilled you a year ago can go stale or start to sting. Changing it is fine.

    Sweet pet names for subs

    For subs who love affection, care and praise.

    1. Pet — the classic: short, simple and unmistakably yours.
    2. Sweetheart
    3. Darling
    4. Angel
    5. Precious
    6. Treasure
    7. Good girl — a favorite in praise-heavy dynamics.
    8. Good boy
    9. Good one — a gender-neutral version of the two above.
    10. Honey
    11. Love
    12. Sweetness
    13. Sugar
    14. Doll — for a sub who likes being dressed up and admired.
    15. Dove
    16. Lamb — for a gentle, trusting sub.
    17. Bunny
    18. Peach
    19. Buttercup
    20. Sunshine
    21. Gorgeous
    22. Beautiful
    23. Blossom
    24. My heart
    25. Starlight

    Playful and bratty names

    For a brat who pushes buttons on purpose, and the brat tamer who enjoys it.

    1. Brat — wear it with pride.
    2. Trouble
    3. Menace
    4. Minx
    5. Tease
    6. Imp
    7. Gremlin — for a brat whose chaos is half the fun.
    8. Mischief
    9. Smartmouth
    10. Rebel
    11. Spitfire
    12. Hellion
    13. Saucepot
    14. Firecracker
    15. Pest — said fondly, mostly.
    16. Goblin
    17. Sass
    18. Devil
    19. Hot mess
    20. Hurricane

    Strict and formal names for subs

    For protocol, service and structure. Pair them with clear rules and protocols.

    1. Slave — only within a negotiated dynamic; see our guide to the master/slave relationship.
    2. Servant
    3. Submissive
    4. Sub
    5. Maid — for a sub who serves, often in uniform.
    6. Butler
    7. Valet
    8. Attendant
    9. Steward
    10. Squire
    11. Handmaiden
    12. Devotee
    13. Acolyte
    14. Thrall
    15. Vassal
    16. Supplicant
    17. Trainee — for a sub working through tasks and rules.
    18. Recruit
    19. Their surname alone, like a strict boss or drill instructor.
    20. A number, like “Seven”, for very formal protocol.

    Pet play names

    For pet play, where a sub takes on an animal’s headspace and a dom looks after them.

    1. Pup — the go-to name in puppy play.
    2. Kitten — for a sub who’s playful and affectionate; see kitten play.
    3. Kitty
    4. Pony — for pony play.
    5. Mare
    6. Stallion
    7. Vixen
    8. Wolf
    9. Mutt — affectionate, for a scruffy, bouncy pup.
    10. Rex
    11. Buddy
    12. Biscuit
    13. Whiskers
    14. Mittens
    15. Bun

    Degrading names (only if negotiated)

    Names like these are part of degradation and humiliation play. They can be a huge turn-on for the right sub, and genuinely hurtful for anyone who hasn’t asked for them. Agree each one in advance, keep them inside the scene, and drop any that start to feel real. We’ve left out slurs about race, disability, sexuality or gender: those hurt beyond the scene.

    1. Slut
    2. Toy
    3. Plaything
    4. Thing
    5. It — for objectification play.
    6. Object
    7. Property
    8. Doormat
    9. Footstool — for a sub who’s used as furniture.
    10. Worm
    11. Maggot
    12. Pig
    13. Bitch
    14. Loser
    15. Pathetic

    Dom names and titles

    What a sub might call their dominant. Many doms add their first name, like Sir Daniel or Mistress Jade.

    1. Sir — the most common dom title of all.
    2. Ma’am
    3. Master
    4. Mistress — a classic of femdom.
    5. Daddy — a nurturing, protective authority; see Daddy Dom.
    6. Mommy — the same warmth from a Mommy Domme.
    7. Goddess — for a domme who likes to be worshipped.
    8. Lord
    9. Lady
    10. King
    11. Queen
    12. Your Majesty
    13. Madam
    14. Papi
    15. Mama
    16. Captain
    17. Commander
    18. Boss
    19. Owner — for a dom who’s collared their sub.
    20. Keyholder — for chastity keyholding.
    21. Handler — for pet play.
    22. Alpha
    23. Domina
    24. Empress
    25. Warden — for a dom who enjoys keeping their sub locked up.

    Gender-neutral dom titles

    For nonbinary dominants, or anyone who’d rather skip gendered words. Boss, Captain, Commander, Owner, Keyholder, Handler and Warden above work for anyone too.

    1. Mx., with their name
    2. Sovereign
    3. Liege
    4. Your Grace
    5. Your Highness
    6. Ruler
    7. Monarch
    8. Regent
    9. Keeper
    10. Guardian
    11. Chief
    12. Overseer
    13. Coach
    14. Professor — for adult teacher-and-student roleplay.
    15. Dom, or Domme, as a title on its own.

    Names for switches, or for both of you

    For switches who change sides, and names either partner can use whoever’s in charge tonight.

    1. Wildcard — for a switch who keeps you guessing.
    2. Trickster
    3. Shapeshifter
    4. Double agent
    5. Mirror
    6. Tide — in charge one night, surrendering the next.
    7. Accomplice
    8. Co-conspirator
    9. Rival — for power struggles and primal play.
    10. Sparring partner
    11. Equal
    12. Mine — works whichever side you’re on.
    13. Partner in crime
    14. Coin flip — let a coin decide who leads tonight.
    15. Other half

    Asking for a name, and using it well

    If you’re a sub, it’s fine to ask for a name: “I’d love it if you called me pet” is a perfectly good thing to say. If you’re a dom, offer a couple of options and watch your partner’s face; the right one usually gets a reaction straight away.

    Once you’ve chosen:

    • Use it with intention. A name said slowly at the right moment does more than one dropped into every sentence.
    • Pair it with expectations if you like, such as “yes, Sir” when given an instruction. Our guides to being a dom and being a good sub cover building that kind of structure.
    • Drop the name when you step out of the dynamic. Using their real name after a scene, during aftercare, helps you both come back.
    • Respect a veto, in the moment or later. A safeword covers words, too.

    Looking for what to do with your names? Try our list of sub tasks and rewards, or browse the full list of kinks for ideas.

    Try it together

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    Frequently asked questions

    What should I call my sub?

    Something you both like. Popular sub names include pet, sweetheart, good girl or good boy, kitten, brat and darling. Ask your sub what makes them feel cared for or owned, try a couple out, and notice which one gets a real reaction. They can always veto a name.

    What do subs call their dom?

    The most common dom names are Sir, Ma'am, Master, Mistress, Daddy, Mommy and Goddess. Some doms prefer their first name with a title, like Sir James or Mistress Kate. It's agreed between you, and some doms don't want a title at all.

    What are good pet names for subs?

    Good pet names for subs range from sweet (angel, doll, sweetheart) to playful (brat, minx, menace) to strict (servant, slave, a surname only) to pet play names (pup, kitten, pony). Pick the one that matches the feeling of your dynamic.

    What is a gender-neutral dom title?

    Gender-neutral dom titles include Sovereign, Your Highness, Keeper, Boss, Captain, Owner, Handler and Mx. with a name. Many nonbinary dominants also use their first name with a word they've chosen, so ask what feels right rather than guessing.

    Is it okay to use a sub name in public?

    Only around people who've agreed to see your dynamic, like at a munch or play party. Using names like Sir or slave in front of friends, family, colleagues or strangers involves them without consent. Many couples pick a second, everyday name that sounds ordinary to everyone else.

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