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Famous dogs from history and pop culture have inspired popular dog names, including Fido, named by Abraham Lincoln. Fido was not allowed to live in the White House and was later killed by a drunk man.
Many dog names have become popular because of famous dogs from history or pop culture. For example, Spot was the name of the dog in the children’s reader series Dick and Jane, which debuted in the 1930s. Rover was the name of the heroic dog in the 1905 silent film Rescued Rover. And we have the 16th president of the United States to thank for perhaps the most famous (if clichéd) dog name of all: Fido, which comes from the Latin word fidus, meaning faithful. Fido was Abraham Lincoln’s mixed-breed dog when he lived in Springfield, Illinois during the 1850s, but the animal never actually resided in the White House.
Abe’s faithful companion:
Mary Todd Lincoln didn’t love dogs as much as her husband. She vetoed the idea of Fido living in the White House, fearing the boisterous dog would soil carpets and antique furniture and pester guests at state dinners. After the Lincoln family moved to Washington, DC in 1861, Fido lived with another family in Springfield.
In 1866, a year after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, Fido met a man passed out on a sidewalk. When Fido started licking his face, the frightened drunk pulled out a knife and stabbed the dog, killing it.
The name Fido became very popular with dog owners in the late 1800s, but is rarely used today, except as a generic name for dogs.
