Even Ancient Romans Named Dogs Fido

Fido is a name that is no longer used for dogs, but it is one of the cliched dog names that will always be connected to the breed. It has been widely embraced—Fido is even a cell phone provider. Abraham Lincoln is to be credited for making dog names commonplace among Americans.

When Lincoln lived in Illinois, a dog by the name of Fido was supposed to have spent almost constantly by his side. The term itself is derived from a Latin word that means "loyal" or "trusty," which is a typical way to describe a dog. So it makes sense as the dog's name's etymology, right? However, there is more to it because Fido was also given to dogs by the Romans for essentially the same purpose.