I didn't get to name most of them, but here are the ones I did:

Dogs:

Muskwa--his name means "bear" in cree. He was actually nameless for several months as we couldn't decide. An old medicine man who was friends with my hubby told us that the dog had a bear spirit (as does my husband) so he got his name. he still answers to "HEY YOU NO" pretty well though.

Earle--Named after singer Steve Earle, because I am obsessed!

Hoodoo--my bridge baby. He got his name when he learned to howl at three weeks old and decided to practice alot in the wee hours of the morning. The owner of his momma (Muskwa is his daddy) was always asking him "who do you think you are?" the first part stuck.

Kayleigh--arrived being called Cowley. Which I hated. I kept calling her Kayleigh so I figured that must be her real name.

Heyoka--was called Nanook by the shelter. I just hate that name for northern breeds, cuz everyone uses it. My hubby called him Heyoka, which is Sioux for a clown who teaches through his antics. It's a perfect name for this dog!

Preacher, Franklin, Raven, Pingo, Sleet, Bandit, Delta, Antare, Founder, Chase, Pacer, Hobo, and Goldie all arrived named and I just left them as they were.

Cats:

Glacier--is named for his icy blue eyes. They remind me of glaciers.

Pete--was supposed to be Pierre, but my hubby protested and he became Pete which suits him better anyway!

Dominique--walked into our house at five weeks old and very tiny. She promptly beat up the two adult cats already with us and claimed her place as the dominant cat--hence a dom name!

Ivy is named because her eyes are the color of an ivy plant.

Polly Paws is named for her many extra toes--polydactal=Polly Paws.

Onyx is named for his solid black coat.

Felicia--well, this weird. I met her at about 4 weeks old in the shelter. She was quite sick as her momma had rejected her and she has deformed front legs. Another momma cat at the shelter accepted Felicia and saved her life. I knew that little kitten was meant to be mine. The first time I held her I heard her say her name was Felicia, not Stardust as the shelter named her. Heard it as clear as day and that's been her name every since.

Twicket came named. I wish I knew the story as it's a cool name, but no such luck.