Meaning and background
The story behind Banquo
Banquo brings a specific Shakespearean connection: in Macbeth he hears the witches' prophecy that his descendants will become kings, and Macbeth later fears that promised line. The association is dramatic and literary, not evidence that the name literally means king or ghost. It offers a more particular story than a general fantasy-style spelling. Anyone choosing Banquo for a dog can point to the character and the play, while deciding whether the tragic atmosphere is part of the appeal or simply background to a striking name.
- Origin
- Literary association with Banquo in Shakespeare’s Macbeth; no literal linguistic derivation is established here. Source
Try Banquo out loud
Everyday moments“Banquo, come here!”
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About Banquo
Recorded as a dog’s name
Banquo appears in 3 dog licence records in the 2022 New York City dataset.
How to read this count
These records cover New York City and may count the same dog in more than one licence period. They are not a national popularity ranking.
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Sources and research notes (2)
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene NYC Dog Licensing Dataset — all seven available extract years, retrieved 24 October 2026 — Recorded name spellings in NYC licence-period rows, extract years 2016–2018, 2022–2024 and 2026. Evidence selects one stated year per name. Annual snapshots overlap; never sum them as unique dogs. No national popularity, etymology or owner naming-intent claim.
- City of Seattle Seattle Pet Licenses — DOG-only name aggregate, current source dated 6 October 2026 — Secondary spelling corroboration from dog-only licence rows. No cats, owner fields, national ranking or unique-dog claim.
References support the individual facts shown. A source link does not mean the entire profile has been verified.