Fido

Ever wondered why Fido is such a generic name for a dog?
 
Fido has its origins in Latin fides (faith) and fidelis (faithful, true, trusty, sincere). The Latin word fido means, “I am faithful.” The word fidelity, meaning faithfulness and devotion, came to English in the early 15th century.
 
Before he became President, Abraham Lincoln had a dog called Fido that reportedly followed him everywhere. In Springfield, Illinois, where Lincoln lived at the time, the dog and its loyalty were as well known as Lincoln. Perhaps this is what popularized the use of the name Fido.
 
Calling a dog Fido is like calling a dog Trusty or Faithful. In the medieval period of Western European history, little dogs portrayed in paintings often symbolized loyalty and faithfulness.
 
I also have to say that there is a part of me trying to imagine a dog who spoke Latin hearing its owner calling, “Fido, Fido… here Fido!” The dog might be thinking, “Why is my owner shouting, ‘I am faithful’?”
 
The image of the statue of a dog (above) in Borgo San Lorenzo, Italy, is a monument to another dog called Fido. The Wikipedia story of this Fido is quite heartwarming.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fido_(dog)
 
Image: Piazza Dante, Borgo San Lorenzo, Italy: monument to Fido
 
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/canine-corner/201110/why-are-dogs-so-frequently-called-fido
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