It’s usually one of the first questions people ask when they meet your dog. But what are the current trends in dog names, and what are the most popular ones?
When I got my first dog, I took time and reflection to explore possible names. Because it was a Rottweiler female, it was tough to find an appropriate name. After all, what do you call a ‘lady’ doggie that’s going to grow into a 100 lb creature with big teeth? After much consideration, she was called Tootsie – after all which dog would object to being named after a movie? My second Rottweiler lady was called Cara – simply because it was a beautiful name and told her how much I cared about her.
So what are the most popular dog names? According to the according to Rover, a dog-sitting matching service, the most popular male dog names include Max, Charlie, Cooper, Buddy, Jack, Rockie, Oliver, Bear, Duke, and Tucker. Top of the list of female dogs is Bella, Lucy, Daisy, Luna, Lola, Sadie, Molly, Maggie, Bailey, and Sophie.
The discernable trend here is that 44 percent of dogs have human names. Many of them even overlap with the most popular human names. It may also be an indication of the increasingly important role pets, and dogs, in particular, play in society. Ever thought how you’ll feel if someone named their dog after you? That probably depends on your relationship with the person and the type of dog…
The internet is another big influencer of dog names. According to Rover, names like Fluffer, Clouds, and Boi are all on the rise. The usage of Fluffer, in particular, has increased by about 500 percent.
Of course, pop culture also influences the choice of dog names. The winner here is Barb, the character from “Stranger Things,” which use has increased 182 percent. Also popular are women names like Madonna, Oprah, and Diana (think of “Wonder Woman”).
Humans obviously love calling their dogs after characters in the entertainment world as names in a book, television show, or movie make up 53 percent of dog names. Calling my Rottweiler Tootsie in 1984 obviously wasn’t as foolish as it may have seemed! Another popular source for dog names is cities – where Sydney, Dallas, and Rio top the list
Personally, I prefer a dog’s name to suit the pet, like a beautiful Golden Spaniel being called Fudgie. On the other hand, if you want to name your Pomeranian Killer, that’s up to you…