pet name Are you adopting a pet and struggling to come up with a unique name for your new furry friend?
pet name Many pet parents find inspiration in a variety of places. Consider using human baby names, popular dog name lists, characters from books and movies (Star Wars is a favorite), TV shows (like Game of Thrones or Frasier), favorite foods and drinks, road signs, interesting facts, the four seasons, or even old boyfriends. Inspiration is all around you!
Take a look at our list to find some great inspiration for naming your new pet.
Top Names for Your New Dog
pet name Dog owners have shared some of these adorable names:
Abigail
Ace
Adam
Addie
Admiral
Aggie
Aires
Aj
Ajax
Aldo
Alex
Alexus
Alf
Alfie
Allie
Ally
Amber
Amie
Amigo
Amos
Amy
Andy
Angel
Angus
Annie
Apollo
April
Archie
Argus
Aries
Armanti
Arnie
Arrow
Ashes
Ashley
Astro
Athena
Atlas
Audi
Augie
Aussie
Austin
Autumn
Axel
Axle
Babbles
Babe
Baby
Baby-doll
Babykins
Bacchus
Bailey
Bam-bam
Bambi
Bandit
Banjo
Barbie
Barclay
Barker
Barkley
Barley
Barnaby
Barney
Baron
Bart
Basil
Baxter
Bb
Beamer
Beanie
Beans
Bear
Beau
Beauty
Beaux
Bebe
Beetle
Bella
Belle
Ben
Benji
Benny
Benson
Bentley
Bernie
Bessie
Biablo
Bibbles
Big Boy
Big Foot
Biggie
Billie
Billy
Bingo
Binky
Birdie
Birdy
Biscuit
Bishop
Gus
Guy
Gypsy
Hailey
Haley
Hallie
Hamlet
Hammer
Hank
Hanna
Hannah
Hans
Happy
Hardy
Harley
Harpo
Harrison
Harry
Harvey
Heather
Heidi
Henry
Hercules
Hershey
Higgins
Hobbes
Holly
Homer
Honey
Honey-Bear
Hooch
Hoover
Hope
Houdini
Howie
Hudson
Huey
Hugh
Hugo
Humphrey
Hunter
India
Indy
Iris
Isabella
Isabelle
Itsy
Itsy-bitsy
Ivory
Ivy
Izzy
Jack
Jackie
Jackpot
Jackson
Jade
Jagger
Jags
Jaguar
Jake
Jamie
Jasmine
Jasper
Jaxson
Jazmie
Jazz
Jelly
Jelly-bean
Jenna
Jenny
Jerry
Jersey
Jess
Jesse
Jesse James
Jessie
Jester
Jet
Jethro
Jett
Jetta
Jewel
Jewels
Jimmy
Jingles
JJ
Joe
Joey
Johnny
Jojo
Joker
Jolie
Jolly
Jordan
Josie
Joy
JR
Judy
Julius
June
Misty
Mitch
Mittens
Mitzi
Mitzy
Mo
Mocha
Mollie
Molly
Mona
Muffy
Nakita
Nala
Nana
Natasha
Nellie
Nemo
Nena
Peanut
Peanuts
Pearl
Pebbles
Penny
Phoebe
Phoenix
Sara
Sarah
Sasha
Sassie
Sassy
Savannah
Scarlett
Shasta
Sheba
Sheena
Shelby
Shelly
Sienna
Sierra
Silky
Silver
Simone
Sissy
Skeeter
Sky
Skye
Skyler
Waldo
Wallace
Wally
Walter
Wayne
Weaver
Webster
Wesley
Westie
Best Names for Boy Dogs
This year’s most popular names for male dogs include:
Abel
Bits
Bitsy
Bizzy
Bj
Blackie
Black-Jack
Blast
Blaze
Blue
Bo
Bo
Bob
Bobbie
Bobby
Bobo
Bodie
Bogey
Bones
Bongo
Boo
Boo-boo
Booker
Boomer
Boone
Booster
Bootie
Boots
Boozer
Boris
Bosco
Bosley
Boss
Boy
Bozley
Bradley
Brady
Braggs
Brando
Bruiser
Bruno
Brutus
Bubba
Bubbles
Buck
Buckeye
Bucko
Bucky
Bud
Budda
Buddie
Buddy
Buddy Boy
Kane
Karma
Kato
Katz
Kibbles
Kid
Killian
King
Kipper
Kirby
Kismet
Klaus
Koba
Kobe
Koda
Koko
Kona
Kosmo
Koty
Kramer
Kujo
Kurly
Lassie
Latte
Lincoln
Linus
Little Bit
Little-guy
Little-one
Little-rascal
Lucifer
Lucky
Maverick
Max
Maximus
Mercle
Merlin
Pooch
Poochie
Rover
Scoobie
Scooby
Scooby-doo
Slick
Slinky
Sly
Snoopy
Smarty
Sox
Spanky
Spud
Spunky
Squeeky
Squirt
Stanley
Sterling
Stich
Stink
Ty
Tyler
Tyson
Vinnie
Vinny
Willie
Wizard
Wolfgang
Wolfie
Woody
Woofie
Wrigley
Wrinkles
Wyatt
Yin
Yoda
Yogi
Yogi-bear
Yukon
Zack
Zeke
Zeus
Best Names for Girl Dogs
Here are this year’s most popular names for female dogs:
Abbey
Abbie
Abby
Blanche
Blondie
Blossom
Bonnie
Brandi
Brandy
Bridgett
Bridgette
Brie
Brindle
Brit
Brittany
Brodie
Brook
Brooke
Brownie
Buffie
Buffy
Bug
Bugsey
Bugsy
Butter
Butterball
Buttercup
Butterscotch
Buttons
Buzzy
Cali
Callie
Cameo
Camille
Candy
Carley
Casey
Casper
Cassie
Cassis
Cha Cha
Chanel
Chaos
Charisma
Chelsea
Cherokee
Chessie
Cheyenne
Chi Chi
Chic
Chiquita
Chivas
Chloe
Chocolate
Chrissy
Cinnamon
Cisco
Claire
Coconut
Codi
Cody
Kali
Kallie
Kasey
Katie
Kayla
KC
Keesha
Kellie
Kelly
Kelsey
Kenya
Kerry
Kiki
Kira
Kissy
Kitty
Kiwi
Kyra
Lacey
Lady
Ladybug
Laney
Layla
Lexi
Lexie
Lexus
Libby
Lightning
Nikita
Nikki
Niko
Nina
Olive
Olivia
Ollie
Onie
Pandora
Patsy
Patty
Peaches
Tequila
Tess
Tessa
Tessie
Valinto
Vava
Vegas
Velvet
Best Names for Cats
Here are some unique names to consider for your new feline friend:
Bullet
Bullwinkle
Bully
Bumper
Bunky
Buster
Buster-brown
Butch
Butchy
Caesar
Calvin
Capone
Captain
Chad
Chamberlain
Champ
Chance
Charles
Charlie
Charlie Brown
Charmer
Chase
Chauncey
Chaz
Checkers
Chester
Chevy
Chewie
Chewy
Chico
Chief
Chili
China
Chip
Chipper
Chippy
Chips
Chubbs
Chucky
Chyna
Cinder
Cindy
Clancy
Cleo
Cleopatra
Clicker
Clifford
Clover
Clyde
Coal
Cobweb
Coco
Cocoa
Cole
Comet
Commando
Conan
Connor
Cookie
Cooper
Copper
Corky
Cosmo
Cotton
Cozmo
Crackers
Cricket
Crystal
Cubby
Cubs
Cujo
Cupcake
Curly
Curry
Cutie
Cutie-pie
Cyrus
Daffy
Daisey-mae
Daisy
Dakota
Dallas
Dandy
Dante
Daphne
Darby
Darcy
Darwin
Dash
Dave
Deacon
Dee
Dee Dee
Dempsey
Destini
Dewey
Dexter
Dharma
Diamond
Dickens
Diego
Diesel
Digger
Dillon
Dinky
Dino
Diva
Dixie
Dobie
Doc
Dodger
Doggon’
Dolly
Domino
Doodles
Doogie
Dots
Dottie
Dozer
Dragster
Dreamer
Duchess
Dude
Dudley
Duffy
Duke
Duncan
Dunn
Dusty
Dutches
Dutchess
Dylan
Earl
Ebony
Echo
Eddie
Eddy
Edgar
Edsel
Eifel
Einstein
Ellie
Elliot
Elmo
Elvis
Elwood
Ember
Emily
Emma
Emmy
Erin
Ernie
Eva
Faith
Fancy
Felix
Fergie
Ferris
Fido
Fifi
Figaro
Finnegan
Fiona
Flake
Flakey
Flash
Flint
Flopsy
Flower
Floyd
Fluffy
Fonzie
Foxy
Francais
Frankie
Franky
Freckles
Fred
Freddie
Freddy
Freedom
Freeway
Fresier
Friday
Frisco
Frisky
Fritz
Frodo
Frosty
Furball
Fuzzy
Gabby
Gabriella
Garfield
Gasby
Gator
Gavin
Genie
George
Georgia
Georgie
Giant
Gibson
Gidget
Gigi
Gilbert
Gilda
Ginger
Ginny
Girl
Gizmo
Godiva
Goldie
Goober
Goose
Gordon
Grace
Grace
Gracie
Gracie
Grady
Greenie
Greta
Gretchen
Gretel
Gretta
Griffen
Gringo
Grizzly
Gromit
Grover
Gucci
Guido
Guinness
Gunner
Gunther
Top Names for Boy Cats
Here are some distinctive names for male cats:
Laddie
Lazarus
Lefty
Leo
Levi
Logan
Loki
Lou
Louie
Louis
Lucas
Mac
Macho
Macintosh
Mack
Magic
Major
Mason
Maxwell
Mcduff
Michael
Mickey
Midnight
Mikey
Miko
Miles
Miller
Milo
Mister
Mojo
Monkey
Monster
Montana
Montgomery
Monty
Moocher
Moochie
Mookie
Moonshine
Moose
Morgan
Moses
Mouse
Mr Kitty
Muffin
Mugsy
Mulligan
Munchkin
Murphy
Napoleon
Nathan
Nero
Nestle
Newt
Newton
Nibbles
Nibby
Nibby-nose
Nick
Nickers
Nickie
Nicky
Nico
Nike
Niki
Nitro
Nobel
Noel
Nona
Noodles
Norton
Nosey
Nugget
Nutmeg
Oakley
Obie
Odie
Old Glory
Oliver
Onyx
Opie
Oreo
Oscar
Otis
Otto
Oz
Ozzie
Ozzy
Pablo
Paco
Paddington
Paddy
Panda
Panther
Papa
Paris
Parker
Pasha
Patch
Patches
Patricky
Pedro
Pepe
Pepper
Peppy
Pepsi
Persy
Pete
Peter
Petey
Petie
Phantom
Picasso
Pickles
Pierre
Piggy
Piglet
Pink Panther
Pinky
Pinto
Plato
Pluto
Pockets
Pogo
Pokey
Pip-squeek
Pirate
Poncho
Pongo
Pooh
Pooh-bear
Porkchop
Porky
Porter
Powder
Prancer
Prince
Puck
Puddles
Pudge
Puffy
Pugsley
Pumpkin
Punkin
Puppy
Purdy
Quinn
Rags
Raison
Ralph
Ralphie
Rambler
Rambo
Ranger
Rascal
Rebel
Red
Reggie
Reilly
Remy
Rex
Rexy
Rhett
Ricky
Rico
Riggs
Riley
Rin Tin Tin
Ringo
Ripley
Rocco
Rock
Rocket
Rocko
Rocky
Roland
Rolex
Rollie
Roman
Romeo
Roscoe
Rosebud
Rudy
Ruffe
Ruffer
Ruffles
Rufus
Ruger
Rusty
Sage
Sailor
Salem
Sampson
Samson
Sarge
Sawyer
Schotzie
Schultz
Scooter
Scottie
Scout
Scrappy
Scruffy
Shadow
Shady
Shaggy
Sherman
Shiloh
Shiner
Shorty
Sebastian
Silvester
Simba
Simon
Skinny
Skip
Skipper
Skippy
Skittles
Best Names for Female Cats
Here are some of the most popular names for female cats this year:
Mandi
Mandy
Mango
Marble
Mariah
Marley
Mary
Mary Jane
Mattie
Maxine
May
Maya
Mckenzie
Meadow
Megan
Meggie
Mercedes
Mia
Miasy
Millie
Mimi
Mindy
Ming
Mini
Minnie
Mischief
Misha
Miss Kitty
Miss Priss
Missie
Missy
Piper
Pippin
Pippy
Pixie
Polly
Pookie
Pooky
Popcorn
Poppy
Porch
Precious
Presley
Pretty
Pretty-girl
Princess
Prissy
Queen
Queenie
Quincy
Raven
Rosa
Rosie
Rosy
Rowdy
Roxanne
Roxie
Roxy
Ruby
Ruchus
Ruthie
Ryder
Sabine
Sable
Sabrina
Sadie
Sally
Salty
Sam
Samantha
Sammy
Sandy
Smoke
Smokey
Smudge
Sneakers
Snickers
Snoop
Snowball
Snowflake
Snowy
Snuffles
Snuggles
Solomon
Sonny
Sophia
Sophie
Sparkle
Sparky
Speed
Speedo
Speedy
Spirit
Spookey
Spot
Spotty
Star
Starr
Stella
Stormy
Sugar
Sugar-baby
Summer
Sumo
Sundance
Sunday
Sunny
Sunshine
Susie
Susie-q
Suzy
Sweetie
Sweetie-pie
Sweet-pea
Sydney
Tabby
Tabetha
Taco
Taffy
Tally
Tammy
Tangles
Tango
Tank
Tara
Tasha
Taylor
Thelma
Thyme
Tiffany
Tiger
Tigger
Tiggy
Tiki
Tilly
Timber
Tippy
Titan
Tito
Titus
Tobie
Toby
Toffee
Toni
Tony
Toots
Tootsie
Topaz
Tori
Toto
Tracker
Tramp
Trapper
Trinity
Tripod
Tristan
Trixie
Trooper
Trouble
Zena
Ziggy
Zippy
Zoe
Zoey
Zoie
61 More Great Names for Any Pet
Spencer
Spike
Stuart
Tank
Tanner
Taz
T-bird
T-bone
Teddy
Teddy-bear
Tex
Thor
Thumper
Thunder
Timmy
Tinker
Tinker-bell
Tinky
Tiny
Tipper
Tom
Tommy
Tommy-boy
Travis
Trigger
Troy
Truffles
Tuck
Tucker
Tuesday
Tuffy
Turbo
Turner
Tux
Twiggy
Twinkle
Violet
Vito
Volvo
Waddles
Wags
Whiskers
Whiskey
Whispy
Whitie
Whiz
Wiggles
Wilber
Willow
Willy
Wilson
Winnie
Winston
Winter
Wiz
Xena
Yaka
Yang
Yeller
Yellow
Zorro
how to Pick the Best Pet Name
Pet owners understand how challenging it can be to choose the perfect name. While finding something unique is exciting, classic names have their charm too. Over the past few years, popular names for male dogs have included Max, Cooper, and Bailey, while female dogs often go by Luna, Lucy, Daisy, Molly, and Lola. Ultimately, the best name might be one that reflects your dog’s personality.
Here are some tips for picking the perfect name:
Make choosing a name a family event. Gather everyone together to help pick the perfect name for your new pet. Observe your puppy or kitten’s personality and vote on a name that fits their unique traits, or you could even draw names out of a hat!
Consider your pet’s personality and appearance. Dog names can reflect their personality traits (like being smart or playful) or their size and shape. For instance, Titan might suit a large-breed dog, while Tiny is fitting for a smaller dog. Some names are also breed-specific, like Riley for a friendly Golden Retriever.
Think about nicknames. Just as people often have affectionate nicknames like “sweetie” or “honey,” dogs can develop their own nicknames as well. It’s a fun way to show them affection and give them a unique identity.
Test out the name. Choose something easy to say and repeat often. Names with one or two syllables and strong vowel sounds are generally easier for dogs to understand. Practice calling your dog with the name to ensure it’s easy to use.
Avoid rhyming names. Names that rhyme or are similar to other names in the home can be confusing for dogs. Aim for a name with a unique vowel sound that doesn’t overlap with other names.
