Pet owners choose their pet names either traditionally or by picking one associated with a pet’s breed, fur colors, personality traits or unique characteristics. What’s interesting about pet names is that many pet owners may name their pet but hardly ever call the pet by that name! Just like the way we attach endearing nicknames to our children and grandchildren, pet owners attach nicknames to pets simply because they love them and consider them a member of the family.
Helpful Tips for Choosing a Pet Name
Dog owners who plan to train their dog to be obedient should avoid names that sound similar to “no,” “yes” and “sit.” It can make it difficult for dogs to distinguish the difference between their name and a command.
Giving your pet a one or two syllable name makes it easier for pets to recognize when owners call them. Pets respond better to simple names and to names owners use all the time.
Need inspiration? Your pet’s breed and heritage may provide insight into what kind of name you want for your pet.
Pet Names and Pop Culture
When searching for popular pet names, you’ll no doubt notice a lot of the “top 10 pet names” are associated with the latest movie or song hits. Children love to name their pets after animals starring in the latest Disney or Pixar film. If you’re not sure what to name your newest family member, why not ask your kids or neighbor’s kids? They’ll probably give you more ideas for pet names than you know what to do with!
Adorable ‘A’ Names
Abby, Angel, Apollo, Annie, Akira, Alaska, and Azura
Beautiful ‘B’ Names
Bailey, Bella, Bear, Babushka, Billy, Buster, Bubbles and Babe
Charming ‘C’ Names for Your Cat
Chloe, Coco, Cody, Caesar, Cheese, Cracker, Charlie, and Cosmo
Darling ‘D’ Names for Your Dog
Duke, Danger, Daisy, Dusty, Danny, Dobby, Domino, and Duchess
Energetic ‘E’ Names
Emma, Ebony, Edwin, Elf, Elmo, Equinox, Ewok, and Earl Grey
Fantastic ‘F’ Names for Your Fur-baby
Falcon, Franco, Faith, Fido, Fifi, Fishbone, Fletcher, Flossy, and Franklin
Great ‘G’ Names
Ginger, Gizmo, Galaxy, Gatsby, Garcia, Galileo, Garfield, Garlic, Gemini
Happy ‘H’ Names for Your House Pets
Hachi-ko, Hacker, Hairball, Halo, Hamilton, Harold, Hickory, and Holly
Ingenious ‘I’ Names
Iggy, Iago, Indiana, Irwin, Izzy, Igloo, Inky, and Ingot
Joyful ‘J’ Names
Jack, Jade, Jagger, Jalepeno, Jasmine, Jazzy, Jojo, and Jupiter
Kitschy ‘K’ Names
Kafka, Kale, Kandy, Kanga, Kate, Karma, Katya, and Ketchup
Lovely ‘L’ Names
Lacey, Layla, Lancelot, Lassie, Lavender, Lentil, and Lulu
Meaningful ‘M’ Names
Mac, Macaron, Magnet, Mango, Marco, Margherita, and Munchkin
Nice ‘N’ Names
Nacho, Napa, Nectarine, Nesbit, Nibble, Ninja, and Noodles
Original ‘O’ Names
Oatmeal, Oberon, Ocean, Olay, Olive, Oliver, Omar, and Omelet
Pretty ‘P’ Names for Your Pets
Pablo, Paisley, Panda, Paprika, Pepper, Patches, Penney, and Pickles
Quirky ‘Q’ Names
Queenie, Quesadilla, Quigly, Quizzie, Quack, and Quasimodo
Rare ‘R’ Names
Racer, Radish, Ragdoll, Ragu, Raisin, Rascal, Ravioli, and Red
Sweet ‘S’ Names
Sabrina, Sadie, Saddle, Sake, Salt, Sashimi, Sausage, Scrappy, and Stormy
Tasteful ‘T’ Names
Tahini, Tapioca, Taro, Tatum, Teacup, Teaspoon, Thatcher, Tiger, and Tucker
Unusual ‘U’ Names
Ulysses, Urchin, Umbrella, Uma, Ubuntu, and Unicorn
Valiant ‘V’ Names
Valentino, Vanilla, Veggie, Vermouth, Vernon, and Voodoo
Wonderful ‘W’ Names
Waffles, Wade, Waldo, Walton, Warlock, Wasabi, Woolly, Weasel, and Whiskey
Extraordinary ‘X’ Names
X-Ray, Xairis, Xandria, Xippo, Xia, Xena and Xenos
Young ‘Y’ Names
Yahoo, Yaz, Yertle, Yukon, Yvon, Yandro and Yoga
Zany ‘Z’ Names
Zachary, Zadie, Zelda, Zebra, Zamboni, Zeke, Zeppelin, Ziggy, and Zodiac