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