Becoming a paw-rent can be one of the most rewarding roles you could ever take on, so naming another member of the family can be a great responsibility.
Dr Karlien Heyrman, Head of Pets at Pets at Home, said: “Adding a pet to the family is an exciting time but selecting a name for your new arrival carries a significant weight; it can almost feel as big a decision as naming a baby.”
Are you a fan of very human names, like Winston, for your pet? Or are little ones in your family fizzing with excitement to name the new kitten Fluffy?
While neither Winston nor Fluffy made it in the top 10 most popular pet names, research collated by the VIP Puppy and Kitten Club (part of Pets at Home) has discovered the nation’s favourite feline names and canine choices.
Coming in at the top spot for both cats and dogs is the beautiful name Luna, which means moon in Latin.
Perhaps the love for Luna comes from pop culture and, in particular, could be in demand due to the Harry Potter character Luna Lovegood but, then again, it may not have anything to do with the magical wizardry films.
In second place the most popular kitten name is Milo, which is of German origin that means soldier or merciful.
Popular for dogs too, Milo comes in third place following Teddy, which is known to mean wealthy protector, brave people, or God’s gift.
Top 10 cats’ names
- Luna
- Milo
- Simba
- Bella
- Nala
- Coco
- Oreo
- Willow
- Kitty
- Loki
Top 10 dogs’ names
- Luna
- Teddy
- Milo
- Lola
- Coco
- Daisy
- Poppy
- Buddy
- Bailey
- Willow
What do the rest of the names mean?
Simba is of Swahili origin, meaning lion, which explains the name of the main character in The Lion King. Meanwhile, Bella means beautiful in Italian, Nala – of African origin – means success, and Coco is the shortened version of the name Soccoro.
Oreo is based on the popular American chocolate biscuit, and Willow refers to freedom. As for Kitty, that one should be self-explanatory, and Loki of Scandinavian origin means trickster.
Lola is short for the Spanish name Dolores, which means sorrows, whereas Daisy represents innocence and purity. Poppy is of Latin origin meaning red flower, Buddy refers to a friend, and Bailey means berry clearing.
No matter which side of the fence you sit on when it comes to preferring cats or dogs, there’s no doubt that the little cuties can add a whole lot of joy to your life.
Dr Heyrman said: “Opting for brief, endearing, and easily distinguishable names will undoubtedly enhance your chances of a prompt response when summoning your puppy or kitten.
“Research even suggests that pets tend to respond best to one or two syllable names, making it easier for them to recognise and remember.”
If you have any dogs or cats in your home, which names did you decide to go with? And have you ever regretted the name you had given your pet?
