Trying to find the perfect name for your four-legged friends can be difficult, especially when you are unsure of what kind of personality they will have. Our pups and kittens deserve a name that will suit them down to a tee, and it also may need to be something you won’t mind shouting over again when their mischievous sides come out to play.
If this is something that you are struggling with, then you may want to have a look at the latest data released by Pets at Home’s Pets Club. They have unveiled the most popular kitten and puppy names of 2024, which just might spark some inspiration.
The data shows that pet owners are continually fascinated with naming their furry friends after characters or people in pop culture and entertainment. Surrey Live reports that for the fifth year in a row, Luna – after Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter – has been the top name for both cats and dogs.
The name Milo has taken the second place for cats, which is a German name meaning ‘merciful’ or ‘soldier’. In third place was Bella – meaning ‘beautiful’ in Italian.
Coming in fourth place for kittens is the name Simba, most widely known from the Disney film ‘The Lion King’. However, its Swahili origin also means ‘lion’. Another Disney entry comes in at number five with the name Coco – inspired by the Day of the Dead movie of the same name. It is also a shortened version of the name Socorro.
Squeezing into the rest of the top 10 spaces for kitten names was Nala, Willow, Oreo, Loki and Daisy.
In terms of puppy names, Bella makes a reappearance but has managed to bump up to second place. This was closely followed by Teddy and Milo again. In fifth place was Poppy, followed by Lola, Daisy, Coco, Buddy and Willow.
Sabrina is one name that is seeing a rise on the cat list, but unfortunately it did not dominate the top 10 charts unlike its smash hit singing counterpart – Sabrina Carpenter. The name Taylor is also seen to be making a rise in the data, following the global success of Swiftie’s Ear Tour.
According to the research, Bluey – inspired by the extremely popular children’s show – remains a top new name for pets last year. Dr Samantha Butler-Davies MRCVS, veterinary services director at Pets at Home, said: “Adding a pet to the family is an exciting time, but selecting a name for your new arrival is a big decision.
She advises to pick a name that is “short, clear and easy to say”. Names with one or two syllables are best as they will be easier for pets to recognise and respond to. She added: “Avoid names that sound too similar to training commands or other names in the household to prevent confusion.
“Consider your pet’s personality, appearance, or unique traits to find a name that feels fitting. Most importantly, choose a name you enjoy saying—you’ll be using it often!”
Other countries will have different lists of the most popular names. American TikToker – @utahdoodles – revealed that in the U.S. the top 10 names for male dogs were Charlie, Cooper, Milo, Buddy, Rocky, Finn, Leo, Teddy and Oliver, with Max taking the top spot.
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