What was the reason you chose your pets name?

Was it a favourite pop culture character?

Was it a family members name?

Or was it just something you thought sounded cool?

There are so many reasons we all choose the names we do for our pets.

VitaPet asked over 10,000 pet parents who got a new puppy or kitten in 2022 what they chose to name their new addition. Looking at the names we all chose for our new pups and kittens this year, there are some exciting choices.

For the THIRD year in a row, Luna was the most popular name for new Puppies and Kittens!

Checking out some of the weirder names for pups, you’ve got Shadow, which in my mind jumps to watching or following me! Mochi is another name that you don’t hear much; it actually means “Japanese rice cake”, so odd idea for a pup name. But then again, people like to name their pups after food anyway things like Honey and Cookie and many more. I personally would just get hungry every time I called my pup, and why Oreo but not Brownie?

The classic dog names are still there, like Bella and Coco.

Top 5 Puppy Names Compared to 2022?

1. Luna (same) - Means moon in multiple languages, could this hint that pet parents think their pet is their moon!

2. Bella (up from #3) - Means beautiful, which explains why it’s so popular. I mean, who doesn’t think they have the most beautiful pup!

3. Coco (up from #5) - Lots of Chanel fans in New Zealand? Or do people just want to call their dog “chocolate bean”?

4. Daisy (up from #8) - Daisy comes from the Old English word 'dægeseage' which means "day's eye." Much like the beloved bloom, it's a name that embraces the sweetest elements of daylight, unfurling itself to the sun's rays.

5. Milo (down from #2)- Perhaps people choose to name their puppy Milo because it means solider in Latin or beloved in Slavic languages, so it seems an appropriate name.

 

Looking at the kitten names, it’s obvious that people tend to stick to the usual suspects with classics from The Lion King; like Simba and Nala. Some odd additions like Possum and Pumpkin, the fun continues with some classic children’s characters still inspiring the kittens of today; never let Garfield fall of any list of cat names.

Top 5 Kitten Names Compared to 2021?

1. Luna (same)- Topping the kitten list AND the puppy list just cements that we think of our pets as our moon!

2. Mochi (previously unranked) - Mochi is primarily a gender-neutral name of Japanese origin that means Japanese Rice Cake. Used more for a pet than a human. The name of a sweet Japanese rice cake treat.

3. Coco (up from #18) - Surely there's aspirations for a luxury brand / fashion icon in this choice.

4. Oscar (previously unranked) - Hopefully no references to our trash can loving favourite Sesame Street grouch here.

5. Bella (up from #6) - Traditionally much more of a pooch name. Maybe cats names Bella have a woof or growl, instead of a purr and hiss.

 

 

Personally, my pup Wally was named after my dad, and although his name never appears on these lists, he scraped in at number 303!