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 9,000 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 second 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 Mango, Taco, Honey and many more. I personally would just get hungry every time I called my pup, and why Taco but not Pizza?

The classic dog names are still there, like Buddy or Poppie/Poppy.

Top 5 Puppy Names Compared to 2021?

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

2. Milo (up from #3) - Well, this is just an Australian icon. Who hasn’t enjoyed a cold glass of Milo and milk? Perhaps people choose to use more because it means solider in Latin or beloved in Slavic languages, so it seems an appropriate name for your pup.

3. Bella (equal 2021)- Means beautiful, which explains why it’s so popular. I mean, who doesn’t think they have the most beautiful pup!

4. Charlie (up from #8) - A gender-neutral name of German origin that means “free man.”

5. Coco (up from 9)- Lots of Chanel fans in Australia? Or do people just want to call their dog “chocolate bean”?

Looking at the kitten names, it’s obvious that people tend to stick to the usual suspects with classics like Charlie, Tigger and more. Some odd additions like Fluer, perhaps inspired by the Harry Potter character, and Jinx, playing into the idea that black cats are a jinx, maybe? But 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. Charlie (previously unranked) - A common name for dogs, we're surprised but still gleeful it's snuck in as a popular cat name.

3. Oreo (up from #23) - Perhaps just a more specific version of the name Cookie!

4. Loki (up from #20) - Typically a boy's name of Norse origin that means "airy", also the name of the Norse god of mischief. Definitely playing with fire naming your Kitty Loki.

5. Tigger (up from #79) - Winnie-the-Poo's feline companion, famous for jumps and bounces. Sounds about spot on for a cat name, right?

There you have it, the names we choose for our pets often have a special meaning for us or are just something we choose for fun.

Personally, my pup Wally was named after my dad, and although his name never appears on these lists, he scraped in at number 199!