Insurance provider and wellness experts ManyPets have reveals the top ten names for our furry friends, favoured by pet parents this year. New data taken from 510,000 pet owners can reveal that Luna (16.4%) takes the top spot for most popular name, followed by Bella (14.5%) and Teddy (10.5%).
- Luna (16.4%)
- Bella (14.5%)
- Teddy (10.5%)
- Milo (10%)
- Daisy (8.8%)
- Lola (8.4%)
- Bailey (8%)
- Buddy (7.8%)
- Coco (7.8%)
- Poppy (7.6%)
When asked what inspired their choice, 14% say they prefer human names such as Colin or Dave, whilst 9% named their furry child after a celebrity. Following the likes of Love Island’s Molly Mae with her pets ‘Eggy’ and ‘Bread’, 7% of Brits found their inspiration for their pet’s name in the kitchen cupboard, opting for names such as Honey or Crumpet.
ManyPets data also found the humble Labrador is still Brits’ best friend, crowned the nation’s favourite breed in 2022 followed by the Cocker Spaniel (19.2%) and Cockapoo (18%). With historical owner data showing the Labrador steadily in the top two since 2017, it comes as no surprise that research shows two thirds (62%) say they favour traditional breeds over designer cross pups.
Most popular breeds of 2022
- Labrador Retriever (19.4%)
- Cocker Spaniel (19.2%)
- Cockapoo (18%)
- French Bulldog (8.8%)
- Cavapoo (6.5%)
- Golden Retriever (6.2%)
- German Shepherd (6%)
- Dachshund (5.6%)
- Staffordshire Bull Terror (5.4%)
- Border Collie (5%)
When asked what factors influenced them when picking their pooch, two in five (40%) Brits say that appearance was key, whilst 38% look for breeds with a history of good behaviour and 34% look for dogs known to be good with children. A quarter (24%) also say that associated health conditions are a key consideration in the buying process. Postcode-conscious Brits are also influenced by their neighbours' choices (21%).
Cost is also an important influence, as one in five (20%) say this played a vital role in their final decision. Luckily, ManyPets pricing data for 2022 has revealed an average 18%* decrease in puppy prices since the lockdown boom in 2021. Taking the top spot as the cheapest dog breed is the sturdy Jack Russel, with just a £685 average buying cost and an average food bill of approximately £13 a month*.
Oke Eleazu, CEO, ManyPets, said: “Like baby names, choosing the name of a beloved pooch is a decision that takes careful consideration, and is often influenced by the latest trends, films, celebrities or even our favourite foods. It is fascinating to see how names gain popularity and the growing trend of picking human names over traditional pet names. It shows just how much our pets are part of the family. Our tip is to think of a name that has one or two-syllables in it. A name that’s longer will be harder for your pup to recognise. And many people think about how the name will sound when shouting it across the park.”
