Similar to baby names, pet names go in and out of fashion all the time.
Whether you've picked a classic name for your furry friend, or you've taken inspiration from pop culture, food or nature, it's likely you'll have come across another pet with the same name as yours.
The names we pick for our pets are often a reflection of what we care about ourselves, so they can mean a lot.
And the most popular names for 2022 have been revealed, featuring a couple of names you'll most likely have heard before.
The Mirror reports that the new research, conducted by pet insurance provider ManyPets, examined over half a million pet owners to narrow down the top 10 most popular - with the sweet name 'Luna' sitting at the top spot.
As well as finding out the most popular names, ManyPets also revealed the 10 most popular dog breeds of 2022.
With Labradors sitting comfortably at the top spot every year since 2017, it's no surprise that they're the most popular again this year as two thirds of people prefer traditional breeds to designer cross-breeds.
Here are the most popular pet names and dog breeds of 2022...
10 most popular pet names of 2022
- Luna
- Bella
- Teddy
- Milo
- Daisy
- Lola
- Bailey
- Buddy
- Coco
- Poppy
Whilst many people get inspiration for their pet's names from their surroundings, the study also found that 14% prefer human names - such as Colin and Dave. 9% also say they've named their pet after a celebrity.
Following the likes of Love Island's Molly-Mae Hague with her pets 'Eggy' and 'Bread', 7% of owners take their pet's name from the kitchen cupboard, opting for names such as Honey and Crumpet.
10 most popular dog breeds of 2022
- Labrador retriever
- Cocker spaniel
- Cockapoo
- French bulldog
- Cavapoo
- Golden retriever
- German shepherd
- Dachshund
- Staffordshire bull terrier
- Border collie
When it comes to choosing a dog, two in five Brits make their decision based on the dog's appearance, while 38% look for breeds with a history of good behaviour and 34% look for dogs known to be good with children.
A quarter of people also said that any health conditions are an important factor to consider when buying a dog.
Cost can also influence people's decision, with one in five saying that this plays a vital role. Puppy prices soared during the pandemic measures, but have since dipped again with Jack Russell costing the cheapest at £685 on average.
Oke Eleazu, CEO of 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!"
Would you choose a name from the most popular list, or go for something more unique? Let us know in the comments.
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