Pet insurance experts at Comparethemarket have shared the most popular names for our four-legged friends, according to data from thousands of pet owners around the UK.
The results reveal that the name we love most for both cats and dogs is Luna, with over 16,000 dogs and 3,343 cats sporting this name around the country. Both animals also share the same rank for the name Milo, coming in third cross-species.
When it comes to the nation’s pooches, we see that the most popular names are female, with Luna (16,051), Bella (15,838) and Lola (11,636) all in the top five. Milo is the most popular male dog name at 12,588 and Bailey is the top gender-neutral name at 12,179.
Comparatively, our feline friends' top five names are more evenly split with female names like Luna (3,343) and Coco (2,371) ranking first and fourth in that order, male names Simba (2,637) and Milo (2,397) ranking second and third respectively and gender-neutral Charlie (2,111), in fifth.
Whilst more common dog names like Max, Charlie and Daisy are popular across the board, when looking at the breakdown by breed, there are some interesting trends. Breeds like Shih Tzus, Pomeranians and Cockerpoos all share the name Teddy as the most popular dog name - which might be due to their likely resemblance to the cuddly soft toys. Similarly for bigger breeds like Rottweilers and St Bernards - Bear is the most popular pooch name.
When we look at cats, owners are generally led by the colours of their cats’ coats, for example, short hair black and white cats are most popularly named Oreo and Persian Smokes are most likely to be called Shadow. For those without fur, like the Sphynx cat, the choice of name offers up more of a pop culture reference, where the most popular name for the breed is Dobby.
Anna McEntee, pet insurance expert at Comparethemarket said: "When getting a new pet, coming up with its name may be one of the first things you do, however, there are certainly lots of other things to consider when thinking about bringing your new four-legged friend home.
"Brush up on breed specifics such as exercise needs and dietary requirements, that way you can be clear on what your new pet needs and sort a schedule ahead of time. Be sure to register with your local vet as soon as possible and consider which pet insurance coverage might be right for you.”
