Posts tagged "cat names"

Ever wonder if your pet's name is really as unique or creative as it seemed back when you dreamed it up? Now you can find out: Petfinder has surveyed its massive database of adoptable cats and dogs to put together a list of 2010's most popular pet names.

Obviously, choosing the right name for your pet is important, because it says a lot about the pet -- and even more about the pet owner. You want your pet's name to be original, because you don't want a whole pack of dogs to answer to your dog's name at the dog park. However, you don't want your pet's name to be too obscure or hard to pronounce. And, of course, you want it to be something you're comfortable yelling in public.

A look at Petfinder's top 10 list of names for dogs and cats reveals some big differences, but there's also a surprising degree of overlap. For example, Buddy dominates the list of dog names for the fourth year in a row, but it doesn't appear in the feline category anywhere. The number of owners who got out their Italian-English dictionaries and selected the name Bella, however, rose in both canine and feline categories.



Top 10 Dog Names

1. Buddy
2. Max
3. Daisy
4. Bella
5. Lucy
6. Jack
7. Molly
8. Charlie
9. Sadie
10. Rocky

What do veterinarians think of the names we give our pets? Do they snicker or roll their eyes when they meet a cat named Meatball Jesus or a dog named Hannah Montana? Do they find the choice of Snowball or Fluffy to be a bit boring?

The answer appears to be yes.

In a recent USA Today article, "Less-than-fetching pet names can reflect back on owners," Florida-based veterinarian Dr. Patty Khuly says that what a cat or dog is named can reveal quite a bit about the pet parent.

"Pet owners always seem to go with dramatic names for their pets," writes Dr. Khuly, citing such gems as Ghetto-Fabulous, Shrapnel and RazzleDazzle. "Maybe they represent names they are unwilling or unable to name their children," she muses. Not that the good doctor is above getting creative with her own pets' monikers, including one named Slumdog. (Her only explanation in the piece was that he "came by his name honestly, I can assure you.")

We were curious whether other vets felt the same way, so we asked around. As it turns out, pet names are a big source of conversation around the animal hospital water cooler.

Tags to Avoid
"There's all this lore in veterinary medicine about pet names," Dr. Tony Johnson, clinical assistant professor at Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine, tells Paw Nation. "The first one is, never name your pet Lucky. That almost guarantees your pet will get hit by a car or get some crazy disease that's only been seen twice since the Middle Ages."

Another no-no is when owners recycle pet names. In fact, it is a "humongous red flag," according to Dr. Johnson. When a person gives successive pets the same name, like Fluffy II, says Dr. Johnson, "I always wonder, 'what happened to Fluffy I?"

Kiss Fido and Spot goodbye, and say hello to Buddy, Lucy and Shyanne Thailand Moo Goo Guy Pan! Petfinder dug its paws into its adoptable pet database and unleashed the most common pet names for dogs and cats of 2009, and their favorite unusual pet names of the year.

While 'Buddy' and 'Max' held onto the number one and two spot for dog names for the third consecutive year, 'Bella' made her first appearance as both a top dog and cat name -- possibly due to the wild popularity of the "Twilight" series. See if your furry friend made the list.

Top 10 Names for Dogs
1. Buddy
2. Max
3. Daisy
4. Lucy
5. Charlie
6. Bella
7. Molly
8. Jack
9. Sadie
10. Lady