What Should You Name Your Dog?

What are the rules or guidelines for naming your dog? I have always felt that dogs should have people names as opposed to “thing” names. They are, after all, members of your family, not possessions. Personally, giving them a human name makes me feel like I am showing them more respect as a living, breathing, loving creature on this Earth. My dogs all have people names.

We name the stray dogs in the shelter, everyone has different ideas. I don’t know why people pick certain names. In the shelter, they like catchy names for potential adopters to notice. Sometimes we will change a dog’s name if they are surrendered. And a new pet owner may change the name again. Naming your dog is an important part of owning a pet.

If you are wondering if it is a good idea to rename a dog after you have adopted it, most experts agree that it is. According to Riverdog, canine coaching, there are several good reasons. “First, it is generally pretty easy for a dog to learn a new name. Second, renaming the dog gives the new family an immediate reason to spend time with, bond, and give attention to the dog. Third, it is impossible for one to use the ‘old’ name in the same way as the former owner, so the dog may not respond to his old name in his new home anyway. And lastly, taking on a new name often helps the adoptive owner emotionally ‘claim’ the new dog as a family member, rather than subconsciously keeping the animal at an emotional distance (e.g., as ‘someone else’s dog’) which increases the likelihood that this will be the dog’s forever home.”

According to data from the Veterinary Pet Insurance Company, as provided by Dogtime.com, Bella and Max remain at the top of the list of the most popular dog names.

Top 25 Female Dog Names:			Top 25 Male Dog Names:
1. Bella 2. Lucy 3. Molly 4. Daisy 5. Maggie 6. Sophie 7. Sadie 8. Chloe 9. Bailey 10. Lola	11. Zoe 12. Abby 13. Ginger 14. Roxy 15. Gracie 16. Coco 17. Murphy 18. Lily 19. Angel 20. Princess		1. Bailey 2. Max 3. Charlie 4. Buddy 5. Rocky 6. Jake 7. Jack 8. Toby 9. Cody 10. Buster	11. Duke 12. Cooper 13. Riley 14. Harley 15. Bear 16. Tucker 17. Murphy 18. Lucky 19. Oliver 20. Sam

Rover.com, the nation’s largest network of 5 star pet sitters and dog walkers, has dug into their databases and pulled out their most popular dog names for the past several years along with some interesting tidbits about preferences by city as well as top names inspired by pop culture, the internet, and nostalgia.

In 2017, for boy dogs, the top choices were Max, Charlie, Cooper, Buddy, Jack, Rocky, Oliver, Bear, Duke, and Tucker.

For girl dogs, Bella, Lucy, Daisy, Luna, Lola, Sadie, Molly, Maggie, Bailey, and Sophie were most popular.

Rover.com’s Top Names By Year

2017			2016			2015
Female	Male		Female	Male		Female	Male
Bella Lucy Daisy Luna Lola Sadie Molly Bailey Maggie Sophie Chloe Stella Lily Penny Zoey Coco Roxy Gracie Mia Nala Ruby Rosie Ellie Abby Zoe Piper Ginger Lilly Lulu Riley Sasha Lexi Pepper Emma Layla Maya Izzy Lady Annie Olive Harley Belle Dixie Millie Willow Princess Charlie Maddie Kona Cali Ella Winnie Roxie Marley Cookie Hazel Scout Athena Callie Phoebe Honey Angel Dakota Minnie Holly Missy Sugar Shelby Nova Leia Josie Penelope Ava Gigi Peanut Fiona Cleo Jasmine Sandy Mocha Harper Macy Sydney Paisley Lacey Bonnie Baby Mila Delilah Pearl Charlotte Trixie Ivy Nina Heidi Georgia Shadow Xena Allie Oreo	Max Charlie Cooper Buddy Jack Rocky Bear Tucker Oliver Duke Toby Bentley Milo Teddy Leo Winston Jax Zeus Louie Murphy Jake Dexter Riley Gus Buster Harley Bailey Jackson Henry Ollie Oscar Finn Lucky Moose Hank Baxter Bruno Diesel Loki Sam Cody Beau Bandit Blue Jasper Apollo Ace Sammy Thor Gunner Gizmo Koda Shadow Scout Brody Bo Marley Simba Roscoe Otis Rocco Rex George Hunter Tank Luke Ziggy Maverick Rusty Boomer Romeo Tyson Chance Benny Ranger Prince Oreo Bruce Copper Benji Joey Rudy Samson Cash Peanut Frankie Kobe Coco Chewy Chico Chase Zeke King Chester Odin Walter Brady Brutus Mickey Mac		Bella Lucy Daisy Lola Luna Molly Sadie Sophie Bailey Maggie Chloe Lily Stella Zoey Penny Roxy Coco Gracie Ruby Mia Zoe Ellie Nala Rosie Ginger Abby Lilly Piper Sasha Riley Pepper Lulu Emma Lady Layla Lexi Olive Annie Izzy Maya Maddie Dixie Princess Cali Millie Belle Ella Harley Honey Kona Charlie Willow Marley Roxie Cookie Scout Holly Minnie Winnie Angel Dakota Callie Missy Phoebe Hazel Athena Shelby Peanut Sugar Jasmine Ava Penelope Sandy Trixie Gigi Fiona Sydney Josie Cleo Mocha Leia Delilah Baby Harper Shadow Macy Pearl Allie Mila Heidi Bonnie Nina Grace Katie Lacey Gypsy Cocoa Nova Charlotte Xena	Max Charlie Buddy Cooper Jack Rocky Bear Duke Toby Tucker Oliver Bentley Milo Teddy Jake Leo Jax Dexter Zeus Louie Riley Winston Buster Murphy Jackson Bailey Harley Gus Lucky Oscar Henry Cody Hank Sam Baxter Ollie Diesel Bruno Bandit Beau Gizmo Moose Finn Sammy Blue Marley Loki Brody Jasper Ace Thor Shadow Rocco Apollo Roscoe George Scout Bo Rex Tank Tyson Rusty Otis Koda Luke Simba Gunner Romeo Hunter Joey Rudy Boomer Ziggy Copper Maverick Oreo Prince Frankie Bruce Samson Peanut Benny Brutus Ranger Chester Chase Chance Kobe Brady Coco Chico Chewy Bubba Benji Mickey Rufus King Archie Cash Walter		Bella Lucy Daisy Molly Lola Sadie Maggie Sophie Chloe Bailey Luna Lily Roxy Zoey Stella Penny Coco Gracie Zoe Abbie Ginger Ruby Mia Sasha Lilly Rosie Ellie Nala Emma Pepper Piper Lulu Lady Annie Layla Riley Princess Lexi Maya Maddie Dixie Olive Izzy Roxie Belle Angel Callie Ella Cookie Missie Honey Millie Kona Marley Holly Sandy Shelby Dakota Harley Phoebe Scout Charlie Minnie Callie Willow Jasmine Sugar Athena Winnie Hazel Trixie Mocha Josie Peanut Sydney Katie Macy Cleo Fiona Shadow Baby Allie Hannah Mimi Cocoa Lacey Bonnie Madison Grace Penelope Delilah Nina Heidi Gigi Sally Lucky Ava Sassy Oreo Nikki	Max Charlie Buddy Cooper Jack Rocky Toby Duke Bear Tucker Oliver Jake Bentley Teddy Riley Milo Bailey Buster Dexter Leo Winston Murphy Louie Zeus Lucky Oscar Cody Harley Jackson Henry Baxter Gus Jax Sam Sammy Bandit Bruno Gizmo Diesel Marley Ollie Jasper Roscoe Beau Hank Rusty Shadow Brody Rocco Blue Scout Moose Rex Otis Loki George Finn Romeo Bo Simba Tyson Apollo Boomer Tank Hunter Ziggy Ace Joey Thor Luke Peanut Samson Gunner Chance Rufus Rudy Oreo Koda Prince Sparky Frankie Benny Chico Brutus Copper Coco Chase Chester Kobe Brady Cash Bubba Bruce Ranger Maverick Mickey Mac Benji Scooter Chewy

 

So what are your thoughts on naming a dog? Do you prefer cutsie names or maybe ones that remind you of your favorite character from a movie or TV show? And if you have ever renamed a dog, I’d love to find out how long it took for your pet to respond to the new one. Did it change your perception of him/her. Please let me know at connie [at] dogshowconfidential.com.