Pet names are created in a variety of ways. I once met a woman who named her dog Dog. He was a stray that found his way into her life without ceremony, and his name served its purpose. He came when he was called. I also know a busy working woman who adopted two sibling cats and called them Brother and Sister – just as placeholders, but the names stuck because she didn’t have the time or energy to think of better ones. No approach to naming a pet is better than another, as long as our pets are given the love and care they deserve. However, some of us recognize the fun in choosing a pet’s name and we want to put more thought into it. Even when we’re enthusiastic about it, exactly how to name a pet can elude us. Here are some ideas that may generate the perfect name for your pet. Your Pet’s Appearance Plenty of pet names are inspired by physical appearance. These tend to be friendly names that make people smile, because they’re understood immediately. Who wouldn’t grin at a chocolate lab named Hershey, or a big gray British Shorthair cat called Stormy? Some things to consider: Color or texture of coat Examples:
Body type or size Examples:
Behavior Clues Sometimes a pet’s innate or unique behavior can inspire a name, whether it’s in their speed or athleticism, a habit, or their personality. Energetic pets Examples:
Affectionate pets Examples:
Exceptionally serene or even lazy pets Examples:
Your Favorite Things Many a pet name has been inspired by its owner’s passions and hobbies. Think about: Favorite TV shows, movies, books, and their characters Examples:
Hobbies and InterestsExamples:
Favorite celebrities, athletes, and people from historyExamples:
Popular Pet Names In 2020, these were the top ten most popular dog names among BarkBox subscribers:
Travel + Leisure published the entire list of the top 100 here. Curious about popular cat and dog names over the past 100 years? This fun article from Mental Floss lists them by decade. “Smokey” and “Max” are high-rankers. You Look Like a Bartholomew After all of this, if you’re still having trouble deciding on a name for your pet, sometimes it just takes one good look at their sweet face. Your gut may tell you what to name your pet, and that perfect moniker – whether it’s Princess, Zeus, of Foo-Foo – will pop right out of your mouth. CONTENT WRITER, BARKTIQUE + MEOW
Kim BrittinghamKim Brittingham is a content writer for Barktique + Meow, animal lover, and history buff residing at the Jersey Shore. She is the author of Read My Hips (Three Rivers Press/Random House, 2011) and Write That Memoir Right Now (Blackstone, 2013). She's a willing servant to a rescued miniature poodle named Clarice.
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