Milo and Luna Top Britain's Pet Name Charts Amid Shifting Trends
New research reveals a move towards modern monikers, influenced by pop culture and social media.
Milo has been crowned the most popular male pet name in Britain, with Luna taking the top spot for female pets, according to recent research. Milo registered 22,300 times, while Luna saw 31,900 registrations. Teddy and Bella followed as the second most popular male and female names, respectively.
The findings, compiled by vet practice Inspiring Vet Care in collaboration with the RSPCA, indicate a shift from more traditional pet names. Trendy names like Willow and Coco have entered the top ten for female pets, ranking eighth and tenth, while Buddy and Daisy suggest that some classic names remain popular.
Previously, Poppy was noted as the most popular dog name by insurer Petgevity in January. However, the latest data places it third among female pets. Archie and Monty were identified as the least popular male names, contrasting with the enduring popularity of floral names such as Rosie, Daisy, and Poppy, which constitute a third of the top female list.
Richard Hooker, country medical director for Inspiring Vet Care, observed an emerging trend of pets being named after England footballers following their World Cup performance. He also noted the influence of popular culture, citing names like Taylor, Ariana, and Sabrina.
This trend aligns with Petgevity's January data, which also highlighted a move away from traditional pet names and revealed distinctions between cat and dog naming conventions. Petgevity recorded minimal registrations for classic dog names like Rover, Fido, and Lassie, and noted that once-common cat names such as Marmalade and Whiskers have become rare. Out of 5,100 cats registered last year, only 11 were named Tabby and five were called Spot.
A Petgevity spokesperson commented that while a few older animals retain classic names, contemporary pets are more likely to be named Luna or Bella, names also popular for human children. The spokesperson added that names like Mittens or Felix are becoming less common.
Social media appears to be a significant influence on pet naming choices, with nearly two-thirds of surveyed pet owners citing it as a factor. Additionally, about a quarter of owners have named pets after fictional characters from films or TV shows.
Petgevity advises pet owners to consider potential embarrassment when choosing a name, especially with the rise of pop culture influences. The survey found that only 37% of owners considered whether their pet's name might be embarrassing to say aloud at a vet's office, leading to anecdotes of owners mumbling names like "Lord Volde–tort" for tortoises.