Pet Names : Complete Guide – Very Many Names

As humans, we sometimes need company, not from fellow human beings but animals, pets. Based on our different tastes and preferences, we may have different pet animals such as dogs, cats, parrots, and rabbits, among others. While getting an ideal pet is one thing, finding them a perfect name is another accomplishment, given the hundreds of pet names available at our disposal.

When it comes to pet names, the name you choose says a lot about your relationship with your pet and the pet’s personality or traits. Today, pet owners view their pets as a part of their family and even name them mainly based on their gender or personality.

This guide details out what you need to know about pet names. Read on to find all the essential information you need, such as:

Tips to consider when choosing perfect pet names
How to name your pet
Trending pet names

Most loved pet names
Most hated pet names
How to teach a pet its name

Pet name tags

Tips To Consider When Choosing Pet Names

Charlie, Bella, Max, Coco, and Molly are some popularly used pet names. However, arriving at such cute names may be challenging because there are endless lists of pet names to choose from based on your needs. Therefore, to make this otherwise overwhelming task easier, here are a few tips to consider.

Popular or Unique Pet Name

Before getting down to choosing a name for your favorite pet, decide whether you want to go with the popular names or something unique. You can easily find popular names by searching online, asking your family members and friends, or from movies. Who knows, maybe by choosing a famous pet name, your pet may grow to become famous too!

However, you need to research the unique names, including how to combine letters to create a unique and perfect pet name. Getting a unique name may indicate a high level of personal attachment to your pet.

Whichever option you choose, ensure you settle for a pet name you are comfortable with, a name you can call out in public.

Phonetics

Phonetics is the study and classification of sounds, and it can play a significant role in choosing a pet name.

Compared to humans, animals’ ears hear different frequencies. For example, most of them easily recognize words starting with hard consonants than those that begin with vowels. Due to this, some naming experts recommend using two-syllable words with a hard consonant at the center and a vowel at the end, such as Loki, Chico, etc.

Additionally, it is advisable to go for a name whose sound can be easily distinguished by your pet from any ambient noise. It should not sound like common commanding words. For example, ‘Kit’ sounds like ‘sit,’ and ‘kay’ sounds like ‘stay.’ This is important because it is hard for pets to differentiate similar sounds.

Character Trait

Your pet’s character traits may also help you get a perfect name. Take your time and look out for any outstanding characteristics and choose a name based on them. For example, if your pet cat or dog is so affectionate, you may name it ‘sweetie,’ and if it runs at high speeds, you may call it ‘speedy.’

However, this tip may not work well if your pet stays for months without displaying its real character or personality.

Keep It Short

The length of the name may also help you narrow down your options. It is advisable to go for a short phrase that is easy to call out. Pets may find it harder to respond to long names as compared to short ones.

Keep your pet’s name short and simple, easy to spell, pronounce and remember. Don’t go for complex, tongue twister words.

Search Online

Nowadays, almost everything you need is available online. Therefore, you can as well find a perfect pet name online. Just search for an ideal name concerning your pet type, gender, or character traits. Searching online saves you the time you would have spent consulting your friends and family.

Get Inspiration

Being inspired makes pet naming easy. You may get your inspiration from a novel you finished reading, a movie, or even your favorite artist. Here you may also look around your life to find something that interests you, such as rugby, golf, or soccer. For example, if you love soccer, you may name your pet after a renowned player such as ‘Ozil.’

Additionally, if you feel that you are so close with your pet; that they are like your best friend, you may be inspired to call them ‘buddy.’

Be Neutral

Another essential tip to consider is going for a neutral name. Do not go for offensive or violent phrases such as ‘killer’ or ‘destroyer’ that may evoke mixed reactions. Get a name that you, your vet, and their staff will be comfortable calling out even in public.

Choose a Name That Your Pet Will Grow With

Finally, it is advisable to choose a name that will be perfect for your pet to grow with. For example, the name ‘kitten’ or ‘puppy’ may not be ideal as your pet cat or dog continues to grow. It is advisable not to choose a name based on age since you will be required to change it as your pet grows.

How To Name a Pet

With the above pet naming tips in mind, let’s now look at how to name a pet.

Identify Your Needs

Congratulations on your new pet! So do you already have a name in mind? After getting your pet, the next thing is to identify the type of pet name you need. Should it be popular or unique, long or short, etc.? With your needs effectively figured out, it will be easy to settle for a perfect name.

Get Your Close Family Members Involved

Few things initiate an interesting and friendly family as the question of what to name a new pet. It is more exciting to see your family members and especially children bringing something to the table.

Allow each person to suggest their favorite names, narrow down the list through elimination and allow them to vote for the best without anyone feeling left out. This creates room for brainstorming. You’ll realize that children will be more connected to a pet they named and will have a sense of responsibility towards it.

Therefore, when naming a pet, perform this critical step if you can. Picking a name on your own may make the other family members feel left out. Don’t be too selfish! If you don’t have a close family, you can ask a few friends, search online, or read books on pet names.

Make the Name Short, Easy, and Sweet To Call

Once you’ve identified several names from the ones provided by your family members, choose one that is short, sweet, and easy to call. It shouldn’t be too long; go for two-syllable words. Additionally, it shouldn’t be offensive or violent. You should be comfortable calling out the name in public.

To avoid confusion, the name you choose should not be similar to that of a family member, another pet, or a command.

Name Your New Pet As Early as Possible

We know it isn’t so easy to get a perfect name for your pet. However, the earlier you figure out a name, the better.

The name will be the point of communication and connection between you and your new pet. It will also form a basis for your pet to learn how to listen and follow commands or orders. If possible, try getting your pet’s name within the first two weeks of adopting them. By doing so, you will help them familiarize themselves with their name early enough.

Try It Out

Once you have settled for your perfect name, the next step is to try it out with your pet. In some cases, the name you choose may stick quickly, while it may take days or even weeks in others. Whichever the case, remain consistent.

Note that it will be hard for pets to identify with their new name if you are not consistently calling it out or if you keep on changing it. Therefore, it is advisable to give it at least a two-week trial to see how the pet responds and get an opinion from family members or friends.

If the name does not stick within a few weeks, you can try replacing it with a better one.

When Did People Start Naming Their Pets?

When discussing pet names, it would be necessary to look at the pet naming history. Here we’ll look at when people started domesticating and naming their pets.

The human-animal relationship is believed to have started many centuries ago. Generally, it is believed that humans began domesticating animals, especially cats and dogs, about 12,000 years ago. However, a recent study discovered a canine skull in Goyet Cave, Belgium, which dates back to approximately 31,700 years ago.

This recent discovery is an indication that the human-animal relationship may have blossomed during the stone age period. Romans and ancient Greeks would grieve for their pet dogs during these historical times, as evidenced by inscriptions on tombstones commemorating their loss.

Additionally, in Ancient Egypt, dogs and baboons kept as pets were buried with their guardians or owners. Egyptians gave their pet dogs names, which was a significant step since Egyptians considered pet names to have magical properties.

Today, domesticating animals has taken a new turn from the standard dog, cat, and rabbit pets. People are now keeping almost any animal they like including snakes, fish, and crocodiles. However, domesticating or taming such wild animals sometimes requires a permit, depending on your region. Some countries have imposed a ban on keeping wild animals as pets.

Generally, people get pets for companionship or because of their perceived beauty and attractiveness. Additionally, some pets, mostly cats and dogs, are approved therapy animals that help in human treatment, mainly through emotional therapy.

Trending Pet Names

Having discussed a lot on finding a perfect name for your pet, let’s now shift focus to the trending pet names.

Just like human names, pet names come and go. You may find a good percentage of pets bearing a particular name in one season, which then fades away or is overtaken by another one in the next season.

The trends in pet names are influenced by the prevailing events, circumstances, or conditions. These include a worldwide political event, a tournament, or a pandemic.

For example, we are currently battling the novel CoronaVirus (COVID-19), which has affected almost every region globally. This global pandemic has affected the way people live, interact and move from one area to another.

Interestingly, there are pet owners now giving their pets names inspired by the pandemic. You can find a pet named:

Covi/Covie
Rona

Corona

Additionally, there is another group of trending pet names inspired by video games. Given that most regions had imposed stay-at-home orders to curb the spread of the novel virus, people spent most of their time indoors playing video games. As a result, they borrowed some ideas from their favorite video games, which they used to name their pets.

You are now likely to hear the names of video games in the pet parks. They include:

Gaz from Call of Duty (COD)
Shep (Animal Crossing)
Midas (Fortnite)

Griggs (Call of Duty)
Hanzo (Overwatch)

You may also find trending pet names depending on the happenings in your specific region or state.

The Most Loved Pet Names

Although pet owners have different pet name preferences, some names seem to occupy the top rank as the most loved ones. Here is a look at the most beloved pet names for the most popular pets; dogs, cats, and birds. You can choose one for your newly acquired pet.

Most Loved Names for Female Dogs

Most female pet dogs are likely to bear any of the following names:

Bella

Daisy
Luna
Lola

Lucy
Molly
Maggie

Sadie
Sophie
Ruby

Most Loved Pet Names for Male Dogs

Buddy
Charlie
Cooper

Max
Milo
Bear

Rocky
Duke
Axel

Lucky

Top 10 Most Loved Female Cat Names

They include:

Angel
Lily
Bella

Sasha
Kitty
Abby

Mia
Molly
Chloe

Sophie

Top 10 Most Loved Male Cat Names

Oliver
Tiger

Max
Smokey
Rocky

Buddy
Simba
Milo

Oreo
Charlie

Top 10 Most Loved Bird Names

If you have a bird for a pet, you may use any of the following names;

Kiwi
Birdie
Angel

Sunshine
Charlie
Tiki

Tweety
Coco
Lucy

Oliver

The Most Hated Pet Names

Here are some of the most hated pet names you wouldn’t like to give your pet:

Deogie/DiOhGee for dogs

Poop
Pussy
Hunter

Baby Jesus
Milky mouth
Chicken nuggets

Meat pie

The Best Names for a Dalmatian Puppy

How To Teach a Pet Its Name

By now, you already have a name in mind for your pet. So, what next? How will the pet learn its name?

Before you begin teaching your pet their name, it is important to note that different pet animals have different intelligence levels. Some may learn to respond to their names fast, while others may take time. Therefore, the time you spend teaching your dog their name may not be the ideal time to spend on a cat or a rabbit.

Regardless of the type of pet you are dealing with, remain consistent until you achieve the desired results. For best results, be patient with your pet. It may take some time, but you will eventually get there.

Below is a detailed guide on how to teach your pet their name.

Find an Ideal Training Location

First up, find an ideal training place. You may use your kitchen, living room, or calm outdoor space. Your training location should be quiet and comfortable for you and your pet to keep you happy and relaxed. By finding an ideal place, your pet will be able to concentrate as you teach them their name, making the whole process easier.

Choose a Good Time To Teach Your Pet

Your pet is likely to learn and respond faster when they are motivated. For most pets, they are most motivated when hungry. They will likely respond quickly, anticipating a tasty bit of food. You can choose your time depending on your pet’s feeding schedule.

Plan the Sessions

After finding an ideal location and time, now plan for the training sessions. Most pet animals have short concentration spans. Therefore, it is advisable to keep the training sessions short and spread out throughout the day. You can keep each session about five minutes long while calling out the pet’s name about three to five times at different times of the day.

Test out your plan for a few days to see if it works. If it doesn’t seem to work, adjust the time and the frequency of the sessions.

Call Out Your Pet’s Name in a Clear and Happy Voice

Don’t overdo it when calling your pet. Maintain the ‘name calls’ to at most two per session. Overdoing it may make your pet mistake their name for some noise distractions. Additionally, call the name in a clear voice and avoid combining it with commanding words such as ‘stop’ at the initial training stages. Combining the pet name with other terms may confuse your pet.

You can introduce the commands or orders later after the pet thoroughly familiarises with their name. When calling your pet, keep the name consistent, avoid changing it now and then. For example, if your pet’s name is ‘charlie,’ stick to it! Avoid using other phrases or short forms such as ‘Charles’ or ‘chas.’

Reward Your Pet

We all like rewards, and so do pets. Therefore, if your pet responds to their name, reward them with their favorite food or snack. Other than using foodstuff as rewards, you could also cuddle them, tap their back or gently rub their belly. Being affectionate with your pet helps create a strong bond.

Establishing such a rewarding routine will motivate your pet to respond more, thus learning their name faster. The goal here is to associate their responsiveness and obedience with a positive outcome.

Once your pet learns its name, the next important thing is to reinforce it. So let’s now look at how to strengthen your pet’s name recognition.

Reinforce Pet Name Recognition

Make the Training Challenging

Once your pet has mastered the basics of the initial training, try making it more challenging. You can do this by changing the location as well as the training time and frequency. Here, you can start training on noisy grounds with frequent distractions. For example, you can distract your cat or dog by throwing a ball towards their direction and then calling them.

Additionally, you can call their name when they are sleeping, eating, or playing. Your aim here is to get your pet to respond to their name regardless of the prevailing circumstances.

Reduce the Treats or Rewards

If you notice a level of consistency in how your pet responds to their name, you can gradually reduce the rewards. Stop giving them treats for name response or lengthen the interval between rewards. By doing so, they will eventually forget the rewards and will no longer depend on them to respond to their name.

Use the Name Continually

Don’t stop using the pet’s name after training. Instead, continue calling it out more frequently when feeding, playing, and grooming them. Continued usage creates consistency leading to a successful name recognition and reinforcement phase.

Give It Time

Like earlier mentioned, pets take different times to learn their names. Therefore, do not be too hard on yours; give it time, handle one step at a time, and the results will be pleasing. Once again, the key is consistency and frequent practice.

However, always remember that your pet is not a machine and will not always be 100% responsive. Sometimes, your pet may fail to respond, maybe because they didn’t hear you call, or they might be having a rough day. Just be patient with your pet.

Pet Name Tags

Now that your pet has a name and is familiar with it, you need to get them a name tag. A pet tag refers to a form of identity tag similar to the tags worn by humans. In some states, such as the UK, it is a requirement by the law that every dog kept as a pet should bear a pet tag.

Pet tags often contain essential information regarding the pet’s identity and usually comes in handy when your pet gets lost. Anyone who comes across your pet can reach out to you via the information on the tag. Pet tags may be customized in terms of material, design, and information regarding your tastes and preferences.

What To Include in a Pet Name Tag?

Although the details of a pet name tag may vary from one owner to the other, the standard information that shouldn’t be left out include:

Pet name: Write the name of your pet in a clear and eligible way. You can use a bright color to easily tell their name to anyone who comes across your pet.
Primary contact information: The person likely to answer the call if a stranger calls regarding the pet.
Secondary contact information: It is the contact information of a trusted family or family member. It may also be the information on your next of kin.
Personality quirks: You may include a simple personality quirk about the pet. For example, in the case of a dog, you may write,’ I love kids,’ ‘I chase cats,’ etc.
Medical history: It is important to state if your pet has some allergy or if they need daily medication. Medical history becomes helpful if your pet lands in the hands of strangers. They will know what to feed it and the medicines to give if need be.

You can make your pet tag or get one from the pet stores. Avoid dangling pet tags that can easily get stuck on bushes, wood, grilles, or in the mouth of fellow animals or pets while playing.

Additionally, to avoid being on the wrong side of the law, ensure you check your state’s or region’s laws concerning pets. If you need licensing, be sure to get it as per the law.

If you are required to vaccinate your pet against infectious diseases such as rabies, ensure that you get the vaccination. You may also include the vaccination details on your pet tag.

Conclusion

Getting a pet name for your new pet may be overwhelming if not well planned. Therefore, for the whole process to flow smoothly, follow these tips:

Decide between a popular or unique name
Go for a short name
Look at the phonetics of the name
Go for a neutral phrase that is less violent and less offensive
Involve your family members in getting a name

Once you have a name, teach your pet to respond to it and reinforce the name recognition. Do not forget to get a pet name tag for your pet.

How to Choose the Perfect Pet Name