Most Popular Dog & Cat Names Of 2022
Choosing a name for your newly adopted dog or cat can be a fun yet daunting task. Many people turn to their passions, favorite shows, and food for inspiration.
However, some pick names based on what occurred the year they adopted their pet.
So, where do you begin?
Thankfully, Rover, the world's largest network of pet sitters and dog walkers, just released their most popular pet names of the year.
They analyzed their database of millions of pet owners to figure out the popular and trending dog and cat names of 2022. While the classic male and female dog names have remained mostly the same, there are some interesting trending names for both dogs and cats.
Check out the names below and get inspired or see if your pet's name made the list.
Classic Dog Names
There are some names that remain popular year after year. I'm sure you either have owned a dog by one of these names or at least know of one. They are timeless and easy to say, so go ahead and give one a try.
Most Popular Female Dog Names
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1. Bella
2. Luna
3. Lucy
4. Daisy
5. Lily
6. Zoe
7. Lola
8. Sadie
9. Bailey
10. Molly
Most Popular Male Dog Names
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1. Max
2. Charlie
3. Cooper
4. Buddy
5. Milo
6. Bear
7. Rocky
8. Duke
9. Tucker
10. Jack
Rover even broke down the most common and trending dog names by state and dog breed. Find out more here.
Trending Dog Names
TV Show-Inspired
Popular TV shows like Euphoria, Stranger Things, Yellowstone, and Outlander are inspiring dog owners across the country. According to Rover, Euphoria names are off the charts with, "The #1 trending dog name of 2022 is Fezco (up a whopping 2,385%!), with Fez (up 63%), Rue (up 35%), and Faye (up 24%) following suit."
Stranger Things-inspired names like Erica and Jonathan are trending with Kate Bush making the list for the first time this year.
Yellowstone characters and the name of the show itself are being used by fans to name their beloved pets. The name Yellowstone is trending up 485% with Dutton, Teeter, Rip, and John round out the top five.
Outlander fans are naming their dogs after their favorite characters like "Dougal Mackenzie The Pug". Milady, Milord, and Fraser are the popular and trending names this year.
This is just a sampling of the trending dog names from popular shows. Check out the complete list here.
Musician-Inspired Names
Check out these amazing names after some popular music stars.
- Baby Spice
- Ozzy Pawsborn
- Gnarls Barkley
- Diggie Smalls
- Dolly Barkin
Top Food-Themed Names
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1. Hotpot
2. Sashimi
3. Pastrami
4. Yerba
Other popular food-inspired names this year include Calzone, Oat, Maple Syrup, Bologna, and Feta.
New Food-Inspired Names
Our dogs can be as sweet or "spicy" as our favorite snack, so why not name them after it?! The following names are the newest food names to make the list this year.
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Doritos
Cheddar Cheese
Cheeto Puff
Gazpacho
Stroopwafel
Taco Bella
Spicy Nugget
Mcriblet
Mcgriddle
Unique Dog Names
Check out these creative names that you are not likely to hear at the dog park.
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Grandpa Max
Lamp
Math
Subpoena
Fudgie the Whale
Classic Video Game Names
Pac Man made the list in 2022 joining other classics like Lara Croft, Brewster, and Tommy.
The five most popular names are: Daisy, Zelda, Harvey, Yoshi and Kirby.
Honoring Late Celebrities
Both dog and cat owners decided to honor celebrities that have passed this year by naming their pet after them.
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Betty
Olivia Newton
Judd
Estelle
Ivana
Russell
Meatloaf
Top Cat Names
Just like dogs, there are some names that just work well for female and male cats. These names have been favorites for years and it is clear to see why. Look and see if one of the classics is a fit for your feline.
Most Common Female Cat Names
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1. Luna
2. Bella
3. Lily
4. Lucy
5. Nala
6. Kitty
7. Chloe
8. Stella
9. Zoe
10. Lola
Most Common Male Cat Names
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1. Oliver
2. Leo
3. Milo
4. Charlie
5. Max
6. Simba
7. Jack
8. Loki
9. Ollie
10. Jasper
Trending Cat Names
Everything from food, beverages, popular shows and technology have inspired cat owners this year. See the creative results below.
Food-Inspired Cat Names
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Roll
Green Bean
Casserole
S’More
Tamale
Morel
Parsley
Gravy
Chili
Sourdough
Beverage-Themed Cat Names
Alcohol beverages were popular once again with Gimlet, Chardonnay, Vino, Scotch, and White Claw all gaining in popularity.
Caffeinated beverages also inspired many with names like:
- Tazo
- Pop
- Cappuccino
- Lipton
- Matcha
Music-Inspired Cat Names
Rover reports that the top trending celebrity-inspired cat names are Doja Cat, Eilish, Miley Cyrus, Adele, and Cardi.
Popular TV Show-Inspired Names
While similar to dog parents, cat owners are naming their felines after popular shows like Strangers Things and Yellowstone, but they are also going back to the classics for some inspiration.
Stranger Things-themed cat names include El, Hopper, and Mike. While Yellowstone fans are picking Dutton, Rip, John, and
Monica.
Some of the best names come from shows that aired many years ago. Names like Mr. Feeny from Boy Meets World and George Costanza from Seinfeld. The legendary Jeopardy host, Alec Trebec, who passed away a couple years ago also made the list of trending names.
See the full list of names based on popular TV shows here.
Destination Names
Cat parents have taken to naming their fluffy companion after their favorite city, vacation spot, or country.
The top 10 trending destination-inspired cat names are:
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Brazil
Osaka
Miami
Beijing
Toronto
Bali
Bombay
Paris
Berlin
Tokyo
Technology-Inspired Names
While movies and sports inspire some cat owners, many turn to technology for ideas. Chip, Apple, and Pixel are the most popular tech-inspired cat names.
The trending names this year are Sim, Data, Zoom, Cortana, Sony, Holmes, and Elizabeth.
Cute Trending Names
Cat parents tend to gravitate towards cute names for their beloved pet. The following names are this year's trending "cutesy" names:
- Sparkle
- Bunny
- Bird
- Fluffy
As you can see, inspiration for your pet's name can come from anywhere. If you still need help, head on over to Rover's name generator and see what names are suggested based on your pet's breed and gender.
If your dog or cat's name didn't make it on the top 10 list, it may appear on the top 100 list. Check out the dog and cat lists.
Animal shelters are overcapacity with thousands of homeless dogs and cats who are waiting for someone to adopt them and give them a special name. Head to your shelter and adopt!
Andrea Powell is an animal enthusiast who resides in West Michigan. When not writing, she is exploring the great outdoors with her dogs and horses.