The Top 10 Names for Dogs and Cats --
and Some Tips for Naming Pets
by www.SixWise.com
The United States is clearly a pet-loving nation; 39
percent of U.S. households own at least one dog, and 34
percent own at least one cat. In all, that amounts to 73 million
dogs and 90 million cats owned in the United States, according
to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA)
2005-2006 National Pet Owners Survey.
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The top two dogs names in the United States? Max and
Jake.
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Of course, any time you add a pet to your family comes the
important task of choosing a name. This name will be uttered
countless times throughout the course of your pet's life,
and will come to hold a special meaning in your heart, so
giving some thought to it is clearly worthwhile.
The Most Popular Dog and Cat Names
Just as there are trends
in baby names, there are trends in pet names. Here we've
compiled the top 10 dog names and the top 10 cat names, according
to Bow Wow Meow's pet identification tag business, which has
processed tens of thousands of ID tags.
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Letting kids choose their pet's name is an excellent
way to give your kids a sense of responsibility -- and
establish a bond between them!
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Top 10 Dog Names
- Max
- Jake
- Buddy
- Maggie
- Bear
- Molly
- Bailey
- Shadow
- Sam
- Lady
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Top 10 Cat Names
- Tigger
- Tiger
- Max
- Smokey
- Sam
- Kitty
- Sassy
- Shadow
- Simba
- Patch
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How to Choose a Really Great Pet Name
Sometimes, a pet's name is completely intuitive and pops
into your head immediately. Others, nothing seems to sound
quite right. For those times when you're having trouble thinking
of a good name for your furry friend, here are some things
to consider:
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These pet naming tips are not just for cats and dogs
… use them for your other animal companions as
well!
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Choose a name that your pet will respond to. This means
it shouldn't sound like "No" (Moe), "Sit"
(Mitts), or "Stay" (Mae).
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Keep the name relatively short (one or two syllables
max). You will NOT want to yell out anything longer every
time you call your pet, plus it's reported that pets understand
shorter, two-syllable names better than longer ones.
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Try to avoid limiting names that may sound good now,
but later will be inappropriate (Baby, Stringbean, Kitten).
This also applies to names that make your pet sound vicious
(Killer, Fighter).
There are also numerous strategies that can help you think
of the name that's the perfect fit, such as:
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A name based on your pet's appearance (Snowball, Cream,
Pepper)
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A name based on your pet's personality (Frisky, Thumper,
Angel)
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Human names
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A name based on your pet's breed (a German name for a
German Shepherd, for instance)
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Names with historical or mythical interest (Caesar, Zeus,
Taurus)
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Movie or musical figures (Elvis, Nirvana, Frodo)
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Nature-based names (Willow, Lilac, Daisy)
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Words in other languages
Finally, if you STILL can't think of a name, there are many
valuable pet-naming books out there, such as The
Best Pet Name Book Ever! Or, scroll
through a pet rescue site such as PetFinder.com.
There you'll find thousands of pet names that may fit your
fancy (and you may just find a new furry friend, too!).
Recommended Reading
Rescued
Pets: What You Need to Know When Adopting a Rescued Pet
The
Best Types of Dogs for Each Type of Function: From Guarding
the Home to Companionship to Hunting
Sources
Bowwow.com