Pet Name Statistics 2026: Top Names & Trends by Country

🏷️ Trends  ·  📅 Updated November 8, 2026  ·  ✍️ By Riley Fox  ·  ⏱ 10 min read

Luna in the US, Poppy in the UK, Mugi in Japan, Mel in Brazil: every country has its own favorite.

Luna is the most popular pet name in the United States: Rover named it the top female name for both dogs and cats in 2025 and again in 2026, and the top cat and dog name of all time (Rover via FOX). But the favorite changes by country. In the UK, Dogs Trust's survey of more than 340,000 dogs put Poppy first. In Japan, Mugi ("wheat" or "barley") topped both dog and cat lists. In Brazil, Mel ("honey") led for dogs.

This page collects the most reliable pet name statistics we could find for 2026, with every number linked to its original source. We'll update it as new reports come out.

📊 Pet name statistics at a glance

🌍 Most popular pet names by country

Each country's data comes from a different kind of source, so the lists aren't perfectly comparable. Still, the pattern is clear: short, soft, two-syllable names dominate everywhere.

🇺🇸 United States: the Rover data

Rover publishes the best-known annual pet name report in the US, based on names submitted by its users. In its 2025 report, Luna was the top female name for both dogs and cats, Charlie the top male dog name, and Milo the top male cat name (FOX / Rover). The 2026 report kept Luna and Charlie on top (CNN Newsource / Rover).

Rover's 2025 survey of 1,000 pet parents also shows how people choose: 33% had a name in mind before they got their pet, 45% chose based on personality or appearance, and 54% let their children name the family pet (FOX / Rover).

🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Poppy, Teddy, and Luna

The Dogs Trust National Dog Survey, with more than 340,000 dogs, ranked the UK's top dog names as Poppy, Teddy, Luna, Milo, Bella, Alfie, Daisy, Mabel, Willow, and Reggie (Dogs Trust via Hello Rayo). Rover's UK data, based on its own users, put Luna, Bella, and Milo first (Rover UK).

The two lists differ because they measure different groups of owners, which is a good reminder to look at the source behind any "most popular" claim.

🇯🇵 Japan: why food names win

In Japan, pet insurer Daiichi ipet ranked names of pets under one year old with new policies in fiscal year 2025. Mugi ("wheat" or "barley") was number one for both dogs and cats, followed by food and drink names like Latte, Mocha, Cocoa, and Kinako (roasted soybean powder) (SoraNews24).

Two reasons stand out. Most of these foods are shades of brown, matching common coat colors. And Japanese owners tend to avoid human names for pets, which can feel too serious, so a playful food name feels more natural. Read more in our Japanese cat names guide.

🇧🇷 Brazil: Mel, Thor, and Luna

Petlove's 2025 PetCenso analyzed more than 1.8 million registered dogs and cats in Brazil. Mel ("honey"), Thor, and Luna were the top dog names, and Luna, Mia, and Nina the top cat names (BNews / Petlove). Living in Brazil, I can confirm: you'll hear "Mel!" at almost every park.

👤 Human names are taking over

One of the clearest long-term trends is the rise of ordinary human names for pets.

The trend hasn't slowed. In July 2026, Pet Insurance Australia reported "grandad" names like Walter, Douglas, Kevin, Stanley, Theodore, Albert, and Barry among the top human-inspired names for male pets (Pet Insurance Australia). See our grandparentcore pet names for more.

🔥 Fastest-rising names and trends

"Trending" lists measure growth, not size. A name can jump by hundreds of percent while still being rare.

🔬 What science says about names

The practical lesson: pick a name that doesn't rhyme with a cue or another pet's name. More in our science of naming and how long it takes a pet to learn its name.

🧭 What the data means for you

• Want a unique name? Avoid the top 10. Luna, Charlie, Milo, Bella, and Poppy are everywhere.
• Two syllables rule. Almost every top name, in every country, has one or two syllables.
• Trends move fast. A name that jumps 400% this year may be common next year. Choose one you'll still love in ten years.
• Let the pet inspire you. Like 45% of Rover's survey respondents, look at your pet's personality and coat before deciding.

📝 How we compiled this data

We only included figures from named organizations with a stated method: pet-care platforms (Rover, Petlove), pet insurers (Daiichi ipet, Pet Insurance Australia), a national dog welfare charity (Dogs Trust), polls, and peer-reviewed studies. Each source measures a different group, such as app users, insured puppies, or survey respondents, so rankings vary between them. Older figures, like the 2009 AP poll, are labeled with their year.

🎲 Find a name in the generator

Our free Pet Name Generator has a Trending theme with today's popular picks like Luna, Nala, Milo, Mochi, and Cleo. Want something rarer? Try the Uncommon theme to avoid the top-10 crowd.

❓ Frequently asked questions

What is the most popular pet name in 2026?

In the US, Luna was Rover's top female name for both dogs and cats in 2026, and Charlie was the top male dog name. Luna also ranks among the top names in the UK, Japan, and Brazil.

What is the most popular dog name in the UK?

In the Dogs Trust National Dog Survey of more than 340,000 dogs, Poppy was the top dog name, followed by Teddy, Luna, Milo, and Bella.

What is the most popular pet name in Japan?

Mugi, meaning wheat or barley, was the top name for both dogs and cats in Daiichi ipet's fiscal year 2025 ranking, followed by food names like Latte and Mocha.

How many people give their pets human names?

A 2009 AP-Petside poll found that 49% of US pets had human names, and a 2014 UK survey of 2,000 dog owners found that 60% chose human names.

How do most people choose a pet name?

In Rover's 2025 survey of 1,000 pet parents, 45% chose a name based on personality or appearance, 33% had a name in mind before getting the pet, and 54% let their children name the family pet.