It’s always a fun process finding the perfect name for a new pet. There are so many options to choose from: some people go unexpected directions and name their pets after celebrities or characters, while others stick to the classic standbys.
There are certain names that are enduringly popular with dog owners, ranking as the most common pet name choices across the country. Recently, the American Kennel Club announced its list of the most popular dog names of 2024 — and an unexpected new name has topped the male list for the first time in years.
Every year the American Kennel Club reveals its lists of the top dog names of the year, based off their own purebred dog registry and Canine Partner mixed-breed enrollment statistics. The lists are separated by boy and girl names, each with a top 10 ranking.
The top girl dog name of 2024 was Luna, a perennially popular choice that topped the same list in 2023 and 2022. Coming in at #2 is the ever-popular Bella, followed by Daisy, Lucy, Willow, Stella, Maggie, Sadie, Lola and Rosie.
It’s the same top 10 names as 2023, albeit with a slightly different order. But the boy names offered some more surprises — and a new champion for the first time in years.
Milo was the most-popular male dog name of 2024, unthroning the name Max, which topped the list in 2023 and 2022. A true Cinderella story, Milo jumped all the way from #5 last year to take the top spot. Max still had an impressive showing, coming in second place, followed by Teddy, Charlie, Cooper, Bear, Toby, Finn, Tucker, and Ollie.
Toby and Tucker cracked the top 10 this year, while Rock and Leo, the 8th and 10th most popular names of 2023, dropped off the top 10.
If you’re looking for some more inspiration, AKC also has a list of their top 100 boy names and girl names. The organization also cites some trendy pop culture names, from Simba and Nala (from The Lion King) to Travis and Taylor (after a certain celebrity power couple.)
Some of the most stereotypical dog names, like Rover, Spot, and Fido, have seemingly gone well out of fashion, not even cracking the top 100, but some of the other classics have stuck around, like Blue, Rex, Buddy, Lucky, Buster and Scout.
The American Kennel Club isn’t the only site keeping track of what’s big in dog names. Rover.com also does an annual ranking, determining the most popular names as well as the most trendy.
Their latest study, released last November, found that Charlie was the most popular male dog name, also unseating long-reigning champ Max. Like AKC, they found that Luna was the most popular name for girl dogs, as well as the most popular cat name overall.
They also tracked the names with the biggest surge in popularity, finding that “Kelce” was the trendiest name, as a huge surge of people named their pets after Kansas City Chiefs tight end and Taylor Swift boyfriend Travis Kelce (or possibly his brother Jason.) Wednesday, as in the Addams Family daughter played by Jenna Ortega on Netflix, also saw a major spike in popularity.
What do you think of these names? Did any of your pets’ names make the list? Please share this story with your thoughts!
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