Are Your Baby Name Favorites Among America's Most Popular Pet Names?

Nearly half of America’s most popular pet names also appear on the Social Security Administration’s Top 100 list of baby names.

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By Wyndi Kappes, Associate Editor

Published November 12, 2024

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Image: Regina Burganova | Shutterstock

There’s plenty to consider when picking a baby name. Do you want something unique or popular? Timeless or trendy? But among these things, you may also want to consider potential crossover with furry friends.

TrustedHousesitters recently unveiled the results of its 2024 Pet Name Study, and the findings show quite a few overlaps with the Social Security Administration’s Top 100 baby names list. The pet and house-sitting service analyzed over 120,000 pet names registered on its platform. While this sample may be small compared to America’s estimated 90 million dogs and 74 million cats, it still offers a fascinating look at the nation’s favorite pet names.

A quick peruse of the most popular dog and cat names below reveals several that may be on (or have been on) your baby name list. In fact, half of the names (or variations) in the Top 20 pet names also appear in the SSA’s Top 100 Baby Names.

Luna tops both the dog and cat lists and ranks 10th among girls in 2023. Bella, a common nickname for Isabella, holds a place on both lists and is the 7th most popular name for girls. On the boys’ side, Oliver—6th on the cat list—is also 3rd on the SSA’s baby names list. Cooper, Charlie (short for Charles), and Leo all appear on both lists as well.

Whether it’s no big deal for Luna to share names with the neighbor’s golden retriever or a detail worth considering, the overlap may give parents something to think about. And if you’re searching for the perfect name, don’t forget to check out The Bump’s Baby Names for everything from curated lists to a middle name generator and more.

The 2024 Most Popular Dog Names Are: