Whether it’s a baby or a puppy, a lot of thought goes into selecting just the right name for a new family member. Sometimes, a pick is so perfect, in fact, that everyone wants it.
Case in point: When it comes to the names that owners are choosing for puppies and kittens, our data revealed that Max is a top pick for males, while Bella easily nabs the top slot for female names — thanks to all the Twilight hoopla.
This led us to wonder whether the trend holds true for the 10 most popular dog breeds in America. Are there just as many Dachshunds named Bella racing around the dog run as Golden Retrievers? Is the name Max as popular with Bulldog owners as with those who love Boxers?
Drum roll . . . Max is indeed a popular pick across the board — but not nearly as much as Bella, which is the #1 female name for every single breed in our top 10 list. Check out Vetstreet’s slideshow to see if any of your favorite names made the list!
Whether you own a Labrador Retriever or a Yorkshire Terrier, careful consideration likely went into the name that you bestowed upon your new puppy. It's no secret that pet names are a big deal, which is why we decided to take a look at the most popular male and female names for the 10 most coveted dog breeds in America. Our findings: Old reliable monikers like Max made the list — along with plenty of surprising picks.
Chihuahua
This popular pup is a native of Mexico, which explains why the most common name for male Chihuahuas is Chico. Other popular monikers, in order of popularity: Max, Peanut, Buddy and Gizmo. Meanwhile, female Chihuahua names are a bit more generic, with Bella taking the top spot, followed by Chloe, Daisy, Princess and Coco.
Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retrievers are known for one key trait: Everyone they encounter is their new best friend. Perhaps this is why Buddy is the most popular name for male Labs. Rounding out the top five: Max, Bear, Duke and Jake. The top lady Labrador name is Bella, followed by these equally girly picks: Molly, Daisy, Lucy and Sadie.
American Pit Bull Terrier
Pit Bulls can be found with coats in a variety of colors, but today's most widely held name, Blue, may refer to the bluish tint of some Pit Bull coats. Other popular picks riff off the Pit's strength: Zeus, Diesel, Rocky and King. The most common female Pit Bull names are unequivocally feminine — so much so that we can’t picture anything but a sparkly pink collar on Pitties named Bella (the number-one choice), Diamond, Princess, Roxy and Daisy.
German Shepherd Dog
When the phrase “man’s best friend” was coined, it could have easily referred to the smart (and sweet!) German Shepherd Dog, who's well deserving of his popular human name, Max. He’s also ready and willing to stand up for you, which explains why these names made the top five: Bear, Duke, Rocky and Zeus. Female German Shepherd Dogs, like Pit Bulls, tend to have more delicate names, with Bella also grabbing the top slot — followed by Sadie, Sasha, Daisy and Roxy.
Yorkshire Terrier
Alert, curious, smart and surprisingly tough for his compact size, the Yorkshire Terrier is another dog with all the qualities that you’d want in a human companion. Maybe that’s why he, too, is often given the traditionally human moniker of Max. Other common names include Bentley, Charlie, Teddy and Gizmo. Like all the other female dogs on the top 10 breeds list, the most common name for a Yorkie is Bella. The runner-ups: Sophie, Chloe, Lucy and Zoey.
Shih Tzu
Ancient descriptions of the mischievous Shih Tzu have pegged him as being a little bit of everything: “a dash of lion, several teaspoons of rabbit, a couple of ounces of domestic cat, one part court jester, a dash of ballerina, a pinch of old man, a bit of beggar, a tablespoon of monkey, one part baby seal, a dash of teddy bear, and the rest of the dogs of Tibetan and Chinese origin.” Yet the most popular name for males these days is decidedly modern: Gizmo. Other common monikers: Max, Bentley, Oreo and Charlie. For female Shih Tzus, the top pick is (once again!) Bella, followed by Sophie, Chloe, Lucy and Coco.
Boxer
Of course the most popular name for male Boxers pays homage to the most well-known boxer in movie history — Rocky. It’s also no surprise that the pick in second place is Tyson, followed by Max, Duke and Diesel. The most popular female names don’t reference fighters — although Layla does make the list at number nine, which could be a nod to Laila Ali — but most of them will sound familiar: Bella (number one), Roxy, Daisy, Bailey and Lucy.
Dachshund
The wiener dog’s most popular male name is Oscar. (You know, like Mayer.) Charlie, Max, Buddy and Cooper round out the top five. Female Dachshund names follow the same trends as many other breeds, with Bella coming in at number one, followed by Daisy, Lucy, Molly and Sophie.
Golden Retriever
Just like the German Shepherd Dog and the Yorkie, the Golden Retriever is a loving, loyal companion. They also share the most popular male name of Max. Other common names for the breed: Cooper, Buddy, Charlie and Bentley. As for female Goldens, the top name is — you guessed it! — Bella. Rounding out the top five: Lucy, Molly, Bailey and Maggie.
Bulldog
Sometimes a breed is just built for a particular name, like the Bulldog, whose most popular male moniker is Tank. Other top picks for the breed: Diesel, Winston, Dozer and the very popular choice of Max. For females, Bella is once again the top option, trailed by Lola, Daisy, Lucy and Stella.
For more interesting pet trends culled from Vetstreet’s stats, check out these stories.
