Pet Names Inspired by Fame and Fiction
Some of the best pet names come from pop culture — movies, TV shows, music, and the internet's most famous animals. Whether you want to name your pet after a fictional character or a celebrity's beloved companion, here's your inspiration guide.
Iconic Movie and TV Pets
These fictional animals left such an impression that their names became go-to choices for real pets:
- Dogs: Lassie, Toto (Wizard of Oz), Beethoven, Marley (Marley & Me), Hooch (Turner & Hooch), Lady and Tramp, Snoopy
- Cats: Salem (Sabrina), Crookshanks (Harry Potter), Mog, Binx (Hocus Pocus), Figaro (Pinocchio), Duchess and Thomas O'Malley (Aristocats)
- Other species: Hedwig the owl, Scabbers the rat, Pascal the chameleon (Tangled), Remy the rat (Ratatouille), Dory and Nemo
Classic names age well because they carry warm associations across generations. A puppy named Toto will always make people smile.
Celebrity Pet Names Worth Stealing
Celebrities often give their pets names that are creative, hilarious, or unexpectedly perfect:
- Taylor Swift's cats: Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson, Benjamin Button — the "distinguished human name for a cat" trend arguably started here.
- Ariana Grande's dogs: Toulouse, Myron, Strauss, Lafayette — artistic and French-inspired.
- Keanu Reeves: Has had cats named "Mini Me" and reportedly lets strays name themselves through personality.
- Billie Eilish's pets: Pepper, Peaches — simple, sweet food names for her rescue animals.
- Post Malone: Has a cat named "Wednesday" — perfectly moody and on-trend.
Internet-Famous Animal Names
The internet has created its own canon of legendary pet names:
- Viral legends: Grumpy Cat (Tardar Sauce), Doge (Kabosu), Boo the Pomeranian, Lil Bub, Jiffpom
- Social media stars: Nala Cat, Doug the Pug, Juniper the Fox, Mr. Pokee the hedgehog
- The trend they set: Internet-famous pets proved that a great name is part of the brand. Simple, memorable, and personality-forward wins the internet.
Naming After Musicians
Musicians' names translate beautifully to pets, especially for animals with big personalities:
- Classic rock: Bowie, Hendrix, Jagger, Freddie, Ozzy, Lennon, Ziggy
- Country: Dolly, Cash, Willie, Waylon, Patsy, Loretta
- Modern: Lizzo, Adele, Drake, Kendrick, Billie, Dua
- Jazz and soul: Ella, Miles, Coltrane, Aretha, Nina, Quincy
Music names work for pets because musicians tend to have names (or stage names) that are already punchy, memorable, and full of personality — exactly what you want for a pet.
Literary and Bookish Names
For the readers out there, literary names add depth and character:
- Cats: Gatsby, Darcy, Bronte, Poe, Hemingway, Austen, Dickens, Kafka (for the cat who stares at you judgmentally)
- Dogs: Atticus, Scout (To Kill a Mockingbird), Huckleberry, Sherlock, Watson, Paddington
- Fantasy literature: Gandalf, Frodo, Arya, Nymeria, Hedwig, Aslan, Salem
- Children's books: Winnie (the Pooh), Babar, Clifford, Curious George, Madeleine, Charlotte
Video Game Characters
Gaming culture provides an endless supply of strong pet names:
- Nintendo classics: Zelda, Kirby, Yoshi, Bowser, Peach, Toad, Luigi
- Action and RPG: Kratos, Ellie, Aloy, Geralt, Sif (the great grey wolf), Dogmeat
- Indie games: Ori, Celeste, Hades, Zagreus, Hollow (Knight)
- Pokemon: Eevee, Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Meowth, Growlithe — especially fitting for the pet's species match.
Anime and Manga Names
As anime goes mainstream, these names are appearing at dog parks everywhere:
- Popular picks: Naruto, Goku, Luna (Sailor Moon), Totoro, Mochi, Kiki, Ponyo, Haku
- For cats: Jiji (Kiki's Delivery Service), Chi (Chi's Sweet Home), Luna, Artemis, Happy (Fairy Tail)
- Why they work: Many anime names are short, phonetically clear, and carry strong character associations — ideal qualities for pet names.
Historical and Mythological Figures
Give your pet the gravitas of a historical legend:
- Rulers and warriors: Caesar, Cleopatra, Napoleon, Genghis, Alexander, Boudicca, Leonidas
- Artists and thinkers: Da Vinci, Frida, Picasso, Darwin, Einstein, Tesla, Ada (Lovelace)
- Mythology: Zeus, Athena, Odin, Freya, Apollo, Artemis, Thor, Loki, Bastet, Anubis
Mythological names are especially popular for cats (gods of the house) and large dog breeds (who carry the stature).
How to Choose a Pop Culture Name
- Pick something you love, not just what's trending: A name from your favorite childhood movie will bring you more joy than whatever's viral this month.
- Consider longevity: Will you still love this reference in 10-15 years? Classic references age better than meme names.
- Make sure it fits: The best pop culture pet names work because the name matches the pet's personality, not just because you like the source material.
- Be ready to explain it: You'll be asked "where'd you get the name?" constantly. Make sure you enjoy telling the story.