The Biggest Pet Name Trends of 2025
Pet naming has evolved way beyond "Buddy" and "Mittens." In 2025, pets are family members with names that reflect their owners' personalities, humor, and cultural moment. Here's what's trending.
Human Names Dominate
The biggest ongoing trend in pet naming is giving pets distinctly human names — and not just any human names, but ones that sound like a distinguished person:
- Old-fashioned charm: Walter, Beatrice, Harold, Edith, Eugene, Mildred, Reginald
- Formal and funny: The humor comes from the contrast — a tiny chihuahua named Gerald, or a chaotic kitten named Margaret.
- Full names: Some owners go all in: Sir Reginald Fluffington, Barbara Jean, or Professor Whiskers McCloud.
This trend shows no signs of slowing down. The more dignified the name, the funnier it is on a pet that's currently eating a shoe.
Food and Drink Names
Food-inspired pet names are a perennial favorite, but the specific foods trending in 2025 reflect foodie culture:
- Classic favorites: Biscuit, Cookie, Ginger, Pepper, Peanut, Olive, Pickles
- Coffee culture: Mocha, Espresso, Latte, Beans, Chai, Matcha
- Trending foods: Mochi, Kimchi, Boba, Nori, Wasabi, Gnocchi, Pierogi
- Sweet treats: Waffles, Churro, Strudel, Cannoli, Tiramisu
Food names work especially well when they match the pet's appearance — a golden retriever named Biscuit, a black cat named Espresso, a white rabbit named Marshmallow.
Pop Culture Picks
Entertainment continues to be a major source of pet names, with some clear winners in 2025:
- Streaming favorites: Characters from hit shows spike pet name searches within weeks of premiering.
- Gaming influence: Zelda, Kirby, Yoshi, and Bowser remain evergreen. Newer game characters are joining the ranks.
- Music artists: Bowie (timeless), Lizzo, Dolly, Stevie, and Freddie continue to be popular for pets with personality.
- Anime and manga: Naruto, Totoro, Pikachu, Goku, Luna, and Miso reflect growing anime mainstream popularity.
Nature and Adventure Names
Outdoor-loving pet owners are choosing names that reflect their lifestyle:
- Geographic features: Summit, Canyon, Ridge, Brook, Mesa, Delta
- Weather and sky: Storm, Thunder, Misty, Sunny, Cloud, Aurora
- Plants and trees: Willow, Fern, Sage, Juniper, Basil, Clover
- Adventure vibes: Scout, Ranger, Trek, Maverick, Atlas, Rebel
Tiny Names for Big Personalities
Short, punchy names are trending — especially for pets with outsized personalities:
- One syllable: Bo, Pip, Rex, Kit, Dot, Ace, Rue, Bex, Oz
- Why they work: Pets respond better to short names with clear consonant sounds. One or two syllables is ideal for training and recall.
- The ironic factor: Naming a Great Dane "Pip" or a tiny hamster "Rex" adds a layer of humor.
Mythology and Legend Names
Mythological names add gravitas and storytelling to your pet's identity:
- Greek/Roman: Apollo, Athena, Zeus, Artemis, Hera, Hermes, Juno
- Norse: Odin, Freya, Thor, Loki, Frigg, Fenrir
- Egyptian: Cleo (Cleopatra), Nefertiti, Anubis, Bastet, Isis, Ra
- Celtic: Finn, Brigid, Cormac, Niamh, Rowan
Mythology names work especially well for cats (who already act like gods) and large dog breeds (who carry the gravitas).
Species-Specific Trends
- Dogs: Human names (Walter, Peggy), adventure names (Scout, Maverick), and classic goodness (Buddy, Cooper) all coexist.
- Cats: Mythology (Luna, Loki), food (Mochi, Biscuit), and literary names (Gatsby, Darcy, Poe) are strongest.
- Rabbits: Soft and sweet — Clover, Bun, Hazel, Thumper, Cinnamon, Poppy.
- Birds: Music names (Tweety is passé — Sinatra, Ella, Birdie are in), plus colorful names matching plumage.
- Reptiles: Tough or ironic names — Spike, Rex, Godzilla, or conversely, Mr. Tickles, Susan.
Names to Watch
Based on current trends, these pet names are poised for growth in 2025:
- Rising: Mochi, Olive, Sage, Walter, Odin, Biscuit, Clover, Atlas
- Steady favorites: Luna, Bella, Charlie, Max, Daisy, Milo, Cooper
- Wildcards: Gnocchi, Boba, Wednesday, Nimbus, Peach, Goose