151 Best Pet Names for Dogs, Cats and All Your Sweet Fur Babies

Calling all creatures great and small. These are the best pet names of all!

Choosing your beloved pet was easy. Now comes the hard part: choosing the perfect name. It’s fun, but also daunting, because the possibilities for pet names are endless, and the choice is so important. After all, you’ll be saying their name for years to come.

Take the time to get to know the animal before you select a moniker. A name can reflect the uniqueness of your pet and so much more. Get the wheels turning by making a list of the best names and narrowing it down. And since a good name is a good name, no matter what species, why not take inspiration from your favorite dog names or borrow a few ideas from our list of cat names?

Want even more ideas for stellar pet names? Get started with the list below. It contains tons of inspiration, along with naming tips from the pros to help you land on the best choice for your cherished pet.

Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more pets, humor, cleaning, travel, tech and fun facts all week long.

What should you consider when naming a pet?

Naming a pet should be one of the most fun parts of being a pet parent, but we’d understand if you felt a bit intimidated while staring down a seemingly endless list of potential pet names. It can be daunting. Charlotte Reed, host of The Pet Buzz radio show and podcast, says your pet is all the inspiration you need.

Think about your pet’s personality (Lovey), size (Peanut), coat color (Pepper) and origin (Beignet for a French Lop bunny). Still stuck? Get inspired by pop culture, your favorite foods, your hobbies and the places you love. Or try one of the vintage baby names that are so trendy.

Say your favorites out loud to see how they sound. “It’s best to choose shorter names with two syllables because it helps dogs and cats distinguish from other words and other surrounding sounds,” says Reed.

Hard vowels (a, e, i and y) and consonants (d, t, k and b) are easier for not only cats and dogs but all types of pets. “Any animal with the physical ability to hear has the potential to recognize its name,” says Douglas Mader, DVM, a triple board-certified veterinary specialist in the Florida Keys. But it’s not the name that gets your pet’s attention. It’s the voice of their caretaker. All it takes is the tried-and-true classic conditioning technique: Call out to your pet by its new name, and when it responds to the name, reward it with treats, praise and cuddle time. Pets will learn to recognize their name because good things happen when they hear it.

Cute pet names

Best Pet Names 1 Cute Gettyimages 1271813978RD.com, Getty Images

Cute is cute, whether you have an adorable new kitten, a pot-bellied pig or a neon tetra fish. Their sweet faces melt your heart every time you look at them. Regardless of whether you are looking for fish names for a delightful bubble-eye goldfish or a sweet nickname for your happy-go-lucky hamster, these cute monikers are befitting of creatures furry, feathery or scaly.

  • Bunbo
  • Ro
  • Lolly
  • Jingles
  • Daisy
  • Tutu
  • Kessie
  • BoBo
  • Smoochy
  • Chico

Unique pet names

Best Pet Names 2 Unique Gettyimages Dv1549009RD.com, Getty Images

If you’re looking for a unique pet name that fits your animal’s one-of-a-kind personality, test it out. “Call the name out loud to see how easy it is to say in a variety of tones,” says Reed. It should feel natural to say. You might find that a funny dog name suits your pet pig to a T.

Just steer clear of extra-long names. “You want to make sure the name will fit on an ID tag,” she says. Try these short and unusual pet names on for size.

  • Vanya
  • Ezra
  • Daki
  • Kiko
  • Aki
  • Xeko
  • Ooki
  • Joie
  • Sachi
  • Frex

Funny pet names

Best Pet Names 3 Funny Gettyimages 200396894 001RD.com, Getty Images

Do your pet’s comical antics make you laugh? Take inspiration from the list below, and while you’re at it, check out our list of funny cat names that are bound to fit any class clowns in the animal kingdom.

  • Cyclone
  • Hootie
  • Fi-Fi
  • Stinker
  • Wigglebutt
  • Shaggylicious
  • Swoops
  • Chuckles
  • Captain Chaos
  • Noob

Punny pet names

Best Pet Names 4 Punny Gettyimages 200355036 004RD.com, Getty Images

How about a pet name that’s funny and clever? For instance, Beakachu and Chick Jagger are great bird names for wisecracking fowl. And who wouldn’t crack up when they hear Rap-tile for a silly gecko or Hissy Pants for a boa constrictor? Get your wheels turning with these punny pet name options.

  • Chew-paw-cca
  • Paw-la
  • Furcules
  • Sir Lix-a-Lot
  • Quacklemore
  • Meryl Cheep
  • Fishtachio
  • Edinburrow
  • The Lizard of Oz
  • Fuzz Aldrin

Girl pet names

Best Pet Names 5 Girl Gettyimages 485999565RD.com, Getty Images

Do you have a sweet and quiet princess or a feisty prima donna? Maybe your little darlin’ is a moody mix, and one name just won’t do. Although experts say short and sweet is better, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a longer name—or two. For example, shorten Coco Chanel Divalicious to Coco (comes in handy on ID tags), or put more emphasis on the first syllable of a longer name. If these names don’t make the cut, steal some ideas from our girl dog names and girl cat names lists; these names could fit any species!

  • Phoebe
  • Lulu
  • Gracie
  • Maya
  • Chloe
  • Harlow
  • Kiki
  • Ripley
  • Foxy
  • Poppy

Boy pet names

Best Pet Names 6 Boy Gettyimages 1391044198RD.com, Getty Images

Whether you have a manly Mongolian gerbil or a chill corn snake, your gentleman pet deserves a great name. Yes, even snakes that don’t have external ears are capable of recognizing their name using their internal ears. “Science has demonstrated that they are capable of hearing the sound frequencies that encompass the human voice range,” says Dr. Mader, who has seen snakes respond to their caretaker’s voice. If you don’t find a winner on the list below, try some of these boy dog names or boy cat names (yep, most work for all species).

  • Maverick
  • Cooper
  • Milo
  • Asher
  • Felix
  • Bruno
  • Scout
  • Zeus
  • Fin
  • Tucker

Cool pet names

Best Pet Names 7 Cool Gettyimages 1457025617RD.com, Getty Images

When your pet is too cool for school, only a name that stands out in the crowd will do. Take a peek at the pet names below. If they don’t stick, sample some of the most popular baby names in every state to ignite your imagination.

  • Fryea
  • Aspen
  • Espen
  • Blaze
  • Atticus
  • Slate
  • Tanner
  • Aziza
  • Clover
  • Wolf

Human pet names

Best Pet Names 8 Human Gettyimages 1331105500RD.com, Getty Images

Pets are like family, regardless of whether you have a cat to snuggle or a hamster living its best life in a tricked-out habitat you created. If you’re inclined to go for a human moniker, see if one of these pet names suits your animal. Or take a gander at the most popular dog names, which all happen to be short human names that are easy to call out.

  • Asher
  • Noah
  • Olivia
  • Gianna
  • Harper
  • Mateo
  • Levi
  • Ellie
  • Hudson
  • Mila

Fluffy pet names

Best Pet Names 9 Fluffy Gettyimages 1251276715RD.com, Getty Images

Whether you’re looking for bunny names for a soft and cuddly rabbit or something unexpected for your scaly lizard, these fluffy (not stuffy!) names are cozy and cute.

  • Fleecy
  • Hufflepuff
  • Pom-Pom
  • Woolsey
  • Cream Puff
  • Downy
  • Poofy
  • Puffin
  • Cashmere
  • Fluffernutter

Big pet names

Best Pet Names 10 Big Gettyimages 1069145852RD.com, Getty Images

Do you have a giant dog breed, a strong and beautiful horse or a pet that thinks it’s larger than life? Their commanding presence warrants a name fitting their size or large-and-in-charge personality.

  • Yeti
  • Jaws
  • Brutus
  • Freya
  • Wolfy
  • Duke
  • Hulk
  • Maximus
  • Xena
  • Brienne

Small pet names

Best Pet Names 11 Small Gettyimages 452034327RD.com, Getty Images

Many small pets are low maintenance and don’t require a ton of training, which gives you more time to come up with a super-cute name. Have a look at these pint-size favorites, or take a glance at some hamster names that could work with other proportionately sized critters.

  • Nibbles
  • Squeak
  • Micro
  • Bitsy
  • Dot
  • Button
  • Wink
  • Zip
  • Atom
  • Pip
  • Kewpie

Food-inspired pet names

Best Pet Names 12 Food Gettyimages 452034327RD.com, Getty Images

Do you go crazy for Cocoa Puffs or live for Taco Tuesdays? Let your culinary delights be your inspiration to name a pet. Think about your favorites and how they might fit your pet’s personality. Funny food names are great for pets that make us laugh, and the names below are great for just about any cutie-patootie.

  • Jelly Bean
  • Waffles
  • Pickles
  • Fig
  • Taco
  • Frito
  • Kimchi
  • Cupcake
  • Kiwi
  • Tater Tot

Pop-culture-inspired pet names

Best Pet Names 13 Pop Culture Gettyimages 1833647433RD.com, Getty Images

You can certainly take your cue from pop culture—reference books, movies, songs, sports figures, video games and more. But you may want to stay away from certain names. “The name you choose should be appropriate and not embarrassing or controversial,” says Reed. “For example, Trump will not do,” as calling out “Trump” in mixed company may cause division. Here are some safer options.

  • Prada
  • Zott (Lessons in Chemistry)
  • Biskit (Animal Crossings video game)
  • Dobby (Harry Potter)
  • Eloise (Bridgerton)
  • Gucci
  • Ayra (Game of Thrones)
  • Swiftie (Taylor Swift)
  • Mahomeboy (Patrick Mahomes)
  • Zelda (Legend of Zelda video game)

Disney-inspired pet names

Best Pet Names 14 Disney Gettyimages 1203345678RD.com, Getty Images

If you love everything Disney, you have plenty of options when it comes time to name a pet—including Disney dog names. Have more than one pet? Don’t get too cutesy by choosing names that rhyme. “Don’t select a name that sounds like another pet name in your house or a name of another family member, because you don’t want to get your pet confused,” says Reed.

  • Thumper
  • Buzz
  • Pongo
  • Scuttle
  • Bruno
  • Bolt
  • Flit
  • Zoe
  • Tinkerbell
  • Shego

Color-inspired pet names

Best Pet Names 15 Color Gettyimages 166087976RD.com, Getty Images

Use the distinctive color (or colors) of your pet’s fur, scales, feathers, skin and other features to stir up some creativity. For instance, Marmalade is cute for a gorgeous orange cat breed. Blue suits the blue-tongued skink lizard, and Grigio, the Italian word for gray, is spot-on for the Italian Greyhound.

  • Copper
  • Jade
  • Ebony
  • Tawny
  • Ash
  • Roux
  • Sage
  • Cyan
  • Sienna
  • Rusty

About the experts

  • Charlotte Reed, aka @petrendologist, is a pet trend and lifestyle expert. She is the executive producer and host of The Pet Buzz, a nationally syndicated pet talk radio show, and the author of The Miss Fido Manners Complete Book of Dog Etiquette. She names her multiple pets of the same breed based on one concept: Her first set of English toy spaniels were named after rivers, and her newest family of English toy spaniels are named after figures in English history—Cardinal Wolsey, Francis Walsingham, Winston Churchill and Moro.
  • Douglas Mader, DVM, is a retired veterinarian living in the Florida Keys, where he volunteers for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, protecting the endangered Key deer, manatee and other unique Floridians. He also lends his expertise to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm and various other organizations. Dr. Mader is the author of The Vet at Noah’s Ark: Stories of Survival from an Inner-City Animal Hospital. His ark at home is filled with a diverse mix of pets: cats, snakes, tortoises, a frog, a bird and two dogs, Atigun and Aragon.

Lisa Marie Conklin
Lisa Marie Conklin is a Baltimore-based writer who writes regularly about pets and home improvement for Reader's Digest. Her work has also been published in The Healthy, Family Handyman and Taste of Home, among other outlets. She's also a certified personal trainer and walking coach for a local senior center.