Best Cute Pet Names
Updated: Jul. 11, 2023
What are the cutest pet names for 2020? Here are some adorable options for your bundle of fur!
Love that name!
Are you looking for a cute name for your new pet? According to data from Rover.com, 33 percent of pet parents pick a name inspired by pop culture moments. Look for cute pet names from books, TV shows, movies, and video games for inspiration. Rover’s resident dog trainer on The Dog People Panel, Nicole Ellis, says the most important aspect of the name you choose is that you love it. Read on for cute pet names to love in 2020. If you’ve got a new puppy at home, here are 13 dog training mistakes you’ll want to avoid.
Latte
Cat parents love to go with drink-inspired names, according to new data from Rover’s annual popular pet name report. Trending drink-themed cat names took inspiration from everybody’s favorite morning beverage. If you’re looking for a name with coffee cuteness, consider Latte or names like Mocha, Kona, Coffee Bean, or Joe. See if you can guess the popular cat breed based on its kitten picture.
Queen
You can find plenty of inspiration for cute dog and cat names by looking to the crown. According to Rover’s research on 2019 pet name trends, the name Meghan shot up by 42 percent, while the names Queen Elizabeth and Diana remain ultra-popular girl/female cat names. King, Prince, or Harry also make cute dog names for your boy pooch. These are the most popular dog names for the most popular dog breeds in America.
Elsa
If you’re looking for cute girl/female cat names, consider naming your fur baby after the Queen of Arendelle. The sequel to the smash animated blockbuster Frozen offers plenty of name inspiration. Try out Olaf or Snowball for extra charm! See the cutest cat breeds as kittens.
Baby Yoda
Take inspiration from the new TV show on Disney Plus, The Mandalorian, which features the cutest of cute new characters, the 50-year-old Baby Yoda. Star Wars fans are going wild for the adorable character also known as “The Child.” If you’re still looking for that just-right name, check out more great name options for your new puppy.
Stan Lee
The father of the comic book superhero universe, Stan Lee, was also a popular pet name in 2019. The name still has legs as a trend for 2020. About 12 percent of pet owners name their fur child after a famous or historical person. Stan Lee covers that category and also offers a perpetual homage to fans of the Marvel universe since it’s the name of the recently-deceased man who started it all. Check out reasons why your cat is so obsessed with your keyboard.
Cupcake
According to Rover, dessert-inspired names gained popularity. Super sweet names like Cake, Croissant, or Skittles make great girl/female cat names. However, Ellis recommends that you avoid names that sound too much like commands; so Hershey is cute, but Kit Kat could be confused with “sit.” If you’re looking for ways to communicate better with your pet, here’s a handy guide for decoding 10 noises your cat makes from meows to purrs to whimpers.
Loki
The Marvel Universe is a big influence for pet parents when it comes to picking cute pet names. Ellis explains that short, simple names generally work better for dogs. She offers that “a hard consonant sound in the name, such as ‘c’ or ‘k,’ helps dogs distinguish it from surrounding sounds.” Fetch, Loki! Give this cute name a try!
Lizzo
Rover’s survey revealed a trend termed “the humanization of pets,” with 55 percent of pet parents using or considering human names. op culture names conjure the same passion and happiness their namesake’s inspire. The name Lizzo is up 100 percent, catapulted by the superstardom of the singer Lizzo who has multiple pop chart hits. The name Beyoncé is also up 78 percent. Find out the 17 secrets your cat would like you to know.
Spirit
“You want to get that warm, fuzzy feeling every time you say your dog’s name, just like you want your dog to respond to her name with joy,” Ellis shares. The best cute names for dogs make you happy when you say them, which is likely why Spirit was one of the top trending names for dogs in 2019. If you’re looking for more warm and fuzzy, here are 60 adorable animal pics to make you say “awwww.”
Simba
The recent live-action CGI remake of Disney’s The Lion King offers plenty of inspiration for cute pet names. Simba conjures feelings of cuteness and royalty as the name of the adorable prince and future king in Disney’s classic story, while according to Rover’s 2019 pet names and trends report, Nala was one of the most popular names for female cats, with Timon as was one of the top trending names for males. Ellis recommends that you try out some cute dog names before you pick the winner, specifically standing at the back door and shouting out your potential name choices.” Consider which one feels the most natural and easy because you will be saying it about 100 times a day, minimum, during the training stages. Find out 15 secrets dog trainers won’t tell you for free.
Maisel
What’s your favorite TV show to binge? The name Maisel, inspired by Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel rose 1,000 percent in 2019, reports Rover. TV names and other names from pop culture have that built-in love factor that’s personal to you. Here’s everything you need to know about puppy-proofing your home.
Hussle
Hussle was the top trending male dog name for 2019, according to Rover, so you may see it climb in popularity in 2020. It refers to rapper Nipsey Hussle, but also points to “hustle,” a trait in new, rambunctious puppies. Cute dog names often describe your pup’s personality—names like Jumper, Ricochet, and Somersault also offer adorable ties to your new furbaby’s temperament. When you’re making the decision to get a new pet, don’t miss these 14 things you need to know before you bring home a puppy.
Stevie Nix
The top trending female dog name on Rover’s popular pet name report was Stevie Nix. Oasis, Bugs, Dumplin, and Rune round out the top five. Experts generally agree that names on the shorter side work best.”I personally prefer two-syllable pet names for my own dogs, I find them easy to accentuate when needed,” Ellis says. “I pick names that often end in a vowel and change tone while being called.” Since dogs can distinguish frequency ranges that humans can’t, names with changes in tone catch their attention easier. When you choose a name with more syllables, you’ll probably end up shortening it when you need to say it quickly. Find a name that easily converts to a nickname that you still love in its shorter form. These 49 adorable puppy photos will melt your heart.
Taylor Swift
Make the name Taylor Swift super cute with nickname variations like Swifty. Names that inspire joyful energy are perfect for a playful furbaby who’s always on the run. According to Rover’s survey, the name Taylor Swift had a 400 percent increase in 2019, showing it’s on track to rise in 2020 as well. Read on to see the 50 cutest dog breeds as puppies.
Bo Peep
Since pop culture trends are one of the biggest inspirations for finding cute pet names, Toy Story 4 will likely still have influence into 2020. Buzz and Woody are always popular, but names like Forky and Bo Peep are also great choices for those who love the franchise. “It’s important to not pick a name that sounds like a command you may give such as Beau that can often be mistaken for no,” Ellis shares. She recommends using a name that’s different from words you often use in conversation. If you choose Bo Peep, keep the second syllable in daily use. Find out 30 fun facts you never knew about your pooch.
Stormi
Celebrity names (and especially celebrity baby names) are hugely popular when it comes to pets. Your pet is your fur baby after all! Kylie Jenner named her daughter Stormi in 2018, but the name still rose in popularity by 364 percent in 2019, according to Rover. To make your pet name even cuter, give it an alternative spelling. You can also try variations on Jenner’s weather-inspired name like Tempest, Cloudburst, or Snow—especially if such names conjure your pet’s fur color. Speaking of fur, find out the 25 dogs that don’t shed (that much).
Bobba
Also spelled Boba, Bobba is a kind of Bubble Tea, but the term is showing up as one of the trendy, cute pet names based on healthy living. Rover’s popular pet name data found that dog names Kale and Keto both climbed in popularity during 2019. When it came to cat names, Chia trended upward. Bobba makes a cute name because it doubles as a secret reference to the Star Wars universe bounty hunter Boba Fett. If you’ve ever wondered if your cat really loves you, you’ll want to know the 12 secret ways that cats show affection.
Doobie
“Marijuana-inspired products and services are surfacing at every turn as legalization grows in the United States—even in pet names,” reports Rover’s survey. Some of these trending names including cute dog names like Budder, Dank, Doobie, Blaze, and Kush. When it comes to cats, you’ll find names like Blaze, and also the ever-popular Doobie. You can also consider it a throwback to the Doobie Brothers if you like! These are the 12 most affectionate cat breeds.
Rosé
While Rover’s popular pet name report shows that cat names are more likely to be alcohol-inspired than dog names, this name (an homage to the much-imbibed pink wine) was up 183 percent for dog owners. The name has a sweet sound (according to Ellis, dogs respond best to names with a frequency shift in tone) and it ends with a vowel sound. Next, read up on the trendiest dog names of 2022.
