Most popular pet names by US state | 2023 pet names study

Here at TrustedHousesitters, there’s nothing we like more than delving into the nitty gritty of our wonderful pet people community. For National Pet Month in May, we dived in (snouts first) into the most popular dog and cat names, plus some of the most exciting - and unique! - pet names in the United States.

Our study analyzed over 50,000 pet names registered on the TrustedHousesitters platform, sorting them by popularity, region and pet type. Looking at the thousands of pet names registered at the time of data analysis in 2023, we can reveal the pet names owners are loving across the US, and cultural trends across each state. 

Nationally, the most common girl pet name in the country is Luna, and the most common boy pet name is Charlie. However, the 2023 study found that our cultures and where we live play a major role in what we choose to name our pets. When looking at pet names at the state and city level, these regionally inspired names dominate the most popular lists!

So, what are Texans calling their fluffy, four-legged friends - or Californians, for that matter? Without further ado, read on to discover how unique (or not!) your pet’s name is, with our 2023 Pet Names Study below.

2023 top dog names nationwide

The results are in! The five most popular boy dog names are Charlie, Max, Cooper, Buddy, and Jack. The five most popular girl dog names are Lucy, Bella, Luna, Daisy, and Lola.

2023 top cat names nationwide

Passing over to cats. The five most popular boy cat names are Charlie, Leo, Max, Milo, and Jack. The five most popular girl cat names are Luna, Lucy, Bella, Sophie, and Stella.

National 2023 highlights:

• The five most popular food-inspired pet names in the nation are Pepper, Ginger, Honey, Cookie, and Peanut.
• Roughly 13% of cats are named after a food or drink item.
• The most popular city a dog is named after is Aspen; and the most popular city a cat is named after is Salem.  
• The five most popular character names for cats are Tigger, Simba, Zelda, Chester, and Thor.
• The five most popular character names for dogs are Winnie, Zeus, Gizmo, Thor, and Mickey.

Key 2023 state and city highlights

Ever wondered how pet names differ by state? Who knows - perhaps your sweet, Texan pooch Paco would be answering to the name of ‘Romeo’ had he been born in Portland. Let’s take a closer look at how our four-legged friends and their monikers vary at a state and city level… 

Texas

Pet names in Texas greatly reflect the ranch and cowboy culture and Spanish influence of the state. The top 100 pet names of the state include Austin, Dallas, Rooster, Dolly, June Bug, Paco, Pinto, Chief, Banjo, and Brisket. The largest city in Texas, Houston, includes 50 top pet names influenced by the city’s NASA Space Center, such as Apollo, Astro, Astra, Star, and Cozmo. 

Portland

As a well-established literary town, Portland residents tend to gather inspiration from literary classics when naming their pets. The top 100 pet names in Portland include notable literary character names like Romeo and Juliet; Jay, Daisy, and Gatsby; Atticus; Huck and Finn; Harry, Hermione, and Dobby; and Pip and Bentley. Distinguished author names on the list include Oscar, Zora, Edith, Ernest, Franz, and Edgar. We’re not sure about you, but we are all about a pooch named Edgar.

California

California has the most cats named after food, with Pickles, Bean, Peanut, Taco, Sushi, and Pumpkin being popular choices in the top 100 names list. There are even multiple cats named Pop-Tart, Ramen, and Parmesan in the state. As the entertainment capital of the world, Los Angeles pet parents certainly carry this reputation when naming their pets. Character names Gatsby, Mickey, Simba, Minnie, Elsa, Winn Dixie, Zelda, Yoshi and Yoda; and musician names Elvis and Biggie are included in the city’s top 100 pet names. 

Louisiana

The Cajun and Creole French culture and language in Louisiana plays a major role when it comes to the most popular pet names of the state. The deep-fried pastry associated with New Orleans — Beignet — is the 10th most popular dog name. The historic culture of New Orleans inspires many of the top cat names in the state, as Voodoo, Bijou, and Roux found their way into the top 30 names. 

Colorado

Dog names in Colorado take plenty of influence from the Mountain State, with Bear being the 20th most popular dog name, naturally. The top 50 dog names in Colorado also include Scout, Aspen, Moose, Rocky, and Ash.

Alaska

As one of the best places in the country for stargazing, it comes as no surprise to see astrology-inspired names dominating 2023 pet name trends in Alaska. Cosmo, Star, Eclipse, and Jupiter are included in the top 50 pet names. Far out.

New York City

The study found that pet name trends vary in New York City, with Manhattan pet names revolving around movie characters, while pet names in Brooklyn are dominated by food and drinks. Top pet names in Queens reflect the most culturally and diverse borough, while pet parents in The Bronx and Staten Island opt to name their pets traditionally human names.

Seattle

Seattle, the coffee capital which hosts the very first Starbucks location, has a wide variety of coffee-related pet names. Bean, Mocha, Latte, and Kopi — the Indonesian word for coffee — are included in Seattle’s top 50 pet names. In fact, 80% of pets in Washington named Bean, Beanie, or Beans live in Seattle!

Naturally, the names we bestow upon our four-legged friends reflect the world we live in - and even our favorite foods, drinks, and literary heroes! 

Our research shows that our pets’ names can give a real glimpse into who we are as pet people — our hobbies, interests, and culture — and we’re sure our furry friends would appreciate our efforts.

Looking for the perfect name for your new furbaby? While we hope our pet names survey has given you some paws for thought, don’t worry if it’s not as easy as you thought. Explore our blog for an abundance of pet name inspiration for dogs, cats, fish, birds, and even specific breeds, genders, and coat colors. Happy naming!