Top Trending Dog Names In Canada

What we choose to name our dogs is often a reflection of what matters most to us—from music and food to sports and entertainment and beyond. And as world events and pop culture shift, so do the dog naming trends. 

To see what pet parents are naming their dogs in 2024, we dug into Rover’s database of over a million pets and uncovered the most popular names and biggest trends.

Top 10 Male Dog Names

  1. Charlie
  2. Milo
  3. Max
  4. Cooper
  5. Leo
  6. Teddy
  7. Rocky
  8. Winston
  9. Buddy
  10. Toby

Top 10 Female Dog Names

  1. Luna
  2. Bella
  3. Daisy
  4. Lucy
  5. Rosie
  6. Lily
  7. Molly
  8. Stella
  9. Lola
  10. Bailey
A dog wearing star shaped sunglasses next to a list of celebrity dog names

Looking for dog names with star power? Celebrity names are on the rise this year, with Jin and Kim topping the trend—both up a whopping 510%. Next popular is Selena, up 310%.

Next is Adele, Ciara, and Gaga, all up 210%. The last two contenders are opposites in most ways except one: they know how to make headlines. It’s Marilyn (Monroe), up 144%, and Justin (Timberlake), up 110%.
New celebrity dog names to the list include Michi, Dua Lipa, Jlo, and Meghan.

A dog licking it's mouth next to a list of food-inspired dog names

Food dog names are a perennial favorite for pet parents, and 2024 is no different. Topping the trend this year is Burrito, up 360% compared to last year. Health-conscious pet parents are opting to name their dogs Kale instead, with the name trending up 310%.

The next popular names have the meats: Pork Chop is up 210%, Pepperoni is up 185%, and Ham is up 160%. Dogs named Feta are trending up 135%, followed by Canadian classic Poutine and French classic Dijon, both up 110%.
New names on the list this year include a cornucopia of cultural food icons: Parsley, Anchovy, Gravy, Ube, Mortadella, Raclette, and Sweet Potato.

Music-Inspired Dog Names Top the Charts in 2024

  1. Ciara (210%)
  2. Sabrina (130%)
  3. Cardi (60%)
  4. Kate (48%)
  5. Donna (39%)
  6. Nelly (33%)
  7. Billie (13%)
  8. Elvis (7%)
  9. Nelson (1%)
  10. Tyler (0%)

Looking for dog names with star power? Names inspired by musicians are on the rise this year with Ciara topping the trend at 210%. Next popular is no surprise: rising superstar Sabrina (Carpenter) is up 130% as a dog name. That’s that her Espresso. Also on the list this year is Cardi (60%), Kate (Bush, up 11%), Nelly (33%), and Billie (13%). 

2024’s biggest rap beef was Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake. When it comes to dog names, Toronto’s son Drake is down -2% while Kendrick is down -32%. 

Dua Lipa is new to the list this year.

Athletics are another inspiration pet parents turn to when it’s time to name a new dog. This year the top trending sports-related dog name is Jacque (Martin), up 510% in 2024. Next up is RJ (Barrett), up 110%.

A dog with a basketball next to a list of sports-inspired dog names

Third on the podium is hockey legend Gretzky, up 50%, followed by Gordie (Howe), which is up 30%. Our final two athletes are Connor (McDavid), up 29%, and Rocket (Maurice Richard), up 21%.

New dog names in the world of Canadian athletics this year include Sidney Pawsby, McDavid (Connor), Kadri (Nazem), Marchy (Brad Marchand), Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander), Chuba (Hubbard), and Holland (Jevon).

Dog Parents Love Puns

When we dug into the data this year, one of the most delightful discoveries was the number of pun-based dog names we found. Here are just a few of our faves. 

  • Bob Barker
  • Barkey Flay
  • Chewbarka
  • Chewbarkcabra

Is there a link between dog breeds and the names we give them? For the top five most popular breeds in Canada, we noticed some trends. First up is the mixed breed, whose top trending names are: Duke (97%), Gus (94%), Callie (84%), Chloe (72%), and Louie (71%).

Next is the outgoing and friendly Labrador Retriever, whose most popular names are: Harley (92%), Maggie (77%), Olive (68%), Moose (62%), and Finn (54%). The Golden Retriever is the third most popular breed and people love to name these family dogs Bruno (120%), Maple (66%), Sadie (65%), Archie (56%), and Coco (47%).

Dog faces next to lists of top popular dog breeds and their trending names

The energetic Goldendoodle takes fourth in our most popular breeds list and are often named Gus (74%), Toby (67%), Kobe (62%), Zoe (54%), and Leo (49%). Last but not least is the intelligent, loyal German Shepherd, whose top trending names are Ace (122%), Nala (82%), Rex (49%), Zeus (46%), and Shadow (34%).

Stand Out Dog Names From Around the World

Dog name trends often reflect the cultures they’re born from—and the creativity of dog parents around the globe continues to amaze (and delight) us. Here are our favorite new and totally unique dog names added to our database in 2024, from five countries, in no particular order.

Unique Trending Dog Names

From the USA we’ve got Al Pugchino, Detective Carl Pancakes, and Ruepaw. Canada came through with Madame Pierogi Von Jellybelly, Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli, and Sweeney. The Brits brought it with Albus Dumblepaw, Chandler Bing, Velma, and Daphne out of the UK. Spain saw these fantastic new names this year: Rioja, Leonor, and Pulguita. And, last but certainly not least, France showed up with dog names Oui-Fi, Voltaire, and Ne Pas Citer.

The Top Pet Names 2024 report was developed by Rover between September and October 2024. Results are based on analysis of millions of user-submitted pet names provided by pet parents on Rover.com. This report is not endorsed or sponsored by any of the brands, celebrities and businesses mentioned within.

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