Seattle, WA – (Nov. 14, 2023) – Rover.com (Nasdaq: ROVR), the world’s largest online marketplace for loving pet care, today released its eleventh annual Top Pet Names Report. Findings this year span a pop culture-packed 2023, with pet parents drawing inspiration from iconic entertainers and athletes, blockbuster hits, food and tech trends and millennial nostalgia. The report analyzes millions of user-submitted pet names provided by pet parents on Rover and breaks down the most influential trends leading up to the year’s end.
The names we give our pets reflect not only their personalities and breeds, but the latest trends and cultural moments that influence our daily lives too. Taylor Swift-inspired names soared on this year’s list following her world tour, accompanying film and budding romance with footballer Travis Kelce, who inspired the #1 top-trending dog name in 2023.
The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) and their World Cup participation influenced names like Rapinoe and Dunn, while the ultimate “girl power” icon, Barbie, provided inspiration of her own. This year’s tech headlines live on, with Elon, Musk, Threads and AI sure to make an appearance at the dog park. Our favorite foods and beverages remain a source of inspiration as well, with Beer and Prosecco making a splash. Finally, what’s old is new again as nostalgic names inspired by famous icons from the 1990s and early 2000s trend upward.
“The names we give to our pets reflect what’s happening in the world around us—from trending TV shows, important public figures and even social media trends—and eleven years into the campaign, this trend is still going strong,” said Kate Jaffe, trend expert at Rover. “A lot happened in 2023 and the names we lovingly chose for our pets reflect the most memorable moments . From strong female leads, to blockbuster hits, our favorite comfort foods and nostalgic pop culture icons, this year’s list suggests we’re all after a little extra comfort right now.”
More 2023 Highlights:
This year’s No. 1 most popular male dog name is Charlie, surpassing Max for the first time in 11 years. Luna remains No. 1 for female dogs and cats, and Oliver keeps the top spot for most popular male cat name.
Go Team!
- Kelce is the No. 1 top-trending dog name in America (up 135%), likely inspired by the Kelce brothers who faced off at last year’s big football game, and a budding romance between Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift.
- The USWNT might have left the World Cup earlier than their track record predicted, but women’s soccer fandom is only increasing. Dunn (147%) and Megan (33%) are trending up while Rapinoe, along with her wife and WNBA icon Sue Bird, are new to the list.
- Women’s basketball star Jewell Lloyd of the Seattle Storm is inspiring fans on and off the court, with Jewell trending up 64% for dogs.
- Other trending sports-inspired names include Celtic [NBA; Boston] (364%), Trae [Turner; MLB and Young; NBA] (222%), Nikola [Jokic; NBA] (147%), Mariner [MLB; Seattle] (131%), Eagle [NFL; Philadelphia] (114%), Lamb [CeeDee; NFL] (109%) and Fields [Justin; NFL] [(97%).
They’re Creepy and They’re Kooky
- Inspired by the hit streaming series of the same name, Wednesday (up 92%) is the #2 trending dog name nationwide, while Wednesday Addams trends up 297% for dogs.
- Other trending names inspired by the hit series include Nevermore Academy student Enid (up 217%) and Thing, the strangely charismatic severed hand (up 197%).
- The names Gomez Addams and Morticia Addams appeared on the list for the first time ever.
Hi Barbie! Hi Ken!:
- Inspired by the hit movie directed by Greta Gerwig, the name Barbie is trending up 23% for cats, while Barb (for short) is up 93%.
- Ken is trending up 79% for dogs and the dog name Mattel appeared on the list for the first time.
- Other Barbie movie-inspired cat names include Allan (up 43%) and Greta (up 18%).
Pet Parents are in Their Taylor Swift Era:
- Taylor Swift dominated this year and pet names were no exception. Taylor (21%) and Swift (133%) are trending up for cats, while the dog name Swiftie made the list for the first time.
- Cat names Este (110%) and Karma (31%), inspired by Taylor Swift songs, are also trending up.
Always Connected through Technology:
- Pet parents are memorializing their favorite renamed social media platform by naming their dogs Twitter, which is trending up 247%. As such, it’s no surprise to see that Elon (up 11%) and Musk (up 47%) are also trending.
- The name Threads–Instagram’s latest development–appeared on the list for the first time.
- It was a big year for artificial intelligence too, with the name AI trending up 97% for dogs.
What’s on the Menu?:
- The name Beer is trending up by 330% for dogs in 2023.
- Cat parents are eating up food and drink-inspired names this year. Celebrating first is Prosecco, trending up a whopping 793%. Sbagliato, anyone? Stunning.
- Other food-related dog names on the rise include Green Bean (217%), Cheerios (198%), S’More (157%) and Tiramisu (122%).
- Some of our favorite new dog names this year include Gogurt, Pop-Tart, Cornichon, Pudding Pop, Pupsi, Sojuu, Bubble Gum, Breadcrumb, Chili Cheese, Chocoflan, Eggsy Benedict and Everything Bagel.
- Other new food-inspired cat names in 2023 include Maple Syrup, Pastrami, Calzone, Burrata, Boursin and Provolone.
Nostalgia Continues to be Totally Rad:
- You oughta know that the name Alanis (Morissette) is up 547%.
- Beloved 90’s “it” girl Drew Barrymore is trending up 297% as a name for dogs.
- Some pet parents are spicing up their life by naming their dogs Ginger Spice, which is trending up 47%, and Spice Girl, which is new to the list this year.
- New additions are dogs named Leonardo Dogcaprio, Shania Twain, Richard Gere, Fergie, Shakira, and Avril.
- The nostalgia trip extends beyond movies and music, as the name Furby is also up 27%.
For a full list of the top dog names and trends of 2023, as well as the top dog names in 8 metro markets across the US, please visit here. To see the top male and female cat names and trends of 2023, please visit here. Top Pet Names reports were also created for the UK, Canada (dog and cat), Germany, France (dog and cat), Spain and Italy.
Methodology
The Top Pet Names 2023 report was developed by Rover between September and October 2023. 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.
About Rover
Founded in 2011 and based in Seattle, Rover (NASDAQ: ROVR) is the world’s largest online marketplace for loving pet care. Rover connects pet parents with loving pet care providers who offer overnight services, including boarding and in-home pet sitting, as well as daytime services, including doggy daycare, dog walking, and drop-in visits. Millions of pet parents have booked a service on Rover across North America and Europe.
Contact:
Kristin Sandberg
pr@rover.com
360-510-6365