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, legendary athletes and blockbuster hits. 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 made an appearance on this year’s list following her world tour, accompanying film and budding romance with American footballer Travis Kelce. Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and the 2023 Hart Trophy winner, Connor McDavid, are inspiring Canadian dog names on and off the ice this year. Our favorite foods and beverages remain a source of inspiration as well, with Cupcake, Burrito and Maple topping the list.
“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 American football players—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 our most memorable moments. But timeless hockey stars and the country’s national emblem, Maple, prove Canadians still tap into nostalgia when it comes to naming their best friends.”
More 2023 Highlights:
This year’s top five most popular female dog names in Canada were Luna, Bella, Daisy, Molly and Lucy. The top male dog names were Charlie, Milo, Max, Cooper and Leo. For cats, the top five female names were Luna, Lily, Bella, Lucy and Nala. And, the top male cat names were Leo, Milo, Charlie, Oliver and Simba.
The Beautiful Game
- “The Great One” is still on our minds. Gretzky was the top trending sports-inspired name of the year, up 591%.
Gretzky’s aspiring heir apparent, Connor (up 63%), inspired by Oilers forward and top NHL scorer in 2023, Connor McDavid, was also trending in 2023. - New to the list this year is ice hockey-inspired name Canucks.
- Dillon is up 191%, likely for Dillon Brooks, who was named the Best Defensive Player at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
For cat parents, Tom Brady is still top of mind with Brady coming in as a top trending name, up 273%.
A Swift Move Up the Charts
- Taylor Swift is well-known for her love of cats. Taylor’s own cats are named Meredith Grey (up 16%), Olivia Benson (up 58%), and Benjamin Button (up 18%).
- The name Swifty is up 173% this year among cats and Swift also made the list for the first time. Swifty was also new to the list for dogs in 2023.
- The top trending music-inspired dog names were Harry, Elvis and Willie.
What’s on the Menu?
- The name Cupcake is the top trending food-inspired name this year, up 358%.
- A Canadian classic, but a goodie, Maple is the fifth most popular food-inspired name in 2023.
- Also trending up are Almond (291%), Yuka (224%), Banana (131%) and Toast (116%).
- Cat parents are eating up food-inspired names this year, as well. Burrito and Cake tied for top trending name, both trending up by 773%.
Other names trending up for our feline companions are Chips (up 207%), Snickers (up 158%), and Gin (up 113%). - New food-inspired cat names on the list this year include Turkey and Gouda.
Box Office Hits
- This year was all about Barbie! Barbie is up for dogs by 34% and Sasha is up 18%.
- The top trending pet names from Marvel movies include Viper, Thanos, Mystique, Pyro, Coulson, Groot and Fury. Rocket, Loki and Peter Parker are down this year.
- In another likely nod to the hit move Barbie, Margot is up 12% among cats in 2023.
TV Time
- Inspired by the hit streaming series of the same name, Wednesday is trending up for dogs by 49% and Gomez is also trending (up 191%).
- Other names pulled from the series include Nevermore Academy student Enid and Wednesday’s mother Morticia, which both made the list for the first time this year.
- For cat parents, Mandalorian-inspired names are trending up with Ahsoka up 573%, Mando up 473%, and Luke up 90%. For dogs, Grogu is up 91%.
- Cat parents love Pedro Pascal! Pedro is up 23% and Pascal is up a whopping 473%.
- The mega drama set in Big Sky country has also inspired pet parents when it comes to dog names. Beth is up 391%, followed by Tate (366%), Beth (29%), Jamie (74%) and Jimmy (32%).
For a full list of the top dog names and trends of 2023, as well as the top dog names in 5 metro markets across Canada, 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 US (dog and cat), UK, 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