Good news, dog lovers! Rover’s dog name data for 2019 is in—and according to our stats, a lot of dog owners in the UK are also massive foodies. This comes as no surprise; if you ask most people to name their favourite things we bet that dogs and food would definitely make it into the top three.
Food-themed dog names are perennial favourites, but this year’s trending choices include breakfast options, booze, and other goodies.
Read on to find out which tasty trends UK dog owners got stuck into in 2019!
Alcohol-Inspired Dog Names
Whether you like a nice cocktail or you’re a connoisseur of craft beers, it’s nice to unwind with your favourite drink. And it’s even better if it’s called something that you can name your dog after. According to our dog name data, Prosecco is trending (up 200% from last year), Whiskey is a non-mover in the top spot, but after that it’s #RoseAllDay.
Listed in order of popularity, these are the tipples that we’ve been naming our dogs after this year:
- Whiskey
- Rose
- Martini
- Mojito
- Gin
- Champagne
- Spritz
- Baileys
- Prosecco
- Negroni
Aperol Spritz is out! It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. Or maybe it had something to do with The New York Times bad-mouthing the aperitif earlier this year.
Sugar or Spice?
We’re a nation of sweet treat fiends! Cookies, Biscuits, Muffins and Waffles (up 262%) are all trending this year. It makes total sense to name your dog after something sweet—because what’s sweeter than your dog’s face?
Dog lovers also like a bit of spice, as you can see from our list of 2019’s top trending foods:
- Cookie
- Pepper
- Peanut
- Oreo
- Biscuit
- Spud
- Muffin
- Ginger
- Waffle
- Pumpkin
Health-food-inspired dog names were also on the rise this year. New entries that are trending include Chia, Poke and Kale.
Breakfast-Food-Inspired Dog Names
Dog owners know that an important part of being a good dog parent is taking their furry special someone for their morning walk, come rain or shine. This could be why, according to our data, dog lovers seem to be morning people.
Breakfast foods are on the rise this year with popular names including:
- Oat
- Mocha
- Cheerio
- Toast
- Peanut Butter
Marmite takes the top spot in the battle of toast toppings, followed by these other, less contentious, choices:
- Marmite
- Butter
- Jam
- Peanut Butter
- Marmalade
Dog Naming Advice
Are you still uncertain about which name to choose? You’re not alone. Some dog owners just know their pet is a Waffle or a Negroni as soon as they make eye contact, but plenty of others need time to try out various options. We’re fans of the “backdoor test” for dog name selection. It’s pretty much what it sounds like: stand at the back door and call out your new dog‘s potential name. Saying “Marmalade, it’s time for dinner!” or “Muffin, leave it!” helps take the name out of your imagination and into reality.
Another consideration when choosing your dog’s name? Dog training. This is of particular importance for puppies. When you’re teaching your new dog to respond to commands like sit, stay, or come, you’ll want to be sure their name isn’t a source of confusion. In other words, avoid puppy names that sound like a common dog training cue, such as “Bit,” which could easily be misheard as “sit.” Many dog experts recommend choosing a name with at least two syllables and a sing-song or vowel sound at the end.
If you’re having trouble deciding, why not head over to Rover‘s Dog Name HQ where you’ll discover 2019’s most popular dog names, find out what other trends are inspiring owners (spoiler alert: they include reality-TV shows), and get advice on how to choose the perfect name. You can also give our Dog Name Generator a whirl! Just enter a few details about your little buddy to find out the two most popular dog names for your dog’s breed and gender. We’ll also give you a third, not-remotely-data-driven choice—a wild card, if you will—to get your imagination going.
Of course, what matters most is that the dog name you choose makes you happy. The best names will make you smile when you say them. Best of luck choosing a great name for your new dog!
