Here at Rover.com, you could say we’re obsessed with puppy names. After all, we love dogs—a lot. As the world’s largest network of pet sitters and dog walkers, and a leading dog name expert, we can’t wait to dig into our database of dogs each year to determine which new dog and puppy names are leading the pack. In the process, we uncover the big cultural moments that are inspiring us. Read on for the most popular dog and puppy names of the year and more.
Top 50 Female Puppy Names for 2018
- Bella
- Lucy
- Daisy
- Luna
- Lola
- Sadie
- Molly
- Bailey
- Maggie
- Sophie
- Chloe
- Stella
- Lily
- Penny
- Zoey
- Coco
- Roxy
- Gracie
- Mia
- Nala
- Ruby
- Rosie
- Ellie
- Abby
- Zoe
- Piper
- Ginger
- Lilly
- Lulu
- Riley
- Sasha
- Lexi
- Pepper
- Emma
- Layla
- Maya
- Izzy
- Lady
- Annie
- Olive
- Harley
- Belle
- Dixie
- Millie
- Willow
- Princess
- Charlie
- Maddie
- Kona
- Cali
Top 50 Male Puppy Names for 2018
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- Alfie
- Charlie
- Max
- Oscar
- Buddy
- Archie
- Bailey
- Teddy
- Milo
- Toby
- Bentley
- Leo
- Jax
- Zeus
- Winston
- Murphy
- Louie
- Jake
- Ollie
- Finn
- Gus
- Dexter
- Henry
- Riley
- Buster
- Moose
- Lucky
- Hank
- Jackson
- Loki
- Harley
- Bruno
- Beau
- Blue
- Diesel
- Thor
- Baxter
- Apollo
- Bandit
- Cody
- Sam
- Ace
- Koda
- Jasper
- Gunner
- Scout
- Bo
- Shadow
- Gizmo
- Marley
More Great Puppy Names
As dog lovers through and through here at Rover, we find dog names absolutely fascinating, and we love searching our data on the topic to discover hot trends, quirky choices, and unique twists on classics. Over the years, we’ve compiled plenty of names for you to peruse—and we keep our lists updated with new data each year.
To start, check out our list of the most popular names of 2018, and then jump over to unique dog names to see the contrast. But that’s only the beginning. We’ve got articles covering top Irish choices, Scottish dog names, small dog names, and many more.
Get Your Puppy Name
Find out what your name would be if you’d been born a dog: try Rover’s Dog Name Generator. We’ll crunch the numbers, comparing baby name rankings from your birth year to give you a dog name of equal popularity. Give it a whirl!
How We Choose Our Puppies’ Names
Rover surveyed pet parents to find out what inspired them to select their puppy or new dog’s name. Check out the results.
- 12% have named their dog after a food or beverage
- 5% have named their dog after a city or geographic location
- 12% have named their dog after an animal, plant or nature
- 12% have named their dog after a famous or historical person
- 33% have named their dog after a character from a TV show, video game, film or book
- 10% have named their dog after someone they know
- 4% have named their dog after a brand
Fun Puppy Naming Facts
That same dog naming survey revealed some fascinating truths about pet owners.
- People with toy-sized dogs are most likely to name their dogs after someone they know.
- Three out of four pet owners picked their dog’s name after meeting so they could find one to fit their dog’s personality.
- 38% of dog owners changed their dog’s name after adopting him/her.
- More than a third of pet parents have met a dog who shares their human name, and 12% have had it happen to them multiple times!
- Men and women are equally likely to meet a dog who shares their name.
- Millennial pet owners are more likely to meet a dog who shares their name.
- 81% of pet parents give their dogs nicknames, with most owners giving their dogs three or more new monikers.
Need Puppy Care?
You’ve named your dog. Now grow your pack with a 5-star Rover.com dog walker or sitter who offers dog boarding. They’ll give your dog the extra attention and exercise they deserve while you’re gone and are here for you, rain or shine.