Pets Get Their Names from Pop Culture in 2025
In 2025, pet owners in the United States continue to draw inspiration from movies, TV shows, and music when naming their dogs and cats. This trend, which has been prominent for over a decade, shows no signs of slowing down. Rover, a leading pet care company, analyzed the names given to new pets and identified the rising trends.
Top Trending Names
Rover focused on pets younger than two years old, added to their database between August 2024 and September 2025. They categorized the names into various groups, including top overall names, state-specific names, and names inspired by entertainment, sports, and food. Additionally, Rover surveyed 1,000 pet owners to understand their naming choices.
- 33% of pet owners had a name in mind before adopting their pet.
- 45% based the name on their pet's personality or appearance.
Puppies
- Male Puppies: Caesar, Mufasa, Oswald
- Female Puppies: Elphie, Tsuki, Rumi
All of these names saw an increase of over 100% in the past year, with Elphie experiencing a 244% surge.
Kittens
- Male Kittens: Tater, Milton, Stewie
- Female Kittens: Priscilla, Snowball, Pickle
Regional Trends
Pet names also reflect regional influences:
- Western U.S.: Aspen, Boots, Remington, Bandit (puppies); Ducky, Sunny, Ranger (kittens)
- Southwest: Chiquita, Cocoa
- Midwest: Simba, Loki, Butters, Nimbus (pop culture-inspired)
Future Predictions for 2026
Rover anticipates that names from upcoming entertainment releases will gain popularity, including:
- Movies: Wicked, K-Pop Demon Hunters, Severance
- Music: Taylor Swift-inspired names like Ophelia, Elizabeth Taylor, and Opalite
- Blind Box Toys: Labubu, Zimono
As pet naming trends continue to evolve, Rover remains at the forefront of tracking these fascinating shifts.
