Most Popular Dog Names of 2011

What Are the Most Popular Dog Names?

Most dog owners take special pride in naming their new puppy. Sometimes, you can simply look at the puppy's face one time and a name instantly comes to mind that seems to fit the little face perfectly. Other times, it may take careful consideration to find the perfect name for your new friend. Although some dog owners love to come up with unique names, most tend to go with the flow, and choose from a list of the most popular dog names, which can differ from year to year.

Long gone are the days of nearly every male dog being named Fido or Rover, and every female puppy being named Ellie or Princess. Pet owners are using human names more than ever to name their pets, especially names that are portrayed in popular movies. Naming a new puppy can be fun for a family with children because you never know what name a toddler will choose that seems quite ordinary to them but sounds totally comical to an adult's ears.

Girls First:

The most popular name for the past two years for a female dog is Bella. The name is chosen, and possibly overused, because of a popular movie in which the characters are a bit blood thirsty, to say the least. Oddly enough, the longer version of the name, which is "Isabella", is one of the most popular not only for dogs but for human baby girls too. The name Bella is used for dogs of every breed imaginable, both small and large.

Second in popularity is Sophia or the shortened version Sophie. This name is also among the top names chosen by parents of newborn baby girls. Female names that have been popular for decades tend to end in "ie" or "y". They remain popular because they are easy and fun to say. Some of these include the names of Molly, Annie, Bailey, Maggie and Daisy.

For the Boys:

For the longest time, Jake was the most popular name for the most popular dog, the Labrador Retriever - although no one really knows quite why. Jake or Jacob is also a very popular human name for newborn boys, which goes along with the theory that pet owners are now choosing human names for their dogs. Max is popular, as is Buddy. When a certain pirate became well known a few years ago, the name Jack was quite the hit, especially when the owners made it a two part name as in Captain Jack.

Humorous Names:

Many owners take a comical approach when naming their dog. For instance, there are probably many St. Bernard's named Tiny or Chihuahua's named Butch, Killer or Zeus. A black dog can be named Snowball, while a pure white dog may be named Blacky. It's all in good fun; the dog won't really care what the most popular dog names are, as long as they are loved, fed and sheltered in a good, stable family. Reference: http://www.dogtipper.com/blog/2010/06/vpi-releases-list-of-most-unusual-dog-names-2.html