“Decades ago, dogs were simply our pets and the names we chose for them, like Spot or Rover, demonstrated that. As that relationship has evolved, pet owners have begun to think of themselves as ‘pet parents,’ and dogs are part of their families,” said Rover CEO Aaron Easterly.
As well as moving away from traditional dog names, other trends of note for this year include the increasing popularity of Pokemon Go-themed names and names inspired by smash musical “Hamilton.”
“As the bond between people and their pets grows, we’ve seen a shift in how pets are named. The way we name them, sheds light on that unique human-dog relationship and reflects our personalities, cultural trends and the things we’re passionate about, from politics to celebrities,” Easterly said.