The Burrow
Aug 29, 2025
From timeless classics to pop-culture references, the names we give our pets say a lot about who we are and what inspires us. As experts in pet insurance, Compare the Market has analysed data from 14 countries to uncover the most popular pet names in 2025.
The results reveal fascinating overlaps, quirky differences, and global patterns that unite pet lovers everywhere. Whether you’re welcoming a new furry friend or simply curious about what’s trending, these insights offer a fun and revealing snapshot of how pet owners around the world are naming their companions.
Around the world, certain names dominate across borders while others show distinct regional preferences. Luna, Bear, and Teddy appear to be some of the most popular names across all countries, but each country brings its own unique favourites to the list.
In Australia, there’s a clear trend towards affectionate names for four-legged friends.
Other Australian pet names such as Luna, Milo and Charlie also appear in global rankings, highlighting how closely our choices align with worldwide trends.
In the USA, pet names strike a balance of tradition and cuddly:
Kitty takes the crown for cats with over 782,000 searches, making it one of the few names directly tied to the species. Bear and Teddy match Australia’s dog-name favourites, reflecting a shared love of warm and cuddly names.
In Canada, classic and trendy names share the spotlight:
Canada’s choices include timeless picks like Luna and Teddy. For cats, Nala and Oliver echo naming patterns in Australia, the USA, and parts of Europe, while Leo emerges as a cross-species favourite, also popular in Germany and France.
Cuddly names such as Bear and Teddy stood out as not just an Aussie favourite but also popular across the U.S and Canada, while Luna was a poplar name on lists across Europe, North America, and beyond.
Based on the number of countries that featured these names in their national top 10 lists, here are the most popular dog names worldwide in 2025:
For cats, the top names globally have cultural references from the Lion King and some that overlap with the most popular dog names:
Examining the research, it’s clear that while some names are universally adored, cultural influences can impact a country’s pet naming style.
Some names transcend cultures and languages. Names such as Luna, Milo, Bella, Nala, and Charlie appear in multiple countries’ top 10 lists, highlighting a shared preference for warm, familiar names.
In non-English-speaking countries, cultural references play a role in shaping the most popular pet names. The Lion King inspired the pet names Nala and Simba across multiple countries, while Marvel’s comic and tv show Loki created a popular name for both cats and dogs. Loki is also a prominent figure in Norse mythology, which could be another reference for this pet name.
Many of the most popular pet names are inspired by nature or the stars above. Luna, the Latin word for “moon”, is by far the most dominant, appearing at or near the top of dog and cat lists in nearly every country studied.
Floral names such as Daisy, Poppy, Lily, and Willow were popular in the UK, Canada, and Australia, while celestial choices such as Stella and astrological picks like Leo shine in Canada, Germany, and France.
While global favourites are common, some European countries lean into names that reflect local language, heritage, and history. The Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, Germany, and Poland often favour locally familiar names.
Germany’s lists include Frieda, Bruno, and Maja, while Sweden features Nisse and Findus, the latter referencing both the animated cat from Pettson and Findus and a popular food brand. In contrast, France and Spain tend to favour more universal or pop-culture-inspired names over heritage-based choices.
Across Europe, ancient gods and legendary figures are leaving their mark on pet naming trends. In France, Ulysse leads for dog names with 8,940 searches. Zeus also stands out as one of the most popular pet names, appearing in the top ten list for Italy, and Spain. Loki, the Norse god of mischief (also well-known from the Marvel comic and TV show of the same name), again makes an appearance as a globally popular name in countries such as Germany and France.
Other mythological names appearing across European countries include Thor, Ares, and Freja, each carrying centuries of storytelling power into the modern pet world.
Cats are far more likely to be named after famous felines or big cats. Nala and Simba from The Lion King remain enduring favourites, while Oliver from Oliver and Company, Garfield, and Tigger from Winnie the Pooh also make appearances. Magical names such as Luna from Sailor Moon may have also inspired pet owners globally.
Whether inspired by the stars, a beloved film, or a human name passed down through generations, these choices capture a universal truth: the names we give our pets are as much about our own identities and affections as they are about the animals themselves.
If you’re thinking of welcoming a furry Teddy, Luna, or even a one-of-a-kind name into your family, protecting them with pet insurance can help cover unexpected vet bills, giving you peace of mind as they settle into their new home. For the best protection, it’s worth taking out cover early on in your pet’s life.
Executive General Manager of General Insurance, Adrian Taylor, says:
“When getting a new pet, there are a lot of factors to take into consideration on top of what you’re going to name them. There can be a lot of costs involved when you’re a new pet owner.
“Pet insurance provides a financial safety net in case of unexpected medical expenses, and it can be an important part of responsible pet ownership. At Compare the Market, we can help you compare your options with a range of providers so you can look for a policy that suits your circumstances.”
This dataset ranks the most popular dog and cat names in multiple countries. Each country’s data was collected and normalized to determine a ranking based on the frequency of specific pet names. The dataset includes 14 sheets, each corresponding to a different country, with rankings for both dogs and cats.
The data was compiled through desk research using pet insurance providers, third-party surveys, and available public datasets. To further ensure accuracy, we also collected Google search data for pet names, with the search prompt including “X dog” or “X cat,” where “X” represents the pet name.
For countries where English is not the dominant language, the native language was used in the search query to provide more relevant data. In cases where searches were conducted in English, we only included those that matched the name criteria.
For Australian data, internal pet insurance data was used for the popularity of pet names among policyholders.
The data is valid as of 31/07/25. The rankings presented in this dataset are compiled from multiple sources and are intended for illustrative purposes; real-life rankings may vary. All data is accurate in relation to the sources provided.
Sources:
To view the 2024 version of this data, click here.