Pets may be the stars in our lives, but when it comes to naming them it seems we find inspiration from something else in the sky.
It has been revealed that the top name for both dogs and cats in 2017 is Luna, the Spanish word for moon.
Pet Insurance Australia revealed the surprising survey results, as Luna didn’t even appear on the list for dogs last year and only placed fourth for cats.
It has been revealed that the top name for both dogs and cats in 2017 is Luna, the Spanish word for moon. The moniker didn’t even appear on the top dog name list last year
Charlie earned the second spot on the list for top dog names, followed by Bella, Ruby, and Max in the top five.
Coco nabbed second place for the cats, and was joined by Leo, Bella, and Charlie.
Bella clearly took a dive in popularity this year, as it had been the top name for both dogs and cats last year.
And while regulars like Charlie, Coco, and Max still did well this year, there were plenty of new names to unseat old favourites like Buddy and Daisy.
Charlie earned the second spot on the list for top dog names, followed by Bella, Ruby, and Max in the top five. Coco nabbed second place for the cats, followed by Leo, Bella, and Charlie
‘A lot of names have changed this year, with the top spot being claimed by a name that didn’t even make the chart last year!’ Nadia Crighton, of Pet Insurance Australia, revealed.
‘It’s wonderful to see so many new names making the list, and some old-school names like Frankie and Archie making a comeback.’
Archie grabbed the sixth spot on the dogs name list, while Frankie appeared in the eighth spot for dogs and rounded out the top 10 list for cats.
Bella clearly took a dive in popularity this year, as it had been the top name for both dogs and cats last year
The popularity of Luna may have been influenced by Chrissy Teigen (right), whose daughter shares the name and often appears on her Instagram. Loki, a character played by Tom Hiddleston (right) in the Avengers and Thor movies, also appeared on the top cat name list
Crighton revealed that there was also an increase in names from famous TV shows, including Game of Thrones.
Loki, which appeared at number 11 on the cat name list, is a character from both the television show Vikings and a character played by Tom Hiddleston in The Avengers and Thor films.
Oreo nabbed the 13th spot on the top cat name list this year
Simba, the name of the protagonist in The Lion King, also made an appearance on the cat name list this year, as did Oreo – the popular American cookie.
But when it comes to naming new pets this holiday season, Crighton suggests choosing a ‘sensible name’ that can ‘stand the test of time’.
‘For dogs, it’s a good idea to see how the name carries when called,’ she said.
‘Having a couple of names on hand is also a good plan, then you can choose which best fits your new family member when they arrive home.’