Andrea Rosebrock 
Every year VPI publishes a list of the top ten dog and cat names for the year based on their database. This past year the database was 466K strong and it looks like “Max” tops the list for the sixth year in a row and traditional dog names like Fido and Rover continue to fall further and further down the list.
So without further ado, here’s the top 10 dog names for 2008;
1. Max
2. Bailey
3. Bella
4. Molly
5. Lucy
6. Buddy
7. Maggie
8. Daisy
9. Sophie
10. Chloe
Some of the most popular names such as Bella, Chloe, Sophie and Bailey, also rank among the Social Security Administration’s most popular baby names.
As more and more people are viewing pets as family members we are also endowing them with what as considered “people” names. No longer does the typical dog live in the yard (I wish none did) separated from the family. Now they enjoy all the comforts of the home, often including sleeping in their people’s beds.
“Pets are often viewed as members of the family, treated like members of the family and, as a result, named like members of the family,” said Curtis Steinhoff, senior director of corporate communications for VPI. “Max may sleep on his owner’s bed, eat gourmet food and wear clothes to go out on the town. Rover probably does not. Max is short, yet easy to distinguish from common commands, so it is easy to understand why it’s such a popular pet name.”
And here’s another list I came across of the top 20 dog names for male and female dogs;
| Male Names
Max |
Female Names
Maggie |
There are a lot of ways to come up with pet’s names, after celebs, sports stars, places, brand names, family, friends or just favorite names. I had actually picked out Jezzie’s name before I even picked her out just because I liked the name, Sassy Jezebel, and I am not sure if she fit the name from the start or just grew into it but it certainly fits her! And Bruti is really “Sassy’s Pretty Boy Brutus” which he certainly is, quite the pretty boy, to me anyway. And of course, like children, they have their own collection of nicknames too which they well know and answer too, but I keep those between my babies and me. 
And you can trust these two enjoy all the comforts of home, their own beds plus the couches, tons of toys and treats, plenty of playtime, attention and exercise and if someone tried to feed them “dog food” they wouldn’t even know what it was or what to do with it. I can guarantee they wouldn’t eat it! LOL
So, what about you, what’s your pooch’s name? Any interesting stories behind it?
Buddy, our yellow lab was named Buddy, because at the time, I needed a buddy.
Knight, our black lab – all of our black labs have been named Knight. Can’t break tradition.
Max, our chocolate lab, is really our Maximum Attitude, thus named Max for short.
We also call them 1,2 and 3, when it is time to go somewhere or get in the car.
Our parrot’s name is Cleopatra. We did not name her, we adopted her, and she came with that name. But is sure is fitting, as she acts like the queen of the house!
I HAVE HAD LOTS OF PETS OVER THE YEARS. MY VERY FIRST DOG WAS NAMED LUCY BUT I’M NOT SURE WHERE HER NAME CAME FROM. PUPPY WAS NEXT IN LINE WE JUST NAMED HIM THAT BECAUSE WE LIKED THE NAME. THEN SHEA CAME ALONG BUT SHE CAME WITH THAT NAME. THEN CAME MY BELOVED RUSTY WHO WENT TO THE BRIDGE 3 YEARS AGO I NAMED HIM RUSTY AFTER RUSTY WALLACE MY FAVORITE RACE CAR DRIVER. BUDDY WHO WAS MY DOG’S BRANDYS BROTHER CAME ALONG BUT WAS ACCIDENTLY KILLED WHEN OUR SON WENT TO STEP OVER HIM & HE ROLLED OVER & GOT UNDER MY SON’S FOOT. WE THEN GOT BRANDY HIS SISTER, SHE IS THE QUEEN OF THE HOUSE, I NAMED HER BRANDY JUST BECAUSE WE ALL LIKED THE NAME & BOY DID WE HAVE A TIME NAMING HER WE MUST OF WENT THROUGH A THOUSANDS NAMES LOL BUT BRANDY WAS THE FAVORITE. I ALSO HAD A CAT NAMED KITTY THAT 1 SPEAKS FOR ITS SELF. WE NOW HAVE A CAT NAMED LITTLE BART NAMED AFTER THE BEAR OWNED BY DOUG SEARS FROM THE ANIMAL PLANET SHOW ABOUT HIM & THE GRIZZLEYS HE RAISES.