Pet Insurance Australia released its list of most popular dog names for 2019 on 26 November, with spokeswoman Nadia Crighton suggesting that “it could be a little royal fever mixed in with the traditional names” this year.
That was because the name Archie took out top spot for male dog names – perhaps inspired by the arrival of Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, the first child of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, on 6 May.
It was followed by a string of more traditional names for our canine friends, such as Charlie, Buddy and Max.
Meanwhile for female dogs, Luna took out the top spot, ahead of Bella and Coco.
Despite the potential royal influence, both Archie and Luna have been popular names in previous years too, both making the top 10 in 2017 and 2018.
The full list of most popular names for dogs looks something like this:
Male dogs:
- Archie
- Charlie
- Buddy
- Teddy
- Max
- Milo
- Alfie
- Ollie
- Bailey
- Leo
Female dogs:
- Luna
- Bella
- Coco
- Daisy
- Ruby
- Molly
- Frankie
- Lola
- Nala
- Millie
Funny dog names to the downright weird
If you’re looking for something a little less – shall we say, common – then perhaps you can get creative with a play on words of your favourite “pawsonalities” from life or fiction.
The American Kennel Club published its own list this of dog names this year, but rather than serious or popular names, this was a list of funny dog names.
Many were inspired by movie characters – such as Artoo Dogtoo, Jabba the Mutt, Mary Puppins and Hairy Paw-ter.
Others took licence from popular culture, such as Droolius Caesar and Sniffy Longdroppings.
Then there were some that took on playful interpretations of the names of celebrities – some of my favourites being James Earl Bones, Woofie Goldberg and Ellen Degeneruff. (Although I suspect actor Anderson Cooper would be less than thrilled with his doggy namesake: Anderson Pooper!)
Yet all of these are before you get to the really wacky ones.
Can you imagine being at the dog park yelling “come, Herr Pickles Von Wiener Schnitzel”, making a booking at the vet for “Dunkle Doxie Graben Stein” or having the little old lady next door calling over the fence “hello, Fluffernutter”?
Or indeed, introducing your gorgeous new puppy to your in-laws: “this is Chunky Face Monkey Butt”?
Perhaps not as controversial as singer Pink reportedly causing a scene years ago after naming her dog “F**ker”, but still…
Related article: 13 ways Aussies dream up unique dog names
