What did you name your pet? VPI Pet Insurance, a nationwide insurance company that specializes in pet health insurance, has come up with a list of the most popular pet names for 2010. The list is divided into two categories: most popular names for dogs, and most popular names for cats. They also have compiled a list of the wackiest pet names.
VPI has some advice about how to choose a good name for your pet. Pick a name that is short and simple. This will make it easier for your pet to learn to recognize his or her name. Once you think that you have picked out a perfect name for your new pet, VPI recommends waiting a few days before making it official. Does this name fit the personality of your pet? If not, you may want to choose another name, that is a better match.
Don’t name your pet something completely inappropriate or ridiculous. You will be saying this name hundreds of times. Strangers will ask you what your dog’s name is. Your vet will put your pet’s name into their computer, as part of your pet’s medical records. Imagine how silly you will feel if your dog gets away from you, and you have to run down the street yelling a cuss word, a phrase of baby talk, or one of the names that Bart Simpson called Moe’s Tavern and asked for! Choose wisely!
VPI took a survey of 450,000 insured pets names, in order to discover the most popular pet names for 2010. Max is the most popular name for both dogs and cats. This makes the top five names for dogs: Max, Molly, Buddy, Bella, and Lucy. I cannot help but wonder if the popularity of the “Twilight” movies is the reason why the name Bella is in the top five. The top five names of cats are: Max, Chloe, Lucy, Tigger, and Tiger. This means Lucy is a popular name for both cats and dogs. Was there a movie with a character named Lucy in 2010?
VPI also made a list of the wackiest pet names for 2010. Again, they went through their database of 470,000 insured pets. This allowed them to come up with a list of the 50 most unusual names for dogs, and the 50 most unusual names for cats. Personally, I am amused by how many of the names on these lists are a reference to poop, or to a bad smell. Some of these names are incredibly creative!
The wackiest name for a dog is Pickle Von Corndog. This is followed by Lord Chubby Pruneface, Badonkadonnk, Ninjastar Dangerrock, and Molly McBoozehound. The wackiest name for a cat is Purr Diem. This is followed by Bing Clawsby, Cleocatra (a great name for a cat, in my opinion), Admiral Pancake, and Optimus Pants.
Image by mrplough on Flickr