How to Pick a Name for Your Pet

Picking out pet names for a new animal can be so fun- however choosing the best name for your dog, bunny, hamster, or even tortoise isn't always easy. It can even be as difficult as naming one of your own children! There are thousands of different names to pick from- and sometimes, this can be really tiring. Always take your time when picking out pet names for a new animal and keep these guidelines in mind!

Create a list

The internet always has great ideas for names if you find you're stumped! If you're leaning towards a non- traditional name, you could try food items, colors, pop-culture or even superheroes. If your kid's favorite meal is chicken tenders and waffles, you could name your pet “Waffles” or even “Chicken.” Book characters or athletes are also good sources for names!

Decide Together

Holding a family meeting is a great way to decide on a new name for your pet. If you live by yourself, you can still consult with extended family just to get their thoughts or opinions! Ask your kids, spouse, and everyone who lives in the household to bring some names to the meeting. From there, you can sit down and decide together.

Everyone should be super excited about this. It gets the whole family involved in the process and creates a fun time together. However- be prepared for discussion to get heated if someone feels very passionate about their choices!

Be creative

Calling out “Luna” in your house is much easier than calling for your dog in public at the vet or dog park, where there might be four or five other Lunas! Luna is one of today's most popular dog names. While it is a cute dog name, you might want to name your dog something more unique. If you have dogs, cats, or even hamsters- you should have a distinct tone when you call your pet with their unique name, so they can easily recognize their name and your voice.

Keep it Short

Keep your pet's name short and no more than two syllables. The shorter the name is, the easier it will be for your pet to remember AND recognize their name. If your family chooses a longer name- choose a short nickname for the everyday. Also, avoid any religious, racial or ethically offensive names or nicknames.

Be Unique

It's ok to pick the same name for your pet that your neighbor did…. but don't pick the same name that your existing pet already has! That would be super confusing! You might think it's ok to have Eloise the kitten and Eloise the hamster until you ask your kids to “Feed Eloise” and they don't know who you're talking about! It's best to pick unique names for all pets living in the same household.

Consider Personality

Consider your dog's personality when picking out a name. You might name your playful, happy pet turtle “Joy” or your dog with the constantly wagging tail “Happy,” If your pet reminds you if your favorite superhero, book character, or athlete, you could also name them after them. Maybe their fur pattern has a cool mustache like your favorite ball player! With that in mind, you can also name your pet for their physical appearance- or the opposite! For example, you might call your Great Dane “Tiny” or “Shorty.”

Keep an Original Name

When you adopt a pet, usually they come with a name. If they're a puppy or a kitten, it could be easy to switch their name, but for an older pet, it's better to keep their existing name, especially if they know it already. If you need to change it because their existing name is the same as a household pet or it's an offensive name, etc, try to pick a name that sounds close. For example, “Snake” could be changed to “Jake” or something similar.

Stick With a Theme

It's fun to stick with a theme when you have a pack of animals. A litter of kittens could be Poppy, Rose, Lily, and Daisy! A pack of dogs might be Sherlock, Watson, Hercule, and Miss Marple- iconic detectives! No matter the theme, it can open the door to a lot of fun possibilities!

What name/ theme will you go for? Some people can find naming their pet just as challenging as naming a child because there are so many choices! Keep these tips in mind and it can help make your decision much easier. At the end of the day though, make it a name you love and cherish the time you spend with your new friend!

What tips do you have? Leave a comment below!

Check out some more tips here: 5 Mistakes New Pet Owners Make