Rover and Out: Pet Owners Choose Human Names for Furry Friends

LONDON, July 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Britons are shunning traditional pet names in favour of those normally given to children, new research has found.

Families are more likely to call their moggy George than Tiddles, while pooch names like Fido or Lassie have been replaced by Toby, Archie and Holly.

The study of 36,000 pets by John Lewis Insurance has identified Poppy as the UK's most popular name for both dogs AND cats. Alfie, Molly, Charlie, Max, Bella, Millie, Daisy and Rosie appear in the Top 10 for both animals.

The study also uncovered a craze for naming cats and dogs after celebrities, with Giggs, J-Lo, Shakira, Clint Eastwood and will.i.am among the stars paid tribute to in the list.

Fictional animals and even the weekly food shopping list also provided inspiration when it came to choosing a name.

John Brady, head of commercial at John Lewis Insurance, said: "Our analysis has found that when it comes to inspiration, owners will look far and wide to get their perfect pet name - from the shopping basket and the silver screen to literary characters or even their favourite drink.

"What is clear is that human names dominate and it's becoming increasingly difficult to spot much difference between our list and the most popular baby name choices."

The top 20 dog names:

1 - Poppy

2 - Alfie

3 - Molly

4 - Charlie

5 - Max

6= - Bella

6= - Ruby

8 - Millie

9 - Daisy

10 - Rosie

11 - Oscar

12 - Tilly

13 - Archie

14 - Bailey

15 - Holly

16 - Lola

17 - Monty

18 - Toby

19 - Barney

20 - Jack

The top 20 cat names:

1 - Poppy

2 - Oscar

3 - Charlie

4 - Molly

5 - Daisy

6 - Millie

7 - Alfie

8 - Rosie

9 - Tigger

10= - Bella

10= - Max

10= - Monty

13 - Jasper

14= - Lily

14= - Merlin

16= - George

16= - Tilly

18 - Henry

19 - Coco

20= - Harry, Holly, Misty

Celebrities

What have Lulu, Ozzy [Osborne], Elvis and Clint Eastwood got in common? They're just some of the celebrity-inspired choices for owners when naming their pets. Musical tastes dominate, as both modern musicians (J-Lo, Mika, Shakira and Will.i.am) and classical composers (Elgar, Mendelssohn and Wagner) make the grade.

Football fans are keen to show their team allegiance with Rooney, Torres, Beckham, Dalglish, Scholes and Giggs featuring on the list. Some owners clearly turned back to their school history lessons, as historical figures including Alfred the Great, Che Guevara and Gandhi all appear, with one cat owner putting their own unique twist on the name of a famous figure (Chairman Miaow).

Film/TV characters (cartoon)

Film and TV characters - including Woody, Buzz and Slinky (Toy Story), Simba and Nala (The Lion King) and Bambi - offer inspiration when it comes to naming the family pet. New TV children's favourite Peppa [Pig] makes an appearance, while some owners hold old cartoon favourites, such as Pebbles (The Flintstones) and Yogi Bear, close to their hearts.

Film/TV characters (people)

The analysis reveals that Harry Potter has put a spell on film-loving pet owners. While Bella (Twilight) takes the top spot in the film/TV characters category, Harry and Luna also feature prominently for both cats and dogs - with Ginny, Hagrid, Dumbledore, Fleur Delacour, Bellatrix and Ron Weasley amongst other Potter-inspired names. Some owners turn to their favourite TV programmes for inspiration, with Alfie Moon (Eastenders), Baldrick (Blackadder), Martha Jones (Dr Who), Poirot and Miss Marple all making an appearance. Bilbo Doggins was one dog owner's interesting take on the infamous Lord of the Rings character.

Famous cats and dogs

Famous pets offer owners food for thought. While Marley (from Marley & Me) is the top famous dog-inspired choice, Bo (Barack Obama's dog) is also popular, along with Scooby, Snoopy, Snowy (Tin Tin) and Odie (Garfield). Cat owners named Winnie the Pooh's Tigger their preferred famous cat inspiration with The Lion King characters and childhood favourites Bagpuss and Mog (Meg & Mog) also appearing.

Shopping list

While picking up the groceries, it seems cat and dog owners are also inspired to pick up some tips for naming their pet dog. Pepper, Honey, Treacle and Cookie are some of the tasty food-motivated names, with Bacon, Kebab, Mushy Peas, Porridge and Sushi more eclectic choices.

Confectionery

Many pet owners clearly have a sweet-tooth, as some of Britain's favourite chocolate bars appear on the list. The analysis reveals that Twix, Caramac, Wispa, Crunchie and Curly Wurly are to be found not only on shop shelves but also walking in the park.

Beverages

Brandy, Pepsi, Whisky and Guinness are top tipple-inspired choices for British cat and dog owners, as alcoholic beverages prove popular - Bacardi, Beaujolais, Chablis, Chardonnay and Pimms all make an appearance.

Literary characters

Colin Firth may have won awards for The King's Speech, but it seems his memorable role in TV's Pride & Prejudice most motivated dog owners, with Darcy/Mr Darcy the most popular literary-inspired choice for dogs. Britain's most famous playwright William Shakespeare also offers owners a helping hand when it comes to choosing a pet name, as Iago (Othello), Macbeth, Hero (Much Ado about Nothing), Troilus (Troilus & Cressida) and Puck, Oberon and Titania (A Midsummer Night's Dream) appear on the list.

Places

A romantic city break, the perfect holiday or favourite destination all seem to help some owners with name choice - whether overseas locations (Paris, China, Sydney, Bali and India) or perhaps closer to home (Rochester, Romford, Poole, Willesden and Whitby).

About John Lewis Home Insurance

John Lewis Pet Insurance provides protection for cats and dogs. With four levels of cover for vet's fees starting from just £190 a year, you can choose the right amount of cover for your pet. And if they develop an ongoing condition like arthritis, we'll continue to insure your pet for as long as you renew your policy with us.

Find out more about how John Lewis Pet Insurance is with you when it matters.

Email: customerservice@johnlewis-insurance.com Tel: +44(0)207-592-5236