Rover and Out: Pet Owners Choose Human Names for Furry Friends
By John Lewis Insurance, PRNETuesday, July 12, 2011
LONDON, July 13, 2011 -
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Tiddles, while pooch names like Fido or Lassie have been replaced
by Toby, Archie and Holly.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
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
.
Tags: John Lewis Insurance, July 13, London, United Kingdom
