Dog lovers are drawing inspiration from shopping lists and celebrities when it comes to picking a name for their pets.
Dog lovers are drawing inspiration from shopping lists and celebrities when it comes to picking a name for their pets.
A sample of more than 12,000 dog names gathered by pet insurance specialists, Greenbee, set out to find out the most popular canine monikers in Britain, and discovered that almost half of owners opted to christen their dogs after favourite food and drink items.
Just over a quarter of owners (26%) choose typical groceries, such as Honey, Cookie and Pepper, while others plumped for the slightly more bizarre Haggis, Marmite and Cherry Pie. Some owners went for sweet brands, with 14% of pooches answering to the likes of Rolo and Toffee.
Pepsi, Guinness and Brandy are among the most popular beverage-based dog names, with 6% of owners taking inspiration from their favourite tipple - with Scrumpy Jack and Talisker among the more unusual examples.
The age of celebrity obsession also extends to the realm of what to name man's best friend, with some 17% of dogs named after famous people. While Lulu, Elvis and Tyson proved the most popular, sport stars such as Rooney and Ronaldo also made the list. Other unique choices included rapper Dizzee Rascal, fashionista Coco Chanel, and comedian Harry Hill.
A multitude of fictional characters also featured, with Merlin, Simba and Gizmo coming out on top. Some owners even swapped animals, naming their dogs after such television and film favourites as Bagpuss, Dumbo and Minnie Mouse.
Cartoon canines such as Scooby and Snoopy also provided inspiration, as did television dogs such as Bouncer and Shep. For film fans, Gladiator hero, Maximus, and Lord of the Rings' Frodo, topped the list.
James Furse, managing director, Greenbee Pet Insurance, said: "This research provides an interesting insight in to the motivations behind naming a pet - whether from everyday items to be found on a typical grocery list to 1970s television characters. However with the top-ten dog names all human names, it's clear that more and more people are thinking of their dogs as another member of the family, rather than just a pet."
