“Max’ and “Tiger’ Most Popular Pet Names in 2002

So much for originality.

Unlike our sons and daughters, who might suffer permanent psychological damage from the schoolyard teasing that a strange or unconventional first name is bound to provoke, a pet named Smelly will probably lead as pleasant a life as a pet named Spot.

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The study also revealed some interesting geographical trends. It seems that Midwesterners are twice as likely as Americans living in the Northeast to name their pets after food or beverages.

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Then why oh why did the majority of pet owners in America stick to the same old standbys—the "Marys" and "Johns" of the pet name world—when it came to selecting a moniker for their four-footed friends this year?

According to a study by the Iams Company, Max was the most popular puppy name in 2002, and Tiger was the most popular name for kittens. In second place for canines was Buddy, and in second place for felines was the slightly more exotic Smokey. The third-place new puppy name was Princess, and good old Fluffy took third place for kittens. Rocky and Belle and Kitty and Shadow took fourth and fifth place for dogs and cats, respectively.

Perhaps this is a classic case of the new generation rebelling against the old; the study found that members of "Generation Y" are nearly four times more likely than their aging Baby Boomer parents to choose a traditional pet name. And if you look at results of the survey of the most popular pet names from 10 years ago, the more adventurous Brandy, Babe, Sara, and Snuggles were among the most popular puppy names, and Boots, Pepper, Samantha, and Sparky were among the most popular names for kittens.

Whether you´re of the Fluffy or the Pepper camp when it comes to pet naming, one thing remains constant, said Iams Consumer Care group manager Cindy Anchor in a statement. "While pet parents continue to select traditional names for their furry friends, most of the names pet parents chose for their puppy or kitten fall into two categories: people names, such as Samantha or Bobby, and unusual names, such as Humby or Minus."

(Important footnote: neither Humby nor Minus appears in the Iams´ list of the most popular pet names in 2002.)

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"It´s surprising how many pet parents saddle their puppies and kittens with names not fit for print…"

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The study also revealed some interesting geographical trends. It seems that Midwesterners are twice as likely as Americans living in the Northeast to name their pets after food or beverages. Ginger, Gizmo, Buster, and Lucy are also popular names among kittens and puppies living in the Midwest…and nowhere else. Southerners seem to favor good old country names like Bandit and Dixie.

Here´s another interesting tidbit: pets living in the Northeast are also less likely than cats and dogs in other regions of the country to bear the weight of a silly name like "Fatty Lump" or "Tuna Breath."

"And, it´s surprising how many pet parents saddle their puppies and kittens with names not fit for print…" Ms. Anchor added.

The survey polled 1,500 dog and cat owners across the country, 44 percent of which were dog owners, 26 percent of which were cat owners, and 30 percent of which owned both dogs and cats.

Copyright VetCentic.com Reprinted with permission.