As a nation, there's nothing we love more than our pets and we all think our beloved companions are one of a kind! That’s why so many of the 38 million pets in UK homes are given celeb inspired and strange names that make them stand out.
To celebrate our furry friends this World Animal Day (4th October) and to inspire people across the UK who want to name their pets something completely unique we have the UK’s top 10 strangest pet names and most popular celebrity pet names of 2024... We're going to warn you, this may get weird!
The UK’s Strangest Pet Names of 2024
After analysing the registration data of dogs, cats and rabbits, we've found that the UK’s strangest and unique pet names are...
1. Breakdance
2. Chicken Nugget
3. Helicopter
4. Sriracha
5. Mohawk
6. Shrimp Mocktail
7. Toast
8. Captain Sir Pantaloon
9. Lord Tubbinton
10. Indiana Bones
Taking the top spot is ‘Breakdance,’ a one-of-a-kind name that takes the idea of zoomies to a whole new level. This name is perfect for energetic, playful pets who love rolling over, running around and looking cooler than the other dogs in the park! With breakdancing becoming one of the most talked-about sports at the Paris 2024 Olympics, will we see even more pet parents jump on the ‘Breakdance’ hype in 2025?
In second place is one of the four food-related pet names making the list. ‘Chicken Nugget’ is entirely unique, with only one pet being registered with this name. However, it’s not the only deliciously-daring name registered by pet owners this year as ‘Big Mac’, ‘Marmite’ and ‘Bacon’ have also been adorned by our furry friends. It’s not just food that’s been popular with pet owners in 2024, as ‘Coke O’ and ‘Bollinger’, after the iconic champagne producer, have also been registered.
Coming in third is ‘Helicopter’ which, like ‘Breakdance’ is a fantastically out-of-the-box name for a pet who is constantly moving and full of energy! If you’re thinking of owning a particularly lively breed of dog and can imagine them whirling around the park as they chase a squirrel, we think ‘Helicopter’ could be a perfect fit.
Captain Sir Pantaloon and Lord Tubbinton go without saying, but other ones we loved were:
- Toast - ‘Ham and Cheese Toastie’ was named the strangest pet name of 2023, so could this be their sibling?
- Indiana Bones - One of the many fictional character-related puns pets have been named after in 2024.
- Shrimp Mocktail - Clearly named after someone’s favourite food. With all the foodie names
registered in 2024, you could make a whole banquet!
We've found has also found online searches for ‘unique pet names’ have risen by 22% over the last three months, while ‘best pet names’ has seen a 23% increase in that same time.
Naming a pet is a very personal experience and is often one of the first things you do as a new pet owner. It is incredibly exciting to think of a pet’s name, but it can often be tricky to find one that suits them perfectly and stands out from the crowd.
Whether people want to take inspiration from their favourite food, a fictional character they love, or something completely out of the box, we hope our list of the most unique popular pet names helps people around the UK with naming their pets!
The UK’s Most Popular Celebrity and Royal Pet Names of 2024
You know we didn't stop at the weird an wonderful... We also found pet owners love a bit of celeb spotting too, searches for 'celebrity pet names' has risen by 200% recently and 'famous people dog names' at 40% too. After analysing the registration data of dogs, cats and rabbits, we found that the UK’s most popular celebrity or royal pet names are...
1. Charles (Royal Family)
2. Winnie (Model)
3. Freddie (Sports and TV Personality)
4. Lilibet (Royal Family)
5. Archie (Royal Family)
6. Millie (Actress)
7. Louis (Royal Family)
8. Frank (Sports Personality)
9. George (Royal Family)
10. Leo (Actor)
It comes as little surprise that a royal pet name would be the most popular of 2024. With the coronation of King Charles III being watched by 400 million people worldwide and 20 million in the UK, pet owners have taken inspiration and celebrated the new monarch. Variations of Charles were registered over 110 times, more than any other royal. Although variations of Lilibet were registered 156 times in 2023, only 64 were registered in 2024, dropping down to fourth place.
Coming in second is Winnie, and with the successful launch of her new sun care line in 2024 along with her continued activism efforts, it’s no wonder that model Winnie Harlow has inspired people across the UK to name their pets after her. Freddie takes the final spot in the top three, after the iconic sporting personality Freddie Flintoff. Following the success of his most recent show, Field of Dreams, and his appointment as Head Coach of the England Men's Lions cricket team, will Freddie take the top spot in 2025?
Naming a pet is a very personal experience and is often one of the first things you do as a new pet owner. It is incredibly exciting to think of a pet’s name, but it can often be tricky to find one that suits them perfectly.
Whether people want to take inspiration from their favourite celebrity, a TV show they’ve watched or as a tribute to someone they care about, we hope our lists of the most popular celebrity and fictional pet names help people around the UK with naming their pets!
But wait... There's more!!
Popular Pet Name Themes for 2024
Pop culture always plays a part when it comes to the most popular pet names, and 2024 was no different. But we also seeing different themes spring to the pet naming mind.
Obviously Barbenheimer was one of the biggest cultural phenomenons to hit the movie loving public for a long time. So it was inevitable the name 'Barbie' left it's mark on the pet naming trends in 2024. 'J. Robert' and 'Oppenheimer' not so much! From one established IP to some more. Off the back of the success of The Mandalorian, 'Grogu' once again proved popular with pet owners. Some new pretenders come from the Netflix show 'Wednesday with 'Wednesday' and 'Enid' registering interest in 2024. What do you think 2025 could look like? Wicked releases in November so will we see more Elphabas and Glindas make the list.
Mythology and fantasy proved popular in 2024 and now represent 15% of the total pet names. 'Zeus' , 'Thor' and 'Athena' proved popular, and after hits like Percy Jackson and Netflix's KAOS, will this be higher in 2025? Think about it, there just aren't enough pets called Hades or Dionysus out there!
Finally, nature continues to be a rich source of inspiration, with 15% of the names being nature-related, including ‘Bear’, ‘Willow’, and ‘River’. Onlines searches for ‘nature names for dogs’ have even risen by 27% compared to 2023.
So there we have it, that is our wrap up of the strangest, unique and celeb inspired pet names from 2024. We hope it's given you some inspiration, and if you're sitting there, looking your adorable pet in the eyes and thinking 'Roger' would make the perfect name, why not 'Charles the King of Nuggetland'? OK, maybe you're right, Roger is fine.