Names for dogs miss the Spot
I love finding out how people choose names for their pets. You know, I don't think I have ever known a "Spot" for a cat or dog. But all of my boy dogs have the nickname of "Bubba." LOL I can't help it. Sometimes they are just bubba boys. The girls, however, get called, "Princess." They start out being Princess and they can work their way up the royalty scale. Charlsie, for instance, began life as a princess and now she is Queen Charlsie. If you're wondering where her name came from, "Charlsie" was my mother's middle name and we were talking one time about what an odd name it was. I said I liked it and she practically dared me to use it for my puppy. So, I did. I think my mom was secretly pleased.
Pearl is named after an Old West outlaw — a woman who robbed banks and trains. She was a character so it seemed to suit her. Beau gets his name because it means "handsome." That suits him, too. His registered name includes the word "Beausoleil" in it — beautiful sun. That's Beau. And so on with my dogs. I love naming them.
Here's the latest data on what people are naming their dogs in the U.S.
From USA Today.
Names for dogs miss the Spot
By Svetlana Shkolnikova, USA TODAY
Golden retriever Max gets weighed at 4 Paws Swim and Fitness in Madison, Wis. With everything from doggie nuptials to dog hotels, dogs are enjoying the perks of being treated, in many respects, like humans. Max is the most popular male dog name. By Michelle Stocker, The Capital Times via AP
POPULAR PUP NAMES
Top male dog names
1. Max
2. Buddy
3. Rocky
4. Bailey
5. Jake
6. Charlie
7. Jack
8. Toby
9. Cody
10. BusterTop female dog names
1. Bella
2. Molly
3. Lucy
4. Maggie
5. Daisy
6. Sophie
7. Sadie
8. Chloe
9. Bailey
10. Lola
Spot is out and Max is in. In fact, in a recent survey of the 10 most popular dog names in the nation, names more fit for humans are finding favor over more traditional dog names like Buddy and Buster.
"Over 50 years ago, Spotty was common," says dog owner Eileen Watson of Hallandale Beach, Fla., who has had eight dogs over the past 40 years. "Now, I don't know of any dog that doesn't have a human name."
Top names among male dogs are Max, Buddy and Rocky. For females, Bella, Molly and Lucy head the list. The research was conducted by Veterinary Pet Insurance from the names of insured dogs in its database.
Dogs have long been considered man's best friend, but for many Americans, they mean even more than that.
"It's a reflection of the position that pets hold in a household," says Mary Thurston, an anthropologist in Austin who has studied dog history for more than 25 years. "They are integral members of the family, just like a child."
Naming dogs in the same fashion as children was common even in ancient Rome, she says. The ancient Egyptians often went so far as to bury their dogs in family plots. Today, dog owners are showing a similar kind of care.
"Twenty years ago, how many people were spending on training, dog food, schooling?" says Crystal Franklin, a PetSmart dog trainer in Bethesda, Md. "It's not necessarily the name that has changed but the care behind the dog."
With everything from doggie nuptials to dog hotels, dogs are enjoying the perks of being treated, in many respects, like humans.
"It's an interesting contrast that, in a country where there's still child neglect and child abuse, people are spending so much time and effort on dogs," says psychologist and author Eleanora Woloy.
"It speaks to so many people's needs that they want a warm, comforting presence and companion."
People care much more about their animals now, "and that's reflected in the dog's name," Franklin says.
"When you ask people why they named their dog something, you're going to get a whole story behind it."
