How to name your dog? Introducing the ranking of popular dog names

In the girls' ranking, "Momo" and "Hana" came in first and second, with cute, feminine names ranking highly.

The names "Leo," "Sora," "Momo," and "Hana" ranked highly for both boys and girls, demonstrating their enduring popularity, even ranking in the top three in a survey conducted five years ago.

Also, "Marron" and "Choco" seem to be popular names for both boys and girls.

Though they didn't make it into the top 10, many food names, such as "Cocoa," "Cookie," "Milk," "Kinako," and "Pudding," ranked in the top 30.

Popular names are great, but it's also fun to think of the perfect name for your beloved dog.

In the next chapter, we'll introduce some tips for naming your dog.

5 Key Points for Naming Your Dog

Dogs become important members of the family from the moment you bring them home. Here are some tips for choosing a great name.

① Give your dog a simple name

From now on, keep your dog's name as short and simple as possible.

Dogs are often said to have "good ears," but this means they can hear a wider range of sounds than humans, and it doesn't mean they can hear every sound equally well.

Dogs, in particular, have poor hearing for consonants. Therefore, it's best to avoid long names full of consonants.

On the other hand, since they're good at picking out vowels, we recommend giving them names with two or three vowels.

② Check out the latest dog name rankings

Just like with children, a dog's name reveals the owner's hopes and expectations for their dog.

Overall, there are many gentle-sounding names, suggesting that they are seeking a soothing environment.

Also, compared to the past, it seems like there are more Japanese names.

I think dogs have become more of a part of the family and are closer to us than they were in the past.

By the way, I know a lot of dogs with Hawaiian or French names.

You can also guess the coat color from the name.

Apricot dogs are often named Mugi, Mocha, or Komugi.

It's also cute to name your dog after its coat color.

③ Avoid overlapping or commonly used names

Dogs don't necessarily understand human language.

For this reason, even if it's simple and easy to pronounce, avoid naming your dog using a commonly used word in everyday life.

It will confuse your dog.

It's also a good idea to avoid names that are likely to be shared with other dogs.

Because if your dog's name is the same as another dog's in a park or other dog-friendly place, your dog may not know which name you're calling.

④ A name you won't be embarrassed to call out loud

It's wise to avoid naming your dog with names that you'd be embarrassed to hear.

Think about taking your dog to the vet.

As you wait for your dog's appointment, your dog's name will be called. It will be followed by your last name. Others will be listening, so you want to avoid any embarrassment.

It's also a good idea to give your dog an extreme or vulgar name. While the person giving it may be joking, it's important to remember that some people may find their dog's name offensive.

⑤ Choose a name that your dog will respond to easily

It's also important to choose a name that your dog will respond to when called by name.

When you look at the rankings of popular dog names, you'll notice a common thread.

That's because the names ranked are easy for dogs to hear.

• Names with 2-3 characters
• Names containing vowels
• Names containing the vowel sounds a/u/o

All of the dog name rankings were 2-3 characters long, or names with an elongated pronunciation like "Kotaro."

As mentioned earlier, dogs cannot distinguish between consonants.

It is said that names with vowels are easier to hear.

Dogs are said to respond well to one- or two-syllable names that include sharp consonants like "P," "K," and "D" and clear vowels like "a," "i," and "e."

These sounds are easier for dogs to distinguish than soft consonants like "f," "r," and "m," or muffled vowels like "u" and "o."

For example, names like "Tika" and "Buddy" tend to be more likely to get a positive response from dogs than names like "Molly" and "Ralphie."

Also, to help your dog respond to a name that's easy to recognize, it's important to help him understand that "good things happen when he hears his name."

Give your dog a treat after calling its name to encourage it to come to you willingly.

Give it a treat multiple times a day and it should remember within a few days.

Consider naming your dog from various angles!

So, what factors do you consider when thinking about a name?

Here are some common categories. If you're thinking of getting a dog, we recommend coming up with a few options based on these criteria, and then making a final decision based on your dog's reaction after you bring them home.

By coat color and physical characteristics

Of course, names based on coat color or physical characteristics are common. The classic "Shiro" is a good example.

It's simple, but observing your dog's unique characteristics and giving it a name that reflects them will help you grow fonder of your pet.

From sweets and food

As mentioned earlier, food-related names are also quite popular due to their cute sound.