New Zealand has almost the same number of pets as people and a lot of those animal family members share the same name.
The New Zealand Companion Animal Register recently released the country’s most popular pet names. Shockingly, the top three names for both puppies and kittens are exactly the same!
Luna is #1, with Bella and Charlie coming in at #2 and #3, respectively. Bunny owners are only slightly more creative, the only difference in the top three being Basil rather than Bella at #2 (Charlie is still #3).
The rest of the top ten for each pet play out a little differently.
Top NZ Puppy Names for 2023:
- Luna
- Bella
- Charlie
- Ruby
- Poppy
- Coco
- Molly
- Buddy
- Daisy
- Teddy
Top NZ Kitten Names for 2023:
- Luna
- Bella
- Charlie
- Nala
- Coco
- Milo
- Leo
- Shadow
- Poppy
- Smokey
Top NZ Bunny Names for 2023:
- Luna
- Basil
- Charlie
- Coco
- Daisy
- Clover
- Oakley
- Milly
- Peter
- Toffee
Luna, Bella and Charlie have long been the three most popular pet names in the country. David Lloyd, general manager of New Zealand Companion Animal Register, told Stuff that the popularity of the names could lead to “confusion at the local dog park or cattery”.
Luna is also the most popular dog and cat name in Australia and the US. Daily Paws looked into why it’s such a common moniker for our furry companions.
They believe it could have been popularised by Luna Lovegood, a unique and beloved character in the ‘Harry Potter’ series. They also point out that animal experts believe a two-syllable name is easier for pets to learn and quick for us to shout if they are acting up.
My family and I will take pride in knowing that our cat Cleo has a unique name, even if we do love all the names on these lists!
