The top 10 pet names in the uk

We looked at our data from 510,000* pet parents and found that Luna (16.4%) takes the top spot for most popular name, followed by Bella (14.5%) and Teddy (10.5%).

Most popular pet names in 2022

1. Luna (16.4%)

2. Bella (14.5%)

3. Teddy (10.5%)

4. Milo (10%)

5. Daisy (8.8%)

6. Lola (8.4%)

7. Bailey (8%)

8. Buddy (7.8%)

9. Coco (7.8%)

10. Poppy (7.6%)

When asked what inspired their choice, 14% say they prefer human names such as Colin or Dave, whilst 9% named their furry child after a celebrity. Following the likes of Love Island’s Molly Mae with her pets ‘Eggy’ and ‘Bread’, 7% of Brits found their inspiration for their pet’s name in the kitchen cupboard, opting for names such as Honey or Crumpet.

We also found the humble Labrador is still Brits’ best friend, crowned the nation’s favourite breed in 2022 followed by the Cocker Spaniel (19.2%) and Cockapoo (18%). With historical owner data showing the Labrador steadily in the top two since 2017, it comes as no surprise that research shows two thirds (62%) say they favour traditional breeds over designer cross pups.*

Most popular breeds of 2022*

• Labrador Retriever (19.4%)

• Cocker Spaniel (19.2%)

• Cockapoo (18%)

• French Bulldog (8.8%)

• Cavapoo (6.5%)

• Golden Retriever (6.2%)

• German Shepherd (6%)

• Dachshund (5.6%)

• Staffordshire Bull Terror (5.4%)

• Border Collie (5%)

When asked what factors influenced them when picking their pooch, two in five (40%) Brits say that appearance was key, whilst 38% look for breeds with a history of good behaviour and 34% look for dogs known to be good with children. A quarter (24%) also say that associated health conditions are a key consideration in the buying process. Postcode conscious Brits are also influenced by their neighbours' choices (21%).

Cost is also an important influence, as one in five (20%) say this played a vital role in their final decision. Luckily, our pricing data for 2022 has revealed an average 18%* decrease in puppy prices since the lockdown boom in 2021. Taking the top spot as the cheapest dog breed is the sturdy Jack Russel, with just a £685 average buying cost and an average food bill of approximately £13 a month*.

Oke Eleazu, CEO, ManyPets, said: “Like baby names, choosing the name of a beloved pooch is a decision that takes careful consideration, and is often influenced by the latest trends, films, celebrities or even our favourite foods. It is fascinating to see how names gain popularity and the growing trend of picking human names over traditional pet names. It shows just how much our pets are part of the family. Our tip is to think of a name that has one or two-syllables in it. A name that’s longer will be harder for your pup to recognise. And many people think about how the name will sound when shouting it across the park!”

• Taken from the 510,000* new policies taken out with ManyPets between 2017 - October 2022*

• Survey of 2,000 UK pet owners (dogs) commissioned by ManyPets and conducted by 3 Gem May 2022

Historical data for most popular breeds*

Full list of factors cited to influence pet buying choices:

• Appearance of the breed (40.3%)

• A history of good behaviour (38.4%)

• They are known to be good with children (37.1%)

• The health conditions associated with the breed (24%)

• Cost of breed (19.6%)

• Accessibility to green spaces (17.3%)

• Dogs that don’t bark loudly or not ‘yappy dogs’ (16.1%)

• Popularity of breed (15.1%)

• What my friends and family have (12.3%)

• The area I live in (11.6%)

• Seeing other dogs in the local park 11.5%)

• Dogs I’ve seen on social media (6%)

Full list of factors cited to influence pet naming choices in 2022:

• Human names such as Colin, or Dave (14%)

• Wanting to pick something “out there” (10.5%)

• Names after celebrities (9.1%)

• Descriptive names such as Fluffy or Spot (9%)

• Names after friends or family (8.3%)

• Food items, such as Waffles or Honey (7.1%)

• Dogs I saw on social media (4.7%)

• Nothing, it just came to me (36.8%)

The UK’s cheapest breeds ranked on their overall costs; taking food costs, insurance costs and potential annual vet bills into account. The top ten include:

• Jack Russel

• Chihuahua

• Yorkshire Terrier

• Shi Tzu

• Border Collie

• Greyhound

• Border Terrier

• Staffordshire Bull Terrier

• Sprocker Spaniel

• Beagle

**ManyPets pet pricing data, 2021-2022

*** ManyPets Cost Ranking Breed Data 2022