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Pet Naming Trends 2026: Food, Fantasy & Vintage Names Rising Fast

· Updated June 26 · PetName Editorial

The most popular pet names barely change — but the trending ones reveal a lot about what’s on our minds. In 2026, three forces are reshaping what we name our pets: food, fantasy, and nostalgia. Here’s what the data shows.

1. Food-inspired names are booming

Food names are one of the fastest-growing categories of 2026. Chewy’s analysis of thousands of pet profiles found these rising fast for dogs:

  • Tater — up +450%
  • Muffin — up +161%
  • Marshmallow — up +150%
  • Pickles — up +133%
  • Cinnamon — up +92%

A 2026 report covered by PetGuide — based on Google search data and a MetLife Pet Insurance survey of over 1,000 pet parents — found the fastest-growing names overall include Boba, Aurora, Kiko, Bluey, and Nugget, with Churro and Miso also surging. For cats, Mochi is now a standout: iCatNames’ State of Cat Naming 2026 report notes that Healthy Paws ranks Mochi #4 nationally for 2025, making it one of the clearest food-name success stories.

2. Fantasy and mythology go mainstream

Fantasy names are having a moment, fueled by book and TV series. Chewy’s 2026 data:

  • Andarna (a dragon in Fourth Wing) — up +600%
  • Meleys (a dragon in A Song of Ice and Fire) — up +300%
  • Draco — up +61%
  • Frodo — up +10%

Mythology names are especially popular for medium-to-large breeds with a commanding presence — think Thor, Athena, Freya, Loki, Valkyrie, and Hera. Pop culture is the other driver: PetGuide’s 2026 data shows strong showings for Loki (Marvel), Nala & Simba (The Lion King), Salem (Sabrina / Hocus Pocus), and Moana (Disney).

3. Nature and botanical names in full bloom

Earthy, cottagecore names keep climbing. Chewy 2026:

  • Maple — up +96%
  • Poppy — up +95%
  • Hazel — up +60%
  • Juniper — up +17%

Rover’s report lists River, Willow, Cedar, Birch, and Fern as popular nature picks — with Willow especially common as a cat name.

4. Vintage and “human” names make a comeback

The line between pet names and baby names keeps blurring. Chewy’s 2026 vintage risers:

  • Millie — up +66%
  • Winnie — up +61%
  • Teddy — up +41%
  • Mabel — up +14%

Vintage names tend to land on “cute, cuddly breeds,” per Stacker’s 2026 analysis — Gus, Rosie, and Remi are among the top risers Chewy flagged for dogs.

Naming is now a serious decision

The MetLife 2026 survey, cited by PetGuide, found that 54% of U.S. pet parents put as much thought into naming their pet as they would into naming a child, and 56% believe a pet’s name reveals a lot about the owner’s own personality. Remarkably, 56% would even consider naming a pet after a fictional villain like Voldemort or Darth Vader.

The regional data is fun, too: Bear was searched 2.2× more in Idaho than the national average, Mochi 2× more in Oregon, and Rocky 1.7× more in New Jersey.

Find a 2026-ready name

Whether you want something trending (Mochi, Andarna, Maple), classic (Luna, Bella), or totally unique, we can help. Browse cat names and dog names by theme and meaning, or let our cat name generator and dog name generator do the work.

Sources & further reading