Most Popular Dog Names of 2008

…and the winner is – Max!

For the fifth consecutive year, Americans have been naming their dogs Max more than any other name, according to Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI).

Some 450,000 pets were surveyed in 2008 by VPI, the nation’s oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, and Max came out as top dog (and cat!) name again, with no Fido or Spot in sight!

These are the 10 most popular dog names:

1. Max
2. Molly
3. Buddy
4. Bella
5. Lucy
6. Maggie
7. Daisy
8. Jake
9. Bailey
10. Rocky

“The continuing popularity of Max is largely due to the fact that it is monosyllabic and simple for people and pets to remember, yet easy to distinguish from common commands,” said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary officer for VPI. “Plus, it’s a fitting name for an active, energetic pet.”

Few of the names on the top 10 list are traditional names. In fact, some of the names, or close variations, appear on the Social Security Administration‘s list of most common baby names.

Jacob (Jake) is the top name for boys, while Isabella (Bella) is name No. 4 for girls. Ironically, Max is far from the top at No. 160.

“When people consider their pet an integral part of the family, they are more inclined to choose a human name for it,” said McConnell. “The prevalence of pets with human names clearly reflects the growing human-animal bond.”

Each of this year’s top 10 dog names appeared on last year’s list. Bella made the most impressive jump, from No. 8 to 4, while Bailey fell from No. 2 to 9.

i Love Dogs, Inc.

i Love Dogs, Inc.’s three websites – ilovedogs.com, ilovedogfriendly.com and findavet.us – provide information and up-to-the-minute news to keep pet parents aware of all things dog. A premium canine vitamins and lifestyle company, i Love Dogs is famous for its line of diamond dog collars. The name says it all — at i Love Dogs, we are committed to the health and happiness of our canine companions.