Popular Baby Names That Also Make the Cutest Dog Names
Searching for a name for your new puppy? While Fido and Spot used to be the go-to, they’re no longer the most barked for. Instead, dog parents are using popular names like Logan and Riley for their four-legged best friends.
According to “most popular name” lists from the U.S. Social Security Administration and American Kennel Club, there’s more crossover between baby and dog names than ever. Let’s take a look at the ones leading the pack...
Ruby
A deep-red stone associated with good fortune, wealth and love, Ruby is befitting of a little princess (with or without fur).
Popularized by the Rolling Stones hit song, “Ruby Tuesday” in 1967, this vintage name is once again climbing the charts.
Finn
Finn is Irish in origin and means “fair or white.” Famous men with the name include Irish mythological hero Finn MacCool, professional wrestler Finn Balor and the fictional Finn Hudson on “Glee.”
It’s perfect for adventurous boys or dogs, like — you guessed it — Irish setters.
Willow
Willow has roots in England from the tree of the same name, which is said to possess magical healing power. Also magical: fan-favorite Willow Rosenberg on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”and Willo (minus the second w) the Corgi, who charmed millions by howling while she ate.
Celebrities such as Will and Jada Pinkett Smith and Pink and Carey Hart named their daughters Willow, helping it continue to grow in popularity.
Miles
Miles is Latin in origin and means “soldier or merciful.” You may recognize the name from great jazz musician Miles Davis and the sometimes-creepy little boy in The Haunting of Bly Manor”(and “The Turn of the Screw,” from which it was adapted).
Miles has been steadily growing in popularity, thanks to celebrity parents like Elisabeth Shue, Joan Cusack and Mayim Bialik. It’s a great choice for dogs like greyhounds, who love to run, um, miles and will be happy to chill out on the couch with some jazz.
Stella
Stella comes from the Latin word meaning “star.” That’s befitting since it’s been a rising star in names for girls and is among the top 10 names for female dogs, especially rottweilers and German shepherds.
As a bonus, you can playfully scream “Stelllla!” like Marlon Brando in “A Streetcar Named Desire”when calling for your dog.
Luke
Luke is most known as a biblical author and one of the most beloved sci-fi heroes of all time. It is derived from the Greek name, Lucas, which means “light.”
The name’s popularity soared like the Millenium Falcon after “Star Wars” was created by George Light (or Lucas, if you prefer). It remains a top choice for dogs, too — far outranking Han, Chewbacca and C3PO, although we could get on board with those.
Ava
For a short name, Ava has a lot of roots. It’s thought to come from the Latin word avis (birdlike), the German word aval (guarantee) and the Hebrew word hayya (life or lively). It’s also speculated to have Persian roots with a name that means “voice.”
Like actress Ava Gardner, the name maintains a timeless elegance. And since she’s a grand dame, Ava is a lovely choice for a dog counterpart, the Great Dane.
Theo
Short for Theodore, but nowadays a name all its own, Theo is Greek in origin and means “gift of God.”
Famous Theos include English soccer player Theo Walcott (who’s also a dog lover), the character of Theo on “The Cosby Show” and Theo the dog, an English springer spaniel who worked for the British army as a bomb detector in Afghanistan.
Zoey
Zoey is Greek in origin and means “life,” so you can’t go wrong with that choice for a new baby or dog. Variations include Zooey (like “New Girl” Deschanel) and Zoë (as in new Catwoman Kravitz).
In addition to trending upward for babies and dogs in the U.S., Zoey is popular around the world in countries like The Netherlands, France and New Zealand.
Toby
Toby has roots in Hebrew (Tobiah, meaning “God is good) and its Greek derivative, Tobias. The name is often linked to Spider-Man Tobey Maguire, who liked to spin webs, and Toby Ziegler on “The West Wing,” the White House communications director who spun stories.
It’s a cool name for a laidback kid or dog, like Saint Bernard or Newfoundland.
Hazel
This English-originated name is also an eye color and a nut. When Julia Roberts named one of her daughters Hazel in 2004, the world thought she was nuts, too.
Today, Hazel has cracked through the popularity charts for baby girls (thanks in part to the beloved heroine in “The Fault in Our Stars”) and dog breeds like Labrador retrievers and pugs.
Cooper
Cooper means “barrel maker” and is of English origin. Though most famous for last names (as in Bradley and Anderson), Cooper is steadily climbing the ranks of popularity in the United States.
It’s also one of the most widely used names in Australia and New Zealand. So, if you’re planning on getting an Australian shepherd or terrier, this could be the name for you.
Layla
Originating from an Arabic word thought to mean “night” or “dark,” Layla (or Leyla, Leila or Laila, if you prefer) rose to fame in the 1970s thanks to a song by Derrick and the Dominoes (written by Eric Clapton, who later performed it, too).
Today, it’s the 24th most popular name for girls in the U.S. and a favorite among dog parents of Yorkies and poodles.
Henry
Henry is German in origin and means “estate ruler.” One of the most famous men with the name, King Henry VIII of England, took that title literally, while Prince Harry (a nickname for Henry) left the kingdom behind.
The ninth most popular boy name in the U.S., Henry is also a befitting name for a regal dog like a King Charles Cavalier.
Sadie
Once a nickname for Sarah, which comes from the Hebrew word for “princess,” Sadie is now a name in itself. It has made the rounds in pop culture, from the Beatles’ “Sexy Sadie” to Sadie Hawkins’ dances, where girls are supposed to ask boys to be their date.
Despite that old-fashioned tradition, Sadie has become a modern choice for parents like Adam Sandler and Christina Applegate and is currently the eighth most popular female dog name in the country. Stylish and a bit of a hipster, it’s a cool fit for a little dog with a big attitude such as a dachshund.
Oliver
Oliver’s Latin origin means “olive tree,” but it also has roots in the Old Norse name, Áleifr, which means "ancestor's relic" and includes another popular derivative, Olaf.
Guess it’s time to put on “Frozen”and sing along with your kids and dog. Though, if you’re not a fan of the Disney films, you can always read “Oliver Twist” to them. Oliver is the third most popular name for boys in the U.S., and its nickname, “Ollie” is a favorite among dog owners.
Riley
A great name for boys or girls (human or canine), Riley is Irish in origin and means “courageous.” It has become popular throughout the world, especially in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
Interestingly, the U.S. is the only country on the list that prefers the name for girls.
Jack
Jack is an English name (derived from John) that means “ God is gracious.”
One of the most popular boy names over the last 100 years, it’s commonly found in fairytales (Jack and Jill, Jack and the Beanstalk), Hollywood (Jack Nicholson, Jack Black) and, of course, dogs (Jack Russell terrier).
Piper
A more literal name, Piper comes from English and Romanian origins and means “pipe or flute player.” It’s the most popular girl name that starts with P, a trend that began in 1999 when the TV show “Charmed” featured a character named Piper (played by Hollie Marie Combs).
It’s a favorite name for boxers and other big dogs with a lot of energy.
Logan
Logan is Scottish in origin and means “small hollow.” Though it’s most famous for being the real name of larger than life X-Men, Wolverine. The success of the movie franchise (where the mutant was played by human hottie Hugh Jackman) helped Logan become one of the most popular names for boys and male dogs.
Sadly, Wolverine hasn’t made the cut.
Chloe
Chloe is Greek in origin and means “young green shoot.” In Greek mythology, the name appeared as an alternate for Demeter, goddess of agriculture and harvest. Modern incarnations include actress Chloe Sevigny and Oscar-winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao.
It was also the real name of Nobel- and Pulitzer-prize-winning author Toni Morrison. It’s a classic choice for baby girls and a popular name for French bulldogs and cocker spaniels.
Benjamin (Benji)
Benjamin comes from a Hebrew origin and means “son of the right hand.” Though a classic name, it didn’t break into the top 10 most popular for boys until 2015. Today, it is No. 7. I
ts common nickname, Benji, is one of the most famous dog celebrities of all time. This lovable mixed-breed debuted in 1974 and has since starred in multiple movies, including a 2018 Netflix reboot).
Charlie
Charlie, a nickname of Charles, has a German and French origin that means “free man.” Charles has been a popular name for centuries and belongs to prominent men like Dickens and Darwin, but the more playful Charlie gave us “Charlie’s Angels,” Charlie Chaplan and famed saxophonist Charlie Parker.
The name is also a hit with dog owners, as it’s currently the third most popular in the U.S.
Harper
Harper, derived from an English origin meaning “harp player,” was primarily a last name and then a boy’s name, until “To Kill a Mockingbird” author Harper Lee made it popular for girls. Though the name dipped in use over the years, it recently skyrocketed.
Celebrities such as David and Victoria Beckham and Neil Partick Harris and David Burtka have named their daughters Harper, while dog parents favor the name for beagles and golden retrievers.
Liam
Irish in origin, Liam means “resolute protection." It’s currently the most popular name for boys in the U.S., thanks in part to men like Liam Neeson (who is Irish-born, btw). Celebrities who’ve named their sons Liam include Tori Spelling, Calista Flockhart and and Kevin Costner.
For dogs, it’s a great choice for Irish wolfhounds and other protective breeds like Doberman pinschers and German shepherds.
Emma
It’s befitting that Emma’s German origin means “universal” since this name has been super popular for centuries. There's been Queen Emma, Jane Austen’s “Emma,” and Ross and Rachel’s Emma on “Friends,” just to name a few.
It has remained one of the top girl names in the U.S. for the last few decades and is making strides among dog parents, especially for small, spunky dogs like bichons.
Lucy
This name conjures images of the lovable Lucy Ricardo, strong and sassy Lucy Liu and everyone’s favorite 5-cent therapist, Lucy from “Peanuts.” It’s also the name of a recently launched NASA spacecraft.
It’s an especially popular name for both girls and dogs in England, Ireland and the U.S.
Max
Max, a derivative of Maxamillion and Maxwell, is German in origin and means “the greatest.” One of the most popular male dogs of all time, it was the name of the perky protagonist in the “Secret Life of Pets” and a bionic German Shepherd in the “Bionic Woman.”
It’s also been trending upward on the boy baby name chart, thanks to celebrities such as Cynthia Nixon, Charlie Sheen and Christina Aguilera choosing it for their sons.
Luna
Luna is of Latin origin and means “moon.” Popularized by Harry Potter’s Luna Lovegood and celebrity parents such as Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, the name ranks 14th for girls in the U.S.
It’s even more popular for female dogs, currently ranked as No. 1. It’s especially hot with dog parents of Siberian and Alaskan huskies and bulldogs.
Bella
This incredibly popular name is the Italian word for beautiful. It can sometimes be short for Isabella or Arabella, butit’s nearly impossible not to think of Bella Swan, the heroine of the“Twilight” series.
Her friend, Jacob (the werewolf), will be pleased to know that Bella is also a huge hit in the dog world. It’s currently the second most-used name for female dogs and makes a molto buono choice for Italian breeds like Spinones or any other beauties.