PetWorks Most Popular Pet Names in 2026: Top Dog and Cat Names

Most pet name lists are surveys or guesses. This one is a headcount. PetWorks ranked the 15,052 dogs and cats whose families booked care on the platform in 2026. Every name belongs to a real pet. The most popular pet name of 2026 on PetWorks is Luna, which ranks #1 for both dogs and cats.

The rankings come from 10,610 dogs and 4,442 cats whose families booked care or requested a quote on PetWorks in 2026. Daisy, Bella, Lucy, and Charlie follow Luna among dog names. Bella, Charlie, Milo, and Kitty follow Luna among cat names. In 2025, Bella was the top dog name and Luna was the top cat name.

The Most Popular Pet Names of 2026 – The Winners!

Luna is the clear favorite. It is the #1 name for dogs and the #1 name for cats, out of 15,052 pets. Among dogs, Luna moved up from #2 last year and took the top spot from Bella, which now ranks third. Daisy, Lucy, and Charlie complete the top five.

Cats tell a similar story. Luna held the #1 spot for the second year in a row. Bella, Charlie, Milo, and Kitty round out the top five. You can see the full rankings on the most popular pet names page, including the top 50 dog names and top 50 cat names.

What Changed Since 2025

Several names made big moves. Lucy had the biggest jump among dogs, climbing 10 places from #14 to #4. Charlie had the biggest jump among cats, rising 12 places from #15 to #3. Bella also climbed among cats, moving from #8 to #2.

Some names slipped. Bailey fell seven places among dogs, and Max dropped from #4 to #8. Among cats, Milo and Kitty each lost ground, though both stayed in the top five. Fresh names also arrived. Teddy, Winston, Molly, and Blue entered the dog top 20 for the first time, while cats added Smokey, Simba, Mochi, Ollie, and Gracie.

Dogs and Cats Share Their Favorites

Pet parents like the same kinds of names across species. Eight names appear in the top 20 for both dogs and cats: Luna, Bella, Charlie, Milo, Daisy, Lucy, Coco, and Leo. Many of these are also popular people’s names. Cat lists lean a little more toward food and color names, such as Mochi, Oreo, and Smokey. Dog lists favor classics like Cooper, Buddy, and Max.

How PetWorks Measured It

PetWorks is a worldwide pet care services marketplace that connects pet parents with trusted pet care professionals, everything from dog trainers to animal nutritionists to pet transporters. Pet parents can browse listings, compare pros, and get free quotes. These rankings come from PetWorks booking data, not a survey. When a pet parent books care or requests a quote, they share their pet’s name, type, and gender. PetWorks counts one entry per household per pet, so a family that books every month counts once. Placeholders like “puppy” or “not named yet” are removed. Spelling is normalized, so Bella and bella count together, while Lily and Lilly stay separate. PetWorks ranks only dogs and cats, since other animals do not yet have enough pets to support a ranking.

Popular Pet Names FAQs

What is the most popular pet name of 2026?
Luna. It ranks #1 for both dogs and cats among the 15,052 pets on PetWorks in 2026.

What is the most popular dog name in 2026?
Luna is the most popular dog name. Daisy, Bella, Lucy, and Charlie complete the top five.

What is the most popular cat name in 2026?
Luna is also the most popular cat name. Bella, Charlie, Milo, and Kitty complete the top five.

What were the most popular pet names in 2025?
In 2025, Bella was the top dog name and Luna was the top cat name. Luna ranked #2 for dogs that year.

Which pet names are rising fastest?
Lucy gained the most among dogs, jumping 10 places to #4. Charlie gained the most among cats, jumping 12 places to #3.

Which names are new to the top 20?
Teddy, Winston, Molly, and Blue are new to the dog top 20. Smokey, Daisy, Lucy, Simba, Mochi, Ollie, and Gracie are new to the cat top 20.

Do dogs and cats have the same popular names?
Often, yes. Luna, Bella, Charlie, Milo, Daisy, Lucy, Coco, and Leo appear in both top 20 lists.

Where does this pet name data come from?
It comes from bookings and care requests on PetWorks. Pet parents share their pet’s name, type, and gender when they book, so the rankings reflect pets that actually exist.

How many pets are these rankings based on?
The rankings cover 10,610 dogs and 4,442 cats added in 2026, for 15,052 pets in total.

Does PetWorks count the same pet more than once?
No. PetWorks counts one entry per household per pet, so frequent bookings do not inflate a name’s rank.

Where can I see the full list of pet names?
The PetWorks pet names page shows the top 20 side by side, with the top 50 on the dog names and cat names pages.

When was this data last updated?
The rankings were last updated on November 5, 2026.

Still Choosing a Name?

Browse the full lists of top dog names and top cat names or explore dog breeds and cat breeds for ideas. Once your pet has a name, PetWorks connects pet parents with trusted care professionals nationwide. Get a free quote today.