Congratulations, you’ve got a new pet! Now for the hard part, you’ve got to name your buddy. Naming is an art! We all want the “right” name – cool, fitting, clever, and creative, yet not too complicated.
There aren’t any rules to naming, but here are some suggestions to consider. Science says that 1 or 2-syllable names are best. Anything longer than that may confuse your pet. Avoid names that sound like a command you may use in training. For example, the name May sounds a lot like stay. Mitt sounds like sit. A tongue twister isn’t easy to say when you need to call your companion. A lengthy formal name is fine as long as you have a shorter nickname for your buddy. Names that end with a vowel are good choices. The pitch of our voice tends to go up with vowels, and our dogs hear those tones more easily. Lastly, if you already have a pet, consider their name before naming another new one. For example, the two names “Bailey and Daisy” sound a bit too similar; when you call one, they may both come running. That isn’t always ideal.
Ok, given the constraints above, what’s next?
You may want to keep an eye on your new pet for a while and become acquainted with his personality. That may help you name him. A pup that loves the water could be Splash, or if he chases his tail could be Dizzy. A cat that loves to cuddle might be Lovebug.
Think about your favorite book or movie – a character from either may be a great fit. Such as Scout (To Kill a Mockingbird), Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice), or Xena (Xena: Warrior Princess).
It seems odd to some, but a lot of people name their pets after food. Alfredo, Basil, Frito, Macaroni, Cupcake, Taffy, or Pickles are all good names and very cute!
Maybe a location or hobby would work. We know of a dog named Jersey; needless to say, he came from a rescue in New Jersey. Catalina, Boston, Austin, and Paris are popular too. Captain is popular, or how about Mulligan, Ranger, Shortstop, or Rugby?
What if you’ve rescued a new pet and hate its name? Not every pet name is a winner, don’t worry, you can change it. That being said, it will be easier for your pet if you change it to something similar. Aim for a name that starts with the same first letter or has similar syllables, so Ralph becomes Rafe or Sally becomes Sadie. In some cases, changing a pet’s name may even be a good idea, especially if she comes from abuse or neglect. The name may have bad vibes, so changing her name will give her a fresh start with you.
Whatever you choose, take your time, and don’t feel pressured to name your best friend on day one. Once you think you’ve got a name, try it out, and see if it has cute nicknames and feels right. If it does – bingo (which is also a cute name), you’ve named your new best friend!
