Popular pet names across East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire in 2018 have been revealed following a survey by Pets at Home. 

And topping the list across several animal categories were the names Bella and Luna.

Pets at Home surveyed new additions to its six million strong VIP Club to create its Pet Name Finder, and found the top five most popular names for each species. Whether the pet is a bird, cat, dog, fish, reptile or small animal, Bella and Luna were clear winners.

Luna, the name chosen by Chrissy Teigen and John Legend for their daughter, first appeared on the list in 2017 and remains a popular choice for cats, dogs and reptiles.

However, movie names from some the year’s big blockbusters have also influenced what Brits name their pets.

Recent superhero release, Avengers: Infinity War propelled the name Loki to one of the most popular names for cats. The Peter Rabbit movie has also been influential with both Peter and Flopsy, his sister, taking a spot on the list for small animals.

Whilst more classic names like Teddy and Molly have become popular again, Charlie is no longer in the top five.

The top five for each category were as follows:

Top five names for birds

  1. Charlie
  2. Kirsty
  3. Ollie
  4. Bernard
  5. Basil

Top five names for cats

  1. Luna
  2. Bella
  3. Milo
  4. Loki
  5. Gizmo

Top five names for dogs

  1. Bella
  2. Luna
  3. Teddy
  4. Bailey
  5. Buddy

Top five names for fish

  1. Nemo and Bob
  2. Fishy
  3. Goldie
  4. Bubbles
  5. Molly

Top five names for reptiles

  1. Spike
  2. Luna
  3. Echo
  4. Athena
  5. Sam

Top five names for small animals

  1. Flopsy
  2. Thumper
  3. Luna
  4. Cookie, Rosie, Peter
  5. Fluffy

Gavin Hawthorn, Group CRM Director at Pets at Home, said: “It’s interesting to see that just as popular culture and famous faces influence what parents name their children, likewise, these trends can help British pet owners select a name for an animal companion. It seems likely that children being entrusted to name their first family pet forms a big part of the name choice, particularly among the film and TV inspired monikers.

“However, it’s also interesting to see how many cute, traditional names retain their popularity, suggesting that sweet yet simple options will always remain popular when it comes to naming a pet.

“All of the mail sent out to members of our VIP club is actually addressed to the pets themselves, care of their owners. I’m sure many of the names chosen for British animal companions are raising a smile for postmen and women across the UK as they deliver the morning post.”

Each of the pet owners surveyed is a member of Pets at Home’s My VIP club, which generates Lifelines for pet charities every time a VIP club member scans their card when making a purchase in store, at a Vets4Pets or Groom Room. To date, more than £9 million has been raised for more than 663 charities across the UK.

New owners looking for inspiration can try Pets at Home’s new Pet Name Finder, an exclusive online tool where pet owners can check how popular their pet’s name is.

The tool, which is accessed via petnamefinder.petsathome.com/ gives in depth name information for a range of pets including dogs, cats, small animals, fish, reptiles, birds and horses.