Dog names will be shaped more than ever by popular culture in 2025, according to new research by charity Guide Dogs, with a third of dog owners saying internet memes will influence their decision. Over a quarter cite personal heroes and new TV shows and films as key inspiration for next year’s choices – differing from 2024’s naming decisions most often being inspired by family members or loved ones.
The research commissioned by Guide Dogs, which will aid the charity in naming next year’s generation of puppies in their Sponsor A Puppy scheme, shows that some unexpected names are likely to become next year’s top picks for our dogs. Just under one in five believe that music tours and popular artists will play a key factor – perhaps explaining why Taylor is set to surge to third place, following the record-breaking Eras Tour. Also among the top musical inspirations is Billie (Eilish) taking the top spot as the most popular name for 2025, and Noel, with the highly anticipated Oasis reunion tour on the horizon, coming in at 13 on the list.
Icons from the sporting world are also set to capture hearts with 16% of dog owners believing they will be a source of inspiration. Chelsea’s man of the moment Cole (Palmer) is expected to take fifth spot, Travis, inspired by Swift’s NFL star boyfriend, takes seventh spot, and England superstar Jude (Bellingham) to claim eighth.
Guide Dogs Puppy Naming Specialist Lydia Smith said: “Choosing a dog’s name often reflects our own values, passions, and ties to family and culture – and our research shows inspiration can come from anywhere. At Guide Dogs, naming each puppy is a careful balance between creativity and practicality. As well as supporting their training, we carefully choose the names of our Sponsor a Puppy recruits to show off their individual personalities and of course, connect with the generous supporters who are following their journey to become life-changing guide dogs. At this point in the year, we also try to add a bit of festive fun, hence the names of our current Sponsor a Puppy trio; Custard, Jack and Buttons!”
However, a name might not be all that it seems as less than half (43%) of owners always use their dog’s “official” name, with nearly one in ten (8%) more commonly calling their dog by a nickname. 16% even have between three to four pet names for their dog.
Top 15 Guide Dogs Predictions of Dog Names 2025:
- Billie
- Truffle
- Taylor
- Bunny
- Cole
- Donald
- Travis
- Jude
- Lasso
- Darcy
- Harris
- Sabrina
- Noel
- Ken
- Clark
Top 15 Dog Names of 2024
- Max
- Jack
- Bella
- Milo
- Bob
- Coco
- Rex
- Alfie
- Bruno
- Charlie
- Tom
- Billy
- Daisy
- Lucky
- Oscar