From Dailymail · · 1m 30s
Britain's top dog and cat names for 2026
UK pet naming trends reveal Sunnie and Dustin as fastest-growing names for dogs and cats in 2026.
In brief
UK pet naming trends reveal Sunnie and Dustin as fastest-growing names for dogs and cats in 2026. Sunnie is the fastest-growing dog name in the UK with a 1,287% increase, while Dustin leads cat names with a 900% surge in 2026. Originally reported by Dailymail.
Top dog name surge
Sunnie is the fastest-growing dog name in the UK with a 1,287% increase compared to last year.
“Sunnie is the fastest, growing dog name of the year, with a 1,287 per cent increase compared to last year”
Second place dog names
Henrik, Adam, Chef, Philip, and Shakira followed Sunnie in popularity with significant growth.
“Henrik is close behind (1,187 per cent increase), followed by Adam, Chef, Philip, and Shakira”
Top 10 dog names
Sunnie, Henrik, Adam, Chef, Philip, Shakira, Mossy, Winny, Silas, and Achilles rank in the top 10 dog names for 2026.
“Top 10 trending dog names in 2026: Sunnie (+1287%), Henrik (+1187%), Adam (+887%), Chef (+887%), Phillip (+887%), Shakira (+887%), Mossy (+537%), Winny (+537%), Silas (+412%), Achilles (+362%)”
Cat name trends
Dustin leads cat names with a 900% surge, followed by Ekko, Zak, and Serena.
“Dustin tops the list, ahead of Ekko, Zak, and Serena”
Cat name growth
Ekko and Zak increased by 800% each, while Serena saw a 600% surge in cat names for 2026.
“Ekko and Zak (800 per cent increase) are in joint second, while Serena (600 per cent) is in fourth place”
Unusual cat names
Vivi, Pippy, Sammie, and Laszlo have surged in popularity with significant growth in 2026.
“Vivi (450%), Pippy (350%), and Sammie (350%) joined Serena, Zak, and Dustin in the top 10”
Laszlo's rise
Laszlo, a Hungarian name, has surged by 325% due to cultural touchpoints in pop culture.
“Laszlo has had two recent cultural touchpoints, with László Tóth, a fictional Brutalist architect from The Brutalist, and Laszlo Cravensworth as the charming vampire from What We Do In The Shadows”
Naming advice
Rover recommends choosing distinctive names that are easy to call and associate with positive interactions.
“Beyond choosing a name we love, it's important to remember that, for our dogs, their name is an important communication cue”
Naming best practices
Consistency in naming and positive associations help dogs learn to respond reliably to their names.
“Dogs learn to associate their name with getting our attention and engaging with us, so a name that's clear, distinctive and easy to say can make everyday communication that little bit easier”
Why names matter
Trends change, but choosing names that fit a pet's personality ensures long-term positive communication.
“Consistency matters too, using the same name, and building positive associations with it through attention, praise and rewards, can help your dog learn to respond reliably”
The headline
Sunnie is the fastest-growing dog name in the UK with a 1,287% increase, while Dustin leads cat names with a 900% surge in 2026.
