Top 10 Dog Names of 2023

As of 2023, over 65 million households in the U.S. alone call themselves proud pup-parents. In fact, dogs are the most popular pets in North America! But what did everyone decide to name their canine companions this year?

From names inspired by nature and pop culture to names typically given to people, this year’s list includes both new additions and long-standing classics.

With another year about to come to an end, let’s unwrap the most popular dog names of 2023!

Trends Affecting 2023’s Top Dog Names

NAMES INSPIRED BY NATURE: From Luna and Ivy to Hazel and Bear, nature-inspired names remain “evergreen” among dogs.

CLASSIC NAMES: They call them classics for a reason! Names such as Buddy, Tucker, Max and Cooper have claimed spots in the top-10 for decades - Some names never get old!

NAMES FOR PEOPLE: Over 86% of pup-parents consider their dogs to be part of the family, so it comes as no surprise that we name our pups as if they were our children. In fact, Luna, Lilly, Cooper, Ivy, and Molly claimed spots in 2023’s most popular baby names, too!

Female Names:

1. Luna: Holding strong at #1, Luna claimed the top spot from Bella in 2022. It remains a popular name among solid white and black dogs and is particularly common among French Bulldogs, Black Labs, and Collies.

2. Bella: Keeping its place as the second most popular name for females, Bella is Italian for “beautiful” and is common among Chihuahuas, Golden Retrievers, Labs, Shepherds, French Bulldogs, and Greyhounds.

3. Daisy: A name popular in previous years, Daisy snagged the number 3 spot on this year’s list. A classic name for both people and pups, Daisy also claimed a spot in the most popular names for female cats.

4. Lucy: Another timeless name, Lucy has remained a popular name among people and pups for decades. It also earned a spot in the top-20 baby names for 2023!

5. Bailey: A classic, gender-neutral name that has been popular among dogs for decades, Bailey is derived from the word “bailiff” and is common among German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, and working/ police dogs.

6. Rosie: A new addition to the top-10 names for female dogs, Rosie has skyrocketed in popularity, jumping from #18 to #6 in just 3 years.

7. Lilly: A popular name inspired by nature, Lilly is a long-standing classic among both people and pups. Inspired by the flower, Lilly is a name commonly given to solid white dogs.

8. Hazel: Another classic, nature-inspired name, Hazel is very common among fawn and copper-colored dogs and dogs with hazel-colored eyes. It’s a name often given to Boxers, Terrier breeds, Setters, and Mastiffs. Both timeless and beautiful, its no wonder Hazel has remained in the top-10 for so long. Hazel also happens to be the name of DNA My Dog’s Cover Girl!

9. Ivy: The trend for nature-inspired names continues! Referring to the strong, resilient, climbing vines, Ivy remained popular among German Shepherds, American Staffordshire Terriers, Chihuahuas, and Labrador Retrievers.

10. Molly: A name popular among both people and pups, Molly is a rather old-fashioned name that has claimed a top spot for many years. It’s also remained popular for female cats!

Male Names:

1. Charlie: Holding strong at #1, Charlie remained the top name for male dogs and also claimed a spot among this year’s most popular baby names. The name was particularly popular among Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, German Shepherds, Cocker Spaniels, and Labrador Retrievers.

2. Buddy: Moving up the ranks from last year’s list, Buddy jumped to second place after claiming the number 3 spot in 2022. A class dog name if ever there was one, Buddy is a name often given to Golden Retrievers, inspired by Disney’s Air Bud.

3. Tucker: A new addition to the top-10 list, Tucker is another name common among Golden Retrievers. A popular name among both people and pups, Tucker has also held steady as one of the top baby names for years.

4. Max: A long-standing contender in the top-10 names for dogs, Max is derived from the German word, Maximus, which translates to “the greatest”. While it’s moved down the list this year, Max remains in the top 5. It’s a popular name among family dogs, appearing in kid’s movies like The Grinch and The Secret Life of Pets.

5. Cooper: A classic name that’s remained popular for years, Cooper was particularly common among Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, and Labradors. Cooper also appeared in the most popular baby names for 2023.

6. Bear: Another nature-inspired name that’s claimed a spot in the top-10 for over a decade, Bear was very popular among dogs with bear-like features such as Malamutes, Chow Chows, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, and even little Pomeranians.

7. Jax: Jax has been a go-to name for pet parents for years. It’s a classic name among people and pups but has moved down the list from fifth to seventh place this year. Jax is a name often given to Terrier breeds, Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Chihuahuas.

8. Jake: A new name on the top-10 list, Jake has moved up the ranks after growing in popularity over recent years. The trend of giving pets people names continues!

9. Duke: Another go-to name for male dogs, Duke is Latin in origin, and means “leader” or “high-ranking nobleman”. Although the name moved down the list this year, it remained popular among Rottweilers, Komondors, and German Shepherds.

10. Hank: A new addition to the list, Hank snagged the final spot for 2023’s most popular names for males, bumping Gunner from the top-10. And, it just so happens that we have a Hank in the DNA My Dog pack!

Did your dog’s name make 2023’s top-10 list?