Britain's top dog and cat names, revealed - so, does your pet make the cut?

Forget classic names like Rover or Felix – when it comes to their furry friends, Brits are getting a lot more creative. 

Experts from Rover have revealed the top dog and cat names for 2026, including some very unusual monikers.

Sunnie is the fastest–growing dog name of the year, with a 1,287 per cent increase compared to last year.

Henrik is close behind (1,187 per cent increase), followed by Adam, Chef, Philip, and Shakira. 

For cats, Dustin tops the list, ahead of Ekko, Zak, and Serena. 

'From Sunnie to Achilles, this year's trends show just how much our dogs' names reflect the world around us – whether that's the weather, the big screen or a dose of nostalgia,' said Adem Fehmi, Rover's Canine Behaviourist.

To find out the top pet names of the year, Rover analysed its database of over one million dogs and cats. 

Overall, Luna remains the most popular dog name in the UK, ahead of Milo, Bella, Teddy, Poppy, Lola, Coco, Buddy, Daisy and Charlie. 

However, several more unusual names have surged in popularity this year. 

Silas – a soft–sounding biblical name – has surged by 412 per cent, just ahead of Achilles, which saw a 362 per cent spike. 

Just outside of the top 10, there's Lilibet and Radar (which both increased by 321 per cent), as well as the submachine–gun–inspired Uzi, which increased by 221 per cent. 

Looking at cats, the top–trending cat name of the year is Dustin, which has surged by a whopping 900 per cent. 

According to Rover, this is possibly a nod to the beloved character from Stranger Things, which ended at the end of last year. 

Ekko and Zak (800 per cent increase) are in joint second, while Serena (600 per cent) is in fourth place. 

'Interestingly, trending human names for cats included many more female or unisex names, in contrast to the predominantly male trend in dog names,' Rover explained.

'Vivi (450%), Pippy (350%), and Sammie (350%) joined Serena, Zak, and Dustin in the top 10.'

Beyond the top 10, there's been a surge in vintage names for cats. 

Gene, Muriel, Norris all spiked by 300 per cent, ahead of Mara (267 per cent), and Linus (200 per cent). 

Meanwhile, one of the most unusual entries is Laszlo.

Rover points out that this Hungarian name 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.

'Both of these may simply be loose nods to an unusual name with good, cat–like traits (sibilant sounds, two–syllable, and ending in a vowel for ease of recall),' it explained.  

If you're getting a new cat or dog, Rover advises choosing a name that stands out from other, everyday words. 

Mr Fehmi added: 'Beyond choosing a name we love, it's important to remember that, for our dogs, their name is an important communication cue.

'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. 

'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.

'Ultimately, trends will come and go, but choosing a name that suits your dog's personality, stands out clearly from other everyday words and feels natural to call out will help set you both up for years of positive communication.'