These days, it’s hard to walk your dog without hearing familiar names like Max or Luna. Just like baby name trends, dog names have evolved over time.
One of the earliest recorded dog names, Abuwtiyuw, belonged to an ancient Egyptian sloughi and likely mimicked the breed’s bark. For centuries, names reflected a dog’s traits—like Rover for wanderers or Spot for marked pups. By the 1960s and ’70s, nobility-inspired names like Duke and Lady took over, but by 1985, The New York Times noted a shift toward more humanlike names.
Today, most popular dog names in the U.S. sound more like those of people, with Bella leading the pack. Pop culture and mythology also influence trends, with names like Loki, Zeus, and Thor climbing the ranks.
Of course, naming trends vary by location. To find Illinois’ top five dog names, Stacker analyzed nearly 811,800 data points from a pet insurance company in late 2023. Read on to see if your pup’s name made the list!
These days, it’s hard to take your dog for a walk without hearing a fellow pup parent calling out certain popular names, like Max or Luna.
Read more: What’s The Most Unique Baby Name in Illinois?
Most popular dog names in Illinois
5. Daisy
- National rank: #4
4. Charlie
- National rank: #5
3. Max
- National rank: #3
2. Luna
- National rank: #2
1. Bella
- National rank: #1
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