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Top 10 dog, cat and bird names in 2011

From: DVM360 1.5.12

Holding tightly to the title of most popular name for dog lovers, “Bella” shot into the lead among feline fans for the first time in 2011. Though the Twilight-inspired moniker has reigned as top dog since 2009, “Bella” trumped “Max” in 2011 as the prime choice for cat owners with a lead of less than 10 felines. VPI sorted its database of more than 485,000 insured pets to determine last year’s most popular pet names. Here are the results:

Top 10 dog names 2011

1. Bella

2. Bailey

3. Max

4. Lucy

5. Molly

6. Buddy

7. Daisy

8. Maggie

9. Charlie

10. Sophie

The tendency toward human names for pets continues this year, with nearly every name on the top 10 dog names list doubling as a popular name for people. Of the nearly half a million pets insured by VPI, only 13 were named “Fido” and just 17 came running to the name “Spot,” which indicates a decrease in the popularity of traditional dog names. Though dog owners are rapidly adopting this trend, cat owners seem slightly more traditional, with the names “Tiger” and “Tigger” lingering on the top 10 cat names list.

Click here to check out the top 10 cat names in 2011.

Top 10 cat names 2011

1. Bella

2. Max

3. Chloe

4. Oliver

5. Lucy

6. Shadow

7. Smokey

8. Tiger

9. Charlie

10. Tigger

Click here to check out the top 10 bird and exotic names in 2011.

Top 10 bird and exotic names 2011

1. Charlie

2. Max

3. Baby

4. Sunny

5. Buddy

6. Jack

7. Angel

8. Daisy

9. Bella

10. Coco

“Charlie” remained in the top spot on the birds and exotic pets list, which consists of the most popular names for feathered friends, lizards, gerbils, rabbits, and other non canines and non felines. Several new names debuted on the top 10 birds and exotics list this year including: “Buddy,” “Angel,” “Daisy,” and “Coco.”

Do you think these names are too tame? Perhaps pooches named “Franco Furter” and “Ozzie Pawsbourne” are more your style. Click here to check out the top 10 weirdest names for dogs and cats.

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