Top Dog Names of 2017 [Infographic]

by Jessi Larson

The results are in! We’re excited to announce the top dog names of 2017, as determined by the 3.2 million new dog owners who used our site so far this year.

My Dog’s Name allows users to save their favorite names, so to determine the most popular dog names, we compiled the most selected options. 

What we discovered surprised us. Sure, a number of tried-and-true favorites like Bella, Max and Buddy are still on the list (and have been since we started tracking top dog names in 2013). But it is a total surprise to see newcomers like Milo, Willow and Archie explode in popularity.

Curious to see what names top the charts? Check out the lists below.

And if you’re more of a visual person, our top dog names infographic is pretty fun to look at. It even includes a fact about millennial and dog ownership that completely blew our minds.

Top 50 Dog Names

Top Dog Names Infographic

Here’s our infographic from all the data on our top dog names. Feel free to reuse this with a link back to this blog post!

2017 Top Dog Names

Top Female Dog Names

A year has passed, and classics like Bella, Daisy and Bailey still reign supreme.

We have seen continued preference in the name Luna, which moved from #10 in 2015 to #4 in 2017. Other surprises include the move up for Roxy, Piper and Willow. Could the show Orange is the New Black have influenced the rise in Piper (she is the main character)?

Top Male Dog Names

My Dog’s Name ranks high for tough dog names, and it shows in the results of top male dog names. Brawny and bold names like Bear, Duke and Max stand out at the top of the list.

Still, universal classics like Teddy, Buddy and Charlie stayed on the list. These names don’t seem to go out of style – at least not since we started this site in 2013.

Top Dog Names by Category

Our site focuses on searching for great dog names within categories that are relevant to you and your pup. We feel like this is a great way to find names without having to sort through endless A-Z lists.

Without a doubt, one of the most popular categories is “Cute.” After all, cute canines deserve cute names! The list of top female cute dog names includes the usual mix of sweet-sounding names, all of which are great options.

And for the boy dogs, tough names are always a popular category. Many new pup parents are drawn to strong-sounding names for male canines.

The top sports names ranged from classic athletes like Ali, Dotti and Babe to powerful athletic words like Archer, Blaze and Bolt.

Our funny dog names were extremely food focused. I can’t even imagine staying upset at a misbehaving dog named Bacon or Waffles.

Movies and TV shows always provide great inspiration for dog names.  Disney was definitely top of mind as many of these names come from their animated films.

And when it came to geeky dog names, Star Wars is still the king as Chewie topped the list once again and Finn (from the new movies) came in third.

Most Popular Dog Breeds

The AKC released their 2017 list of the most popular dog breeds which included:

1. Labrador Retriever
2. German Shepherd
3. Golden Retriever
4. English Bulldog
5. Beagle

If you’re interested in finding the perfect breed for you & learning more about breed traits, check out our dog breed selector!

What To Do With These Top Dog Names

Picking the right name for your dog is an important, fun process. It’s a blast searching through dog names, brainstorming ideas and ultimately choosing the best one for your dog.

This list of top dog names gives you insight into what’s popular these days, and it’s a great way to tune into trends you can use. Or, if you want a name no other dogs in your circle have, you’ll know to avoid these top choices.

Use our dog name search to find tons more unique dog names!

As always, we thank you for using My Dog’s Name! We’re proud of our site and love helping new pup parents find the perfect name for their new dogs.

Can I share this infographic?
If you would like to share our Top Dog Names infographic on your website or social sites, go for it! We just ask that you credit it to My Dog’s Name with a link to our site.

About My Dog’s Name
Founded in October 2013, My Dog’s Name provides a fun, interactive experience for new dog owners looking for just the right pet name. The site allows users to sort names by preferred style and interests. More than 3 million people use My Dog’s Name each year when picking a name for their dog.