For the sixth year in a row, “Luna” is New Zealand’s most popular pet name, according to the New Zealand Companion Animal Register. This year’s list includes other favourite names like Bella, Milo, and Charlie, as well as new trends inspired by popular shows and cultural icons.
Notably, names from the children’s show Bluey—like Bluey, Bandit, Bingo, and Chilli—have gained popularity.
The top ten pet names for 2024 are Luna, Bella, Milo, Charlie, Coco, Daisy, Poppy, Nala, Molly, and Frankie. NZCAR also observed a continuing trend of pets named after The Lord of the Rings characters, with some pets named Frodo, Bilbo, Gollum, and Gandalf. Additionally, pets named after All Blacks players—such as Ardie, TJ, and Razor—reflect a love for New Zealand’s rugby stars.
NZCAR general manager David Lloyd noted how popular culture influences pet names, showing how pets become cherished family members. NZCAR, which manages New Zealand’s national microchip database for over 1.3 million pets, helps reunite lost pets with their owners through their microchip records.
Here are the top five names by species:
Cats: Luna, Bella, Milo, Coco, and Nala.
Dogs: Luna, Bella, Poppy, Daisy, and Charlie.
Rabbits: Archie, Coco, Cookie, Hazel, and Honey.
Horses: Bailey, Charlie, Jasper, Kiwi, and Marley.
