Bella, Charlie, and Hank: What 2025's Top Dog Names Reveal About Us

TORONTO, ON – December 16, 2025 – As another year comes to a close, a new report offers a unique window into the hearts and homes of North American pet owners. Canine genetics company DNA My Dog has released its annual list of the most popular dog names for 2025, revealing that while classics like Bella and Charlie remain favorites, emerging trends like vintage revivals and nature-inspired monikers are reshaping how we name our four-legged family members.

The report, based on an analysis of thousands of customer profiles from the company's extensive database, provides a data-driven snapshot of the cultural currents influencing pet ownership. With over 40% of households in North America now including a dog, these naming patterns serve as a compelling barometer for societal shifts and the ever-deepening bond between humans and their canine companions.

The Class of 2025: Vintage Revivals and Enduring Classics

This year's list showcases a blend of the familiar and the fashionable. For female dogs, Bella holds a top spot, followed by Daisy, Luna, Lucy, and Maggie. The list is rounded out by Lilly, Mabel, Nala, Olive, and Piper. Among male dogs, Charlie leads the pack, with Bear, Milo, Buddy, and Cooper also ranking high. The rest of the top ten includes Gunner, Hank, Henry, Max, and Murphy.

Beyond the top rankings, the data points to several distinct trends. A significant comeback of vintage names has placed old-fashioned choices like Mabel and Hank squarely in the modern mainstream, mirroring a similar nostalgic trend in human baby names. This suggests a desire for names that feel both timeless and distinguished.

"A dog's name is rarely random -- it's usually chosen with a lot of love and a little intuition," said Mindy Tenenbaum, CEO of DNA My Dog, in the company's press release. "For many families who adopt their dog, that means keeping the name their dog already responds to. Either way, these trends reflect how deeply people see their dogs as part of the family."

This sentiment is further reflected in the continued strength of human-like names such as Charlie, Henry, and Lucy. The practice underscores a broader "humanization" trend in pet ownership, where dogs are increasingly viewed and treated as integral members of the family unit. Simultaneously, nature-inspired names like Daisy, Lilly, and Olive continue to blossom in popularity, evoking a sense of calm, organic connection that many owners cherish.

A Tale of Two Lists: Data in the Doggie World

While DNA My Dog's report provides a robust look at naming trends, it is one of several industry analyses released each year, and the results can vary. A comparison with the 2025 list from the American Kennel Club (AKC), which draws its data from breed registration statistics, reveals both consensus and divergence.

Names like Luna, Bella, Daisy, Lucy, Max, Charlie, and Cooper appear on both top-ten lists, confirming their widespread popularity across different segments of the dog-owning population. However, the rankings differ. The AKC crowned Luna as the number one female name and Max as the top male name, whereas DNA My Dog’s data placed them at third and ninth, respectively.

These discrepancies highlight the different populations captured by each report. DNA My Dog's data reflects the choices of owners who have purchased a genetic testing kit, a demographic that may be particularly invested in their dog's breed heritage and health. The AKC's data, conversely, is rooted in purebred registrations and other enrollments.

Interestingly, both datasets point toward the same macro-trends. The AKC's report noted a dramatic surge for the name Hank, which jumped from 35th place in 2024 to second place in 2025. This aligns perfectly with the "vintage comeback" trend identified by DNA My Dog, suggesting the rise of names like Hank is a broad cultural phenomenon, not an anomaly confined to a single dataset. The subtle differences between the lists—such as DNA My Dog's inclusion of Piper and Olive versus the AKC's appearance of Ruby and Sadie—paint a more nuanced picture of the diverse preferences within the vast North American pet market.

Pop Culture's Lasting Leash on Pet Naming

The enduring influence of entertainment and media on our daily lives is clearly visible in the names we choose for our pets. The DNA My Dog report specifically calls out the high rankings of Nala and Luna as evidence of pop culture's powerful sway.

The name Nala, belonging to the fierce lioness in Disney's "The Lion King," has remained a popular choice for pets for decades, a testament to the lasting cultural impact of the animated classic and its subsequent adaptations. Its continued presence in the top ten demonstrates how beloved fictional characters can become staples in the real-world pet lexicon.

Similarly, Luna, which means "moon" in Latin, has enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity for both pets and babies. Its appeal is multifaceted, boosted by the whimsical and kind-hearted character Luna Lovegood from the "Harry Potter" series, as well as a broader cultural fascination with celestial and mystical themes. The name’s consistent high ranking across multiple reports confirms its status as a modern favorite. These choices show that owners often seek names that carry a story, a sense of magic, or a connection to a cherished piece of culture.

Beyond the Name: A Glimpse into a Booming Industry

The annual fascination with popular dog names is more than just a fun curiosity; it is a reflection of the massive and ever-growing pet care industry. The fact that over 40% of North American households own a dog represents a powerful consumer base that spends billions annually on food, veterinary care, services, and supplies. The care and thought put into choosing a name is emblematic of the deeper emotional and financial investment owners are making in their pets' lives.

For a company like DNA My Dog, publishing a report on naming trends is a strategic move that extends its brand influence beyond its core service of genetic testing. It positions the firm as a thought leader on broader pet ownership trends, engaging a wide audience of dog lovers. The company operates in a competitive market alongside major players like Embark and Wisdom Panel, where scientific accuracy and consumer trust are paramount. While the firm promotes its "over 99% accuracy," its reputation among consumers has been a subject of online discussion and media reports, which have sometimes highlighted inconsistencies across different testing services.

By providing insights into the cultural zeitgeist of pet ownership, the company strengthens its connection with customers, framing itself not just as a provider of scientific data but as a partner in understanding the complete life of a pet. This report on names like Mabel, Bear, and Daisy serves as another piece of the puzzle, illustrating how the genetic and cultural identities of our dogs are increasingly intertwined in the modern family.