Dogs running across the grass
@Hans Surfer/Getty Images
It's definitely been another ruff year for Seattlites, but there were a few things that were pretty fetch, like the increase in pet adoptions.
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Puns aside, with the pandemic forcing everyone into their homes it's had a positive reaction on pet adoptions. A study from the ASPCA found that an average of one in five households adopted a cat or dog during the pandemic. That's about 23 million households welcoming a new furry friend just since March 2020.
Pasado's Safe Haven is a nonprofit that fights for animal welfare and provides pet adoption services in Sultan. Executive Director Laura Henderson told KING 5 last year that their adoption rates were up 50% in March 2020.
With an increase in adoptions comes an increase in new names. Rover, an online marketplace for people to buy and sell pet care services, recently examined the most popular pet names across the country and in select U.S. cities. Using their pet parent database, Rover was able to determine the top five male and female names for dogs and cats this year.
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While some names didn't make the top five, many were trending and saw a large spike in popularity.
In Seattle, home to many foodies, Rover found that pet parents tend to name their pets after their favorite foods, like Sushi (up 236%), Brownie (up 336%) and Miso (up 170%) from a year ago. Pacific Northwest loyalty also came in strong with the name Rainier twice as popular in 2021 as in 2020. And green-minded pet parents gave the name Greta (for Greta Thunberg) a boost of 353% in 2021.
Naming inspiration can come from popular movies (do Bella and Charlie sound familiar, Washingtonians?), to classic names like Max and Luna. What we name our pets often says what we're passionate about.
Keep reading to see the top cat and dog names that made Rover's Seattle list in 2021.
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Cute and relaxed cross-breed dog lying on grass in low sun, being petted.
Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty ImagesTop 5 male dog names
5. Oliver
4. Buddy
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3. Milo
2. Max
1. Charlie
man and old cat: real love - have faith in / trusting - back-lit
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Top 5 male cat names
5. Max
4. Charlie
3. Oliver
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2. Milo
1. Leo
Woman lovingly cradles her small poodle dog beside her at a kitchen table. She smiles confidently into the camera. The dog is calm. A man sits opposite them and takes a photo of them both with a phone.
Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty ImagesTop 5 female dog names
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5. Zoe
4. Daisy
3. Lucy
2. Bella
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1. Luna
Tabby cat and feet of a person wearing socks with cat designs on it
Linda Raymond/Getty ImagesTop 5 female cat names
5. Cleo
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4. Bella
3. Lucy
2. Lily
1. Luna
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