Pet Name Ranking 2026

iPet Insurance Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Atsuko Yasuda) conducted a survey on pet names for dogs, cats, and exotic animals (small animals). For the first time, rankings by owner age group are also being disclosed.

[Survey Results Summary]

* Overall: 'Mugi' maintains the top spot for dogs for the 6th consecutive year. For cats, 'Mugi' rose from 3rd to 1st place. * Gender: 'Leo' ranks 1st for male dogs and cats. 'Mugi' for female dogs and 'Luna' for female cats are top. * Owner Age: 'Coco' is #1 for dogs among owners in their 60s, while 'Kinako' is #1 for cats among owners in their 30s. * Breed: Unique trends observed, such as 'Omochi' for Pomeranians and 'Komugi' for Shiba Inu. * Small Animals: 'Omochi' is the top name for hamsters, squirrels, and guinea pigs. * Appendix: 17 pets named 'Dai' and 34 named 'Ai', inspired by the company's new official characters.

Survey Result 1: Overall Ranking For dogs, 'Mugi' remains #1 for the 6th year. 'Moka' rose to 3rd. For cats, 'Mugi' returned to #1. 'Latte' and 'Luna' are tied for 2nd.

Survey Result 2: Gender Ranking 'Leo' remains the top name for male dogs. 'Mugi' remains #1 for female dogs. 'Leo' also tops the list for male cats, while 'Luna' maintains the #1 spot for female cats.

Survey Result 3: Ranking by Owner Age 'Mugi' is the most popular name across owners in their 20s to 50s for dogs. Differences in preference were noted among owners in their 60s. For cats, 'Kinako' stood out for owners in their 30s.

Survey Result 4: Ranking by Breed Popular names differ by breed. Shiba Inu names are characterized by hiragana such as 'Komugi' and 'Azuki'.

Survey Result 5: Exotic Animals 'Omochi' dominated among hamsters, squirrels, and guinea pigs. Other names like 'Choco' for degus and 'Totoro' for chinchillas show breed-specific personality.

Survey Result 6: Appendix Inspired by iPet’s official characters 'Dai-chan' and 'Ai-chan', the survey found 17 pets named 'Dai' and 34 named 'Ai'. These characters symbolize the company's love for pets.