New York really showed up for shelter animals in 2024. More than 195,000 dogs and cats were adopted across the state last year. That’s thousands of families bringing home a new buddy to cuddle and spoil. From rescued kittens to shelter pups, a whole lot of animals got their second chance.
Naming Pets Is Half the Fun
After the adoption papers are signed, the next big thing is picking a name. Some people go cute, funny, or human style, while others just name the pet whatever pops into their head in the moment.
A new report from Compare the Market looked at the most popular pet names in the U.S. and around the world for 2025, and the results totally track with what you hear at dog parks and vet offices.
Bear Is the Top Dog Name in America
The number one dog name in the country is Bear, with more than 230,000 searches. It works for big fluffy dogs, tiny pups with attitude, and everything in between. Other names people are loving include Teddy, Charlie, Daisy, and Luna. Basically, dogs are getting the same names as your friends’ kids.
Kitty Still Owns the Cat World
For cats, the name Kitty is still on top. Over 780,000 searches prove that many people just go with the obvious. Luna is also popular for female cats, and names like Lily and Nala are right behind it. For male cats, Oliver leads the pack, with other favorites include Loki, Leo, Milo, and Jasper.
Luna Is Winning Around the Globe
Looking at worldwide trends, Luna is basically the Taylor Swift of pet names right now. It’s the number one dog name in 14 different countries and also tops the list for cats in 12 countries. Bella, Milo, and Nala are also major global favorites.
Since so many animals were adopted last year, chances are you’ve already met a local Bear, Daisy, Luna, or Kitty at some point. Whether you named your pet something cute, human, or ridiculous, the trends say that sweet names are winning everywhere.
I wanted to name my dog, “Stay” but I was afraid that I would confuse him: Here Stay, here Stay. My other thought was “5 Miles.” That way I could say that I walked 5 Miles today and I wouldn’t be lying. That’s probably why my family doesn’t let me name the dogs.
Can you own these animals as pets in New York?
Here’s a list of some weird animals you can legally own in NYS
Gallery Credit: Trevor Eichler
Five Exotic Pets That You Can Own in New York
If the thought of owning a dog or a cat or a parakeet sounds nice and all but you’re looking for an animal that’s a little more exotic, five super cute exotic animals appear to be completely legal to own in New York, although you might want to check your local ordinance laws to be sure.
Gallery Credit: Traci Taylor