Pet Names
Updated October 2026
Across 8 pages
of 8
Popular culture
"truth; see through; see true"
Used in the video game series, Ace Attorney , Trucy is the name given to a profession stage magician in the fictional universe. Inspired by the word "true" and by the phrase "see through", her name…
Greek
"all or shepherd"
Pan is the Greek god with the legs of a goat and the body of a pipes-playing man known for his mischievousness. Pan is also the god of shepherds, pastures, and fertility. Pan is also a Hindi name…
Literature, Greek
"all compassionate"
Borrowed from the Greek panteleimon , a name that was also given to the patron saint of doctors and midwives, St. Pantleon, this form was used by the writer Philip Pullman in his popular series, His…
Invented literary name
Hamish spinoff created by author Suzanne Collins for her trilogy The Hunger Games .
Created by George Lucas and forever tied to the Star Wars franchise, Skywalker is a pop culture surname, literally blending the words sky and walker . It could make a very bold and unexpected middle…
English
"air spirit, sylph"
Sleek and smooth like Sylvie, soft and sweet like Effie, mystical like Selkie, Sylphie made its debut to the US stats in 2025, following the 2024 debut of Sylphiette. Derived from sylph , it refers…
Word or occupational name
"outlaw, thief"
We hesitate to call Bandit an occupational name, any more than Rogue or Vandal are occupational names, yet its use by one of the bandmembers of My Chemical Romance (for his daughter: we're thinking…
Diminutive of Edward et al
"wealthy"
The most minimalist of names, Ed is decidedly out -- though that usually means it's due to swing back in. More stylish these days: Ned or even Ted.
Literary creation, Sindarin
"green leaves"
Derived from J. R.R. Tolkien's fictional language of Sindarin, Legolas is a nature name and a literary creation, borne by an elf in The Lord of the Rings . A member of the Fellowship and an excellent…
Norse
"wand elf"
Gandalf is most famously the name of the powerful wizard in Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit . The name is drawn from Old Norse mythology.
English word name
The name of the beloved Beagle from the Peanuts cartoons may not be a suitable choice for a baby, but would make an adorable moniker for a pet.
Invented name
"by the bank"
Associated with the secretive artist, this name has an edgy, arty air. Quietly used for girls, it briefly appeared in stats for boys in 2020.
English diminutive of Laurence
"from Laurentum or bay laurel"
A sweet and sophisticated nickname which feels fresh again after many years in style limbo. For literature lovers, it brings to mind Theodore "Laurie" Laurence from Louisa May Alcott's Little Women .…
Diminutive of Giuseppa, Italian
"Jehovah increases"
Not long ago, Peppa may have been at risk for confusion with the name Pepper. But thanks to the British children's TV series Peppa Pig , Peppa is now a household name. If your household contains…
Variation of Gawain, Popular Culture, Welsh
"may hawk"
A variation of the Arthurian Gawain, this form appears in the popular high fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. Names from this series like Arya and Daenerys have already…
Italian from German
"protector"
Elmo, like fellow Sesame Street characters Kermit and Grover, has a hard time being taken seriously. (It isn't easy being red either.) But Elmo also calls to mind the image of St. Elmo's fire--the…
Japanese
"village"
Though Shuri is a well-established unisex name in Japan, most parents considering it now will be thinking instead of the iconic Princess Shuri from Marvel's Black Panther , memorably played in the…
Literary name
Glinda is famous as the name of the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz, invented by author L. Frank Baum. but has there ever been a real life, non-fictional Glinda? Not in the US last year. The name may…
Nickname name
Muffy is one of those nickname names that flourished in the Baby Boom era -- or was it only on television? -- and now is rarely used. Strictly speaking short for Muffin, few girls have been given…