We all love naming things. There’s just something so special about being the one to name something – especially a pet.

Not everyone is the world’s most “original” namer, and you know what? That’s fine. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! That much is clear in this TikTok from Wednesday, November 29th, where we see several classics make the list:

@weratedogs

Here are the most popular dog names of 2023! Did your pup’s name make the list? #weratedogs

♬ original sound – weratedogs

Thanks to @weratedogs, I know that my dogs don’t even come close – but my Guinea pigs, Gracie and Frankie, do. WTF!

Related: Colorado Humane Society ‘Goes Rogue’ in Naming Their Shelter Pets

When you’re naming a dog, there are several things you probably consider: what sounds the best, and most importantly, what does my dog look like? Most of the time, if we get to name our dog, we have one in mind. When you meet the pup, though, that can change quickly. For example, somehow I ended up with:

  1. Goon
  2. Trubble 
  3. Gertie 

None of those were their original names, even though we’d had those original names picked out for literal months. Dogs have personalities, and you need to pick something that fits! 

However, there’s actually a little bit more to choosing a dog’s name than that. While it obviously should be one that you like, it should also:

  1. Be no more than two syllables.
  2. Include several “hard” sounds that they’ll be able to identify.
  3. End with something you can pitch up when you’re calling them. 
  1. Example: GerTIE! Come!
  2. That’s why so many of these names end on an “ee” sound.

These things will help tremendously with training and their recall time. Additionally, it just makes it easier for the dog to learn their name. Puppies have very short attention spans, so being able to say their name quickly and repeatedly makes all the difference. You say their name and then put them onto the next task.

When you’re teaching a dog its name, say it to them all the time. Before they sit, before they train, before they sleep, after you call them a good boy/girl. With consistency, some dogs will learn their names in a week or less!

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