These Are The Most Popular Pet Names In VA For 2025, New Report Says

From sports icons to blockbuster movies, a new report has revealed the most popular and trending pet names in the Washington, D.C. area, Virginia, and other cities and states across the nation for 2025.

To determine which names are trending this year, pet-sitting website Rover analyzed all animals added to its database in 2025. By looking at pets under 2 years old and names added from August 2024 to September 2025, researchers determined the most popular names and the overarching themes attached to them.

"While the trends change, one thing remains the same: The names dog owners choose to give their pets are often a direct reflection of who they are, what they like and what’s going on in the world at the time," the team at Rover wrote.

Here are the top five dog names in the Washington, D.C. area for 2025, according to the report:

1. Luna
2. Bella
3. Milo
4. Charlie
5. Coco

And these are the top five cat names:

1. Luna
2. Leo
3. Olive
4. Oliver
5. Willow

These cat and dog names have jumped the most in popularity this year. They showcase what’s gaining traction in the Washington, D.C. area:

Top 3 Trending Dog Names

• Mila (486%)
• Lexi (153%)
• Chase (136%)

Top 3 Trending Cat Names

• Miso (116%)
• Frankie (87%)
• Olive (85%)

Statewide, Rover's survey said the top trending pet names in Virginia were Nacho for puppies and Roo for kittens.

Nationally, the top five trending puppy names in 2025 were Elphie, Tsuki, Caesar, Rumi and Mufasa. The top five trending kitten names were Tater, Milton, Stewie, Priscilla and Gatsby.

In a survey of 1,000 pet parents, 33% said they already had a name in mind. Nearly half (45%) of pet parents chose a name based on their pet’s personality or appearance — and when it comes to personality, entertainment plays the largest role (30%). Other factors include breed (21%), human names (18%) and nature (14%).

See the full report here.