Rover 2026 Report: Rumi Leads Dog Name Trends
Rover's 2026 Pet Names Report reveals Rumi as the top-trending U.S. dog name, up 71%, with cultural and sporting influences shaping choices globally.
Rover's 2026 Pet Names Report shows Rumi is the top-trending dog name in the United States, rising 71% year-over-year. Lumi and Melo follow as the second and third most popular trending names. The full top ten list for the U.S. showcases a mix of cultural inspirations.
| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Rumi |
| 2 | Lumi |
| 3 | Melo |
| 4 | Benito |
| 5 | Ducky |
| 6 | Beatrice |
| 7 | Lottie |
| 8 | Junie |
| 9 | Cannoli |
| 10 | Maisey |
Rumi draws inspiration from the animated film KPop Demon Hunters, while Lumi is linked to the series Lumi and the Great Big Galaxy. Melo is associated with basketball stars LaMelo Ball and Carmelo Anthony. Benito, ranking fourth, is the given name of music superstar Bad Bunny.
Global Trending Dog Names
Trending dog names saw explosive growth in European markets. France's top name, Baiko, led with a staggering 1,802% increase. The United Kingdom's Sunnie rose by 1,287%, Italy's Milli by 1,011%, and Germany's Dakota by 844%. These figures highlight how regional trends can produce unique frontrunners.
Sports and Cultural Influences
Sports figures and musicians heavily influence dog naming. In Canada, nearly half of the top-trending dog names were sports-inspired. Ernie, inspired by Toronto Blue Jays player Ernie Clement, emerged as Canada's top-trending dog name with an 89% increase. Other popular sports-inspired names included Kane, after hockey player Evander Kane, and Lacey, after soccer player Lacey Kindel. Rover also noted an uptick in dogs named for international athletes like Kelce, Buchanan, and Ronaldo.
On the music side, Shaboozey saw a 120% increase. Drake and Shania Twain also inspired trending dog names. This follows a 14-year pattern where cultural moments shape pet names. Past examples include Olaf after Frozen in 2014, Pikachu during the Pokémon Go craze in 2016, and Elphie from Wicked in 2025.
Food and Media Inspired Names
Food-inspired names are having a moment. Croissant surged 374% year-over-year as the biggest food-related trend. Sardine saw a 370% increase. The cottagecore trend contributed to names like Crumpet, which rose 58%. Media inspiration extends beyond animation. Telemachus, from the film The Odyssey, saw a 320% increase among movie and television-inspired names.
While the report focuses on dogs, it also tracks cat naming trends. Mildred was the fastest-rising cat name, up 324%. Ruth rose 290% and Herbert increased 224%. Musician-inspired cat names included Usher, up 224%, and Sabrina, Presley, Snoop, and Celine. Milo and Luna remained the most popular male and female cat names, respectively. The data indicates that pet names continue to mirror broader cultural moments, with entertainment and sports driving naming conventions for another year.
