The Rover 20 platform published its annual Top Pet Names report on October 2026, based on user data from August through October. In the US, the fastest-growing name for cats was "Chicken Nugget" — its popularity rose by 87 % compared with last year — while among dogs Rumi leads with an increase of 71 %.
"Chicken Nugget" overtook other trending cat names: Miracle, Badger, Sundae and Hector. Classic names remain at the top — Milo for male cats and Luna for female cats — but it is the unusual options that reflect the influence of viral memes and pop culture. For dogs, Rumi is followed by Lumi, Melo, Benito and Ducky; Charlie and Luna are still the most common.
The report notes that owners are increasingly choosing names from food, books and entertainment. In the UK the picture is different: the name Sunnie for dogs grew by 1287 %, and Dustin for cats by 981 %. Such names emphasise a pet's individuality and its connection to current cultural phenomena.
Rover's data show how pop culture directly influences everyday life with animals: the meme about the talking nugget and the series KPop Demon Hunters have already entered homes through pets' names. Owners get a chance to express humour and affection, while pets get unique nicknames that are easy to remember.
The trend of 2026 confirms that pet names are becoming a reflection of the times in which their owners live.
