Have you just bought yourself a four-legged friend? Are you struggling to think of a name for your new pet? For some inspiration (or perhaps to know which ones to avoid, to prevent confusion when calling for them in the park!) here are the most popular names for dogs in Germany this year, according to an analysis by Check24, a pet insurance company.

“Human names” becoming more popular 

Everyone knows that a dog is a man’s best friend. And we finally seem to be giving them names worthy of the position. So alongside classic “dog” names like Buddy or Lucky, “human” names are gaining in popularity. 

Top male dog names in Germany

This year, Balu or Balou is the most popular name for male dogs, closely followed by Milo and Buddy. 

• 1. Balu / Balou
• 2. Milow / Mailo / Milo / Mylow
• 3. Buddy 
• 4. Charly / Charlie
• 5. Rocky

Top female dog names in Germany

The most common name for female dogs is Luna, followed by Emma and Bella. Nala also made it into the top 10, perhaps connected to the fact that the new Lion King movie is coming out in cinemas soon. 

• 1. Luna
• 2. Emma
• 3. Bella
• 4. Amy
• 5. Lilli / Lilly

Game of Thrones influence

It’s not only the Lion King that dog owners turn to when searching for name inspiration. This year also showed a spike in the number of names taken from the TV series Game of Thrones. The names Arya, Sansa and Khaleesi all enjoyed great popularity, as well as Theon, Melisandre, Sandor and Jamie. 

This might be a generational thing, though. The names most favoured by dog owners aged 55 plus were traditional, like Max and Paula.