Germany turns the ranking of the most popular dog names on its head.
Meaning of the word or famous role model?
Hanover. Many dogs, many special names and a lot of movement in the ranking of the most popular dog names in Germany, that is the short version of the findings from this year's survey by Agila pet insurance. A total of around ten million dogs live in Germany. This makes it one of the countries with one of the highest dog densities in Europe. So the Germans love their four-legged friends. And the names they give them sometimes indicate a special relationship with their animals.
Names are usually given associatively, which means that the appearance and personality of the animal are taken into account when choosing a name. Hardly anyone would probably call a stately St. Bernard 'crumb' and a lively Chihuahua with a southern temperament would probably rarely be called 'snail'. So what does it mean when Germans prefer names like 'Luna', 'Nala' and 'Bella'? First of all, it probably has to do with the fact that short two-syllable names ending in “a” can be articulated quickly and clearly, even in stressful or excited situations. Dogs respond particularly well to short, clearly defined sound patterns. Agila expert Franziska Obert adds: “Names that end in 'a' often have a soft and melodic sound that expresses an emotional bond between dog and owner. They convey closeness and familiarity and illustrate the dog’s current status as a beloved family member.”
With the name 'Emma', which has risen three places in the ranking of the most popular dog names in Germany, this meaning in the family is further reinforced by the fact that the name is also extremely popular for babies. The close bond between humans and animals in Germany is also reflected in fifth place in the dog name ranking. 'Milo' is the male short form of Slavic names such as Ludmila, Milena or Miloslava and translated means “of love”, “the one who brings peace”.
The winner of this year's ranking is 'Bruno', who climbed up five places. The name comes from Old High German and goes back to the word “brun”, which translated means “brown”. Bruno is usually interpreted as “the bear”. Together with Balu, who has clearly lost in the ranking (rank 10), Bruno probably represents the group of cozy, balanced dogs or at least the corresponding wishes of those who keep them for their four-legged friends.
Also the name 'Nala' (second place) takes into account the special relationship between the animals and their owners. 'Nala', the Swahili name for lioness, is the companion of Simba from “The Lion King” and in the musical stands for friendship, loyalty and loyalty. It is no coincidence that dogs are called man's best friend all over the world.
'Lotte' and 'Coco' have now made it into the top ten places. With these two names, as with Loki, it was probably not the meaning of the word that was decisive for their selection, but rather famous role models from film and literature, or the fashion world. Because who doesn't know them – Coco Chanel, the French fashion designer, Lotte from the novel “The Double Lottchen” by Erich Kästner and the Nordic demigod Loki, who many people will know from the television series of the same name?
Since 2010, Agila has been determining the most popular dog names in Germany and the federal states every year. In the current ranking, the names of all dogs born in 2023 and newly registered with Agila in the same year were evaluated. With over 500,000 insurance contracts for dogs and cats, Agila is one of the leading specialist insurers in Germany and Austria.