Move over Buddy and Spot – Britain’s pets are getting the A–list treatment, according to new research.
New data has uncovered the celebrity pet–naming effect that swept the nation last year, with pop icons and TV stars shaping what Brits call their cats, dogs and other household animals.
The analysis, from more than 350 Medivet clinics across the country, revealed Bella to be the most popular celebrity pet name in Britain.
Experts believe this is inspired by supermodel Bella Hadid and Hollywood’s immortal heroine Bella Swan, from the Twilight franchise.
Hot on her heels is Charlie, boosted by the growing popularity of British singer Charli XCX.
Meanwhile Taylor Swift continues to make her mark, with devoted Swifties proving their love for the global megastar by naming their pets after her.
Names like Harry, Billie, Rihanna and Elvis also show that Britain’s cultural obsessions are still alive and well.
‘While these findings carry a light–hearted tone, they reveal that families are expressing elements of their cultural identity through their pets, as the names chosen for animals increasingly mirror the nation’s music and film tastes,’ Rebecca Morrison, a spokeswoman for Medivet, said.
Expert’s believe the popularity of the pet name Bella could be linked to Twilight’s Bella Swan, played by Kristen Stewart
Meanwhile Taylor Swift continues to make her mark, with devoted Swifties proving their love for the global megastar by naming their pets after her
Charlie was also a popular name for pets in 2025, possibly influenced by British singer Charli XCX
‘Whether a pet is named Max, Bella or Elvis, the choices reflect the public figures and cultural trends that hold personal meaning for their owners and celebrity influencers who help shape modern life.
‘If the current trend continues, we expect to see even more sassy spaniels and indie kittens answering to ‘Charlie’, ‘Bella’, ‘Taylor’ and ‘Harry’ across the UK in 2026.’
Other celebrity–inspired names that rank high on the list include Ruby – potentially inspired by comedian Ruby Wax, who appeared on the latest series of ‘I’m a Celebrity’.
Billie also features, possibly as a nod to American singer Billie Eilish.
Harry also places eighth in the most popular celebrity–inspired names, which could be linked to the much–loved Harry Styles.
‘From chart–toppers to vintage icons, the stars we stream, binge and belt out in the car are the same ones inspiring what we call our pets,’ Ms Morrison said.
Beyond celebrity culture, food–inspired names also continue to thrive, the research showed – especially among smaller pets.
This has seen the likes of Cookie, Oreo and Honey dominate smaller pet categories across the UK this year.
American model Bella Hadid (left) may also have inspired some pet owners. Meanwhile the name Elvis also featured on the list – a nod to the ‘King of Rock and Roll’
| Rank | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Bella |
| 2 | Charlie |
| 3 | Max |
| 4 | Ruby |
| 5 | Oscar |
| 6 | George |
| 7 | Jack |
| 8 | Harry |
| 9 | Tommy |
| 10 | Ella |
| 11 | Elvis |
| 12 | Jerry |
| 13 | Jessica |
| 14 | Taylor |
| 15 | Billie |
Some firm favourites do continue to stick – for example, Luna, Teddy, Milo and Coco also appear in the top 10 dog names of last year.
For cats the name Simba, inspired by the Disney classic, places high, as well as Poppy and Leo.
Coco comes top of the list as the most popular name for rabbits, followed by the traditional Thumper. Peter and Flopsy – inspired by Peter Rabbit – also feature in the top 10 list.
Finally, for birds, Charlie comes in first as the most popular name, followed by Joey and the slightly unoriginal name Bird.
