ROVER RANKS LUNA AS UK'S MOST POPULAR DOG NAME FOR SIXTH YEAR

Rover’s UK Pet Names Report ranks Luna as the most popular dog name for the sixth consecutive year in 2026. The company says Shakira and Adam each rose 888% in its celebrity-inspired name rankings, tying for the largest increase in that category. Rover based the rankings on millions of user-submitted pet names. A separate Rover survey of 1,000 dog owners found that 24% had named a dog after a celebrity. Zendaya appeared in the annual ranking for the first time.

Across all names, Rover recorded the largest increase for Sunnie, which rose 1,287%. Jonathan and Tupac each rose 188%, while Noel increased 45% and Liam fell 97%. Damon rose 38%; Geri, Kylie, Jamie and Hannah increased by 21%, 18%, 23% and 21% respectively. Rover also recorded rises for Winny, Melvin, Harold and Hilda, ranging from 79% to 537%. Among names from mythology, Achilles rose 362%, Persephone 254% and Ulysses 238%.

Shakira toured and performed a duet with Dua Lipa in Madrid during the year. Adam Peaty married Holly Ramsay, and the pair announced that they were expecting a child. Rover associated other names in its ranking with Jonathan Ross, Jonathan Bailey, Damon Albarn, Jamie Oliver and Hannah Waddingham. Its survey found that 38% of dog owners had used AI to help name a dog, while 41% had used it to help choose a breed. Rover canine behaviourist Adem Fehmi said “this year’s trends show just how much our dogs’ names reflect the world around us”.