Britain’s most popular dog names for 2026 are revealed – does your pup’s make the top 10?

Picking the perfect name for your precious pooch is not always an easy task – and some prove more popular than others.

This year, Dogs Trust has revealed the nation’s favourite dog names and the winner has bagged the top spot for the fifth time. More than 180,000 pet owners came together to answer potentially the most important question of the year – what is the UK’s most popular pet name?

And perhaps unsurprisingly, Poppy topped the charts once more for female dogs. The floral name has been a favourite for pups for the past five years running, with Luna and Bella coming in a close second and third place. But while Mabel came in last place the previous year, the name has now risen to surpass the likes of Lola.

As for male dogs, Milo has been crowned the nation’s most popular pick for boys. The name beat last year’s favourite, Teddy, for the top spot, although it still placed highly as a strong second choice. Buddy also came in at a comfortable third place, overtaking Alfie in the top three. Meanwhile, Monty made a surprise appearance in eighth place for the first time, although the traditional name still ranks poorly among human baby boys in the UK.

Dogs Trust has also noted that more “old-fashioned” names, like Winnie, Mabel and Bertie, have soared in popularity in recent years. Perhaps then, these names will continue rising up the ranks in years to come.

Top 10 girls’ names for dogs

1. Poppy
2. Luna
3. Bella
4. Daisy
5. Ruby
6. Rosie
7. Willow
8. Molly
9. Mabel
10. Lola

Top 10 boys’ names for dogs

1. Milo
2. Teddy
3. Buddy
4. Alfie
5. Charlie
6. Max
7. Bertie
8. Monty
9. Barney
10. Bailey

Now decide if the below statements are true or false or there is no evidence for it?

Statements:

1. Poppy has now won the top spot for five years in a row.
2. Milo overtook Buddy to become the most popular male dog name this year.
3. The article states this year’s survey was the largest one Dogs Trust has ever conducted.
4. Mabel ranked below Lola last year but has since overtaken Lola this year.
5. Alfie fell to fourth place in the male dog name rankings this year.

Answers:

1. True — matches “bagged the top spot for the fifth time” + “favourite… for the past five years running.”
2. False — Milo actually beat Teddy for the top spot; Buddy came in third, a separate detail designed to trip you up.
3. No Evidence — the piece gives a participant count (180,000+) but never claims it’s a record or “the largest ever.”
4. True — the text says Mabel “came in last place the previous year” and “has now risen to surpass the likes of Lola,” which supports this reading even though it’s phrased differently.
5. No Evidence — we’re told Buddy “overtook Alfie in the top three,” implying Alfie dropped out, but no specific new rank (4th, 5th, etc.) is ever given.