NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — In a fascinating revelation from 2025 research by the American Veterinary Medical Association, it is noted that over 56 million homes across the United States welcome at least one furry friend. It may come as no surprise that a recent study from U.S. News & World Report has found numerous dogs across various states sharing common names.
In a survey of dog names most frequently heard in vet clinics nationwide, the top contenders were none other than Bella, Luna, and Max.
Bella and Luna have dominated the list, persistently taking turns at the number one and two spots since 2023, according to U.S. News & World Report. These names resonate in multilingual households as “luna” translates to moon, and “bella” means beautiful or pretty in numerous major languages. Meanwhile, Max—a name made famous by canine characters in beloved animated films—nudged its way up from last year’s fourth place to claim the third spot this year.
Completing the top five are the timeless picks Coco and Daisy. The study notes that Coco’s charm has been immortalized by poodles in popular media for years, while the name Daisy has graced many a dog on the silver screen since the 1930s.
U.S. News & World Report shared more nationwide naming trends in its top 100, from characters and classics to foods and mythological figures. However, Bella still took the No. 1 spot in 25 states and tied for first in two others.
“In fact, only five states have a most popular name (or a tie for the most popular name) that doesn’t make the nationwide top 10: Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota and Vermont,” the report said. “Furthermore, only three states have a top-three name that is unique enough not to appear in the national top 100: Hawaii, Montana and Wyoming.”
Not only did Tennessee share the same top three dog names as the U.S. overall, but they were ranked in the same exact order: Bella at No. 1, Luna at No. 2, and Max at No. 3.
Kentucky also had the same trio of dog names, but Luna and Max swapped places with regard to their popularity.
If you want to learn more fun facts about naming trends for canine companions across America, follow this link.