Nimmy › Unusual and British-themed pet names
Unusual and British-themed pet names
If Fluffy and Max feel too common, look closer to home. These lists draw on British food, weather, places and old words, and they suit cats, dogs and small pets alike.
Tea, biscuits and puddings
Few things are more British than a pudding, and food names make friendly pet names. Try Crumpet, Hobnob, Bourbon, Custard Cream, Jaffa, Digestive, Rich Tea, Eccles, Bakewell, Trifle, Crumble, Sponge, Scone, Parkin, Flapjack, Sticky Toffee, Spotted Dick (if you are brave), Bisto, Gravy, Yorkie, Brew, Builder, Assam and Earl Grey. Short ones, like Brew, Scone and Jaffa, are easy to call.
Weather names
British weather gives you a big vocabulary. Drizzle, Mizzle, Squall, Gale, Gust, Fret (a sea fog on the east coast), Haar, Smir, Sleet, Hail, Thunder, Puddle, Mist, Fog, Breeze and Sunny Spell all work. Drizzle suits a grey cat and Squall a noisy small dog.
Seaside towns and holiday memories
- Blackpool, Brighton, Whitby, Skegness, Margate, Scarborough, Bournemouth, Filey, Weston, Tenby, Torquay, Rhyl, Southport.
- Short forms that work as names: Brighty, Whitby, Tenby, Skeggy, Margie, Torq.
- Seaside objects: Rock, Pier, Candyfloss, Donkey, Deckchair, Kipper, Winkle, Whelk, Shrimp.
Rivers, hills and countryside
British rivers have lovely sounds: Dart, Wye, Tamar, Severn, Exe, Tyne, Tees, Avon, Esk, Eden, Mersey, Test, Cam, Teme. Hills and landmarks offer Snowdon, Scafell, Helvellyn, Skiddaw, Ben, Cheviot, Malvern, Mendip. Hedgerow names are a great source: Bramble, Sloe, Hazel, Hawthorn, Elder, Rowan, Conker, Acorn, Bracken, Teasel, Burdock.
Pubs, pints and old British words
| Group | Ideas |
|---|---|
| Pub-style | Shandy, Porter, Stout, Pippin, Cider, Bitter, Snug, Skittle, Dartboard |
| Dialect words | Mardy, Nesh, Bairn, Lug, Scran, Mither, Chuffed, Nowt, Owt, Chuddy |
| Old words | Whimsy, Pettifog, Bumbershoot, Flummox, Codswallop, Gubbins, Doodah, Fettle, Kerfuffle |
| Cockney-style | Apples, Pears, Dog and Bone, Barnet, Brahms, Butcher's, Porkies |
Dialect names can be fun. Nesh means someone who feels the cold, which might suit a shivery whippet. Scran means food, which fits a greedy cat. Check the meaning before you commit, because dialect words vary from town to town and some do not mean what you think.
Railways, roads and place names
Station names make memorable pets: Euston, Paddington, Waverley, Crewe, Clapham, Reading, Didcot, Tamworth. Roads give you Pennine, Watling, Fosse, Ridgeway. Old village names with a ring include Wetwang, Great Snoring, Nether Wallop, Piddle, Pratt's Bottom and Mousehole (pronounced "Mowzel"). Some are cheeky, so choose carefully if you are going to call it in the park.
Unusual but still easy to call
The trick with an unusual name is to keep it short, or use a short version. Longer ideas such as Marmalade or Pumpernickel are fine if you also have Marm or Pump. Also check that it does not sound like a common word, such as Ewe or Knight, that may confuse visitors. A few distinctive ones that are quick to say: Quill, Mango, Biscay, Juniper, Tuppence, Haggis, Otter, Parsnip, Bagpuss, Wellington, Lemsip, Humbug.
Check before you commit
- Say it aloud in the garden, and at the vet's counter.
- Make sure it does not sound like a command or like a family member's name.
- Run it past a friend, then wait a day and ask if they remember it.
When you have a favourite, our page on choosing and teaching a name shows how to make it stick. For plainer ideas, browse cat names and dog names, or go back to the home page.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good unusual name that is still easy to say?
Short, distinctive names such as Quill, Tuppence, Juniper, Biscay or Humbug are easy to call and unlikely to be shared by the dog next door.
Are dialect words safe to use as pet names?
Often, but meanings vary by region and some are rude somewhere. Check a word with someone local before you use it.
Can I use a place name for a pet?
Yes, place names such as Whitby, Tenby or Dart are popular and easy to say. Keep it short.