Bella the Dog or Bella the Baby? Pet Names and Baby Names Are Merging Fast

A new report from US News and World Report confirms what many of us suspected: we’re naming our pets just like we name our kids. Bella holds the top spot for dog names in America and is also one of the most popular names for baby girls. Leo comes in at number three for cats and sits at 24th for boys. Chloe rounds it out at 21st for girls and 35th for cats. The lines are officially blurred.

The reason is pretty simple. We consider our pets family. The survey found that 97% of pet owners say their animals are family members, and more than half say their pets are just as much a part of the family as the humans. That’s why Americans are projected to spend over $147 billion on their pets this year, from food and vet care to toys and grooming.

Not everyone is on board with the“fur baby”trend, and that’s fine. But for the majority of us, our dogs and cats aren’t just animals in the yard. They’re the ones who greet us at the door, sit with us through hard times, and never judge us for singing off-key. So what do you think? Does your pet have a“people name”? Share it in the comments.