Beloved sitcom characters, a “notorious” rapper, and of course, a bevy of culinary delights are among the inspirations for the most bizarre pet names of this year.
Nationwide Pet Insurance has published its annual rankings of most imaginative and unique pet monikers. Names were selected from the company’s database and voted on by its clients.
A pooch dubbed “Doc Pawlliday” took the top prize in the canine category, while first place in the feline group went to “Prison Mike” (i.e. Michael Scott’s incarcerated alter ego in the American version of The Office).
Additionally, for the first time this year, the contest expanded species beyond dogs and cats to include an exotic pets category. The inaugural prize went to a pot-bellied pig named “Piggy Smalls.”
To commemorate the honors, the families of Doc Pawlliday, Prison Mike, and Piggy Smalls will each receive a professional at-home photo shoot with their pet, as well as a $100 gift card.
“This annual recognition is an occasion to appreciate the ingenuity and imagination of pet parents,” says Nationwide’s chief veterinary officer and vice president of pet health, Jules Benson, BVSc, MRCVS. “Each name—wacky or not—among our more than 1.2 million insured pets signifies something special and shows thoughtfulness about a pet’s place within a family.”
The 10 dog names to take the top spots were:
- Doc Pawlliday
- Barkimedes
- Boolaloobalala
- Captain Good Boy
- Everybody Loves Raymond Orr Else
- Maple Bacon on a Biscuit
- Scooby Moo
- Sir Arthur Cowvin Moo Moo the Great
- The Dude LeBowWowSki
- Whiskey Tango Furball
For cats:
- Prison Mike
- Business Cat
- Evil Twin
- Green Bean Catserole
- Homeboy Thumbs
- Inigo Meowtoya
- Moira Rose McMurderpants Queen of Hearts
- Sir Catrick Stewart
- Sir Woodrow Agustdus Scuttlebooty the Third, Esquire
- Spicy Beef Purrito
Finally, the highest voted in the “exotic pets” category were:
- Piggy Smalls (a pot-bellied pig)
- Audrey Hopbun (a rabbit)
- Birdie Sanders (a budgie)
- Leapus Maximus (a rabbit)
- Me’Shell (a tortoise)
- MooMoo Mozarella (a guinea pig)
- Peanut Butter Pancake (a guinea pig)
- Rabbit Downey Jr. (a rabbit)
- Spicy Queso (a ferret)
- Will Ferret (a ferret)
For more on this year’s winners, click here.