Anime Names Top Pet Trends in the United States
Owners increasingly favor anime characters over traditional movie and TV names for their pets in 2026.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Pets — General
Live Poll
Would you name your pet after a character from an anime, movie, or television show?
Anime-inspired names emerged as the top trending category for pet names in the United States throughout 2026. Data from Rover shows that these character-based names surpassed other popular naming conventions during the year.
Why it matters
Pet owners frequently look to pop culture when selecting monikers, and the shift toward anime-themed names indicates a move away from traditional movie and television categories. This trend highlights the changing influence of media on household pet-naming conventions.
Rumi and Lumi lead the trending dog name list for 2026, while Giyu and Shinobu top the trending names for cats. These results are drawn from a 2026 Rover compilation of naming patterns across the United States.
The players
Rover
A pet services marketplace that aggregates pet name data and offers pet-sitting and dog-walking services.
The details
Rover compiled this data by tracking pet names categorized by thematic origins like anime, cottagecore, and vintage revival. While anime characters now dominate the rankings, the company observed that cottagecore and vintage themes remain the leading trends overall. New additions to the trending list include names like Dek and Reze for dogs, alongside Kamek and Makima for cats.
Timeline
2026: Anime-inspired names became the top trend for U.S. pets.
The Home Front
Pet naming conventions often mirror broader shifts in pop-culture consumption within the household. The dominance of anime-inspired names marks a departure from the previously established dominance of traditional Hollywood and television-derived categories.
If you are looking to rename a new pet or want to see how common a name is, compare your top choices against the 2026 trending lists. Consider checking your favorite series for unique character names that have yet to hit the top trending lists.
The takeaway
Naming trends reflect the diverse media landscape currently found in American homes. If you are selecting a name for a new pet, browse the full 2026 Rover list to see which anime, vintage, or cottagecore names best fit your companion's personality.
Further reading
For more on the latest developments in companion animal care, visit the Pets — General section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by IGN.
Live Poll
Would you name your pet after a character from an anime, movie, or television show?
