You've decided to enrich your life with a pet. Now you have to consider pet names to ensure your new companion has the right name. There are as many ways to decide on pet names as there are pets, but if you need inspiration, consider these tips.
1. Alphabetize. Quickly jot down names or just random words for every letter of the alphabet. You might just find some pet names hiding between the letters. For example: Alex, aardvark, atomizer, Alton, ampersand ... Ben, ballyhoo, bison, bisque, burley ... Charo, circus, cosmos, cyclical ... Whether you're naming a dog or a hamster scampering through the alphabet might help you find some pet names.
2. Colorize. Pick a color, any color, and write down all of the things that are that particular hue. 'Red as ... a fire truck, apple, stop sign, rhubarb, red alert, Red Cross, Red Skelton, red cedar, red carpet ... Now try another color. It's unlikely that you have a purple pet, but thinking of purple things might make you find some very original pet names.
3. Socialize. Ask others to think of pet names they have heard or given their pet.
4. Glamorize. Think of the epitome of everything, the best car, the most expensive gem, the best vacation you ever had, and/or the most beautiful sunset. Ask yourself what were these like and see if their descriptions don't help you happen upon some pet names.
5. Grammar-ize: Make three lists: nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Now list any and everything that comes to mind in each. Now match them up. Then, draw lines between the words. For example, you might use: 'Quickest (adjective), Running (verb), and Mango (noun).' Use this process to think about combinations of words.
6. Super Size: The tallest, the biggest, the largest, the longest, the deepest, the most fattening ... maximize your thinking about pet names.
7. Surprise. Pet names don't always have to be exact. In fact, some of the best pet names are the odd, unusual, or downright bizarre. For example, name a hamster Biggie or Mr. Big. Name an iguana Lassie or Fuzzy. Give small dogs big name and vice versa. Just be willing to mix things up when it comes to pet names.
If all else fails, consider this list of common pet names:
Abby
A.J.
Angel
Antonio
Apple
Apple Pie
Apple Strudel
Baby
Babycakes
Babyface
Bailey
Bashful (or any of the other dwarfs from 'Snow White ...)
Bazooka Joe
B.B.
Bear
Bee
BeeBee
Bee Jay
Bill
Billy
Bing
Biscuit
Blackberry
Blackie
Blondie
Bonnie
Boo
Boo Boo
Boo Hoo
Bosco
Brownie
Bubbles
Buddy
Bunny
Buster
Butch
Butterscotch
Buzzy
Candy
Celeste
Cheeky
Chew Chew
Chewer
Chewy
Choo Choo
Chopper
Cleo
Cleopatra
Clyde
Coffee
Colby
Cosmo
Cosmos
Crystal
Cuddles
Cutie
Daisy
Dave
Digger
Doc
Doctor Lizardo
Don
Donna
Donut
Doris
Dumplings
Dusty
Echo Logical
Eddie
Edie
Electra
Elmo
Escobar
Fats
Fluffy
Fondu
Fred
Freddy
Frieda
Frosty
Fudgesicle
Funky Meister
Furball
Fur Face
Fuzzy
Gadget
George
Gidget
Gigi
Gillie
Ginger
Ginger Snap
Gizmodo
Goldie
Greenie
Griff
Gus
Hank
Ham
Hambone
Hamish
Hamlet
Hangchu
Hannah
Harry
Harvey
Henrietta
Henry
Hercules
Hokie
Ivory
Jack
Jake
James
Jamie
Jaws
Jill
Joey
JoJo
Julio
Jumbo
Kiara
KiKi
Kismet
Koosh
Lambda
Lambie Pie
Lassie
Lefty
Leroy
Louie
Maddy
Madison
Maggie
Maisie
Mandy
Mary
Maya
Max
Maxine
Maxilla
Maxwell
Megan
McMurphy
McTavish
Mickey
Minnie
Missy
Moe
Mojo
Mork
Murph
Murphy
Ned
Nedra
Night Lite
Night Owl
Noir
Oleo
Oliver
Oreo
Oscar
Ox
Pandora
Paprika
Patches
Pepper
Pickles
Piglet
Ping Pong
Pinky
Pinto
Pog
Poochie
Pookie
Porsche
Portia
Precious
Princess
Pudding
Puff
Pumpkin
Raul
Ricky Lee
Rocky
Roscoe
Roxanne
Ruby
Ruthie
Sailor
Sally
Sam
Sandra
Sarge
Scooter
Shadow
Shaggy
Skippy
Smoke
Smoky
Snickers
Sniffer
Snowflake
Snowy
Specs
Speedy
Spicey
Spike
Spunky
Squeaker
Stacey
Stanley
Sugar
Sugar Lips
Sweetie Pie
Taffy
Tattoo
Ted
Teddy
Tiger
Tigger
Tiny
Todd
Tom
Tommy
Treat
Twinkie
Twister
Valencia
Vanilla Bean
Vapor
Waddles
Wally
Wang Chung
Whitey
Wiggles
Willy
Yappy
Zamfir
Zappo
Zip
Zippy
Zorro
Chihuahua or St. Bernard, Hamster or Horse, Iguana or Kitty, whatever kind of pet you have, there are suitable pet names. However, finding them may take a bit of imagination.
