Twilight Makes Bella Most Popular Pet Name

Hollywood's blockbuster "Twilight" franchise has ushered in the dawn of a new, favorite pet name among animal-adoring Americans: Once again Bella was the No. 1 name for dogs in a survey released this month by Veterinary Pet Insurance, the nation's largest provider of pet health insurance. It was also No. 2 for cats and No. 7 for exotic animals.

Considering that the first "Twilight" flick -- about Bella, a comely teenage loner played by Kristen Stewart who falls in love with a vampire classmate -- hit theaters in late 2008, the trend toward naming a beloved pet after the saga's lead character probably began with the fans who initially read the books.

The Top Ten
According to the VPI survey, the most popular names for dogs, from No. 1 to No. 10, are Bella, Bailey, Max, Lucy, Molly, Buddy, Maggie, Daisy, Charlie and Sophie. For cats, the most popular names are Max, Bella, Chloe, Oliver, Lucy, Smokey, Shadow, Tiger, Tigger and Charlie. Popular exotic animal names are Charlie, Baby, Sunny, Jack, Kiwi, Bandit, Bella, Max, Sammy and Gizmo.

So it's clear that though Bella has struck a chord, pet owners have not adopted names like Edward or Cullen in similar numbers? (Charlie, the name of Bella's father in "Twilight," is the No. 9 name for dogs, No. 10 for cats and No. 1 for exotics, which include birds, lizards, gerbils, rabbits, etc. -- but that probably has nothing to do with the series.)

Read the rest at Pawnation.

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Tags: Bella, Name, Pet, Popular, Saga, Twilight

Comment by Keshla on January 6, 2011 at 7:01pm: My pitbull's name is Bella...hehe

Comment by Amanda Ashley Cullen on January 6, 2011 at 7:01pm: My cat's name is Bella! haha ;) and Kristen's cat's name is Max but also known as Jella

Comment by imaGINAtion on January 6, 2011 at 8:21pm: We named our rottweiler Bella when we got her as a pup back in 1994, she only lived for 10 yrs. until 2004 - She was the BEST pet ever...<3

Comment by Bella Black+LHJake on January 6, 2011 at 9:29pm: I know 3 friends who currently own dogs named 'Bella': a Great Dane in Iowa, a Newfoundland in Las Vegas, and a mix just down the street! :D

Comment by The Young Trib Fource ♥ on January 6, 2011 at 9:51pm: Hahahah Bella is my Dog's middle name:)

Comment by BB Cullen on January 6, 2011 at 10:00pm: My cousins dog's name is Bella!! but that was before Twilight lol and My auntys dog name is Bailey!! and Bailey is Bella's mum!! lol

Comment by Caccasandra on January 7, 2011 at 2:30am: I have named my cat after a character in twilight, not bella but Leah. but because I'm a big st.ar wars fan too and they also have a character with that name but spelled Leia my cat is called Leiah

Comment by Lina Larsson on January 7, 2011 at 2:57am: My cats name is Emmett :D He is awesome!

Comment by StupidShinyVolvoOwner'sBella on January 7, 2011 at 8:24am: My cats name is Jazmine (but hes a boy ,yeah we thought he was female) so I secretly name him JAZZY, JASPER or HARPO!!!
:D
If I had a dog or Teddy bear I'd call him Emmett or Emmy!!
:D
Btw why does nobody call a pet Edward *sigh* I LOVE that name!