Presidential Pet Names

Lincoln Inspires Most Pet Names, but Obama Already on the Rise

When historians and political pundits look back on a President’s legacy, perhaps there’s something more to review than job creation or approval ratings.

Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), the nation’s oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, would like to suggest an important additional element: the inspiration of pet names. On the cusp of President’s Day, VPI scoured its database of more than 467,000 insured pets to pinpoint which presidential last names were most commonly given to dogs, cats, birds and exotic pets. Drum roll please:

 

Most Common Presidential Pet Names

1. “Lincoln” (105)
2. “Reagan” (103)
3. “Kennedy” (37)
4. “Hoover” (36)
5. “Jefferson” (21)
6. “McKinley” (19)
7. “Nixon” (18)
8. “Roosevelt” (14)
9. “Clinton” (11)
10. “Obama”/“Eisenhower” (tie: 5)

Creating a Pet Legacy

VPI considered and ranked only the pet names with obvious connections to presidents of notoriety. Names that could also double as traditional human and pet surnames – like “Madison” and “Jackson” – did not qualify. Surprisingly, the nation’s first president (Washington) and our most recent leader (Bush) were hardly represented, owning counts of three and one, respectively.

“What you name your pet is a very emotional decision,” said VPI spokesman Curtis Steinhoff. “So if you name your furry best friend after a president, chances are you have a positive view of their legacy. A pet’s name will be remembered long past which senators voted for an economic stimulus package.”

To view a list of more pet names on the uncommon end of the spectrum, visit www.wackypetnames.com.

Return to the VPI Pet HealthZone

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