At the Wacky Pet Names desk, we’re always on the hunt for pet names that are a little stranger, sillier and more delightfully offbeat than the rest. But just as much as we love a wonderfully wacky name, we love a wildly memorable pet story, too—especially the ones featured in the Nationwide® Hambone Award®, the annual competition showcasing our most unusual pet insurance claims.
To cheer on this year’s race for the bronze Hambone trophy, we asked our nominee families to share a little about how they came up with their pets’ names.
Cultural touchstones
Many pet families draw naming inspiration from their cultural heritage or the background of their pet’s breed. Several of this year’s Hambone nominees took that approach.
Historically, borzoi dogs were highly prized by Russian nobility, and for centuries, could only be adopted as gifts direct from the tsar. So, when it came to naming her dogs, Deb chose to honor that noble heritage: “Lilliya is my sixth borzoi, and all had Russian royalty names. It has been befitting for a regal girl.”
However, she did decide to buck her own borzoi naming tradition one time, in celebration of a little Christmas miracle. Deb continues, "Noelle was driven up from Florida to Wisconsin on the day before Christmas. I always wanted a puppy for Christmas, so the name ‘Noelle’ came to me immediately.”
Meanwhile, Laura turned to a traditional Ashkenazi Jewish naming practice that honors forebears through first initials when naming her new small mixed-breed pup. “Lulu was our next dog after our low-key love machine, Lucy. As a Jewish dog, she took the first letter of the dog that came before her,” she says.
When it came time to name their new golden retriever, pet parents Will and Christine opted not for a traditional name, but instead used a decision-making method rooted in ancient Greece. “We use a democratic process where everyone in our family puts in ideas,” says Christine. “We let everyone share why they think that name is great. Then, we put it to a vote.” It comes as no surprise that all their pets have middle names (like Milo Bear) to help build a consensus.
A nod to our favs
Many pet families choose names inspired by their favorite things, from singers and movie stars to athletes, foods and places. Our Hambone pet parents are no different, often drawing on pop culture when naming their pets.
Tabby cat Hobbes has a fun pop culture connection that makes his name especially memorable. “We had a dog named Calvin. There is an old comic strip called Calvin and Hobbes that we loved,” says pet parent Corssia. The reference gives Hobbes’s name a playful, nostalgic feeling and ties it to a comic strip that captures his adventurous personality.
Meanwhile, beloved beagle pup Matilda has a name that reflects her small but powerful presence while also giving a sweet nod to a beloved book. “After falling in love with the tiniest runt, I tried to think of something tiny but mighty,” says pet parent Kristilyn. “Matilda was one of my favorite books and allows all sorts of nicknames.”
With its connection to the classic Disney character, poodle Rolly has a name that recalls a lovable, relaxed pup with plenty of charm. Pet parent Lucia says, “I always wanted a laidback and easygoing dog. Rolly from 101 Dalmatians was the sweet, plump pup who was always telling his mother that he was hungry.”
Meanwhile, goldendoodle Hampden has a name that feels balanced, punchy and a little sweet. “Hampden is the name of a rum brand from Jamaica that my husband and I really like,” says pet parent, Alex. “We met bartending together in NYC and gave both of our dogs rum-related names. Ham’s brother is named ‘Neisson,’ which is a rum from Martinique.”
Bernese-mix Capone was named by his previous family in a nod to famous mafioso and gangster Al Capone. “They named him Capone because they had another dog named Pacino,” say pet parents Christine and Greg, who loved the name. “It’s a fitting name for him, because Al Capone had a huge personality and was a major mob family boss, and Capone has one of the biggest personalities you’ll ever meet.”
Catching a vibe
Sometimes a great pet name is less a reference to something concrete and more a feeling. Several of our Hambone pet parents followed their guts and landed on names that perfectly suited their pets. Case in point: Leah knew her happy Lab Henry was ‘Henry’ before they even met. “I just knew if I was going to get a boy dog, his name was going to be Henry,” she says. Luckily, Henry was the right name all along. “His personality was always just fitting for Henry.”
Other times, the name is not so much chosen as it is ordained from birth and still feels like a perfect fit. When it came to Matilda’s beagle brother, he already had been named Diesel—something pet mom Kristilyn quickly realized was a perfect match. “He was named at birth by the parents’ owners,” she says. “At first, I was disappointed I didn’t get to name him, but he really is like a diesel truck barreling down the road with a very loud exhaust.”
Naming tips from the nominees
When it comes to finding the perfect pet name, our Hambone families have a lot of great insights:
- Come to the table with some ideas, but don’t be afraid to pivot
- Use something from your personal story to welcome them to the family
- Stare into that cute face for ideas
- Align a name with your pet’s personality
- Find something unique and meaningful
- Use the breed or their appearance as inspiration
- Make sure it’s short and fun to say
- Test drive names in a “stern mom” voice to make sure it flows together
- Yell it out loud! If it rolls off the tongue, you’ve got a good one
Read the stories, pick your favorite!
While their names may not be as wild as some past Wacky Pet Names winners, these Hambone nominees instead made their mark by stumbling, munching and catapulting themselves into some truly wacky situations.
Help us choose the most unusual pet insurance claim by casting a daily vote for your favorite story at petinsurance.com/hamboneaward! Voting is open August 3-14, 2026.
All nominees considered for the Hambone Award have made full recoveries and their owners received insurance reimbursement for their eligible veterinary expenses, subject to the terms and conditions of their applicable policies. Deductible and/or co-insurance may apply.
Testimonial provided by an actual Nationwide member. Views expressed by the member belong solely to the member and not Nationwide, its affiliates, or employees. Hambone Award winners are eligible for a prize, based on public votes during the contest period.
