One of the best parts about adopting a new animal into the family is naming him or her! It’s so fun to play with words, read baby name books and even hit the web in search of the perfect fit. My youngest sis recently did just that: She and her husband welcomed home two eight-month-old sister kittens from the local shelter. They finally decided on two beautiful names: Tig (the alpha kitten, after the comedian Tig Notaro) and Quinn (they wanted a beautiful one-syllable Irish name).
A few weeks ago, all the top name lists for 2014 came out: top baby names of 2014, popular puppy names of 2014, and most popular kitten names 2014. If you’re looking to name a new furry family member, these are great places to start your search.
As for me, I’ve been honored to be able to name five animal family members over the years. Here are their names and how they came to be:
Cassie: The name of my childhood cat came from Cassandra, a name I always thought was so beautiful and elegant. How funny to end up as the name of a tiny tortoiseshell hellion of a cat that used to chase dogs!
Dakota: This is the Native American word for “friend” … and truly, Dakota, my first dog adopted when I was adult, was the very best friend one could ever ask for—all 16 years he was by my side. He was also my first animal Reiki teacher!
Shawnee: My first horse came to me with that name, although his birth name is actually “Brownie’s Paychex” (not my favorite!). I think Shawnee fits him so well with his long, orange mane. I can almost see Native American feathers decorating it.
Kodiak: Kodiak is a twist on his official birth name—“Kodak Instant Color.” My second horse already knew himself as “Kody” when I got him, and he is big and burly like a bear (and also can be fierce like one), so I changed it to Kodiak.
Mystic: I was looking for a spiritual type of name, and she was gray, so people were suggesting Misty, and so Mystic just popped in as a spiritual twist on it! She does seem to see things that aren’t there and walk a bit in a different world, so the name seems to fit her well.
I absolutely love the name Luna for a dog—that was a close second choice for Mystic. Maybe next time … ?
What’s your animal’s name and the inspiration behind it? Is it a good fit?
{P.S. An amusing quiz to help you name your animal, via Buzzfeed.}