Famous Folks Inspiring Pet Names In Tauranga

Jack Reacher, Jack Frost, and Jack Black are all living
in Tauranga. Winnie the Pooh and Cindy Lou Who are here
too. 

But they’re not the ones you might be
thinking of… They’re actually
dogs. 

Tauranga’s dog-owning community love to
choose unique monikers for their furry friends and take
inspiration from all walks of life when selecting
one. 

Council’s Team Leader: Animal Services,
Brent Lincoln, says seeing the individuality that comes
through in the names is always a
highlight. 

“Every dog has a different
personality, so it’s fun to see so many of them getting
personal names from their people. 

“At this
time of year, when people are thinking about adding a new
family member to the home, a lot of names are being
considered.” 

Angus McFluffy, Little Miss
Scrufflebums, and Sir Pippin Wigglebutt do not share their
name with any of the other 15,500 known dogs in the
city. 

Neither do Indiana Bones, Paint, or
Oddball. 

“In contrast, we know Charlie and
Bella are always very popular here in the Bay of Plenty, but
we do always wonder what characteristics our dogs with
out-of-the-box names might have,” Brent
adds. 

In 2024, Charlie has dethroned Max as the
most popular name for a dog in Tauranga. 190 Charlies call
Tauranga home. 

“Other names that are
well-loved and well-used include Molly (148), Poppy (138),
Ruby (119), and Rosie (114),” Brent
adds. 

Tauranga’s love affair with Labrador
Retrievers also continues, as the breed remains the most
popular with more than 1,800
registered. 

“Staffordshire bull terriers, or
staffies, are also well loved with nearly 900 living here.
There are lots of border collies (796), Shih Tzus (724) and
King Charles Cavalier Spaniels (717). 

“We’re
excited to see what 2025 holds for unique names, as well as
which names and breeds remain popular. 

“Who
knows where you might look for inspiration for the name of
your next pet?” Brent
asks. 

Note: 

Most
popular names

1. Charlie:
   190
2. Bella: 173
3. Max: 156
4. Molly:
   148
5. Poppy: 138
6. Ruby: 119
7. Rosie:
   114
8. Coco: 112
9. Daisy: 99
10. Frankie:
    98

Most popular primary
breeds

1. Labrador Retriever:
   1,856
2. Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Staffy):
   895
3. Border Collie: 796
4. Shih Tzu:
   724
5. King Charles Cavalier Spaniel:
   717
6. Miniature Schnauzer: 610
7. Maltese:
   604
8. Jack Russell: 505
9. Golden Retriever:
   495
10. Smooth-haired Fox Terrier:
    437

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