Your Dog’s Name May Be More Popular Than You Think In Michigan

The next time someone calls “Bella!” at a Michigan dog park, there’s a decent chance more than one tail will start wagging.

Bella is the most popular dog name in Michigan, according to a U.S. News & World Report analysis of popular dog names released Tuesday. Luna and Buddy rounded out the state’s top three.

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Nationally, Luna was the most popular dog name, followed by Bella, Charlie, Max, Daisy, Lucy, Coco, Milo, Cooper and Teddy.

But the state-by-state rankings tell a slightly different story.

Bella was the clear state-level heavyweight, appearing in the No. 1 spot in 28 states, including ties, and showing up somewhere in the top three in 47 states. Luna, the national No. 1, led 13 states, including one tie, and appeared in the top three in 36 states.

Michigan's list closely follows the broader pattern. All three of its top names appear in the national top 10, while Bella also appears among the most common state-level favorites.

Some states were more independent. Hawaii’s top dog name was Koa, Montana’s was Barron, North Dakota’s was Jack, and Wyoming’s top three — Milo, Sassy and Latte — stood apart from most of the country.

Dog names can be oddly revealing little snapshots of the humans doing the naming. Some are classics. Some follow pop culture. Some are chosen because they sound sweet in the kitchen and still work when yelled across a backyard.

U.S. News said its analysis was based on about 80,000 dog names and state residencies from a third-party pet insurance provider. The state-by-state rankings show the top three dog names in each state.