Kilkenny’s most popular dog names revealed: pet poll

Kilkenny’s most popular doggy name is Luna, according to a new survey.

Petmania Kilkenny polled over 1,500 pet-parents in September as part of its annual Puppy of the Year competition.

And according to the company, across Kilkenny the top-five most popular names for man’s best friend are Luna, Bailey, Buster, Coco and Cooper.

While the list of entrants included the traditional Max, Rex and Scooby, the poll showed a rising trend for names as Gaeilge with Irish names such as Púca, Súile and Poigíní making the list.

The survey shows that many of the county’s new four-legged friends are named after gods and mythical characters, for example, Athena, Ares, Zeus, Loki and Apollo. Pet parents also gave a nod to designer brands, Dior and Coco plus some well know movie \ celebrity namesakes like Bowie, Wonka, Rambo, Indiana, Ice Cube and Simba.

Nala Doheny (pictured) was named Kilkenny’s Puppy of the Year and Ireland’s most popular breed is the Golden Retriever in the top spot, followed by Labradors, German Shepherd’s, Cockapoos and Jack Russells according to the survey.

Greg Maternick from Petmania Kilkenny said: “It’s such a delight to meet so many adorable puppies as part of the Puppy of the Year Competition and to welcome a new pack of pups to the Petmania Puppy Club. We look forward to getting to know them more and helping them, and their families navigate through all of the milestones in their first year. From vaccinations and nutrition to training and wellness, we’re here to ensure that every puppy has the chance to get a great start with free expert care and advice.”