Observe your new pet
Waiting a few days to study your pets behaviour can help pick the right name. This will really give you a chance to wacth the pets charachter and qwirky nature! A good name is sure to follow!
Suitability
Pick a name that will grow with the pet. Imagine the dog or cat as an adult, not a puppy or kitten. Baby may sound great for a puppy but not so good for a full grown doberman. Also choose a name thats both easy to call out and one that you are happy calling out. Calling out "Max" or "Milly" in the park may be far less embarrassing than calling out than "Num Nuts"
Be unusual
If you have plans to call your dog Lassie just think how many times its been done before. Go for something a little more daring!
Human Names
Human names are an increasingly popular option, but make sure you arent offending any of your living relitives with the same name! Some people might be thrilled to share the same name but others may be quite offended.
Call Names
Purebred pets often come complete with a long registered name, but these are not suitable everyday names for our pets. In order to clear the stumbling block of proper names, it is common practice to give your dog a call name. Something short and sweet he can respond to.Pick a name that the pet can easily recognise. Animals respond better to one or two syllable names.
Not Too Many Syllables
Names with strong consonants and few syllables are recommended for getting a dogs attention. The letter S, as in Sparky or Spot works particularly well. Ideally, a pet's name should have only two syllables; Trooper, Ginger, and Brandy are good examples. Icicle, Petunia, or Willamenia for example, are too long and confuse the dog when followed by a command. (Suitable derivatives of the above names could be Icy, Tuna, or Wilma.)
For dogs avoid names that sound like the standard commands of No, Stay, Sit, Come, Down or Fetch. For example "Joe" is probably too close to "No". It can be difficult for dogs to tell the difference between similar sounding words
Nicknames
If choosing a long name keep in mind the shortened version. A long name will inevitably be shortened, but it may ruin the effect that you were originally looking for.
Derivatives of Registered Names
Registered names, on the other hand, are most often like a bit of history, telling you a great deal about the animals' parentage.
A dog registered as Bonny Lad's Shining Super Star, could be called Star. She may have come from a kennel called Bonny Lads. The mother dog may have been called Shining Diamond, while the entire litter was tagged with variations of the star theme. (For example, Star Light, Star Gazer, and Star Quality.) In many cases, the breeder has already decided in advance what the proper name of your puppy or kitten will be. The call name is left up to you, and your options as limitless as your imagination.
Rules and regulations count
When a registered name is applied for, you must always give two choices, just in case the name you have chosen is already taken or if the registering body feels it is not suitable. There are also restrictions about the number of letters that can be used and other rules of protocol that must be followed. The names we give our pets can be silly, sentimental, or serious.
TV, Sports and Pop idols
Favorite television shows or pop idols are a great place to find good names for pets although do be aware that some names can be over used and can become common. Kylie, Jason, Cher for example. Sometimes it is fun to go back a few years, maybe even a decade. Think of that classic that you love to watch again and again. There is nothing wrong with a cat called Scarlet or a Poodle named Moe. Sports and hobbies are great avenues for finding the perfect pet name. What about your favorite sports team or perhaps their mascot. How about their coach or owner? The name of their stadium or city?
Combination Names
Combining two or more names to create one new and unique name can be a lot of fun as well. Take the name of two of your favorite things and make up a name that you're sure to love. Mix it up! Name your hamster, Bear or your cat, Killer. Name a huge dog, Tiny. You can choose to stereotype or not. A small Mexican dog can be called Jose or you can elect to name it Hans!