[Daniel7]

Many a dog parent will happily call their mutt "Max" and think it's marvelous, but more "elite namers" might sniff at a label so mundane. And while "Peaches" is potentially purrfect for countless litters of kitties, you could very well be the type who finds it prohibitively prosaic.

More than a few folks will even admit to having the name of their pet picked out (be it conventional or wacky) long before they ever laid eyes on their animal. (My ex once told me he specifically wanted a cat named Fred and was willing to search far and wide for a feline that fit the name rather than settle for, say, a Mathilda or a Juniper.)

This year, in honor of the unique and out-there, Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) selected the 50 most unusual cat and dog names from its database of more than 470,000 insured pets. Below are the top ten (as elected by VPI employees) for each:

Dogs


petinsurance.com

* 1. Doogie Schnauzer MD - Doogie Howser evolved, because of the dog's breed, to Doogie Schnauzer. (The MD naturally stands for "my dog.")
* 2. Sargent Sausage - Though he usually goes by "Sarge," Heidi admits that the full name comes out when she needs to get his attention.
* 3. I Am Sparticus - You can't give a 200-pound English mastiff a normal name. At least, that was Natilee's reasoning.
* 4. Lunchbox - "Her shape just fit," says Beth. "Plus, she eats everything."
* 5. Angus Sir Loin - Angus alone just didn't seem to sum up the goofy young pup who slept on his back with his paws in the air.
* 6. Bam-Bam Noodle Butt - This little Chihuahua's butt wiggles like a noodle when she walks.
* 7. Mouse Meat - Compared to Kathy's Shar Pei, this tiny pup was mouse meat.
* 8. Fluffernutter - When Jim first saw his brown, white and sable Papillon, the dog's unique color instantly reminded him of a fluffernutter sandwich.
* 9. Kanye East - Appearance isn't always the determining factor when naming a pet — sometimes it's attitude.
* 10. Inspector Foo Foo - If anything is amiss or out of place, the Inspector is all over it.

Before Clawed Monet, there was Picatso

Cats


petinsurance.com

* 1. Snag L. Tooth - The rescued feline has a crooked tail and a signature "snaggle tooth" that juts out from his lower jaw, even when his mouth is closed.
* 2. Clawed Monet - Clawed's name was inspired by The Literary Person's Guide to Naming Your Cat.
* 3. Velvet Elvis - Catherine adopted a Stuart, but the name just didn't fit the gorgeous black cat with long hair and green eyes.
* 4. Eartha Kitty - A big fan of Eartha Kitt, Elisa recognized some similarities between the famous singer and the rescued kitten.
* 5. Blue Man Chew - The reprimand, "Blue Man, don't chew!" evolved into a part of his name.
* 6. Catzilla - Catzilla walks around like she owns the place, hisses at the other cats and doesn't share the bed.
* 7. Thurston Picklesworth III - When Meredith adopted a cat her friend found in the street, she was determined to make sure his rags-to-riches experience included a snazzy name.
* 8. Yardsale - Lauren and Brian were struck by the sheer number of yard sales going on along the Virginia countryside. One of them featured a cardboard box and a sign reading, "Free Kittens."
* 9. Dishwasher - It helps to have at least one dishwasher in the apartment, even if she is feline.
* 10. Polly Prissypants - There are common sources of pet name inspiration — color, behavior, origin — and then there's South Park.

Check out the complete list of unusual dog and cat names, plus pictures of all of the pets who made the Top 10 here.

My own mutt, Lorna Doone, came to me pre-labeled, and I can't imagine a more appropriate namesake. (Rescue groups seem to have a certain talent in this department.) People often inquire if she's named after the much-loved shortbread cookie or the heroine from Richard Doddridge Blackmore's romance novel. I like to think she's a bit of both.

Are you a traditional namer or do you have a flair for the unconventional?

How did you pick your pet's moniker?

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