Dog owners put a lot of store in what they name their fur babies. After all, they're going to be shouting and cooing that name for a good long time!
But for 2016 what were the most popular names for our canine children? Rover.com, the nation's largest network of pet sitters and dog walkers, has come up with a list ... and we're thrilled to discover that TODAY's puppy with a purpose Charlie ranks right up there!
Here are the Top 5 names for male and female dogs:
Top Male Dogs
1. Max
2. Charlie
3. Buddy
4. Cooper
5. Jack
Top Female Dogs
1. Bella
2. Lucy
3. Daisy
4. Lola
5. Luna
Fascinatingly, six of those names (Bella, Lucy, Luna, Max, Charlie and Jack) are among the top human baby names of 2016, too!
RELATED: How TODAY Show's puppy Charlie spends his mornings — starting at 4 a.m.!
But wait, there's more: 53 percent of dog owners, according to Rover, and three-quarters of millennials, name their dog after a pop culture reference. Everything from "X-Files" to Pokemon Go, Harry Potter and "Game of Thrones" contributed names that all rose in popularity this year, which explains why you may hear owners chasing after Mulder, Bayleaf, Dobby and Khaleesi more frequently.
We also love naming our animals after snack items and alcohol (Taffy, Twix, Brandy, Whiskey) but health-food names like Peaches declined. (And we're OK with fewer dogs named Tofu in the world.) Still, if you're gonna find a dog named Quinoa she's likely to be from Los Angeles; a dog named Kale will probably be barking away in Portland, Oregon.
RELATED: Find out the top baby name trends for 2017
And then there are those of us who like to call our beloved creatures after some other animal. Dogs with names like Bear, Moose and Tiger rose 8 percent this year!
Whatever you call your dog, however, they're most likely to be responding to the beloved sound of your voice. They're just barking mad for you, after all!
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