Luna and Leo take out the top spots nationwide
Pet Insurance Australia (PIA) has released its highly anticipated list of Australia’s most popular cat names for 2025, based on naming trends across thousands of insured pets nationwide. This year, classic favourites remain strong, but a few fresh surprises are making their way up the charts.
🇦🇺 Australia’s Top 10 Female Cat Names
- Luna
- Lucy
- Daisy
- Willow
- Bella
- Coco
- Freya
- Annie
- Millie / Molly (tie)
- Angel / Honey (tie)
“Luna continues its reign as Australia’s favourite female cat name, appearing in nearly every state’s top three,” Nadia Crighton from Pet Insurance Australia says.
🇦🇺 Australia’s Top 10 Male Cat Names
- Leo
- Milo
- Bluey
- Billy
- Simba / Prince (tie)
- Archie
- Bear
- Oreo
- Merlin
- Mochi
“Leo and Milo remain the nation’s favourite male cat names, while names like Bear and Mochi reflect a growing trend toward human-style and food-inspired names.”
Key Naming Trends for 2025
- “Luna dominance” continues
Luna has been the most popular name across dogs AND cats for several years, signalling a shift toward soft, celestial, and feminine naming choices. - Human baby names are stronger than ever
Names like Lucy, Annie, Archie, Max, George and Ivy continue to blur the line between pet names and children’s names. - Food names & quirky cute options
Mochi, Oreo, Miso, Honey and Muffin all appear this year, reinforcing Australia’s growing love for sweet, playful names. - Mythology & magic influence male names
Merlin, Onyx, Loki and Zeus reflect the popularity of fantasy genres, gaming culture, and Marvel characters among younger pet parents. - “Bluey effect” still going strong
Across multiple states, Bluey appears as one of the most popular male cat names, clearly influenced by Australia’s most beloved animated series.
Inspiration for the Trends
The use of human-inspired names still runs high with feline lovers, reflecting just how deeply Australians see their cats as part of the family. Classic monikers such as Lucy, Annie, Archie and Max continue to dominate the lists, blurring the line between baby names and pet names. For many pet parents, choosing a “person name” for their cat reinforces their status as a furry child rather than ‘just a pet’, and that emotional shift is clearly showing up in the data.
“More than ever, pets are being treated as true family members, and their names absolutely reflect that. We’re seeing classic human names like Lucy, Annie, Archie and Max dominate the lists again this year,” says Crighton.
Luna is the clear favourite across the country for both dogs and cats. It’s soft, celestial, and modern, and it perfectly captures the gentle, whimsical personality many cat parents adore.
“We’re also seeing a huge surge in quirky, joyful names like Mochi, Miso, Muffin and Oreo. Pet parents are having fun with naming, and the food-theme trend has absolutely taken off,” Crighton says. “Australians love to personalise their pets’ stories, whether it’s through magical names like Merlin and Onyx, pop-culture favourites like Bluey and Simba, or sweet food-inspired names. Naming a pet has become an emotionally significant moment for many families.”
New South Wales (NSW)
Top Female Names: Luna, Willow, Daisy, Lucy, Angel, Millie, Molly, Annie, Bella, Coco
Top Male Names: Leo, Milo, Prince, Simba, Oreo, Billy, Bluey, Locki, Max, Mochi
“NSW cat parents lean heavily toward soft and classic choices, with names like Luna, Leo, Willow and Daisy capturing that warm, family-friendly feel. We’re also seeing an adorable rise in food-inspired names such as Oreo and Mochi, a fun trend that really highlights the playful side of cat ownership in NSW.”
Victoria (VIC)
Top Female Names: Luna, Daisy, Yuki, Abby, Alice, Amber, Annie, Bambi, Bella, Billy
Top Male Names: Leo, Milo, Mochi, Louie, Oreo, Ace, Archie, Barney, Bear, Billy
“Victoria’s list is one of the most culturally diverse, with names like Yuki, showing the strong influence of Japanese pop culture and the global kawaii trend. Paired with timeless favourites like Daisy, Louie and Archie, it reflects the blend of modern and traditional tastes that’s become iconic to Victorian pet parents.”
Queensland (QLD)
Top Female Names: Luna, Freya, Lucy, Missy, Nala, Poppy, Angel, Blue, Emma, Honey
Top Male Names: Billy, Casper, Loki, Merlin, Onyx, Prince, Archie, Arnold, Barry, Bear
“Queenslanders clearly adore mythological and magical themes, with Freya, Loki and Merlin all sitting proudly in the top lists. These names often appeal to families who want something bold and meaningful. At the same time, favourites like Lucy, Billy and Poppy keep things sweet and familiar, a perfect reflection of QLD’s warm, fun-loving culture.”
South Australia (SA)
Top Female Names: Bella, Bubbles, Coco, Franki, Koco, Misty, Molly, Tilly, Charlie
Top Male Names: Arnold, Bluey, Charlie, Flash, Mr, Rex, Simba, Sky, Sparky, Zeus
“SA pet parents love names with character: Bubbles, Sparky, Flash and Koco all bring a real sense of personality. These choices show that South Australians aren’t afraid to be original, while classic favourites like Bella, Molly, Simba and Rex add a lovely balance of tradition.”
Western Australia (WA)
Top Female Names: Lucy, Willow, Boots, Coco, Frankie, Freya, Honey, Indi, Ivy, Lady
Top Male Names: Bluey, Eddie, Fred, George, Georgi, Luna, Max, Merlin, Miso, Muffin
“WA has a wonderfully quirky mix this year, with names like Boots, Miso and Muffin standing out. There’s a strong blend of vintage charm, think George and Lady, alongside playful, modern picks,” Crighton says. “It’s a great example of how WA families combine creativity with nostalgia when choosing the perfect name.”
State-by-State Insights
- NSW: Luna & Leo take the lead; “Prince” and “Angel” show NSW still loves classic sentimental names.
- Victoria: Yuki shows strong influence from Japanese & kawaii culture.
- Queensland: Freya appears high on the list — QLD trending toward Nordic/mythical names.
- South Australia: Strong preference for unique names like Bubbles, Flash and Sparky.
- Western Australia: Boots, Indi and Ivy show WA leaning toward earthy and outdoorsy names.
Pet Name Data cited is Pet Insurance Australia portfolio data of pets born in the 2024-2025 calendar years (up to and including 13th November).
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Nadia Crighton is a renowned and accomplished professional in the fields of Journalism, Public Relations, and Writing, with an extensive career spanning over 25 years, 20 of which have been dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of pets.