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Conner, who considers herself a name expert, said that in addition to choosing names that are more human like, there are a few rules that dog owners should follow.

She said it is important to use vowel sounds and give a name that has no more than two syllables.

"They can really pick up on them. It gets too complicated with more than that, but give a name with a punch to it," she said, because a pet's name is crucial in training.

"Any pet, as soon as they can ID their name, (that) is the first step in training," Conner said.

Three syllable names are OK for pets other than dogs and cats, however.

"You can name your snake Cleopatra," she said. "It's not going to come."

She followed the rules when naming her dogs, although Fawn's name was really difficult to come up with.

"She is a husky. I wanted something to do with nature but, as she was a member of my family, too, I just wanted her to have a name that a person could have, too," Conner said.

Conner said she really likes the name Ella, so that name was easy.

"Ella is a name I have always liked, and in my job as a name expert, compiling data and giving advice about baby names to people all the time -- it is one that I had seen that I really liked," she said. "It is a very popular name, though, and one that I wouldn't use for a child of my own, only because I see so many little Ellas and Bellas being named every day."

Theme Names

Lori Krout, creator of Dog-Paw-Print.com, agrees that dogs are being given more human names.

Her Web site uses research from the Veterinary Pet Insurance, one of the country's largest pet insurance companies. VPI provides the names given by the policyholders. Krout said they track names for dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and exotics and gave the top 10 names from 2006.

# Top 10 dogs names:
Max
# Buddy
# Molly
# Maggie
# Jake
# Daisy
# Lucy
# Rocky
# Bailey
# Sadie

# Top 10 Cat Names
Max
# Tigger
# Tiger
# Chloe
# Smokey
# Lucy
# Cleo
# Princess
# Oliver
# Simba

Krout said the trend toward using human names is driven by people who view their pets like children.

"Dogs before were used for work on the farm and different occupations. People would keep them outside in a dog house," Krout said. "Nowadays, they are in the house, even sleeping in the bed sometimes."

Krout also has a few guidelines for naming a dog.

"Have fun, be creative and maybe use a theme," she said. "Also, think about that you will be calling it this all the time, so you don't want it to be some long, crazy name."

Krout said that "theme names" for families with more than one pet commonly come from movies and books, such as Thelma and Louise, or Gable and Bogart.

Krout even chose to give one of her dogs a name from a book. She has Otis, Sofie and Guinevere, who is usually called Guinny.

She said Guinevere is named after a character in "Camelot."

For fans of Harry Potter, Krout has compiled a list of possible pet names from the popular series.

Her Web site also has a list of dog names with Australian origin for breeds such as the Australian cattle dog and Australian shepherd. They include names such as Bikkie and Ace. The meanings are also included.

O Names

Some people believe that giving a dog a name ending with the vowel O may make a dog think that the owner is saying, "No."

Krout said she does not believe this rule is true.

She pointed to the popular dog name Coco. It is No. 16 on the list of popular girl dog names.

What's Your Ferret's Name?

While a lot of attention is placed on cat and dog names, it is becoming increasingly popular for people to give a lot of thought to the names for their other pets.

Conner said on PetNamesWorld's message boards there are several questions and comments about other pets.

One comment Conner said, "I just got a new rabbit. What should I call him?"

The site includes pet names for birds, ferrets, fish, guinea pigs, hamsters, horses, lizards, mice, pigs, rabbits, rats, snakes and turtles.

An advanced search on the site allows users to enter a name and determine if it is suitable for that type of animal. The search also helps users narrow the name's origin.

I named my big ole baby, Buddha cuz he had a buddha-butt that just wriggled like crazy when I first saw him.

I named my dog Buster because he was like a little bruiser as a baby. Our small dog was named Maximillion, but we call him Maxi. He is a little curly haired yorkie-poo

Well my first dog was real original, it was Lady :^( However when I started breeding the dogs were named in a theme and that is a common practice. The ex named a litter after favorite songs and we kept Passion from the song Passionate Kisses. Well she had a litter and we kept Shania for Shania twain and her litter mates were in reference to the singer and her songs. Focus who's registered name was Photograph. My girl Cherri was from the wood/tree litter, others were Teak and Willow. Another litter was the poker litter Some of those names were Deuce and Joker. I could keep going but that would be redundant.

My Poodle was Kandi because she was a chocolate poodle. Reedy was found in Reedy Creek Park here in Charlotte, Big Mac was rescued from a McDonald's that I was running and he was hanging around for a couple of days and it was going to be 15 degrees out on night so I brought him home 13 1/2 years ago. Dottie my Whippet is named for the dark dots on her back.

My first Whippet that I re-homed was an AKC Champion, Ch Topaz Brigadoon and his name was Brig. The people who bred them named them with there favorite old musicals. He had a very successful brother named Ch. Topaz Jazz Singer.

So I always had a reason or a theme but not all were human names.

Wolfie aka Mike :^))

Looks like were're naming ours after cartoon characters! Brother Bear, Daisy, and Betty Boop! LOL

We named our new little puppy Ozzie because........well we liked it.

We named our dogs Shams (sun) Toshi (unique) and Obi (heart of the father)

My very first dog, an English Setter, was Duke. Then I had a stray who looked like a black fox named Blackie who was later joined by two Belgian Shepards named Bubby and Buster and another little rescue named Boo. After that was a rescue who looked like Toto named Johnnie Walker (don't you dare put your drink on the floor), followed by a little Westie (female) named Frankie (Frankie and Johnnie, get it?). Before little Frankie went to the Rainbow Bridge a little scottie named General Jacob Clan McGregor moved in. He's Jake for short and Jacob when he's been a bad boy!!

I had a GSD named Topper T, she was very Alpha. Now with the Labs being Chocolate...Koko and Hershey's Kiss.

I should have said my kitty cat's name. When she was born, she was playing with my fingers while her eyes were still closed. When she opened them, she played with everything, hence she gained the name, Playful. She is 13 now.