Should pets have a "human" name?

I think it's more convenient to give them a non-human name.  Usually so people know what you're talking about when you go and say "I took fifi out for a walk today" or something, or if you're calling them from across a large expanse.  But really, in the end, it's entirely up to the owner.  If they feel they like the name "pete" or "jack" then that's their choice.  I would personally prefer to give pets slightly more non-human names, for the most part.  Not always though...just for dogs and cats, really.  I think it's amusing to name goldfish after people, after all. :P

Some human names fit animals, others don't.  The decision should be made on a case-by-case basis, imho. 

Pete works, Lulu works.  Carl?  Shirley?  Not so much

I find human names, especially names with titles, fit animals very well simply because they are cute and/or funny.

A duck named Mrs. McGreggor is good for laughs. A dog named Sir Edmond is equally a real quacker.

I (unofficially) named my niece's dogs after characters/people I've met. There's Karen, Sunshine, Mickey, and Sarah Jane. My teddy bear is named Ange. My first car will probably be named Compassion, after the half-human/half-Tardis hybrid from the Doctor Who/Faction Paradox novels. 

I dont give a ratse arse if an animal should be given a human name or not. Fact is that when you get a dog, it will be part of your family, a real family member that is. What you want to name him/her is up to the owners. My long dead daschund was named Eetu, a human name. It just fitted him so well. Although we rarely called him that, he had a lot of non-human nicknames, which oddly enough he recognised them all and responded to them whenever we called for him.

I have a "Raiden" and a "Peach." Video Game characters work well, but I've nothing against human names for pets. Had a dog named Lucy, met a cat named Tomas. 

They're animals?, I think its nice to name them so they won't feel left out or something, Have you met my computer servers? Tachibana, Konata, Sylvanna and Madison I birth to them and give them names.. 

My Jenday Conure is named Hikaru.  That's a human name, but not one you're likely to hear in my neck of the woods so for all practical purposes it isn't.

I like people names, humanizes them and gives them personality.  Over the years I've had pets named Esther, Jessie, Anna, Evie, and Phoebe.

A friend of mine called his dog "jesus", human names are better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik 

I've been having a (very) minor debate with my sister over the naming of pets.

She likes to give them human names. She has pets named Newman, Lulu and Pete.

Recently, I've named a couple of cats Mai Tai and Gypsy.

I stay away from human names because they're animals. I like having a cat named after a cocktail. My sister disagrees.

So, how do you name your pets? Do you like human names or do you look for unconventional names?

In my personal experience, there is nothing so stupid sounding as having a neighbor repeatedly ( for hours, seemingly) calling for their stupid pet (probably a finicky cat type) to return home in a sing song - voice, first high and higher pitched , Bob-by , and then again though in lower octaves, over and over and over - Bob-by- Bob-by - Bob-by - Bob-by ad nasauem ~

Perhaps the poor pet wasn't stupid after-all, just embarrassed , I figured ;)
 

But go ahead name him Sue, for all I care ; Toughen em up ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik 

I've been having a (very) minor debate with my sister over the naming of pets.

She likes to give them human names. She has pets named Newman, Lulu and Pete.

Recently, I've named a couple of cats Mai Tai and Gypsy.

I stay away from human names because they're animals. I like having a cat named after a cocktail. My sister disagrees.

So, how do you name your pets? Do you like human names or do you look for unconventional names?

In my opinion, a name is a name. It shouldn't be linked to a type of species. Also, we are animals as well and are no better than a cat or dog in terms of value of life.

Human or non-human, whatever floats you boat. And if it's a cat they're only going to respond if they feel like it.Squeak and Mike agree.