Touchdown Tails: Football Inspired Pet Names That Score Big

Football fans show off their love of the gridiron in numerous ways—hats, jerseys, flags, car decals, even tattoos! But what about pet names? Sure enough, Nationwide Pet Insurance dug into its member rolls and found that thousands of pet families chose clever pet names to celebrate their favorite teams.  

Here’s a ranking of Nationwide® pet insurance members’ top ten favorite teams, as determined by their pets’ names.ⁱ

1. Chicago 
A total of 3,883 pets are named “Bear”—including 3,534 dogs, 318 cats, 11 ferrets, 9 guinea pigs, 8 rabbits, a hamster, a hedgehog and a parrot. An additional 1,681 fans opted for a bear-adjacent name for their pet, including “Grizzly Bear,” “Polar Bear,” “Koala Bear” and the ever-formidable “Teddy Bear.”  

2. Cleveland 
It’s no surprise that a team whose fans are known as the “Dawg Pound” were strong in the pet naming category. More than 1,500 pets have “Brown” in their name, including 1383 dogs, 129 cats, 29 guinea pigs, 20 rabbits, 3 bearded dragons, 2 doves, 2 ferrets, 2 geckos and a tortoise. 

3. Cincinnati 
While only 6 cats and 6 dogs who are named “Bengal,” there are many other ways Cincinnati’s home team is represented. For one, Nationwide Pet Insurance  protects 2,033 Bengal cats, who, like the team, are known for their stripey uniform. An additional 952 members chose “Tiger” as their nom de pet, including 629 cats, 312 dogs, 4 rabbits, 3 parrots, a bearded dragon and a gerbil. 

4. Baltimore 
Baltimore fans came on strong for their team. More than 820 pets are named “Raven,” including 574 dogs, 239 cats, 3 guinea pigs, 3 rabbits, 2 bearded dragons, a chicken, a parakeet and a rat. 

5. Kansas City 
In total, 587 are named “Chief,” including 557 dogs, 27 cats and 3 rabbits. “Mischief” is another potentially popular name for those counter-surfing, furniture destroying pets who live in the Chief Kingdom. 43 cats, 22 dogs, 2 rabbits, a ferret, a bearded dragon, and a monitor lizard share this telling moniker. 

6. New Orleans 
There are 250 pets named “Saint,” including 228 dogs, 21 cats and a rabbit. An additional 75 pets have “Saint” in their name—making “Saint Nicholas,” “Yves Saint Laurent” and the ever-popular “Croissaint” de facto fans.  

7. Dallas 
In total, 283 pet names contain “Cowboy” including 234 dogs, 47 cats, a rabbit and a macaw. 

8. Las Vegas 
A total of 226 pets are named “Raider” (209 dogs, 17 cats and 1 African grey parrot) plus one “Raiderette” from the team hub in Las Vegas.  

9. San Francisco 
A grand total of 27 dogs are named “Niner” with 67% of those pets living in the Golden State.  

10. Philadelphia 
Five dogs are named “Eagle” including a Chihuahua, a golden retriever, a German Shepherd, a Cavapoo and a small mixed-breed pup. However, this team, known as “The Birds,” is also highly represented by our avian members, including numerous pets who are named “Bird:” An African grey parrot, 2 cockatiels, 2 cockatoos, 5 conures, a lovebird, a macaw, a parakeet and 2 parrots. 

Bonus round: Peyton Manning Nationwide’s favorite play caller got a few nods from his devoted football fan pet families. In total, 213 members named their pet “Peyton,” including a devoted Maltipoo in Colorado who is named “Peyton Manning.” So far, no Nationwide-protected pets are named Paintin’ Manning, but the year is still young.

Pet owners can enter to win the ultimate 2025 NFL Kickoff experience  
Share your pet’s gameday photo on Instagram or X using #BoopInTheBayouContest for a shot at two tickets to 2025 NFL Kickoff.ⁱⁱ   

Here’s what’s on the line: 

• Two tickets to 2025 NFL Kickoffⁱⁱⁱ 
• Roundtrip airfare for two
• A two-night stay near the game venue 
• A signed football from Peyton Manning 
   

Whether your pet is rocking a jersey, tailgating with the crew or cheering from the couch, their game day spirit could score you the ultimate prize—submit your photos before the final whistle! 

[i] Name data as of 12/2024 

[ii] Contest runs on 2/9. Not available in Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Washington. See official rules.

[iii] The location of the NFL Kickoff Game is to be determined. If the selected game is held outside of the United States, tickets to an alternative game within the United States will be provided. The NFL Entities shall have no liability or responsibility for any claim arising in connection with participation in this Sweepstakes or any prize awarded. The NFL Entities have not offered or sponsored this sweepstakes in any way. Products underwritten by Veterinary Pet Insurance Company (CA), Columbus, OH; National Casualty Company (all other states), Columbus, OH. Agency of Record: DVM Insurance Agency. All are subsidiaries of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle, and Nationwide is on your side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. Third party marks are the property of their respective owners. ©2025 Nationwide. 24REF10343M