The most popular pet names also crossed over with common baby names, with Charlie, Bella, Molly, Coco, Lucy and Jack all appearing in the 2014 Top Baby Names list.
Neighbourly co-founder Casey Eden (owner of 18 month old Labradoodle, Kona) said the similarity of the names reinforces that four-legged and furry friends are an important part of Kiwi families.
"Many of us treat our pets like they're our children," said Ms Eden.
"These days neighbours often meet because their dogs like each other - or sometimes because they don't! When homeowners are on the hunt for housesitters, there's often the expectation to keep the cat company too. Some Neighbourly members even feature their pets in their profile pictures, rather than uploading their own picture."
Pet.co.nz General Manager Aaron Waters (owner of 4 year old Staffy X Millie) agreed that the trend of humanising pets has flowed through to the names people give their pets, and that this has changed the make up of the average family.
"Dogs are no longer just man's best friend," he said.
"They're loyal companions when parents and bubs go for early morning walks, they're cheerleaders when your eight-year-old gets home from school, and they're training partners when your teenager goes for a run."
NZ'S MOST POPULAR PET NAME SURVEY RESULTS
Top 10 Pet Names:
1. Bella
2. Charlie
3. Poppy
4.Oscar
5. Molly & Millie**
6.Ruby
7.Max
8.Coco
9.Lucy
10.Toby
Top 10 Dog Names:
1.Bella
2. Ruby
3. Charlie
4. Poppy
5. Max
6. Molly
7. Coco
8. Oscar
9. Millie & Ollie**
10. Jack
Top 10 Cat Names:
1. Bella
2. Oscar
3. Millie
4. Molly
5. Poppy
6. Charlie
7. Missy
8. Tiger
9. Misty
10. Kitty
MOST POPULAR PET NAME BY REGION:
Northland: Poppy
Auckland: Bella
Bay of Plenty: Charlie
Canterbury: Poppy/Milly (=)
Waikato: Zoe
Wellington: Oscar
Hawke's Bay: Honey
Taranaki: Monty
Otago: Sam
Nelson/Marlborough: Tom/Tommy
Southland/West Coast: Bud
**equal
