Pet
A pet, or companion animal, is an animal kept primarily for a person's company or entertainment rather than as a working animal, livestock, or a laboratory animal. Popular pets are often considered to have attractive/cute appearances, intelligence, and relatable personalities, but some pets may be taken in on an altruistic basis and accepted by the owner regardless of these characteristics.
Meaning & Origin of Pet
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
A pet, or companion animal, is an animal kept primarily for a person's company or entertainment rather than as a working animal, livestock, or a laboratory animal. Popular pets are often considered to have attractive/cute appearances, intelligence, and relatable personalities, but some pets may be taken in on an altruistic basis and accepted by the owner regardless of these characteristics.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Pet
As a girl name
Pet first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1900, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1900, when 5 Pets were born — ranking #1,932 that year. As of 2026, Pet ranks #4,975 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 10 Pets have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1900s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Pet first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1900, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1900, when 5 Pets were born — ranking #1,310 that year. As of 2026, Pet ranks #3,534 for boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 10 Pets have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1900s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Pet
Phonetically similar names — useful when Pet is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pet
What does the name Pet mean?
How popular is Pet in 2026?
When was Pet most popular?
Is Pet a unisex name?
What names go well with Pet?
About the name Pet
Pet is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1900 and has accumulated 10 births in the dataset. Pet's peak popularity came in 1900 when it ranked #1,932. Use the chart and map above to compare Pet's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1900 →
- Names of the 1900s →
- Names starting with "P" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.