Pet name wheel

How to choose a name with the wheel

1. Spin five times with Remove the winner after each spin turned on. Write down any name that makes you smile.
2. Press Reset, delete everything, and type your shortlist into the box. Add the names family members suggest.
3. Spin the shortlist. If your heart sinks at the result, cross it off. If you grin, that is the name.

What makes a good pet name

• One or two syllables: short names are easier to call across a park. “Biscuit” works; a five-syllable name becomes a nickname anyway.
• Not like a command: for dogs, avoid names that sound like the words you will train, such as “Kit” (sit), “Bo” (no) or “Kay” (stay).
• Different from the household: a dog called Max in a house with a child called Mac will be confused, and so will the child.
• Say it in public: shout it out loud ten times. If you would feel silly calling it at the vet, keep looking.

Lists for different pets

Make your own themed wheel: food names for a small dog (Dumpling, Pretzel, Noodle), tree names for a cat (Cedar, Aspen, Birch), tiny names for a hamster (Crumb, Button, Pea) or fish named after famous explorers. Save it in My wheels and share it with the family using Share link so everyone votes on the same list.