The past feels new again. Pet parents are reaching back to move forward, leaning into what Rover calls “Future Retro”—a mash-up of vintage warmth and modern style sweeping through 2025’s pet name lists. Whether it’s nostalgia for simpler times or an affection for the old-school made cool again, this trend says as much about us as it does about our pets.

Vintage vibes are shaping the names we love.

Midwest Dogs, Y2K Cats

Dogs in the Midwest wear this mood like a favorite flannel. Names such as Dade (up 931%), Packard (530%), Sadie Girl (481%), and Ted Lasso (431%) are climbing fast—proof that small-town grit and big-hearted humor never go out of style. These names mix wholesome Americana with television charm, blending the nostalgic comfort of heartland life with a pop-cultural wink, according to Rover.

Cats, meanwhile, are embracing the digital nostalgia of the early internet age. Amiga (631%), Ozone (531%), Jpeg (282%), Bitcoin (232%), and Laser (199%) sound like a playlist from the late ’90s—part tech dream, part sci-fi rerun. They’re fun, ironic, and a little futuristic, much like the online spaces where many new cat parents spend their time.

Nostalgia never goes out of style.

Comfort In Familiar Signals

There’s more behind this than aesthetic whimsy. Researchers studying the impact of rapid technological change note that people often cling to comforting symbols when the world feels uncertain. Names that evoke familiar eras or objects—like Packard or Amiga—provide a small anchor of reassurance in an age of AI anxiety.

Home-And-Style Currents Help

The “vintage revival” doesn’t stop at pet names. Design and fashion circles have dubbed it “Vintage Americana,” a lifestyle shift where denim blues, polished chrome, and diner reds are back in vogue, Forbes reports. When our living rooms feel nostalgic, our pets’ names tend to follow suit. Naming, after all, is another form of self-expression—and our dogs and cats are part of that story.

Double Names And Deep Cuts

Rover’s dataset even reveals a wave of double-barreled charmers: Big Mack, April May, Mabel Mae, and Millie Moo. They sound pulled from a country jukebox—folksy, warm, and wonderfully human. Meanwhile, cats lean cosmic-camp with names like Proton, Lo-Fi, and C-3PO, proof that our digital nostalgia has a sense of humor too, Rover reports.

Retro names are making a powerful comeback.

Dogs And Cats Within Earshot

Even as trends evolve, sound still matters. Two-syllable names dominate both species. “Ee” endings like Daisy or Lily hit the sweet spot between cheerful and easy-to-call, creating a rhythm that rolls off the tongue during training or playtime. Simplicity, it seems, never goes out of fashion.

What To Watch Next

Analog-meets-digital names like Sega (up 81%) and Cache (82%) hint at what’s ahead: retro tech nostalgia with a wink toward the future. If AI keeps reshaping daily life, don’t be surprised if next year’s puppy park is filled with names straight out of a 1990s startup—and every one of them said with affection.