You probably don't need convincing that dogs are a big deal in Wisconsin — but here's something you might not know.
The Badger State is the only place in the country with a dog breed to call its very own. The American water spaniel, that curly, chocolate-coated hunter, was developed in the state and then named Wisconsin's official state dog back in 1985.
Of course, most Wisconsin pups aren't water spaniels. According to reports, at least one dog lives in over 42% of U.S. households — 56.3 million homes in all — and plenty of us keep more than one, like I currently do.
When it comes to naming them, I've always been a fan of unique names. I once had an Australian Herder named Anchorhead Bob, so trust me when I say I can think outside the box — but you should've seen the ears on this awesome dog!
A lot of dog owners, however, tend to land on the same handful of names, which is exactly what a new study set out to measure — ranking the most popular dog names in every state and across the country.
How the Rankings Were Put Together
The list comes from an analysis run in June 2026 that sorted through more than half a million registration records provided by a pet insurance partner, covering dogs signed up between January 2022 and June 2026.
Researchers filtered every name by the owner's home state, then ranked them to see which pups' names rose to the top in each corner of the country.
Most Popular Dog Names In Wisconsin
Here in the Badger State, the three most popular dog names are:
- Bella
- Luna
- Daisy
Unlike neighboring Minnesota — where Luna took the crown — Wisconsin lines up right with the national pick, handing No. 1 to Bella. Luna settles for second, and the classic Daisy rounds out the top three.
The Most Popular Dog Names In America
Zoom out to the full map and Bella dominates, but she doesn't win everywhere. A handful of states go their own way, and a few pick names you won't find anywhere near the national top 100. Here's the No. 1 dog name in every state:
- Alabama — Bella
- Alaska — Buddy
- Arizona — Bella
- Arkansas — Lucy
- California — Luna
- Colorado — Luna
- Connecticut — Luna
- Delaware — Bella
- Florida — Bella
- Georgia — Bella
- Hawaii — Koa
- Idaho — Bella
- Illinois — Max
- Indiana — Bella
- Iowa — Bella
- Kansas — Luna
- Kentucky — Bella
- Louisiana — Bella
- Maine — Buddy
- Maryland — Bella
- Massachusetts — Luna
- Michigan — Bella
- Minnesota — Luna
- Mississippi — Bella
- Missouri — Bella
- Montana — Barron
SEE NOW: Could A Special Penny Now Worth Over $15,000 Be Found In Wisconsin?
- Nebraska — Luna
- Nevada — Bella
- New Hampshire — Luna and Pepper (tie)
- New Jersey — Bella
- New Mexico — Luna
- New York — Luna
- North Carolina — Bella
- North Dakota — Jack
- Ohio — Bella
- Oklahoma — Buddy
- Oregon — Bella
- Pennsylvania — Bella
- Rhode Island — Luna
- South Carolina — Bella
- South Dakota — Bella
- Tennessee — Bella
- Texas — Bella
- Utah — Luna
- Vermont — Bella and Roxy (tie)
- Virginia — Bella
- Washington — Luna
- West Virginia — Bella and Max (tie)
- Wisconsin — Bella
- Wyoming — Milo
Of course, what people name their dog isn't nearly as important as how they treat them. So, love up on your pup, whatever the name, and you'll get exceedingly more love back in return.
One-Of-A-Kind Curved Earth Home In Maple, Wisconsin Is Back On Market
Gallery Credit: Lauren Wells