Coco is, by almost any measure, one of the perfect pet names. It's short enough to work as a recall command, sweet enough to not sound aggressive, doubled in its syllable structure in a way that's inherently playful, and it works across species, breeds, sizes, and genders without hesitation. It is also, by this point, everywhere. If you love what Coco does but want something slightly different, here are the alternatives that operate in the same register.
What Makes Coco Work (And What to Look For)
The Coco formula is specific: two syllables, both the same, soft consonant, open vowel ending. This structure — what linguists call a reduplication — is almost universally beloved across cultures. Babies are drawn to it. Dogs respond to it quickly. It's memorable, distinctive, and easy to say with warmth or authority depending on tone. The names below all share at least two of these qualities, and most share all of them.
The Direct Alternatives
Lulu — Perhaps the closest pure equivalent to Coco. Same reduplication structure, same soft landing, same cross-gender flexibility. Lulu is consistently one of the top 20 pet names in shelter data and for obvious reason. If you love Coco but your friend already used it, Lulu is the move.
Mimi — The M-initial version of the formula. Mimi skews slightly more feminine than Coco or Lulu, and has a European elegance that fits small dogs and cats particularly well. There's an opera association — Mimi from La Bohème — that gives it unexpected cultural depth.
Gigi — French in feel, Gigi has been climbing steadily as a pet name. It carries the same playful energy as Coco but with a slight fashion-world association that makes it particularly popular for dogs with luxurious coats. Think Maltese, think Bichon Frisé, think poodle.
Kiki — The K-version. Kiki is slightly more energetic than Coco — the K consonant has more punch — which makes it a natural fit for high-energy breeds. Also carries connotations of joy and dance across multiple cultural traditions.
Nono — Rarer and funnier. Nono has the self-aware quality of a name that knows it's a joke and leans into it. Works best for a cat or a dog who regularly gets into things they shouldn't.
The Extended Family: Same Energy, Different Structure
Mochi — Two syllables, soft consonant, food-based (the Japanese rice cake). Mochi has been climbing rapidly in pet naming data, driven by the broader culinary-name trend and the specific lovability of the word's sound. Perfect for round, soft, plush-looking animals.
Boba — Same culinary register, same soft energy. Boba (as in bubble tea) has arrived as a pet name in the past few years and it's delightful. The B-opening gives it slightly more bounce than Coco.
Tofu — This one polarizes people and that's part of its charm. Tofu is an excellent pet name for a white or pale-colored animal, or for a dog with a particularly mild, inoffensive personality. The contrast between the mundane food and the animal wearing it as an identity is pure naming comedy.
Cosmo — Steps out of the food world into the cosmic. Cosmo has the two-syllable structure but replaces the reduplication with a more expansive feel. Good for larger animals where Coco's smallness might feel like a mismatch. Also works beautifully for dalmatians, for reasons that are probably obvious.
Pippi — Literary, playful, immediately associated with Pippi Longstocking's brand of fearless independence. Pippi works best for orange cats and for dogs with an obvious spirit of adventure.
The Single-Syllable Cousins
If you love Coco's efficiency but want to go even shorter, these names carry the same soft-punchy quality in one syllable: Boo (timeless, universal, beloved), Bean (small but substantial, increasingly popular for tiny dogs), Bix (jazz-referencing, hip, great for cats), and Fitz (has the terrier energy even when the dog isn't a terrier).
For Specific Breeds
Some of these names pair particularly well with specific breeds. Mochi and Boba work beautifully for Shiba Inus and Japanese Chins. Gigi is a natural for Yorkshire Terriers. Lulu suits any breed but particularly works for poodles and poodle mixes, where the French connotation feels at home. Cosmo is a strong choice for any large, distinctive-looking dog — Great Danes, Weimaraners, anything with presence.
The Bottom Line
Coco's genius is its balance: sweet without being saccharine, short without being abrupt, memorable without being weird. The names on this list all share that balance in their own ways. The one closest to the original is Lulu. The most interesting step away is Mochi. The boldest choice is Nono. Start with what makes you smile when you say it out loud — because you'll be saying it several thousand times over the next decade, and joy in the saying is the only metric that actually matters.
Data source: NYC Dog Licensing Dataset + Seattle Pet Licenses. Analysis by NamesPop.
Found this helpful?
Share it with someone who’s picking a name.