Buffy

Buffy is an informal diminutive of Elizabeth, from the Hebrew Elisheba meaning 'my God is abundance.' As a standalone name, it has a distinctive mid-century American quality — soft, approachable, and a little bit playful. The name gained lasting cultural recognition through the long-running television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where it was famously subverted by attaching it to a fierce, unconventional hero.

Buffy is the name for a pet who is far tougher than she looks — the small dog who herds animals three times her size, the cat who has never lost a standoff with anything. There is a delightful irony embedded in the name, that combination of fluff and backbone that makes pets named Buffy so endearing. It also suits a straightforwardly sweet, fluffy companion without any ironic layers at all. Either way, Buffy is warm, fun, and impossible to say without a smile.