Carrie is a diminutive of Caroline or Carol, from the Germanic Karl meaning free man. On a pet it carries the warmth of 70s and 80s human names repurposed for animals: familiar without being ubiquitous, the name of someone's aunt from a generation ago, now landing on dogs and cats whose owners find the retro quality charming.
The Vintage Human Name Revival
Carrie peaked as a human name in the 1960s-70s. On a pet today it has a specific retro warmth: more interesting than a trend name, less formal than a classical one. Cocker Spaniels and Cavaliers suit Carrie's gentle, people-oriented energy well.
Pop-Culture Anchors
Carrie has two major cultural poles: Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City and Carrie White from Stephen King's novel. The Bradshaw version is more likely the operating reference for pet owners today. The King association makes the name slightly more interesting. The human name Carrie shares both references.
Counter-Reading: The Horror Shadow
The Stephen King novel and its films give Carrie a shadow the Bradshaw version doesn't fully erase. For horror lovers, this is a feature. For everyone else, it's a negligible association that almost never comes up unless you mention it. Browse other vintage human names on pets.