Cheddar is a food name that operates at peak absurdism — and that's exactly its appeal. Male pets at rank 1201 named Cheddar tend to be orange, yellow, or just extremely good-natured, with owners who have a strong sense of humor and an abiding love of cheese. The name is impossible to say without smiling, which is a non-trivial quality in a pet name.
The Cheese Name Tradition
Food names for pets skew heavily toward comfort foods — Biscuit, Waffle, Nacho, Pretzel. Cheese names occupy a particular warm-yellow corner of that tradition: Gouda, Brie, Colby, Cheddar. Cheddar is the most American of these, the grocery-store staple that every household knows. It maps perfectly onto a chunky, orange-toned, universally lovable dog. Golden Retrievers and Corgis are the natural Cheddars — the cheese color match alone justifies it.
The Brooklyn Nine-Nine Boost
Cheddar is the name of Captain Holt's prized Corgi in Brooklyn Nine-Nine — a character treated with extraordinary seriousness in the show, which is the source of much of the comedy. The show ran from 2013 to 2021, and owners who choose Cheddar in its wake are often consciously referencing that specific pompous-Corgi energy. It's a name that rewards viewers of the show and puzzles everyone else equally.
Pure Sound Appeal
CHED-der has a satisfying double-consonant crunch that makes it fun to say. It's distinctive from any command and very easy for a pet to learn as their call name. Browse all pet names for similarly food-adjacent options.