Coquito registers 58 times in the NYC/Seattle pet data at rank 1736, skewing male. The Spanish diminutive most commonly refers to the Puerto Rican holiday drink — a coconut-based eggnog that's central to Christmas celebrations in many Caribbean households — and the name in pet contexts is almost certainly a cultural-affective choice by Puerto Rican or broader Latino owners marking something beloved.
The Holiday Drink Reference
Coquito the drink is a Puerto Rican institution: coconut cream, rum, cinnamon, vanilla, sometimes egg yolks. It circulates at family gatherings from Thanksgiving through Three Kings Day. Naming a pet Coquito is a declaration of cultural affiliation and a small act of warmth; the name means "this pet is as welcome in this house as the holiday tradition." The NYC registry concentration of this name almost certainly reflects Puerto Rican New York households.
Sound and Personality Fit
The three-syllable diminutive form (co-QUI-to) has a natural brightness to it — the stress falls on the second syllable with the qui carrying like a small exclamation. It suits animated, warm, social dogs with personality to match the festive associations. Browse Chihuahua names or Maltese names for similar small-dog exuberant picks.
Counter-Reading
Outside Puerto Rican and Caribbean Latino contexts, Coquito will likely require explanation — which is in itself a small moment of cultural transmission rather than a problem. The name is culturally specific in a way that carries meaning, not confusion.