Kendall is a surname-origin name — from the English place name Kendal in Cumbria — that crossed into given-name territory in the mid-20th century and has since become firmly gender-neutral. On a pet it feels like a name a very stylish millennial would choose: familiar enough to be comfortable, distinctive enough to feel considered.
The Reality TV Effect
Kendall Jenner's sustained cultural presence has kept this name visible across every demographic that watches pop culture from a distance. That kind of low-key omnipresence makes Kendall recognizable without being saturated in the pet name space — it reads as a human name that happens to be on a dog or cat, which is its own kind of charm. Compare it to Kylie or Khloe in the same cultural cluster.
Gender-Neutral Versatility
Kendall works on any gender, which matters for pet owners who want a name that doesn't immediately sex their animal. Labs and Goldens of either gender wear it easily. The human name Kendall has been used for both boys and girls in the US since the 1980s, so the gender neutrality has real historical grounding.
The Counter-Reading: Pop Culture's Shelf Life
Names closely tied to living celebrities age in step with those celebrities' cultural relevance. Kendall feels current now; revisit that assessment in a decade. For a gender-neutral option with longer legs, Reese or Riley carry similar energy without the single-celebrity association.