Lolita

Lolita is a Spanish diminutive of Lola, which is itself a diminutive of Dolores — from the Latin dolor meaning pain or sorrow, referencing Our Lady of Sorrows. In Spanish-speaking cultures it's simply a sweet, diminutive nickname. In English-speaking countries, the name carries complex associations from Vladimir Nabokov's 1955 novel Lolita. For a pet, the Spanish diminutive tradition is the relevant register.

As a pet name, Lolita is purely the Spanish diminutive tradition at work — affectionate, lilting, and warm. It suits small female dogs or cats with expressive personalities, particularly those with a Latin flair: Chihuahuas, Spanish Water Dogs, elegant cats with dramatic eyes. The name has a musical quality with its three syllables and the open final vowel. In the pet context, it simply means a beloved little thing, and that's all it needs to mean.