Momo ranks #217 with 499 entries and is one of the few genuinely gender-neutral pet names in this tier. The reduplicated MOH-MOH structure is one of the friendliest sound patterns in any language, and Momo draws on multiple cultural roots — Japanese (peach), the airbender pet on Avatar: The Last Airbender, K-pop, and a generic affectionate diminutive — without committing to any one.
The Avatar lineage
Momo the flying lemur appeared in Avatar: The Last Airbender from 2005 to 2008 and remains a strong reference point for owners who watched the show as kids or teens. That cohort is now the prime pet-adopting age, and pet Momos in the 2018-onward window often trace directly back to the character. The Avatar reference reinforces the name's slightly whimsical, slightly mischievous register.
One counter-reading: the K-pop group TWICE has a member named Momo (debuted 2015), and a subset of younger owners pick the name from that source instead. The two anchors — Avatar and K-pop — coexist without competing because they appeal to different sub-audiences.
Sound, breed, and crossover
Reduplicated names like Momo, Coco, and Lulu work especially well for cats and small dogs because the repetition functions like a built-in call-and-response. The name lands disproportionately on cats, small breeds, and rabbits. It is also one of the more popular bilingual-household pet names because of its Japanese-friendly pronunciation.
Owners cross-shopping reduplicated names often browse Coco and Lulu alongside Momo. The pet-names directory shows the broader cluster. The name's true neutrality (almost equally split across male, female, and unspecified gender pets) is unusual in this rank tier and makes it a strong pick for owners who want to avoid gendered naming.