Pika is Pikachu without the suffix — the electric mouse Pokémon distilled to its most essential syllables. As a standalone pet name it's sharper and more versatile than the full Pikachu: quick to say, easy to recognize, and suitable for animals other than dogs and cats. The name skews female in registry data, which is slightly surprising given Pikachu's gender-neutral franchise positioning.
The Pokémon Naming Ecosystem
Pikachu became the face of the Pokémon franchise in 1996 and has not relinquished that position in nearly three decades. Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019) brought the character to live-action and renewed interest across age groups. Pika as a shortened form works especially well for small, quick animals: Chihuahuas, rabbits, and cats all suit the name's small-animal energy. Pika is also a real animal — a small, round mountain-dwelling mammal — which gives the name an unexpected natural history layer.
Sound Fit
PEE-kah is bright, two syllables, and ends on an open vowel that projects well as a call name. The high front vowel in the first syllable carries well in parks and open spaces — small animals and their owners both benefit from a name that cuts through ambient noise efficiently.
The Counter-Reading
Pika will always be read as a Pokémon reference by anyone born after 1985. That's not a problem for most owners choosing this name, but it does mean the name ages with the franchise. See also Pikachu for the full-length version.