Shakespeare is the most theatrical pet name in the English language — not just a tribute to William Shakespeare but a declaration that this animal occupies an elevated plane of dramatic existence. At rank 2552 with 36 registry appearances, pets named Shakespeare are owned by people who believe their animal is a character worthy of the stage, not just a companion.
The Literary Tribute
Naming a pet Shakespeare is different from naming one after a Shakespeare character. It's a tribute to the author himself — to four hundred years of English literature, to the invention of theatrical language, to the most-quoted writer in the world. The name lands best on animals with a flair for the dramatic: dogs who enter rooms as if they've been announced, cats who deliver soliloquies to empty walls at 3 a.m.
Breed Fit and Personality
Shakespeare is particularly well-suited to dignified, large-framed breeds: Standard Poodles, Afghan Hounds, and Borzois who carry themselves with the bearing of actors who know their lines. The nickname Shakes is useful for daily practice; the full name reserves itself for formal occasions.
The Counter-Reading: Enormous to Live Up To
Shakespeare is the heaviest name a pet can carry. Whether the animal meets the standard is irrelevant — the comedy of the gap between name and reality is the point. A bumbling basset hound named Shakespeare is funnier than a graceful borzoi named Shakespeare. Both work for different reasons.