Sparkey shows up at rank #3335 with 25 male uses and a spelling that tells you something immediately: not Sparky, the canonical version, but Sparkey — with an e inserted, adding a syllable that softens the whole thing slightly. That extra letter is doing real work.
Sparky vs. Sparkey — a small orthographic argument
Sparky-without-an-e is one of the classic American pet names, in the same tier as Buddy, Rex, and Spot. It peaked mid-20th century and carries strong mid-century Americana associations. The Sparkey spelling distances itself from that archetype just enough to feel fresh: it's the same name with a slightly more deliberate, slightly less reflexive quality. You chose to spell it this way. That matters to some owners. Sparkey is a name that signals familiarity with the classic while making a small, personal adjustment to it.
The energy the name implies
Both spellings derive from the idea of sparks — electricity, energy, brightness. As a pet name, Sparkey projects a dog who is enthusiastic, quick-moving, and probably difficult to keep still. It clusters on high-energy breeds: Jack Russell Terriers, Australian Shepherds, and mixed breeds with terrier ancestry who are living up to the name on a daily basis. It also appears on Border Collies whose owners have a sense of humor about what they've gotten themselves into. The name is almost never given to a low-key, slow-moving dog.
When classic names come back
There's a broader pattern here: classic, mid-century pet names that felt overused for decades are cycling back as vintage choices, the same way Harold and Beverly are doing in baby naming. Sparkey rides that wave while the alternate spelling gives it just enough novelty to feel like a choice rather than a default. If you want something in this energetic, classic-but-updated register, Pep and Toddy are nearby neighbors worth considering.