The annual list of the most popular names for babies can be a sought after resource for many.
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Some people want to know if their newborn's moniker is featured, some are searching for ideas and others are hoping they are more original and their child is not up there with every other Tom, Dick and Harry - or Mary.
The naming of pets can be equally interesting. While there may not be an annual list of names for reference, general observations show that dog naming has changed significantly in the 21st century.
It seems the line in the sand between human and pet has almost been eliminated with man's best friend, more often than not, answering loyally and lovingly to a human name.
A morning walk with your dog - or in many cases dogs - can be a real eye opener in the name game.
I can't remember the last time my favourite little fur buddy Angus (yes that's right, Angus...or Gus for short) met with a Rover, Spot, Patch or Butch. These were some of the more popular dog names when I was growing up (several decades ago).
The walk my little man takes me on each day finds us chatting, patting and sniffing butts (Angus does the sniffing) with many pooches almost always identified with a human name.
And yes I did say he takes me for a walk, because it is true. Somehow this adorable little character has become the tour director of our daily outings. He chooses the path we follow and when we will return home - and he never misses a beat making the right turns to home.
The sight of Abi, William, Freya, Ace, Bill or Molly in the distance on any of these walks has my little guy pulling up from the shoulders (I think this is to make him look taller), and prancing forward eagerly to meet up with one of his little fur friends. We even recently met a Simon.
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A recent call out for pooch pictures for International Dog Day further highlighted this turn toward human names for our pets. Of the more than 60 dogs named in photos, the majority had a human name.
It seems to be a pattern that is particularly common with dogs. However it is clearly not restrictive. Larry the lamb who loves to snooze in front of an open fire and (the late) Eddie the free range rabbit, who developed a habit for knocking at the back door each morning in search of a slice of sweet potato, quickly spring to mind.
