Choosing a name for your pet calls for careful consideration and creativity. When picking a meaningful moniker, some pet parents play with puns or choose a name that honors a favorite person, place or thing while others make up something amusingly nonsensical. The entries among this year's finalists for Nationwide's® Wacky Pet Names contest run that gamut.

The nation's pet health protection leader is hosting a public vote to decide the most imaginative names among its roster of more than 1.1 million dogs and cats. Voting is open April 4-9, 2022 at https://www.petinsurance.com/wackypetnames. The top vote-getters in each category will be announced on Monday, April 11, 2022.

Porkfrog, a member of the Brechler family in Belleville, has made the finals.

"My kids and I approached my husband on the idea of getting a dog," Kathleen Brechler remembers, "and he agreed with one caveat - the dog would have to be the same breed and name of his childhood pet dogs."

Well, two conditions: Nearly all of his childhood dogs had been smooth fox terriers, and they all had been named after a particular kind of fishing bait. Thus, Porkfrog came into the picture.

Read more about Porkfrog's story and vote for him at https://www.petinsurance.com/wackypetnames/2021-dog-names/Porkfrog.

Other dogs making the list are Bruno Marscapone, Dr. Potato Head, Ghostopher P. Spookington, Holly Picklebone Bonk, Macho Dog Randy Savage, Motley Chew, Princess Dumptruck, Redwood Stinging Tenticles of the Sea RuhRoh and Shoogieboogie.

Cats that made the list include Boba Pett, Crunchcat Supreme, Foo Foo Cuddly Poops, Lady Cleocatra Meowington, Linda From Human Resources, Mr. Murder Mittens, Pickles McButterpants The Muffin Slayer, Ruth Bader Kitsburg, Salt 'N' Dr. Pepper and Tavroar Swift.

Tips for Choosing a Pet's Name

Taking into account the science behind how pets hear and respond to different sounds, keep these naming tips in mind: Use hard consonants and vowels. These are easier for pets to hear and respond to.

Consider a nickname for any names longer than one or two syllables.

Avoid names that sound like commands. Subtle differences in sounds confuse pets.

Test it out first to make sure you're comfortable saying the name loudly in public.