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Categories: Horse News

What are the top ten most popular horse names?

It seems like every stable in America has a resident Stormy, Charlie or Dusty. But which horse names are actually the most common?



Although there’s no official records of horse names as there is with humans, SmartPak Equine has compiled a list of the most common horse names from over 50,000 of their customers. Supplements sold in SmartPak’s come with the horse’s name printed on the package to prevent feeding mistakes, giving them a unique insight into horse monikers from around the country.



The most popular horse names in 2011 were…

  1. Buddy
  2. Jack
  3. Max
  4. Rocky
  5. Beau
  6. Bella
  7. Chance
  8. Blue
  9. Teddy
  10. Cody

“Buddy” is a returning favorite, having topped SmartPak’s 2009 list. In fact, all of the names on this year’s list have appeared in previous lists. “Rocky” and “Cody” have shown staying power, appearing on seven of the annual top ten lists since SmartPak began compiling them in 2001.

To see SmartPak’s full list of top 100 names, click here.

To see the list of top horse names of Club Horse members, click here.

Abigail Boatwright

Abigail Boatwright is a freelance writer and photographer based in Texas, and is the editor of Horse Illustrated’s sister publication, Western Life Today.

View Comments

  • But those totally sound like dog names! Why not name your horse something totally uniqe? Or after charactars in fantasy books or something? Horses are the most noble horses alive! why give them somedoggy sounding name? Try something noble sounding.

  • We name alot of our horses and dogs after Star Trek, 2nd Generation and Voyager charcters lol! We have Tiberious, Chakotay, Cha'dich, Kes, Annika, etc. Love to have unusual names!

  • I alway try out a name for a few days before I deceide on a name. Usually they are longer names, with a name within that I call them....like Crimsonstar Fire. I call Crimson.

  • That's interesting. I know a Bella, a Chance, and a Blue. But, I'm surprised Misty isn't on the list. I know far too many Mastys. :)

  • yay my horses name was number one, sooo cute:) buddy was named buddy bc from day one he was friends w everyone

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