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.

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The most popular horse names in 2011 were…

Buddy
Jack
Max
Rocky
Beau
Bella
Chance
Blue
Teddy
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.

14 years ago

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.

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View Comments

jockeygirl! says:
January 21, 2012 at 9:35 am
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.
Alex says:
January 21, 2012 at 6:44 pm
Guilty on having Stormy and Chance. :P
Diane says:
January 21, 2012 at 10:07 pm
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!
Galadriel says:
January 21, 2012 at 11:05 pm
It's funny that Buddy is at the top of both the dog and horse lists.
PKL says:
January 22, 2012 at 6:27 am
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.
Shelby says:
January 22, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Wow! i have a Beau and a Teddy!
Ellen says:
January 22, 2012 at 5:21 pm
I've personally known horses with seven of those names! The Top 100 list rung a lot of bells, too.
Dana says:
January 31, 2012 at 6:11 pm
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. :)
Horse Lover says:
February 1, 2012 at 8:09 am
Sorry but all of those names are very stupid....
alisha says:
February 7, 2012 at 6:06 am
yay my horses name was number one, sooo cute:) buddy was named buddy bc from day one he was friends w everyone