Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s fluffy white Samoyed Wendy has joined a very exclusive dog name club, after Dogs Trust revealed just 30 dogs in its National Dog Survey share her name.
The celebrity couple recently revealed Wendy as the dog they share, after she appeared alongside Kelce in a Tommy Hilfiger campaign. But while the Samoyed may now be one of the world’s most talked-about pets, her name is far from a common choice among British owners.
Dogs Trust’s National Dog Survey, which received responses from more than 180,000 people, places Wendy as the UK’s 801st most popular dog name. It is tied with Flossy, Bumble and Claude, with only 30 surveyed dogs carrying the name.
It is unclear whether Swift and Kelce used Dogs Trust’s new Dog Comparison Tool before settling on Wendy. The charity’s online tool allows owners to check how popular their own dog’s name and breed are across the UK.
Swifties have already spotted a possible link between the name and Swift’s references to Peter Pan and Wendy in her music. Kelce, meanwhile, has previously named Wendy Peffercorn from 1993 film The Sandlot as his favourite character of the 1990s, although the couple have not confirmed what inspired the choice.
Bethan Greenwood, Senior Research Officer at Dogs Trust, said: “Wendy might be one of the most talked-about dogs in the world right now, but her name is surprisingly unusual among the UK’s dogs. Of all the dogs represented in our National Dog Survey, only 30 are called Wendy.
“Whether her name was inspired by Peter Pan, a favourite film character or simply because it suited her, Wendy is certainly in her own era. It will be fascinating to see whether Wendy starts climbing the dog-name rankings now, maybe there’ll be two chart-toppers in the family in future!”
Human names remain a popular route for dog owners, who often take inspiration from favourite characters, personal interests and pop culture. The UK’s most popular female dog names in 2026 are Poppy, Luna and Bella, meaning Wendy still has some ground to make up if the Swift and Kelce effect takes hold.
Dogs Trust’s National Dog Survey aims to build a picture of the UK’s dogs and the people who care for them. Dog owners can use the charity’s National Dog Survey tool to see how common their pet’s name or breed is.
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