BINGO Was His Name-O and Dog Naming Tips
Bingo is a pretty common dog name, thanks in part to the familiar children’s song, “There Was A Farmer Who Had A Dog” which is about a dog named Bingo. The song, also referred to by little children as “B-I-N-G-O,” dates back to the late 1700s. A piece of sheet music published in 1780 is the earliest known reference to this song which now has dozens of versions. In many areas there is a game associated with it, though the rules differ by location. The most common way to sing the song is by replacing the letters in the dog’s name with a hand clap.
There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
B-I-N-G-O
B-I-N-G-O
B-I-N-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-I-N-G-O
(clap)-I-N-G-O
(clap)-I-N-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-N-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-N-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-N-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-G-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-G-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-O
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-O
And Bingo was his name-o.
There was a farmer who had a dog,
And Bingo was his name-o.
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)
(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)-(clap)
And Bingo was his name-o.
Another reason for the popularity of the name is because of the game that is played and loved by millions of people worldwide. This game of chance is played by people of all ages, with elementary school teachers using the game to teach numbers to senior citizens and everyone in between. If you enjoy bingo use Love to Play Bingo, a comparison of various bingo games.
In the last decade there has been a shift towards giving dogs names according to gender, as people do with their children, since most dog owners do feel that their dog is a member of their family. While many dog owners will name their pet Bingo, Rover, Ginger and Spot many are choosing gender specific names. Other top dog names, according to those registered for pet insurance, for male dogs are Max, Buddy, Rocky, Bailey, Jake, Charlie, Jack, Toby, Cody and Buster. Popular dog names for female dogs are Bella, Molly, Lucy, Maggie, Daisy, Sophie, Sadie, Chole, Bailey and Lola. You could also go the humorous route and chose a funny name like Dog Vader, Barnaby Bones, Virginia Woof or Winnie the Pooch.
When you get a new dog, consider waiting a week or two before naming it so that you can observe it and give it a name that fits its personality. Many parents wish they had done this with giving their children names but are often pushed to chose a name. With pets, there is rarely any pressure to pick a name quickly. If you later decide you need to change it, there’s also nothing wrong with changing its name later, though, if it is registered or has an insurance policy, you will need to update that immediately.
Here are a few tips for picking a name for your dog.
1. Decide what type of name to give it. A name based on its appearance, a gender specific name or a silly name.
2. Chose a short name. Pets respond well to one and two syllable names, plus they are easier for you to yell out while in the park.
3. Avoid names that sound like the commands that you will give (no, sit, fetch, bark). You may want to avoid a name like Joe since it sounds like no. Likewise Mark sounds like bark.
4. You might find inspiration for naming your dog based on its breed. Chose a French name for your poodle.
