As we face increasingly hectic lifestyles, we are now turning up more to our pets for companionship and unconditional love. With this, there are some people who are choosing pets over children, and then preferring to give human names to them!

Hundred years ago, when a dog just meant to guard our houses or to herd sheep and then sleep outside in garage; it was a much utilitarian relation. But now, with dogs sharing our beds and having their own Facebook account, it seems they are more welcomed as a child in the home.

Today, with this trend of change in relations with our dogs, has the names given to them, also changed.

An online survey carried out by Veterinary Pet Insurance of around 475,000 dogs and cats, unearthed the today's most fascinating names for them that included Max, Chloe, Bella, Oliver, Maggie and Lucy.

In the way we now view our pets and their roles, it has brought a major change in the bonds shared by humans with them. It has become stronger than ever.

VetShopAustralia head vet Dr. Mark Perissinotto said, "With nine out of 10 top dog names being human names, it's clear that more people are thinking of their dogs as a substitute child or another member of the family, rather than just a pet".

Thus, the Ipswich pet owners have now moved ahead of the archaic names of Fido, Fluffy and Rover and have turned to give up-to-the-minute names to their dogs and cats.