Meaning and background
The story behind Spiky
Spiky has both visual and figurative English associations. Merriam-Webster records something characterized by spikes and a sharper figurative sense involving manner or temper. An owner may intend a tufted coat, an accessory, or a playful contrast with a gentle companion. That individual observation is separate from the word's definition, which does not establish a personal-name history or require a dog called Spiky to have a particular temperament.
- Association
- English adjective involving spikes, also used figuratively for an irritating or sharp manner. Source
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Everyday moments“Spiky, come here!”
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About Spiky
Recorded as a dog’s name
Spiky appears in 4 dog licence records in the 2022 New York City dataset.
How to read this count
These records cover New York City and may count the same dog in more than one licence period. They are not a national popularity ranking.
Pronunciation and rhythm
/spaɪki/
US English sound sequence, converted from the CMU dictionary. Stress marks are shown separately.
Stress on the first syllable in the recorded US readings.
View dictionary notation
/spaɪki/ · primary stress on syllable 1S P AY1 K IY0
These are US dictionary readings. Personal, regional and other language pronunciations may differ.
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Sources and research notes (2)
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene NYC Dog Licensing Dataset — all seven available extract years, retrieved 24 October 2026 — Recorded name spellings in NYC licence-period rows, extract years 2016–2018, 2022–2024 and 2026. Evidence selects one stated year per name. Annual snapshots overlap; never sum them as unique dogs. No national popularity, etymology or owner naming-intent claim.
- Carnegie Mellon University / CMU Sphinx maintainers CMU US English Pronouncing Dictionary — US English dictionary readings; not owner-specific or exhaustive multilingual pronunciation
References support the individual facts shown. A source link does not mean the entire profile has been verified.