Do Swiss cows have names?
By Jan de Boer
Whether it be videos of cattle being airlifted by helicopter, or painted bovines marching down from the mountains with bells clanging, cows are an integral part of culture and tradition in Switzerland. Now, the latest data from the Swiss government has revealed what farmers like to name their cows.
Swiss cow population begins to rise
According to Identitas, the public registry service for cats, dogs and other animals in Switzerland, there were 1,5 million cattle registered in Switzerland in November 2024. This means that the population has declined slightly compared to 2023 - although numbers have fallen steadily since 2012.
The Swiss canton with the most cows is Canton Bern, with more than 295.000 head of cattle calling the area home - not surprising as Bern is home to a large number of top Swiss cheeses. Lucerne (147.825) and St. Gallen (136.599) rounded out the podium - the figure means there is roughly one cow for every three people in Lucerne.
Interestingly, the most popular cow breeds have changed dramatically in the last 10 years. The Rotfleckvieh and Braunvieh, two Swiss varieties, have slowly been replaced by more robust mixes and crossbreeds. As of the end of November 2024, there were 237.864 Braunvieh cows in Switzerland, compared to 241.999 Holsteins and 249.186 crossbreeds.
The 10 most popular cow names in Switzerland
For most farmers, registering a cow with the authorities also means giving it a name. According to the latest data, the most popular name for a cow in Switzerland is Bella, with farmers giving 4.444 bovines the "beautiful" name. In all, the most popular names for Swiss cows are:
- Bella
- Fiona
- Bianca
- Sina
- Tina
- Nora
- Luna
- Nina
- Belinda
- Diana
Interestingly, much like the most common dog names in Switzerland, each language region has its own idea of what an ideal name is. In German-speaking areas, the top three are Bella, Fiona and Sina, west of the Röstigraben the three are Bella, Tulipe and Vanille and in Ticino, the top three are Luna, Stella and Bella.
For all the statistics about Swiss cows that you could possibly desire, check out the official website.
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Jan studied History at the University of York and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Though born in York, Jan has lived most of his life in Zurich and has worked as a journalist, writer and editor since 2016.
While he has plunged head-first back into life in Switzerland since returning to the country in 2020, he still enjoys a taste of home at pub quizzes and karaoke nights.Read more