Where did the Pet Shop Boys get their name?

Answer 1

Starting out, the two called themselves West End, because of their love of London's West End, but later they came up with the name Pet Shop Boys, which derived from some friends who worked in a pet shop, in Ealing. They said that the new name "sounded like an English rap group."

Answer 2

They had some friends who worked in a pet shop who they used to call the "pet shop boys" as a joke. They decided to take that name for themselves because they thought it was funny and sounded like an American hip hop group eg. the Peech Boys or Beastie Boys. It's got nothing to do with doing dodgy things to hamsters! They only heard about that after they'd chosen the name and believe it's just an urban myth.

Answer 3

Neil Tennant (who sings and sometimes plays guitar) and Chris Lowe (on keyboard and sometimes vocals)