Yes! Most kittens and puppies get assigned a litter name at birth by their bio parents. And then, the adoptive parents bestow the formal, legal, forever name.
Animal Shelters also give pets “shelter names” as a way to keep track of and market the animals who are available for adoption. It is understood that the new owners are likely to change the names to a permanent one.
Will dogs and cats get mixed up?
According to vets, dogs and cats will usually catch on to their new names within a few weeks. Just make sure to call them by the new moniker often so they get used to it.