The noun 'puppet' is a word for man-made thing, a neuter noun.
A puppet may be in the form of a boy, a girl, a man, a woman, or a thing.
Some well known puppets include:
Pinocchio (a boy)
Princess Summerfall Winterspring (a girl)
Kermit The Frog (a frog)
Lamb Chop (a lamb)
Topo Gigio (a mouse)