Cat Names

20 Sources of Inspiration
and a guide to feline names

Looking for cat names? Feeling stuck? For some cat lovers, the process of selecting a unique cat name can be a bit overwhelming. But it shouldn’t be. Inspiration is everywhere.

Certainly, there are lots of cat sites devoted to cat and kitten names. You can even find books on the subject! Of course, you could spend a great deal of time going over the hundreds of names found in these sources.

You could also just pick any name and be done with it. But this method won’t please most cat lovers. Keep in mind that you must consider your kitty’s individual traits and your personal taste during the selection process.

But aside from these basics you can also consider other sources. So to help you choose the perfect name for your feline friend, here are twenty sources of inspiration for your consideration (Jump to our guide to names for cats):

1. Physical Appearance. Of course, this is the obvious route. Unique physical traits will surely help you decide which name to choose. For example, if your cat is white you can call him or her Snowball, Snow, Clara or Icy. If your kitty is black, you can name her Smokey, Night or Onyx.

2. Personality. Is she feisty and bold? You can name her Sassy and it will suit her fine. Happy and Sunny are great names for kitties of good disposition. Need more ideas? Consider Sweetie, Cutie and Joy for girls and Valiant, Smoochy and Cuddles for boys.
3. Royalty. For the queens and kings of the home, you have to go to the top to find a worthy name. Queen (or Queenie), Prince, Princess, Duke and Duchess are names fit for royal cats. Also consider Sheik, Pharaoh, Emir, Lady, Countess, and Marchioness.

4. Movies and Literature. Cats have appeared in many books and movies. Here’s a brief list: Simba, Nala (from The Lion King, already a Disney classic), Thomasina (from The Three Lives of Thomasina by Paul Gallico), Puss (from Puss in Boots by Perrault), Quaxo (Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot), Yum-Yum (from the popular "The Cat Who…" series of mystery novels by Lilian Jackson Braun) and Orlando (from Orlando, the Marmalade Cat by Kathleen Hale). T.S. Elliot’s poem Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats is a good source of unusual cat names. This article has more literary cat names.

5. Poets and writers. Another take on literary names for cats is to consider the names of well-known writers and poets. Consider Edith (Wharton), Mark (Twain), Ralph Waldo Emerson (you get three names in one), Louisa May (Alcott), Harper Lee, and Truman (Capote), among many others.

6. Politicians and Celebrities. This is a fertile field: Paris, Nicky, Katie, Brad, Angie, Kerry, Bill, Churchill, Cindy, Naomi…

7. Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses. Cats were considered deities by many ancient cultures. Kitty will agree that a god’s name is certainly appropriate. Consider Minerva, Venus, Titan, Zeus, Hermes and Aphrodite.

8. Famous Cat Lovers. Name your kitty after a well-known cat lover. Consider Ernest (Hemingway), (Charles) Dickens, Colette, Winston (Churchill), Edgar (Allan Poe), Alexandre (Dumas), Harriet (Beecher Stowe), Vivica (Fox), Kim (Novak)…

9. Cartoon Cats. Felix and Sylvester are always popular. Other popular cat cartoons include: Earl (from Mutts), Krazy Kat, Tom (from Tom and Jerry fame), and Crazy Johnny.

10. Mythical Creatures, Legends, Fables. Want to give kitty an out-of-this-world cat name? Names of mythical creatures include Daphne (a nymph), Clio (a muse), Nereid (a sea nymph), Angel, Pegasus, Cherub, Fay, Phoenix and Pixie.

11. Animals and Nature. These are pretty common (and popular names). But they might fit your cat just right. Examples include Bear, Koala, Panda, River, Misty, Star, Storm, and Rainbow.

12. Art and Music. Amadeus, Berlioz, Georgia (O’Keefe), Picasso, Paloma (Picasso’s daughter), Vincent (Van Gogh), Toulouse, Johann (Sebastian Bach) come to mind.

13. International. How do you say cat in…? Add some international flavor. You can consider the names of countries and cities like: Paris, Kenya, Nairobi, Egypt, Florence, and Sophia. Also consider Sahara and Gobi (two of the largest deserts in the world).

14. Food and Drink. Brandy, Cupcake, Chip, Cookie, Mimosa, Nacho, Yummy… You get the idea.

15. Singers and Actors. Does you cat have a flair for the dramatic? Consider these names: Mya, Mariah, Rihanna, Toni, Dinah, Carrie, Liza, George, Jonas, Leonardo, Toby, Tony, Tommy… the list is long.

16. Spanish cat names. Habla español? Consider Benito, Beto, Pepe, Tito, and Tomas for boys, and Lola, Rosa, Ana, Leti, and Estela for girls.

17. Jewels and Precious Metals. Certainly, our feline treasures deserve shiny names. Therefore, consider sparkling names such as Chrystal, Diamond, Ruby, Garnet, Onyx, Opal, Jade, Goldie, and Esmeralda (Emerald in Spanish).

18. Egyptian-inspired cat names. Consider the names of Egyptian gods and goddesses like Bast (or Bastet), Sekhmet, Anubis, Osiris, and Isis. Also consider names of pharaohs and queens like Seti, Ramses, Tut, Cleopatra, and Nefertiti.

19. Plants and flowers. Buttercup, Basil, Daisy, Dahlia, Hazel, Iris, Ivy, Juniper, Lily, Myrtle, Olive, Orchid and others make wonderful feline names.

20. Fruits. Mango, Blueberry, Apple, Coco (Coconut in Spanish), and Peach (or Peaches).

I hope this suggestions encourage your creativity. You might even come up with your own categories. If you still need additional inspiration, check the following pages:

A short guide to names for felines

If you still need more inspiration, here's a fun guide to help you find the perfect name for your furry friend.

Names for kittens

Names for kittens - Just adopted a kitten? In need of a kitten name? Find lots of ideas here.

More kitten names - More kitten name suggestions.

Still need more kitten name inspiration? - Find here additional names for male and female kittens.

And here are some more names for kittens - The names shared here are of Spanish, Irish and English origin.

Names for Siamese kittens - Choose an exotic name for your Siamese kitten.

Names for cats

Popular names for felines - Check this list compiled by the Veterinary Pet Insurance Company.

Names for cats - Fun, out-of-the-ordinary names for cats.

Cool names for cats - Do you have a cool cat? Give him or her a cool name.

Common names for cats - If you ever wonder about what are the most common names for felines, check the lists presented here.

Fun list of feline names - This list is inspired by cities of the U.S. and the world.

Another fun list of kitty names - Find lots of original names for cats.

Pet names for cats - A compilation of pet names for your feline friends.

Names for girl cats and male cats

Names for female cats - If you have a special new girl in your life and are looking for a special name for her, check out the names here.

More names for your girl cat - More name ideas for that special girl kitten: from the traditional to the whimsical.

Name ideas for your male cat - Looking for a unique name for your boy? Feeling stumped? Check the cat names listed here.

More ideas for male cats - Find names inspired by athletes, royalty, and more.

Cute cat names

Cute names for cats - All cats are cute, so a cute name will fit them just right. Find lots of ideas here.

Cute names for female kittens - Looking for a cute name for your cute as a button female kitten? Check the names listed here.

Cute names for male kittens - Is your male kitten a cutie pie? This page is loaded with cute names for male kittens.

Need a cute kitten name? - What can be more fitting than a cute name for your cute kitten? Check out the cute kitten names listed here.

Unique names

Celtic-inspired names for cats - You will enjoy going through this list of names of Celtic origin.

More Celtic names for cats - Another compilation of unique Celtic names.

Disney-inspired names for felines - Do you love Disney characters? Then consider a Disney-themed name for you kitty.

Exotic names for cats - Unique names for unique cats.

Feline names and their meanings - Find more unique names here.

Funny names for felines - Looking for a funny name for your funny kitten? Here are some name ideas.

Give your cat a creative name - Lots of creative names here: from art and literature, to science and cars.

Halloween names for kitties - Check out these fun, Halloween-inspired names.

Love cats and cartoon cats? - A cartoon cat name makes a fun cat name.

Magical names for cats - Cats are mysterious and magical, so a magical name would be perfect for them.

Names for dogs and cats - The most popular names for dogs and cats are listed here.

Pet names and meanings - A fun list of names for pets.

Unique names for female cats - Find a one-of-a-kind name for your girl cat.

Unique names for male cats - Lots of unique names for your male kitten.

Unusual names for kittens and cats - More unique and fun name ideas inspired by nature, inanimate objects, and foodstuffs.

What are some good names for cats? - Need inspiration? Check out these names for cats and kittens inspired by theater, literature and more.

Names by Color, Breed, and Type

Names for black cats - Naming black cats can be quite fun. Mysterious and beautiful, they will surely inspire you.

More names for your black cat or kitten - If you are looking for a black cat name that is out of the ordinary, check the names listed here.

Names for gray cats - Just because a cat name is inspired by gray things does not mean it has to be boring. Indeed, gray cat names can be colorful.

White names for cats - Beautiful names for the regal white cats.

Blue names for your cat - Do you have a blue cat? Are you looking for a blue cat name? Check out the names listed in this article.

Orange names for cats - If you have an orange cat, consider the names listed here.

Just adopted a Bengal cat? - Your exotic Bengal deserves a unique name. Check the names for Bengal cats here.

Names for Siamese cats - Find an elegant name for your elegant Siamese cat.

Names for Persian cats - Names to celebrate the beauty of Persian cats and kittens.

Names for calico cats - A fun list for tricolor felines.

Names for tuxedo cats - Here's a list of names inspired by these black and white beauties.

Names for tabby cats - The wild tabby deserves a fun name. Check out these.

Tabby names - More names for our striped feline friends.

International names

Asian names for cats - Find lovely and exotic names from different Asian countries.

Egyptian names for female cats - If you love all things Egyptian and/or ancient cultures, you'll love these Egyptian names for your female kitty.

Egyptian names for male cats - Want to give your male cat an exotic name? Then consider these Egyptian names inspired by gods of the Egyptian pantheon and legendary pharaohs.

Names for French (and non-French) males cats - Vous parlez français? Even if you don't know a word of French, you will enjoy these French names.

French names for female cats - We continue with the French here. This page brings you lots of French names for your girl cat.

Japanese names for cats - Japanese names are lovely. In this page, you will find Japanese names for both males and female cats.

Irish names for good luck - Find a number of Irish and Celtic names for cats and kittens.

Oriental names for cats - Do you fancy Japanese names? Maybe you love Chinese names? Find lots of oriental names here.