I've been a cat owner for most of my life and have learned many tips and tricks for keeping cats happy and healthy.

What Should I Name My Cat?

If you’re looking for names for your male or female cat, this list offers more than 400 ideas to choose from. Whether you want a name that’s classic, cute, funny, or one that simply describes your kitty's color or personality, you might find one here that’s right for your furry new friend.

This list of male cat names has something for just about everyone. If your boy is serious, a tough guy, or the perfect gentleman, there might be a name here that fits him to a tee.

Male Cat Names

Choosing a name for a female cat can take some thought. Her multi-faceted personality requires a name as extraordinary as the queen she is. Here are some ideas to think about:

Female Cat Names

Unisex cat names have become very popular in 2019. You can’t go wrong with any of these versatile names for your boy or girl cat.

Unisex Names

For felines that carry themselves with dignity and grace, names like Skippy or Goofball won’t do. One of these classic cat names might be the ideal selection for the elegant cat in your life.

Classic Male Cat Names

Classic Names for Females

Some cats are real characters. If traditional names don't seem to fit your feline buddy's light-hearted nature, here are a few funny cat names that might.

Funny Name Ideas

Let’s face it: Cats are adorable. If you want a cute name to match your cuddly little furball, here are some ideas:

Cute Name Ideas

Gray cats can't help but capture our attention when they walk into a room. These name ideas for gray and silver cats highlight their beauty.

Names for Gray Cats

• Ash
• Blue
• Dazzle
• Dusty
• Grey
• Misty
• Shadow
• Shady
• Shimmer
• Silver
• Slate
• Smoke
• Smoky
• Storm
• Stormy

White cats are stunning and memorable. If you’d like to give your white feline a name that reflects its breathtaking coat, here are a few ideas for you:

Names for White Cats

• Blanca
• Casper
• Cotton
• Crystal
• Dove
• Frosty
• Opal
• Pearl
• Powder
• Snow
• Snowflake
• Snowy
• Sugar
• Winter

Black cats are beautiful and mysterious creatures. Here are some name ideas for yours:

Names for Black Cats

• Coal
• Ebony
• Java
• Knight
• Licorice
• Luna
• Midnight
• Mocha
• Night
• Oreo
• Pepper
• Raven

Orange cats and kittens are hard to resist. Not only are they stunning, they have a vibrant personality that sets them apart.

Names for Orange Cats

• Caramel
• Cinnamon
• Garfield
• Ginger
• Goldie
• Honey
• Lion
• Mango
• Peaches
• Peachie
• Penny
• Sandy
• Spunky
• Sunny
• Taffy
• Tiger
• Tigger

A tabby’s unique stripes and markings are as special as their one-of-kind personalities. You can’t help but think of wild cats when you see their gorgeous coats. If you need some name ideas for your tabby friend, here are a few to consider:

Names for Tabbies

• Hunter
• King
• Loki
• Rocky
• Sahara
• Sprite
• Stripes
• Tiger
• Toby
• Tommy

Tortoiseshell cats are easy to fall in love with. If you're lucky enough to have one in your life, here are some names to think about:

Names for Tortoiseshell Cats or Torties

• Annalise
• Diva
• Hope
• Lucinda
• Missy
• Pepper
• Pixie
• Sadie
• Samantha
• Sara
• Speckles
• Spice
• Sprinkles

Calico cats are as original as their colorful markings. Here are some names for these beauties:

Names for Calicos

• Blossom
• Buttercup
• Butterscotch
• Dottie
• Duchess
• Gabby
• Gemma
• Mosaic
• Patches
• Patchouli
• Sasha
• Spot

Still haven't found a name you love? Here are even more ideas:

More Male Name Ideas

More Female Name Ideas

Choosing the Best Name

There are many ways to find a name for a cat. Here are a few that have helped me name the felines in my life:

• First Impression: What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of your cat? Is there something special about his or her personality, habits, color, or markings? All these things can help you name your furry friend.

• Personality: What’s your cat like? Is she a drama queen that needs a name like Diva, Sassy, or Princess? Or is he a little troublemaker you can picture calling Sneaker or Mischief? Personalities can be the source of countless name ideas.

• Habits: Does your cat run around the house like a racehorse? What about a name like Dash or Blaze? Observe him or her for a while and see what comes to you.

• Coat or Eye Color: Some cats stand out for a unique coat or eye color. Names like Snowy, Emerald, Slate, and Hazel might be good choices for your beautiful feline.

• Names You Like: We all have names we like. Why not choose one of those for your cat?

• Random: If you’re browsing through a list of names and one stands out, maybe it’s meant for your cat.

I hope this list has been helpful in your search for a cat name. If you found the purr-fect one here, I’d love to hear about it. Feel free to leave a comment below.

© 2019 carolynkaye

Comments

MJ on July 14, 2020:

I was just thinking that my guinea pigs names would work for cats too. Valentine, Ceam Puff, Piper, Blaze and Frohiki!

I’m betwin mittens or coco on July 07, 2020:

I’m geting a 11 week old kitten and I need a name

Joshua on June 18, 2020:

my cats are so happy

Joshua on June 16, 2020:

my cats are going to be happy with these names

violet on June 14, 2020:

These were great names! I named a black cat in the neighborhood zora. I also like umbra for a black cat.

Emmaline on June 09, 2020:

I have 2 cats called Coco and Harper. Coco is 6yo and Harper's 1yo. Coco is a ragdoll whose face looks like a seal, so we call her "seal nuggs". Harper is a ragdoll with streaks of ginger running through her fur. Her nickname is "Ginger Ninja" or "Tiger".

Caty on May 03, 2020:

Does anyone like my cats name is Guster

aliaspieglman on April 17, 2020:

the cat is cute isn't it?

JC Scull from Gainesville, Florida on March 31, 2020:

Hello Carolyn,

Great article. I had a cat named Periscope and one named Cat. They probably didn't like their names because they never answered when I called. Not even when I would go "psssst psssst psssst." I loved those little devils. Now I have three other devils.

•Savvygirl863• on December 28, 2019:

Man I really thought Meow Meow would be on the funny category

carolynkaye (author) from USA on August 29, 2019:

Hi Cynthia, I'm so glad you like it. Ricky Martin is a cute name too. Thanks for your comments :-)

Cynthia Zirkwitz from Vancouver Island, Canada on August 28, 2019:

Hi Carolyn-- Now I want to get a cat so I can give it one of the names on your list. I love so many of the names: Chief, Simba, Elton (we have a Ricky Martin chihuahua next door), Blaze, Peachy, Luna... seems like I might have to rescue a horde.

This is an interesting hub!

carolynkaye (author) from USA on August 07, 2019:

Hi Shauna, I love all the creative name choices for your cats. I realize my cats get called by their middle names when they’re in trouble too. I thought I was the only one who did that, LOL. Onyx is the perfect name for a black cat. Thanks so much for your comments :-)

Shauna L Bowling from Central Florida on August 06, 2019:

Carolyn, I too, am a long-time cat person. Currently, I have three indoor cats, ages 10 and 11. Then there are two outdoor cats that have adopted me.

I didn't see any of my cats' names in your list. I have a male Flame Point Himalayan (10 yrs old), whose name is Axel. Axel Rose when he's in trouble!

Then there are my two girls, both Himalayan mix, age 11, whom I rescued when they were just a few months old. Their names are Sheba and Shiloh. Shiloh doesn't have a middle name because she doesn't really do no-no's. However, Sheba is Sheba Lee when she's caught doing something she knows she's not supposed to do.

As for my outdoor cats, I've had Queenie, a tabby for a few years now. I named her that because I thought she was pregnant when she arrived at my doorstep. Fortunately, she just has a saggy belly.

Then there's the latest arrival. A beautiful black and white cat who showed up a few months ago no matter how hard I tried to chase her away. However, she was very persistent, so I deemed her Persi.

Once upon a time ago I had a black cat named Onyx. I was surprised to not see that listed for black cats.

Thanks for the fun read!