How the cat name generator works
This generator starts with a hand-picked list of 201 cat names and, once you use it, adds the names from all our cat name lists, over 1,800 in all. Each name is tagged as a boy name, a girl name or both, and names that suit a coat color carry it: black, white, orange, grey, calico or tabby.
Pick a gender and a coat color and the generator keeps only the names that match both, then shuffles a dozen. Names that fit any cat, such as Oliver, Luna and Felix, carry every color tag. Black-and-white names show up under both colors.
Calico cats are almost always female, so most calico names lean feminine, with a few unisex picks for the rare calico tom. Every name has a short note with its meaning, its pop culture source or the kind of cat it suits.
That is Quick mode: instant and unlimited. For something more specific, switch to Custom mode, set a few options and add a sentence of details. An AI language model suggests 10 original names, each with a note on why it suits, and More like this gives you variations on any name you like.
Cat names with meanings and notes
Hand-picked by our editors. Copy one, or use them as a starting point.
| Name | Meaning or note |
|---|---|
| Oliver | Boy. A gentle classic that suits almost any cat |
| Luna | Girl. Latin for moon and one of the most loved cat names |
| Felix | Boy. Latin for lucky or happy, which every cat is |
| Cleo | Girl. Named for Egypt's famous queen; expects to be served |
| Salem | Boy. The sarcastic black cat from Sabrina the Teenage Witch |
| Binx | Boy. The loyal black cat from Hocus Pocus |
| Onyx | Boy or girl. A glossy black gemstone for a glossy coat |
| Nyx | Girl. The Greek goddess of night |
| Bagheera | Boy. The wise black panther from The Jungle Book |
| Poe | Boy. Honors the author of the eerie tale The Black Cat |
| Midnight | Boy or girl. As dark and quiet as the late night sky |
| Jinx | Boy or girl. A playful nod to black cat superstitions |
| Tux | Boy. Born wearing a black-and-white suit |
| Figaro | Boy. Pinocchio's tuxedo kitten, playful and proud |
| Domino | Boy or girl. Black and white, with spots like the game tiles |
| Snowball | Boy or girl. Bright white and soft as fresh snow |
| Casper | Boy. The friendly ghost, for a pale and gentle cat |
| Pearl | Girl. Luminous and elegant, like a white gem |
| Duchess | Girl. The elegant white mother cat from The Aristocats |
| Bianca | Girl. Italian for white, with an elegant ring |
| Olaf | Boy. The friendly snowman from Frozen |
| Garfield | Boy. The lasagna-loving orange tabby of comic strip fame |
| Marmalade | Boy or girl. Orange, sweet and best with breakfast |
| Rufus | Boy. Latin for red-haired; perfect for a ginger |
| Crookshanks | Boy. Hermione's clever ginger cat |
| Simba | Boy. The Lion King himself, for a golden boy |
| Clementine | Girl. A sweet citrus for a sweet orange girl |
| Goose | Boy. The orange tabby with a big secret in Captain Marvel |
| Smokey | Boy. A soft grey classic for a soft grey cat |
| Gandalf | Boy. The Grey wizard, for a wise old cat |
| Earl Grey | Boy. A proper English tea for a proper cat |
| Blue | Boy. What cat breeders call a soft grey coat |
| Misty | Girl. Soft and grey as morning fog |
| Dorian | Boy. A literary nod to Oscar Wilde's famous Mr. Gray |
| Nimbus | Boy. A grey rain cloud for a drowsy cat |
| Patches | Boy or girl. Made for a coat stitched from many colors |
| Callie | Girl. A sweet nickname that nods to calico coats |
| Neapolitan | Girl. Three flavors, three colors, one cat |
| Tortie | Girl. The nickname for a tortoiseshell cat |
| Lucky | Boy or girl. Japan's beckoning maneki-neko lucky cat is often shown as a calico |
| Calypso | Girl. A sea nymph from Greek myth, bright and lively |
| Tiger | Boy. Stripes like a big cat, purr like a small one |
| Tabitha | Girl. A classic name that nods to the word tabby |
| Hobbes | Boy. Calvin's tiger, best friend and philosopher |
| Mackerel | Boy. Named for the fish-bone stripe pattern of many tabbies |
| Bramble | Girl. Wild, brown and a little bit prickly |
| Purrlock Holmes | Boy. For a cat who investigates every closed door |
| Kitty Purry | Girl. A pop-star pun for a cat who sings at dawn |
| Clawdia | Girl. A sharp pun on Claudia for a cat with claws |
Tips for choosing a good name
Let the coat inspire you, or go against it
Salem and Onyx suit a black cat. So does Snowball, if you like a joke. Either way, a name tied to the coat is easy to remember.
Watch your cat for a few days
A kitten who climbs the curtains is a Loki, not a Duchess. Give personality a few days to show before you settle on a name.
Keep it easy to call
Short names are easy to say at feeding time, but there is no proven ideal length. Long or pun names like Purrlock Holmes just work best with a short everyday version, such as Purr.
Pair it with something good
Say the name before treats, meals and play, not before the carrier comes out. It is common trainer advice, and it gives your cat a reason to look up when you call.