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Cat names: 330+ clever, cute, silly and cool ideas

336 names · Updated · By The Nomezo Editors · Save to Pinterest

The best cat names are short, easy to call and a good match for your cat's personality, like Luna, Milo and Sir Pounce-a-Lot. Clever names for a cat, such as Purrlock Holmes or Catticus Finch, work best with a short version for everyday use.

Below are 330+ cat names grouped by style: popular classics, cute cat and kitten names, funny puns, clever and silly names, cool cat names, food names, famous real cats, myth and legend, literary cats, the word for cat in 20 languages, nature names, coat color names, everyday cat nicknames and matching pairs. Every name has a short note. For more, see our full lists of boy cat names, girl cat names, black cat names and orange cat names.

Can't decide? Shuffle 6 random picks

  • Coltrane

    After saxophone legend John, for a cat with soul

  • Cat Benatar

    For a cat who hits the high notes at 3 a.m.

  • Simon and Garfunkel

    For two cats who harmonize when dinner is late

  • Salt and Pepper

    For a pair who are always together at the table

  • Gattino

    Italian for kitten; say gah-TEE-no

  • Mrs. Chippy

    Shackleton's Antarctic expedition cat, who was actually a tomcat

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Cute cat names

Small, soft names for kittens, lap cats and anyone who melts at a tiny meow.

  1. Mittens US #70: For a cat with white paws that look like gloves
  2. Button: Small, round and impossibly sweet, like the sewing kind
  3. Pip: A tiny name for the smallest kitten in the litter
  4. Bean US #86: For a little cat who curls up into a tiny ball
  5. Peanut US #75: Perfect for a pocket-sized kitten with a big appetite
  6. Nugget: A golden little treasure that fits in one hand
  7. Sprout: For a kitten who still has to grow into those ears
  8. Bubbles: Bright and bouncy, for a kitten full of energy
  9. Fluffy US #91: The classic name for a long-haired cloud of fur
  10. Snuggles: For the lap cat who claims you every evening
  11. Twinkle: For a cat with bright, sparkly eyes
  12. Boots US #42: For a cat whose white legs reach past the ankles
  13. Tiny: Ironic for a big cat, sweet for a small one
  14. Wiggles: For the kitten who cannot sit still for a second
  15. Poppet: An old British term of endearment for a little one
  16. Squeak: For a kitten whose meow sounds like a toy mouse
  17. Jellybean: Small, sweet and colorful, like the candy
  18. Teacup: For a kitten small enough to fit in one
  19. Pom Pom: For a round, fluffy kitten who bounces when it runs
  20. Dot: A tiny name for a cat with one perfect spot
  21. Thimble: A sewing-box name for a very small kitten
  22. Gizmo US #46: For a curious kitten who investigates every gadget
  23. Fuzzy: For a kitten whose fur sticks up in every direction
  24. Whiskers: For a cat with a magnificent set of face antennae

Cute kitten names

Tiny names for tiny paws. These suit a brand-new kitten and still sound sweet on a grown cat.

  1. Kitling: An old word for a young cat, still charming today
  2. Catling: A rare old word for a very small cat
  3. Mewkin: An invented little name for a kitten with a tiny voice
  4. Purrlet: A tiny kitten with a motor much bigger than itself
  5. Tiddles: A classic British pet name for a much-loved cat
  6. Tibbles: A cozy British nickname for a little tabby
  7. Mog: British slang for a cat, made famous by Judith Kerr's books
  8. Lil Mew: For the kitten whose meow is barely a squeak
  9. Fuzzlet: A tiny, downy kitten that fits in your palm
  10. Pawlet: For a kitten with the tiniest toe beans
  11. Kittenkins: A doting, sing-song name for a baby cat
  12. Teeny Tiny: For the runt of the litter with the biggest heart
  13. Smidgen: Just a little bit of kitten, with plenty of mischief
  14. Cottonball: For a soft white kitten who floats across the floor
  15. Pumpkinseed: Small, sweet and perfect for an autumn kitten
  16. Farthing: Britain's old quarter-penny coin, for a very small kitten
  17. Bunting: A small songbird, and the snug sack babies sleep in
  18. Pitter Pat: The sound of tiny kitten feet racing down the hall
  19. Cub: A baby lion's title, for a kitten with big ambitions
  20. Baby Bean: For a kitten curled up small enough to fit in a mug

Funny cat names

Pun names and grand titles for cats with big personalities. Most have a short everyday version too.

  1. Catrick Swayze: For a cat with smooth dance moves and great hair
  2. Fuzz Aldrin: For the cat who launches off the top of the fridge
  3. Cat Benatar: For a cat who hits the high notes at 3 a.m.
  4. Paw McCartney: For a cat who sings along to everything
  5. Pablo Picatso: For an artistic cat who leaves paw prints everywhere
  6. Sir Isaac Mewton: Tests gravity by knocking things off every surface
  7. Albert Felinestein: For the cat who has clearly figured everything out
  8. Elvis Purrsley: The king of the living room, thank you very much
  9. Ozzy Pawsbourne: For a cat who rocks out at midnight
  10. Cindy Clawford: For a supermodel cat who poses on every windowsill
  11. Sir Pounce-a-Lot: A knight who guards the house from dust bunnies
  12. Count Catula: For a cat who only comes alive after dark
  13. Professor Whiskerton: Wise, distinguished and fond of long naps in the library
  14. Admiral Purrington: Commands the whole fleet from the couch cushions
  15. Captain Fluffypants: For a very fluffy cat with very fluffy legs
  16. Bob Scratchit: A Dickens pun for a cat who loves the scratching post
  17. Furdinand: A regal pun for a cat with royal fluff
  18. Catsby: For a glamorous cat who throws the best parties
  19. Clawdius: A Roman emperor pun for a cat who rules
  20. The Notorious C.A.T.: For a cat with swagger and a big attitude
  21. Purrince: A royal pun for a cat who knows its worth
  22. Sir Meowsalot: A noble title for the chattiest cat in the house
  23. Catpernicus: For a cat who studies the heavens from the window
  24. Hiss Majesty: For a royal cat with very strong opinions

Clever cat names

Smart wordplay for smart cats: literary and science puns, art jokes and words with a cat hiding inside.

  1. Schrödinger: The physicist whose famous thought experiment put a cat in a box
  2. Purrlock Holmes: Solves the mystery of every missing sock and hair tie
  3. Meowriarty: The criminal mastermind behind every toppled mug
  4. Catticus Finch: Wise, fair and the calmest cat in any room
  5. Purrsuasion: Jane Austen's novel, and a cat's main dinner strategy
  6. Oscar Wildcat: Witty, stylish and always ready with a sharp remark
  7. Purrnest Hemingway: Suits a six-toed cat, like those at his Key West home
  8. Fyodor Catstoevsky: For a brooding cat who stares into the middle distance
  9. Marie Purrie: For a curious cat who experiments with everything on the counter
  10. Galileo Catilei: Insists the whole world revolves around the food bowl
  11. Sigmund Fur: Listens patiently while you talk through your feelings
  12. Vincent van Meow: Paints the windows with nose prints on starry nights
  13. Frida Catlo: A bold, colorful artist who adores the flower pots
  14. Salvador Catli: For a cat whose naps melt over the edge of every shelf
  15. Catapult: For a cat who launches across the room without warning
  16. Catalog: Keeps careful track of every snack in the house
  17. Catmandu: A pun on Nepal's capital, for an adventurous explorer
  18. Cattitude: For a cat with strong opinions and no apologies
  19. Catherine the Grate: Empress of the scratching post and all she surveys
  20. Paw Revere: Announces every visitor long before they reach the door

Silly cat names

Goofy names that make the whole family laugh at the vet's front desk.

  1. Captain Wobbles: Commands the household on very unsteady sea legs
  2. Mister Pickles: Formal enough for a business card, goofy enough for a cat
  3. Beans McGee: Sounds like a cartoon sidekick who always gets into scrapes
  4. Bingo Bongo: Two goofy words that are pure fun to shout
  5. Professor Floof: Holds an advanced degree in shedding on dark clothes
  6. Bonkers: For the kitten who sprints laps at 2 a.m.
  7. Mr. Flibbertigibbet: An old word for a chatterbox, perfect for a talker
  8. Noodle Doodle: A rhyming name for a bendy, wiggly kitten
  9. Dr. Fuzzles: Makes house calls, mostly to the warm laundry basket
  10. Bumblesnout: For a cat who bonks its nose into every window
  11. Señor Whiskers: A suave gentleman with a truly magnificent mustache
  12. Duchess Fuzzypaws: Very royal, very fluffy and very demanding at breakfast
  13. Jiggles: For a kitten who wiggles its back end before every pounce
  14. Chairman Fluff: Runs the whole household from the top of the bookshelf
  15. Ketchup: Saucy, goofy and always running to catch up
  16. Shmoopy: A lovey-dovey word that cats somehow answer to
  17. Ziggy Zoom: For a cat with a sudden case of the zoomies
  18. Hamburger: Ridiculous on a cat, and somehow it always fits
  19. Sir Flops: Drops to the floor whenever anyone walks past
  20. Sir Reginald Floofington: Lord of the manor, with a title to match his fur

Cool cat names

Cool cat began as jazz slang for someone hip and relaxed, so jazz legends, beat-era words and sleek wild cats all fit.

  1. Hepcat: Swing-era slang for someone hip to the latest jazz
  2. Daddy-O: Beatnik-era slang for a cool guy, perfect for a laid-back tom
  3. Cool Breeze: For a calm cat who never, ever hurries
  4. Beatnik: For a cat in a black turtleneck mood who loves poetry readings
  5. Zoot: After the flashy, baggy suits of the 1940s swing scene
  6. Groovy: Sixties slang for cool, for a cat with a relaxed vibe
  7. Basie: After the Count, swing's smoothest bandleader at the piano
  8. Brubeck: After Dave, whose quartet recorded Take Five in 1959
  9. Coltrane: After saxophone legend John, for a cat with soul
  10. Django: After Reinhardt, the Belgian-born jazz guitar legend
  11. Monk: After pianist Thelonious, for a cat with an unusual rhythm
  12. Kerouac: After the beat writer of On the Road, for a wanderer
  13. Fonzie: The coolest guy on Happy Days, thumbs up included
  14. Ziggy Stardust: David Bowie's glam alter ego, for a cat with flair
  15. Stealth: Silent paws, sudden appearances and zero explanations
  16. Cheetah: The fastest land animal, for a cat with sudden bursts of speed
  17. Caracal: A wild cat with long black ear tufts, for a tufty kitty
  18. Serval: A long-legged African wild cat with enormous ears
  19. Manul: The fluffy wild cat of Central Asia, also called Pallas's cat
  20. Margay: A small Latin American wild cat that climbs down trees headfirst

Food cat names

Cats love dinnertime, so food names suit them. Pick one that matches the coat or the shape of the nap.

  1. Tofu: Soft, pale and agreeable, like a mellow white cat
  2. Sushi: For a cat who sits beside you whenever fish is served
  3. Pretzel: For the cat who sleeps in impossible twisted shapes
  4. Waffles: For a cat with a cozy, criss-cross tabby pattern
  5. Pancake: For a cat who flops flat on the floor
  6. Dumpling: Soft, round and wonderfully squishy
  7. Noodle: For a long, bendy cat who drapes over everything
  8. Muffin: A sweet, cozy name for a sweet, cozy cat
  9. Pudding: Soft and sweet, for a lap cat who melts into you
  10. Bagel: For a cat who curls into a perfect ring to nap
  11. Taco: Small, spicy and folded up on the couch
  12. Meatball: For a solid little cat who lives for dinnertime
  13. Gnocchi: Italian potato dumplings; say NYOH-kee
  14. Ravioli: Little pillows of pasta, like a cat's toe beans
  15. Wasabi: For a green-eyed cat with a surprising kick
  16. Pickle: For a cat who is a little sour and very lovable
  17. Croissant: For a cat who sleeps curled in a buttery crescent
  18. Crumpet: A British teatime treat for a proper little cat
  19. Miso US #96: A Japanese soybean paste; short, savory and sweet to say
  20. Dim Sum: Small Cantonese dishes, for a cat who wants a bit of everything
  21. Truffle: A rare treat for a cat with dark chocolate fur
  22. Kiwi: For a cat with green eyes and fuzzy fur
  23. Fig: Small, sweet and a little bit fancy
  24. Latte: For a creamy, coffee-colored cat

Famous cat names from history

Real cats who made the news, the history books or the internet. Every one of these really lived.

  1. Larry: Chief Mouser at 10 Downing Street since 2011
  2. Humphrey: Downing Street's resident mouser from 1989 to 1997
  3. Palmerston: Britain's black-and-white Foreign Office mouser from 2016 to 2020
  4. Socks: The tuxedo cat who lived in the Clinton White House
  5. Tabby: One of Abraham Lincoln's White House cats
  6. Slippers: Theodore Roosevelt's six-toed White House cat
  7. Hodge: Samuel Johnson's cat, now a bronze statue in London
  8. Williamina: Charles Dickens's cat, first named William until she had kittens
  9. Félicette: In 1963 she became the first cat in space
  10. Tama: A calico who served as stationmaster at a Japanese railway station
  11. Stubbs: Honorary mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska, for about twenty years
  12. Creme Puff: Lived to 38, the oldest cat on record
  13. Choupette: Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld's pampered white Birman
  14. Trim: Matthew Flinders' ship's cat, who sailed around Australia
  15. Mrs. Chippy: Shackleton's Antarctic expedition cat, who was actually a tomcat
  16. Simon US #62: Ship's cat awarded Britain's Dickin Medal for bravery in 1949
  17. Willard: A cat listed as co-author on a 1975 physics paper
  18. Tardar Sauce: The real name of the internet's famously frowning cat
  19. Maru: A Japanese Scottish Fold famous online for diving into boxes
  20. Nora: A gray tabby who became famous online for playing piano
  21. Delilah: Freddie Mercury's beloved cat, who got her own Queen song
  22. Catterina: Edgar Allan Poe's beloved tortoiseshell cat
  23. Hamish McHamish: St Andrews' famous town cat, honored with a bronze statue

Cat names from myth and legend

Goddesses, guardians and folklore cats from Egypt, Scandinavia, Japan and beyond.

  1. Bastet: Ancient Egyptian goddess of home and protection, shown as a cat
  2. Sekhmet: Fierce Egyptian lioness goddess, for a cat with a temper
  3. Mafdet: One of Egypt's earliest feline goddesses, a protector against snakes
  4. Tefnut: Egyptian goddess of moisture, often shown with a lioness head
  5. Freya: Norse goddess whose chariot was pulled by two cats
  6. Bakeneko: Japanese folklore cat said to gain magical powers with age
  7. Nekomata: Japanese folklore cat with a forked tail and mischievous powers
  8. Maneki: Japanese for beckoning, as in the waving lucky cat figurine
  9. Yule: Short for Iceland's giant Christmas cat of folklore
  10. Sphinx: Lion body, riddle habit; perfect for a mysterious cat
  11. Cybele: Phrygian mother goddess whose chariot was drawn by lions
  12. Atalanta: Greek huntress who was turned into a lion in myth
  13. Grimalkin: Old word for an elderly cat, often a witch's companion
  14. Pyewacket: A witch's familiar from 1600s English lore, later a film cat
  15. Puss: The clever, boot-wearing hero of Charles Perrault's 1697 fairy tale
  16. Whittington: The English folk hero whose mousing cat made his fortune
  17. Ailouros: Ancient Greek word for cat; say EYE-loo-ross
  18. Nemean: The invincible lion Hercules faced in his first labor

Literary cat names

Cats from poems, fables and novels, plus the cat-loving writers who kept them company.

  1. Cheshire: Lewis Carroll's grinning cat, for one who vanishes on cue
  2. Dinah: Alice's beloved cat in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
  3. Pangur Bán: Ninth-century Irish poem about a monk's white cat; say PAN-gur BAWN
  4. Jeoffry: Celebrated in a 1700s poem by Christopher Smart
  5. Mehitabel: The carefree alley cat of Don Marquis's newspaper columns
  6. Tobermory: Saki's 1911 short story cat who learns to talk, embarrassingly
  7. Runcible: A nonsense word from Edward Lear's The Owl and the Pussycat
  8. Figaro: The quick-witted hero of Mozart and Rossini operas
  9. Hemingway: His Key West home is still full of six-toed cats
  10. Colette: French novelist who adored cats and wrote La Chatte
  11. Twain: The cat-loving author of Tom Sawyer kept many cats
  12. Brontë: Emily of this family wrote a school essay defending cats
  13. Blatherskite: One of Mark Twain's family cats; the word means chatterbox
  14. Aesop: Ancient storyteller whose fables are full of cats and mice
  15. Tybalt: Called the Prince of Cats in Romeo and Juliet
  16. Tibert: The sly cat in the medieval fables of Reynard the Fox
  17. Mysouff: Alexandre Dumas's cat, famous for meeting him on his walk home
  18. Gib: Old English nickname for a tomcat, short for Gilbert

Names that mean cat in other languages

The word for cat (or kitten) around the world. Many of them sound like a meow, which is no accident.

  1. Neko: Japanese for cat; short, sweet and easy to say
  2. Mao: Mandarin Chinese for cat, and it sounds like a meow
  3. Gato: The Spanish and Portuguese word for cat
  4. Gattino: Italian for kitten; say gah-TEE-no
  5. Minou: French for kitty, the word you coo at a cat
  6. Chaton: French for kitten; say shah-TOHN
  7. Mieze: An affectionate German word for kitty; say MEET-seh
  8. Kotek: Polish for kitty or little cat
  9. Koshka: Russian for cat; say KOHSH-kah
  10. Kedi: Turkish for cat, from a country famous for street cats
  11. Paka: Swahili for cat; short and punchy
  12. Billi: The Hindi and Urdu word for a cat
  13. Katt: Swedish and Norwegian for cat, simple and sturdy
  14. Kissa: Finnish for cat; say KEES-sah
  15. Poes: Dutch for pussycat; say POOS
  16. Pisica: Romanian for cat; say pee-SEE-kah
  17. Goyangi: Korean for cat; say go-YANG-ee
  18. Meo: Vietnamese for cat, and yes, it sounds like a meow
  19. Popoki: Hawaiian for cat; say poh-POH-kee
  20. Mau: Ancient Egyptian word for cat, which also sounds like a meow

Nature cat names

Trees, plants and birds for an outdoorsy cat, or an indoor cat who watches the garden all day.

  1. Willow US #12: Graceful and calm, like the drooping tree
  2. Fern: A soft, green name for a gentle cat who hides in plants
  3. Moss: Soft, quiet and happiest in a sunny spot
  4. Juniper: An evergreen with blue berries, for a fresh, lively cat
  5. Clover: A lucky little leaf for a lucky little cat
  6. Thistle: Scotland's prickly flower, for a cat with a sharp side
  7. Birch: A pale-barked tree for a light-colored cat
  8. Aspen: A quaking mountain tree for an alert, twitchy cat
  9. Briar: Wild and thorny, for a cat with a feisty streak
  10. River: For a cat who flows through the house without a sound
  11. Wren: A tiny songbird name, which your cat will find intriguing
  12. Sparrow: A bird name your cat will take as a personal challenge
  13. Meadow: Soft and open, for a calm, easygoing cat
  14. Breeze: For a cat who drifts in and out of rooms
  15. Basil: A fragrant herb and a dapper name for a boy cat
  16. Mint: Fresh and cool, for a cat with pale green eyes
  17. Pinecone: For a small, brown, slightly prickly cat
  18. Cedar: A warm, woodsy name for a sturdy cat
  19. Pebble: Small, smooth and always underfoot

Cat names by coat color

Names for gray, white, tabby, calico and tuxedo cats. Black and orange cats have their own full lists.

  1. Slate: Smooth and gray, like a roof tile
  2. Graphite: Pencil-lead gray with a soft sheen
  3. Nickel: A silvery metal for a silvery cat
  4. Dove: Soft gray and peaceful, like the bird
  5. Pewter: An old silver-gray metal for a classic gray cat
  6. Blizzard: A swirl of white fur at full speed
  7. Marshmallow: Soft, white and very sweet
  8. Igloo: A cool white name for a cat who loves warm spots
  9. Ivory: Creamy white and elegant
  10. Cotton: Soft, white and fluffy
  11. Frost: Crisp white, for a cool and calm cat
  12. Mackerel: The thin-striped tabby pattern, named for the fish
  13. Marble: For a swirled, blotched classic tabby coat
  14. Stripes: For a tabby who wears its pattern proudly
  15. Bengal: For a tabby with leopard-like spots or rosettes
  16. Tweed: A patterned wool fabric for a patterned tabby
  17. Patches US #78: For a cat who looks stitched together from fabric scraps
  18. Callie US #45: A short, sweet nickname for a calico girl
  19. Confetti: Sprinkled with bright spots of every color
  20. Tortie: Cat-fancier slang for a tortoiseshell coat
  21. Mosaic: Pieced together from many colorful tiles
  22. Calico: Named for patterned cotton cloth from Calicut, India
  23. Tux: Always dressed for a formal dinner
  24. Domino: Black and white, like the game tiles
  25. Penguin: Black and white with a dignified waddle

Cat nicknames

The everyday names cats really answer to, whatever is printed on the vet forms.

  1. Furball: Classic, affectionate and only slightly accusatory
  2. Furbaby: The pet-parent term for a cat who is basically family
  3. Puss Puss: The old-fashioned call that brings cats running
  4. Little Lion: For a small cat with a mighty attitude
  5. Fuzzface: For a cat whose whole face is fluff
  6. Tiny Tiger: For a striped cat who stalks the houseplants
  7. Meowster: Master of the house, and every cat knows it
  8. Purrball: A round, rumbling bundle of happy cat
  9. Floofer: Internet slang for an extra-fluffy pet
  10. Loaf: For a cat who tucks in its paws and sits like bread
  11. Mew Mew: A sing-song nickname for a soft-voiced cat
  12. Puddy Tat: Tweety Bird's famous name for Sylvester, the cartoon cat
  13. Biscuit Maker: For a cat who kneads blankets like dough
  14. Kitty Kat: The classic doubled nickname for any cat at all
  15. Pspsps: The universal sound for calling a cat, now a nickname
  16. Kitteh: Meme spelling of kitty from the early LOLcats era
  17. Purrito: For a cat who loves being wrapped up in a blanket
  18. Purrsnickety: For a fussy cat with very particular standards
  19. Little Stinker: For a mischievous cat who is always up to something
  20. Kitten Face: For a grown cat who still looks like a baby

Cat names for pairs

Two cats, one theme. These matching names work for littermates or a new kitten joining an old friend.

  1. Salt and Pepper: For a pair who are always together at the table
  2. Sonny and Cher: For a duo who sing together at dinnertime
  3. Lewis and Clark: For two kittens who explore every corner of the house
  4. Laurel and Hardy: A comedy duo for two clumsy, lovable cats
  5. Mac and Cheese: Two comfort-food cats who simply belong together
  6. Sherlock and Watson: For a curious leader and a loyal sidekick
  7. Thunder and Lightning: For two kittens who race through the house at night
  8. Sun and Moon: For one bright, sunny cat and one calm, pale one
  9. Castor and Pollux: The Gemini twins of Greek myth, for littermates
  10. Romeo and Juliet: For two cats who cannot bear to be apart
  11. Fred and Ginger: A graceful dancing duo for two agile cats
  12. Simon and Garfunkel: For two cats who harmonize when dinner is late
  13. Ping and Pong: For two kittens who bounce off each other all day
  14. Jack and Jill: For brother and sister kittens who tumble together
  15. Hansel and Gretel: For two littermates who always find their way home
  16. Bread and Butter: Two everyday favorites for an inseparable pair
  17. Yin and Yang: Perfect for one black cat and one white cat

How to pick the right name

Keep the everyday name short

A short name is easiest to say a dozen times a day. If you love a long name like Professor Whiskerton, use it on the vet forms and call your cat Whisk at home.

Wait a few days

Personality shows up fast. A kitten who climbs the curtains on day two may be a Loki, not a Daisy. Try a name for a week before you commit.

Say it in your calling voice

Stand at the back door and call the name out loud. If it feels awkward to shout, or sounds like another pet's name, keep looking.

Use the coat or the story

Coat color, a favorite nap spot or the day you met are all good starting points. A name with a story is easier to love and to remember.

Cat names: 336 ideas from Nomezo

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How to choose a cat name: from 336 ideas to three finalists

By The Nomezo Editors · Updated October 21, 2026 · How we research names

A cat name can look charming in a list and feel wrong the first time you call it at breakfast. It turns out to be hard to say, it sounds like the dog, or it stops fitting once the cat's real personality shows up. A long list gives you options. These five filters get you to a name you will still enjoy saying in ten years.

  1. 1. PersonalityHow the cat behaves once the first excitement settles: playful, calm, bold, shy or vocal.
  2. 2. AppearanceCoat color, markings, size or one striking feature. A starting point, not a definition.
  3. 3. StyleClassic, human, food, funny, myth, nature or pop culture: whatever your household enjoys saying.
  4. 4. SoundA clear call name that is easy to repeat and does not blur into other words.
  5. 5. Household fitNothing that sounds like another pet, a family member or a word you say all day.

Shortlist in five steps

  1. Write down ten names you like, without judging them yet.
  2. Cross out any you would have to spell or explain every time.
  3. Keep three that fit both the cat and the household.
  4. Use each finalist during feeding, play and quiet moments.
  5. After a few days, keep the one that still sounds natural.

Do not decide from a first impression

Adoption day makes every name feel perfect, but the first hours rarely show a cat's settled personality. A shy cat can turn playful and a quiet kitten can become a curtain climber. Give it days, not pressure, and if the cat came from a shelter, write down the name it already knows before you change anything.

The most popular cat names in the US, and what the data shows

Luna, Milo and Bella top U.S. News's 2026 study of cat names, and Luna has been No. 1 every year since the study began in 2024. Here is the top 10 and how each name moved.

RankNameSince 2025On this page
1LunaNo. 1 every year since 2024Yes
2MiloUp from No. 4 in 2025Yes
3BellaDown from No. 2Yes
4LeoDown from No. 3; No. 10 in 2024Yes
5KittyNo. 5 againYes
6OreoSwapped places with OliverNo
7OliverDown from No. 6Yes
8LucyBack in the top 10Yes
9ShadowUp from No. 10No
10SimbaDown from No. 8; No. 6 in 2024Yes

Where the ranking comes from

U.S. News analyzed 3,535,932 data points on cat names from US pet insurance customers, supplied by Fletch, a pet insurance industry partner, from January 2022 to June 2026. That makes it a ranking of insured cats over four and a half years, not a census of every cat in the country, and it says nothing about Canada, the UK or anywhere else.

35 names on this page are in its top 100, including all 24 in our popular section, and the US # next to a name in the list shows its rank. Every other name here is an editorial idea, not a ranking.

Popular does not mean right for your cat

  • A top-10 name is easy for everyone to say and spell, and that is a real advantage.
  • You will share it: expect other Lunas at the vet, the cattery and the neighbors'.
  • U.S. News found 55 of its top 100 cat names also on its dog list, so check the dog's name too.
  • A ranking tells you what others chose. Only your cat and your household can tell you if it fits.

Match the name to the cat in front of you

Start with what you have actually seen. A name does not create a personality, but it should not fight one either.

Playful, curious or mischievous

Cats that chase, climb and investigate every bag that comes into the house.

Try: Loki, Gizmo, Catapult, Bonkers, Pretzel

Browse: Funny, Silly, Food

Ask: Would you still enjoy calling it after the tenth interruption of the day?

Calm, cuddly or gentle

Lap cats and slow blinkers who melt into the sofa.

Try: Willow, Moss, Tofu, Pudding, Oliver

Browse: Nature, Food, Popular

Ask: Does it sound as good said softly as it does called out?

Regal or dignified

Cats with a composed walk, a hard stare and strong opinions about chairs.

Try: Hiss Majesty, Purrince, Bastet, Cleo, Duchess Fuzzypaws

Browse: Myth and legend, Literary, Funny

Ask: Grand names need a short call name. What will you actually say at breakfast?

Bold, vocal or fierce

The cat who announces dinner, guards the window and fears nothing.

Try: Sekhmet, Freya, Simba, Coltrane, Caracal

Browse: Myth and legend, Cool

Ask: Will it still fit on a sleepy afternoon?

Shy or cautious

A nervous rescue or a kitten still deciding whether you are safe.

Try: Pip, Wren, Fern, Button, Dot

Browse: Cute, Nature

Ask: Is it gentle enough to say quietly while the cat settles in?

Still getting to know them?

Use a placeholder for a week. Plenty of cats are "Kitty" for a few days, and Kitty is the fifth most popular cat name in the US anyway.

By coat color and pattern

CoatDirectionsOn this pageFull list
BlackNight, shadow, spooky or sleekTruffle, Beatnik, Grimalkin, Pyewacketblack cat names
OrangeWarm food, sun, autumn or lionSimba, Nugget, Pumpkinseedorange cat names
GrayStone, metal, smoke or weatherSlate, Graphite, Pewter, Dove, Smokeygray cat names
WhiteSnow, cotton, light or pale foodMarshmallow, Igloo, Ivory, Frost, Tofuwhite cat names
TabbyStripes, fabric or wild cats. Tabby is a pattern, so it comes in many colorsMackerel, Tweed, Stripes, Tiger, Marblecoat color names
Calico or tortoiseshellPatchwork, confetti and mosaics. These cats are almost always femalePatches, Callie, Confetti, Tortie, Calicocalico cat names
TuxedoFormal wear, games and birds in black and whiteTux, Domino, Penguin, Socksblack and white cat names

Kittens change. Most are born with blue eyes that change color in their first months, and pointed breeds such as Siamese are born pale and darken as they grow. Pair a coat idea with a personality clue so the name still fits the grown cat.

Cat naming styles compared

Every style works for some households and not others. Compare the trade-offs before you go back to scrolling.

StyleStrengthDrawbackBest forTry
PopularEasy for everyone to say and spellYou will meet other Lunas at the vetFamilies who want a familiar nameLuna, Milo, Bella
Human namesNatural in conversation and ages wellCan clash with a person or pet you knowCats treated as one of the familyOliver, Jasper, Gracie
FoodWarm, playful and often matches the coatCan feel slight on a dignified senior catA color, shape or appetite you can point toTofu, Dumpling, Miso
Funny and punsMemorable, and a story every timeThe joke can wear thin; needs a short call nameHouseholds who love wordplayCatrick Swayze, Sir Pounce-a-Lot
Famous cats and pop cultureA name with history behind itMay need explaining, or date over timeFans of the originalLarry, Socks, Maru
Myth and literaryDepth and meaning, often unusualSome are hard to spell or sayReaders and history loversBastet, Cheshire, Freya
NatureDistinctive without tying you to a franchiseA few, like River or Breeze, are common words tooOutdoorsy householdsWillow, Juniper, Wren
Cat in other languagesShort, and many sound like a meowLearn how it is said before you use itBilingual homes, or a nod to a tripNeko, Minou, Gato

For a family vote, ask everyone for one style they would happily say and one thing they want to avoid. Then compare three finalists at a time. The longest list does not win; the name that survives real use does.

Say it aloud, then check the household

A name that only works whispered over a sleeping kitten has not passed. Try each finalist three ways.

  1. 1

    Normal voice

    Say it the way you would ask someone to pass the salt.

    Listen for: Does it sound natural, not theatrical?

  2. 2

    Cheerful voice

    Say it in the high, singsong voice you use at feeding time.

    Listen for: Do the important sounds stay clear?

  3. 3

    From another room

    Call it once from the kitchen to the sofa.

    Listen for: Is it distinct enough that no one mistakes it for another word?

Then check for a household conflict: a name that sounds too much like another pet, a person or a word you say all day, such as No, Off or Treat. When cues sound alike, it is harder for the cat, and for everyone else, to tell who is being called. Compare the name with every person and pet in the home, nicknames included, and ask someone who has not seen your shortlist to repeat it after hearing it once.

Milo

  • About 2 syllables: short and easy to call.
  • No obvious clash with No, Off, Down, Stop, Come, Sit, Stay, Wait, Treat, Bed, Out, Here, Heel, Leave it or Shake.
  • Milo starts the same way as Mia. Two names that start or end alike are easy to mix up across a room.
  • Ends on a vowel, so it is easy to stretch out when you call from another room.

These checks go by spelling, and English spelling is loose. Your ear decides: say the name next to each word it is flagged against.

What research says about cats and their names

  • Cats know their own name. Pet cats told their names apart from similar-sounding words, though often with nothing more than an ear twitch, and a cat that ignores you may simply not be motivated (Saito and colleagues, Scientific Reports, 2019).
  • Names that are used loosely blur. In the same study, cats living in cat cafés, where many visitors call many cats, were less able than cats in homes to tell their own name from a housemate's. Give each pet its own distinct name and use it the same way.
  • They learn the other names too. Cats in multi-cat homes seemed to expect a housemate's face when they heard its name, while café cats did not (Takagi and colleagues, Scientific Reports, 2022).
  • Your cheerful voice matters. In a small study of 16 cats, they reacted more when their owner switched to the higher, singsong voice people use for pets, but not when a stranger did (de Mouzon and colleagues, Animal Cognition, 2022). That is one reason to test a name in the voice you will really use.

We found no study that sets an ideal number of syllables, or a sound that every cat answers to best.

Test your three finalists for a few days

Write the finalists where everyone can see them. Use one name at a time during feeding, play and quiet moments, and note whether it felt easy, forced, too long or too close to another name. Then score them. The scores organize your impressions; they do not measure the cat.

Score up to five cat name finalists against five checks
Your shortlistEasy to sayCarriesDistinctFitsLastsScore
0/5
0/5
0/5

Saved in this browser only. The score organizes your thinking; it does not check trademarks or domains for you.

Three-finalist test sheet
Cat:            Adopted or born (date):
Personality so far:
Coat and markings:

Finalist 1:              How to say it:
Meaning or story:
Feeding / play / quiet / from another room (note how it felt):
Household reactions:

Finalist 2:              How to say it:
Meaning or story:
Feeding / play / quiet / from another room:
Household reactions:

Finalist 3:              How to say it:
Meaning or story:
Feeding / play / quiet / from another room:
Household reactions:

Clashes checked (other pets, people, No, Off, Down, Treat):
Formal name:             Call name everyone uses:
Decided on (date):       Why:

Know when to stop

Choice overload comes back just when you have found a good name. Set a rule: three finalists, a few days of real use, and no reopening the whole list because someone saw a new one online. If a name is clear, comfortable and everyone is using it, it is ready.

Shelter names, new names and call names

Keep the shelter name, or change it?

Either is fine. Keeping a name the cat already knows is one less change during a big move, and if you like it, that is reason enough. If it clashes with another name at home or you cannot say it naturally, choose a clear replacement. Before you decide, ask the shelter or foster:

  • How long has the cat had this name, and who used it?
  • Does the cat respond to the name, or mainly to a familiar voice?
  • Does the name clash with a pet, a person or a word you use a lot at home?
  • Can everyone in your home say it naturally?

Teach a new name with routine

Say the name clearly, then give the cat a reason to notice you: food, play, a chin scratch or a calm moment together. Everyone uses the same name and the same pronunciation, and nobody tests the cat or scolds it for not answering. There is no fixed timeline, so keep going and only rethink the name if a real clash turns up.

A formal name and one call name

Captain Fluffypants can be Captain Fluffypants on the vet forms and Fluff at home. Trouble starts when one person says the full name, another says Fluff and a third invents Cappy, because the cat is learning three names at once.

  • Write the formal name and the one call name on the test sheet.
  • Check that the call name passes the say-it-aloud test on its own.
  • Tell children, sitters and visitors which version to use.
  • Save extra nicknames until the call name is settled.

A cat name does not need to be perfect on day one. It needs to be clear, comfortable and used the same way by everyone, so the cat's real personality has time to show you whether you got it right.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most popular cat names?

Luna, Oliver, Leo, Milo, Bella and Charlie turn up near the top of cat name lists year after year. They are short, friendly and easy to call. In the U.S. News 2026 ranking, the top five are Luna, Milo, Bella, Leo and Kitty.

What is a clever name for a cat?

Clever cat names use wordplay, like Purrlock Holmes, Catticus Finch and Sigmund Fur, or hide the word cat inside, like Catapult and Catmandu. Pick one with a short form you can call at dinnertime.

What are some silly cat names?

Silly cat names include Captain Wobbles, Beans McGee, Bingo Bongo and Mr. Flibbertigibbet. Grand titles and rhymes, like Sir Flops or Noodle Doodle, make any cat name instantly goofy.

What is a good name for a boy or girl cat?

For boys, Oliver, Leo, Jasper and Felix are classic picks. For girls, Luna, Lily, Chloe and Daisy are favorites, and our boy cat names and girl cat names lists have many more.

Do cats recognize their names?

Many do. In a 2019 study in Scientific Reports, cats living in homes picked out their own name from other words and from their housemates' names, mostly by moving their ears and head rather than coming. Cats from busy cat cafés could not tell their name apart from the other cats' names.

How do I choose the right name for my cat?

Watch your cat for a few days, then shortlist names by personality, look and style. Say each finalist aloud in a normal voice, a cheerful voice and from another room, check it against the other names and words you use at home, and use your top three for a few days. Keep the one that still feels natural.

Is Luna still the most popular cat name?

Yes. U.S. News ranks Luna No. 1 in its 2026 study for the third year running, ahead of Milo and Bella. The study used 3,535,932 data points on cat names from US pet insurance customers, supplied by Fletch, from January 2022 to June 2026, so it reflects insured cats rather than every cat in the country.

How many syllables should a cat name have?

One or two syllables are the easiest to call, and the top three names in the US, Luna, Milo and Bella, all have two. There is no proven ideal length, so a longer name is fine if everyone agrees on a short call name, such as Whisk for Professor Whiskerton.

Should I avoid cat names that sound like commands?

Yes, where you can. A name that rhymes with or starts like a word you say all day, such as No, Off, Down or Treat, or that sounds like another pet's name, makes it harder to tell when you mean the cat. In a 2019 study, cats living in cat cafés, where many visitors call many cats, were less able than cats in homes to pick out their own name from a housemate's name.

Should I keep my adopted cat's shelter name?

Keep it if the cat already responds to it and you like it. Change it if it clashes with another name in your home or you cannot say it naturally. Ask the shelter or foster how long the cat has had the name, and if you change it, use the new name the same way every day.

Can an adopted cat learn a new name?

Yes. Cats link a name with what follows it, so say the new name before food, play or a fuss, and have everyone use the same name. There is no set timeline, and a cat that ignores its name may still know it: researchers say a lack of response can simply mean low motivation.

Can a cat have a formal name and a call name?

Yes. Plenty of cats have a grand name on the vet forms and a short one at home. Pick one call name that the whole household uses, check that it passes the say-it-aloud test on its own, and save the other nicknames for later.

Should I pick a popular or a unique cat name?

Neither is better. A popular name like Luna or Milo is easy for everyone to say and spell, but you may share it with other cats at the vet or the cattery. A distinctive name stands out, as long as it still passes the say-it-aloud test and your household is happy to use it.

What are good gender-neutral cat names?

Most cat names that are not human first names work for any cat: food names like Tofu and Miso, nature names like Wren, River and Pebble, coat names like Slate and Domino, and words for cat like Neko and Minou.

Should I name my cat after its coat color?

Coat color is a good starting point, but pair it with personality. Kittens change: most have blue eyes that change color in their first months, and pointed breeds such as Siamese are born pale and darken as they grow. A few days of watching your cat will tell you whether a Slate is really a Bonkers.

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