200+ Cute Cat Names You’ll Paws-itively Love
Updated: Jul. 13, 2023
Deciding what to call your new feline friend can be hard. This list of cute cat names is here to help!
What’s in a name? Well, everything, when you’re trying to decide what to call your new kitty. The best names reflect your little fur ball’s unique personality—and maybe a little of your own as well. And the possibilities for cute cat names really are endless. “There are not many rules when it comes to picking names,” says cat behavior expert LeeAnna Buis of Feline Behavior Solutions. “Almost anything can work.”
According to Chewy’s pet database, the most popular boy cat names this year are Milo, Oliver, Leo, Loki, Max, Charlie and Simba. The most popular girl cat names? Luna, Bella, Lucy, Lily, Nala, Willow and Daisy. But the No. 1 cat name for one pet parent might not work for another, and there are plenty of other pet names to choose from, whether you’re a fan of funny cat names or want to stick with the classics.
Some cat owners choose human names for their fur babies, while others find inspiration in food, pop culture and nature. “Human names that sound silly on a cat, like Phil or Sharon, always make me laugh,” says Ciara LaVelle, a pet expert and editor with Chewy. “My own cat is named after former Boston Red Sox player Manny Ramirez. And I’m a big fan of names that reference something seemingly random too. The name Chicken Nugget is up 39% this year, for example. How cute is that?”
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What should you consider when naming your cat?
The most important things to consider are how you feel about a name and how well your favorite feline responds to it. The best cat names will appeal to both the humans and animals in your home. “My favorite cat names are a mix of funny, clever and/or nods to a cat’s personality or habits,” says LaVelle. “Like, if you have a black cat with a gravely voice who spends a lot of time in his cave, Bruce Wayne is an excellent pick. But cats are all so different, and pet parents are too, so there’s not really any set-in-stone criteria for what makes a great cat name.”
Still, experts do suggest some useful tips:
- Keep it short. One- or two-syllable names are often easier for you to call out and for your cat to recognize. But if you have your heart set on a multisyllable name, don’t despair. “I love nicknames,” says Buis.
- Consider a name that ends in an “ee” sound. Names that have a long e at the end (say, Dusty or Ollie) have been known to catch cats’ attention better than names that don’t.
- Pick a distinct sound. To avoid confusion, stay away from names that sound like those of other family members or like commands that you will be likely to use with your pet (Snow, for example, sounds an awful lot like “no”).
We’ve compiled some of our favorite cute cat names below. Need more inspiration? Consider stealing a great name from another species. These popular dog names, bird names, fish names and hamster names are a good place to start.
Cute cat names
Adorable kitties deserve names as cute as they are. You might pick a name based on your kitten’s unique markings—Mittens and Boots are classic picks for cats whose paws stand out. Or go with a bunny name for the little pink nose that makes your kitty look like a rabbit. Food and flowers can also inspire cute cat names. And if you think of your fur baby as part of the family, why not choose a sweet human name—just make sure there isn’t already a Lucy or Charlie in your family!
- Calista
- Poppy
- Bunny
- Mittens
- Skittles
- Boots
- Willow
- Bella
- Rocky
- Oliver
- Milo
- Taco
- Mochi
- Tortellini
- Kiwi
- Tabitha
- Lucy
- Cupcake
- Mango
- Loki
- Max
- Charlie
Unique cat names
If there’s anything we’ve learned from all those hilarious cat memes and funny cat photos, it’s that cats do the darnedest things. Sometimes cat parents find original names by playing off their feline’s quirky habits. “If you have a kitten who loves to jump all over the place, why not go with Hopper?” says LaVelle. Or maybe you’ll want to search your family ancestry for names that don’t get much use for humans anymore, like Cornelius or Patsy. They’d make super-cute cat names!
- Cornelius
- Felicity
- Cyrus
- Halley
- Newton
- Winnie
- Morgan
- Quincy
- Tess
- Jasper
- Wolfie
- Hamish
- Finley
- Eloise
- Spencer
- Baxter
- Juni
- Hopper
- Banksy
- Nadja
- Benito
- Finnigan
- Bogart
- Sweety
- Patsy
- Addison
Black cat names
Black cats need monikers that will do justice to their regal bearing. “Luna, which is a favorite among all types of cats, works especially well for black cats, since it references the moon and nighttime,” says LaVelle. “Shadow and Smoky are also really popular names that could describe the fur color of a black cat.” And for those black cats with patches of white, classic names like Oreo, Domino and Sylvester are timeless favorites.
- Licorice
- Jet
- Nero (Italian for “black”)
- Inky
- Shadow
- Smoky
- Midnight
- Dublin (Gaelic for “black pool”)
- Raven
- Coal (or Cole)
- Onyx
- Ace
- Salem
- Checkers
- Sylvester
- Oreo
- Domino
Orange cat names
For a classic orange kitty, a classic cat name might be just the right touch. “Both Tiger and Tigger rank among the top names for male cats and go especially well with cats whose fur is the same color as tigers,” says LaVelle. “For female cats, Penny is a top pick, which could reference a cat’s coppery fur color.”
But orange kitties‘ vibrant coats also seem to remind many pet parents of food items. “My personal favorites in this category are food related,” says LaVelle. “Squash, Mango, Yuzu and Cheddar are all on the rise this year.”
- Tigger
- Penny
- Squash
- Mango
- Yuzu
- Cheddar
- Cheeto
- Marmalade
- Morris
- Ginger
- Butterscotch
- Tiger
- Leo
- Pumpkin
- Clementine
- Julius
- Saffron
- Peaches
- Nacho
- Sunny D
Gray cat names
Just because we think of gray as a somber color doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun naming your new silvery fur ball. Gray cats call to mind the mysterious beauty found in thunderstorms or the sparkle in a flash of silver, both of which can inspire cute cat names. “Shadow and Smoky are great for gray cats too,” says LaVelle. “I also like Misty, which has risen in popularity 50% since last year.”
- Misty
- Ashley
- Cinderella
- Asher
- Stormy
- Smoke
- Smoky
- Shadow
- Dusty
- Blue
- Soot
- Grayson
- Gracie
- Tinsel
- Grigio (Italian for “gray”)
- Sterling
- Dorian (from the novel The Picture of Dorian Gray)
- Gandalf (the Lord of the Rings wizard)
White cat names
With their dazzling alabaster coats, white cats often inspire snow and winter-related names, but flowery and foodie monikers are also trending. “Daisy is a popular choice,” says LaVelle, “as is Coco, which you could interpret as referring to the white insides of a coconut. Tofu and Sugar have both risen in popularity recently too.” White cats can also evoke thoughts of clouds and heavenly beings, which is why Cirrus and Angel are great choices, as is Cloud for those extra-fluffy kitties. And if your cat is a little more cream-colored than pure white, something like Latte might be just the ticket.
- Frosty
- Snowball
- Bianca (Italian for “white”)
- Blanca (Spanish for “white”)
- Iceman
- Cirrus
- Marshmallow
- Casper
- Coco
- Daisy
- Lily
- Cotton Ball
- Angela
- Yuki (Japanese for “snow”)
- Aspen
- Glacier
- Jasmine
- Jack Frost
- Tofu
- Sugar
- Milkshake
- Luna
- Latte
Calico cat names
These multicolored beauties have fur that is at least partially white with bold patches of color, like orange, black, tan, red or brown. And it’s often that color pattern that inspires their names. “Patches is the classic choice for calico cats,” says LaVelle, “as well as Socks, if your cat’s paws are a different color than their legs.” Calico names also work really well for cute cat breeds with tortoiseshell coats, whose base fur is dark beneath the colorful patches.
- Patches
- Mocha
- Marbles
- Picasso
- Gizmo (like the mischievous fur ball in Gremlins)
- Maple
- Maisie
- Nutmeg
- Pebbles
- Hazel
- Reese (like the multicolored candy pieces)
Disney cat names
The Walt Disney Company might have been built on mice—the adorably named Mickey and Minnie, of course—but it’s also shown plenty of feline love through the years. Cute kitties have been front and center in some of Disney’s biggest hits and have inspired some very cute cat names along the way. Take The Aristocats‘ Duchess, Toulouse, Berlioz and Marie; Pinocchio’s Figaro; and the Lion King’s Simba, Nala and Mufasa.
And then there are all those other non-kitty characters whose names work really well for off-screen cats. (Just avoid Si and Am, the Siamese troublemakers in Lady and the Tramp, unless you like scheming felines!) For even more pet-naming inspiration, you can browse this list of Disney dog names.
- Cheshire
- Olaf
- Elsa
- Belle
- Duchess
- Toulouse
- Berlioz
- Marie
- Simba
- Nala
- Mufasa
- Figaro
- Bruno
- Mowgli
- Ariel
- Dory
- Nemo
- Jiminy Cricket
- Cogsworth
Cat names inspired by pop culture
Some pet parents find cute cat names in pop culture. Taylor Swift named her three kitties after some favorite TV and film characters: Meredith Grey (from Grey’s Anatomy), Olivia Benson (from Law & Order: SVU) and Benjamin Button (from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button). Whether you’re hunting for female cat names or male cat names, there’s no shortage of entertainment to pull from.
“Your cat’s name is also a reflection of your own personal tastes, so referencing your favorite shows, movie characters, songs, hobbies or other things you’re passionate about makes sense too,” says LaVelle. Try pairing your cat’s behavior and personality with your favorite characters and pop icons.
- Sheldon Cooper (The Big Bang Theory)
- Dutton (Yellowstone)
- Maverick (Top Gun: Maverick)
- Merlin (Top Gun: Maverick)
- Thackery Binx (Hocus Pocus)
- Samantha (Sex and the City)
- Keanu (Reeves)
- Kermit (The Muppets)
- Frodo (Lord of the Rings)
- Vito (The Godfather)
- Crookshanks (Harry Potter)
- Katniss (The Hunger Games)
- Meowth (Pokemon)
- Yoda (Star Wars)
- Peppa (Peppa Pig)
- Jagger (the Rolling Stones’s Mick)
- Aretha (Franklin)
- Bowie (David)
Cute names for cat pairs
If you’re lucky enough to be adopting two cats at the same time, you might want to consider names that work together—perhaps a famous movie or TV duo, legendary lovers or even a favorite food pairing.
- Thelma and Louise
- Buzz and Woody
- Mario and Luigi
- Ben and Jerry
- Merry and Pippin
- Biscuits and Gravy
- Bert and Ernie
- Johnny and June
- Yin and Yang
- Benson and Stabler
- Bonnie and Clyde
- Scott and Zelda
- Mac and Cheese
- Jack and Ginger
- Mulder and Scully
- Rhett and Scarlett
Celebrity-inspired cats names
On the Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso, one of the main characters (Leslie Higgins, played by English actor Jeremy Swift) named his beloved cat Cindy Clawford after 1990s supermodel Cindy Crawford. Put a punny spin on your all-time faves with one of these celebrity-inspired noms de paw.
- Kitty Perry
- Lil Paws X
- Meowly Cyrus
- Sir Meows A Lot
- Pawlina Porizkova
- Elle MacPurrson
- Karlie Claws
- Linda Evangewhisker
- Catty B
- Harrison Furred
- Dolly Purrton
If all else fails, browse these unique dog names for inspiration—plenty of them would fit a cat just as nicely as a dog.
About the experts
- LeeAnna Buis is a certified feline training and behavior specialist at Feline Behavior Solutions in Seattle. She has two cats, Chloe and Ollie, and fosters kitties who need socialization work or are going through medical recovery.
- Ciara LaVelle is a pet expert with Chewy who writes about all sorts of animals. She’s a longtime animal lover and a pet parent to a sleek and sassy cat named Manny.
Originally Published: August 02, 2019
