Good Kitten Names are Hard. Who knew?
Need help choosing good kitten names?
It turns out, choosing a good cat name is a hard thing. Harder than you'd think, am I right?
If you need help, if you're:
- Still struggling to figure out which of the many possible kitten names is the right match for your cat?
- Wondering if the name will fit your cat's personality (or is it purrsonality?)?
- Thinking that a cute name for a kitten won't sound right when your cat becomes an adult?
- Wanting a name that will stand out in a crowd? Something with meaning behind it?
- Stuck?
- Looking to take some inspiration from what our other readers have named their cats?
You've come to the right place. I'll even give you some rules you can follow (if you like) to help with naming your kitty, and, of course, a whole bunch of name ideas from our readers.
The selection of kitten names is as diverse and interesting as cats themselves! As such, choosing the right name for your kitten is not always easy.
We've got hundreds of ideas for you to help pave the way, but first things first...
Can Cats Learn Their Names?
Do cats learn their names, and do they come when called?
Despite what many have tried to say in the past, cats can and do learn their names. While some cats typically do not respond to their names as enthusiastically as dogs, many cats will at least react to their name in some way.
Many cats will come when their names are called, although it may take some coaxing at first to get them trained. Whether it is a look, a flick of the tail, or even coming to you when called, most cats do react to their names being used.
But, it may take several tries each time you want them to come to you, especially if they are wrapped up in a task.
The "Best" Kitten Names?
Some experts say that the best kitten names end in an "ee" sound. Supposedly, both kittens and adult cats respond best to names that end with this sound.
The Rules: How to Name a Kitten
Below are some rules and recommendations on kitten names, and how to get your cat to respond to the one you've chosen.
I can tell you from personal experience, however, that a cat can and will learn a name that does not fit this mold. For example, my oldest cat, Priscilla, knows her name and always responds to it.
"Smokey" or "Silky" or something like that would probably have been an easier cat name for her, but she seems to do just fine with the name she has. I know, Smokey is often used to name male cats, but you get my point.
Try to keep cat names fairly simple. Shorter is usually better. No more than 3 syllables, and use long vowel sounds. For example, a not so good kitten name would be "kitten." Even though it is short (two syllables), it has short vowel sounds. Something like "Marty" or "Katie" would be better, since they have a long "a" and end in the "ee" sound.
- Be specific - choose a good kitten name that you think fits and decide how to pronounce it - then stick to it. Don't send your cat mixed signals about the sound of the name by pronouncing it differently each time.
- Don't truncate the name - if you name your cat "Smokey," then don't start calling him "Smoke" instead. Always call him "Smokey," or choose "Smoke" in the first place.
- Be consistent - once you choose "Misty," then "Misty" doesn't become "Maria" all of a sudden - once kitten names are chosen and the training starts, that's it. Again, no mixed signals.
- Be nice - always use a nice tone when saying the kitten's name - would you respond well to a strange word that someone always yelled at you?
- Use positive reinforcement - put your cat in a "feel good" mood by petting your cat for a while, then begin saying her name as you stroke her.
- Use Play - say your cat's name repeatedly during a light play session with a toy she likes.
- Use food - pet your cat and say her name while she's eating, or feed her a treat.
- Don't use negative reinforcement - this might seem like common sense given number five, but you might be surprised how many people will use kitten names in a harsh voice to punish their cats! If your cat is doing something you don't want her to do, use other sounds and words, like "no" or a loud noise as a behavior modification tool - not her name.
- Reward your cat - every time your kitten reacts to her name, praise her in a soft, high pitched voice, and reward her with lots of physical attention like petting, hugs, and treats.
- Never use punishment - when using the kitten's name doesn't produce the desired reaction, simply ignore your kitten's behavior and go back to using the techniques described here. Never yell at your cat or punish her for not responding to her name.
Remember, whether it's kitten names or litter box training, you are using a behavior modification technique.
The basic rules here are to get your cat in a positive mood, ignore undesired behavior, and reward your cat whenever you catch her doing something you want her to do.
Those are also solid tips to keep in mind when training your cat in any way.
As a final note on the "rules" I would say to have fun with it, and do whatever works.
House cats have proven over and over again that they're a pretty smart bunch, and will adapt to whatever name you choose. I've seen cat health experts name their cats in total opposition to the rules, so go ahead and be a rule breaker. Have at it!
The Naming of Cats (with the Help of Lists!)
Just like with human babies, if you're having trouble choosing, lists of cat names can help. The below pages contain lists of names as well as other resources with more lists.
Female cat names
A list for girl cat owners.
Male cat names
Owners, ahem, guardians of boy cats should check this list.
Black cat names
An extensive list that includes some creative and unique black cat names, along with some history and explanation.
Orange Cat Names
A comprehensive list of names for ginger kitties that draws inspiration from pop culture, humor, food, and even superheroes and giant stars.
Tuxedo cat names
These are good names for black and whites.
Unusual cat names from VPI's annual list. Some of these are a little out there, even for me.
Some fascinating cat names are contained in the works of T.S. Eliot, including a few in this famous poem, aptly titled, "The Naming Of Cats."
You may recall that Eliot's work was the basis for CAT's the Musical, the famous play by Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Here's a list of the most popular cat names from a company in the cat ID tag business.
Below are some of the cat and kitten names submitted by our readers. Use them for inspiration.
Want to See the Largest List of Cat Names Ever?
Then you're gonna have to help build it! Just answer the simple question:
What's your cat's name?
We'll collect all the names and publish them until we have the largest collection of names that we know of. Also include the following information so that we can properly categorize the name.
What color and coat pattern is your cat? (Examples: solid white | red tabby)
Why or how did you chose the name, or was the name chosen for you?
Upload a picture of your cat, and optionally, share a cute or funny story about your cat and any other details as well if you like.
List Of Cat Names
Click on the links below to see the names submitted.
Chesapeake from Amelia 
Our feral kitten, named after Chessie the railroad cat.
Indie from Pakistan
We named Indie after Indiana Jones because he used to love getting into tonnes of mischief (he still does!) and get stuck in places that are pretty unusual. …
Calamity AKA Clam Jo
Calamity was found as a 6 week old kitten and introduced into our little family, after a clear bill of health from the vet, of course!
She is a wild …
Kayou from Lake Havasu City
His name is suppose to mean "Nobleman" in Japanese. Originally, my baby's name was Kiyoshi.
I thought he was a she, and because I wanted him to have …
Beedo from Rochester
We were trying to figure out a name for our new kitten and considered naming him Minion.
Then the conversation went to the fire scene in the 2nd movie …
Wolfy from Pearland
I thought she reminded me of a Wolf. I thought Wolfy was a boy at first, but I liked the name so much I kept it even when I found out Wolfy was a girl. …
Tropicana: Orange Is A Gift
Welcome to my home! Even though I'm a naughty kitty, I am affectionate and friendly most of the time. I have big paws which have helped me destroy many …
Lux from Texas
I saved my baby from the park, extremely malnourished and dying. She pulled me out of an extreme depression, and I named her Lux because it means light …
Mochachina the Kitty
Mocha is a tortoiseshell cat. She is black with brown patches. She has a small white spot on her chest.
I told my boyfriend that I always wanted a calico …
Ana-kitty from Ann Arbor
Ana is grey tuxedo cat. Her chest and stomach are white. The rest is grey except she has 4 white socks. The two front ones are short while her back socks …
Tzillah (pronounced zilla)
No one wanted the little black kitten. The rest of the litter had all been adopted from this woman by 5 weeks, except the little black one. She was going …
Sky ♥
When I got her, she was two weeks old with bright blue eyes. Now she's almost two years old and has one blue eye and one green eye. She's my heart and …
Penelope from Sheffield
She recently passed, however she was my first cat and she converted me into liking cats which I really didn't before, but I couldn't leave her on the cold, …
Callie from Kansas
Callie showed up at our house one Fourth of July weekend. It was blazing hot, and we had seen her running loose in the neighborhood for some time.
Certain …
Chica Bonita
Our pretty, little black kitty came to us through a local shelter in 2008. Her tail was so skinny it reminded me of a licorice whip, and I wanted to name …
Patches the Sweet
Patches showed up on our doorstep on New Year's Day, 2009. It was way below zero, but the sun was out for the first time in days.
Despite the cold, …
Cloudy from Kansas
We adopted our second cat from the local animal shelter. He was a solid gray, little ball of fluff and looked like he might be the same breed as our other …
Sammy from Kansas
A solid gray male (Nebelung) showed up on our doorstep. We fed him canned salmon. The cat stayed and so did the name!
Baron Figaro de Shannivere
At the shelter, they called him Figaro. I'm sure it was because the cat in the latest Disney movie was gray. But it didn't fit the stately long-furred …
Shellby and Conner
I got my 2 mostly Siamese cats when they were approximately 4 weeks old. Shellby was the runt of a litter of seven kittens. No one thought she would live …
Keeky from Muldrow
I named my female calico KEEKY because she was running around in the front yard and when I hollered at her to come to me I would say kittykittykitty ... …
Cat Names Nigel and Molly
Nigel and Molly are brother and sister Himalayans.
Nigel? It's a long story from my wife's family. Molly? Well, she just looks like a Molly.
We think …
Cat Name Popcorn
I have a cat called Toffeepop , so I thought I'd carry on the theme. They are the top of my POPS.
I got Popcorn 10/10/10. She's a wee tiny thing, so …
Cat Name Bella from Auburn
She was very fluffy and from behind she had a bell shape to her, so I named her Bella.
Editor's note: Thank you, Stacy, for submitting Bella's name …
Cat Name Chalmer
I started a new theme with my cats' names: TRACTORS! So far I have had an Allis, currently have a Chalmer (after Allis-Chalmers) and I named the neighborhood …
Cat Name Carlee
Carlee was abandoned by his mom. My little sister saved him and bottle fed him. At about 4-6 weeks old she gave him to me, and we absolutely adore him! …
Cat Names Coco And Tyger
My cat Tyger had just past. It might sound cruel the way I'm about to say this but my cat Tyger was MENTAL.
He'd bite everyone except for me and he …
Cat Name Boo Bear
Had a hard time finding a name for this little black kitten. He looks just like a little black bear.
He is a handful and he loves playing with my other …
Cat Name Shadow
I named my cat Shadow for 2 reasons. 1) He's all black with amber eyes, so it's very hard to see him in the dark, like an outline, or a shadow. 2) He always …
Cat Name Felix
I adopted Felix from From the Heart Rescue, he was about 3 years old. We have now had him 3 years. He is beautiful and such a good kitty cat.
He never …
Cat Name Oliver PomPom
This is terrible, but my Ragdoll cat has typical markings, making his points darker than the rest of his body. My 8 year old niece was looking at him …
Cat Names Kita, Bandit, Deuce, and Izzy
In March of 2002 we got our first kitten, Kita. He came from a litter of four. He rode home in my purse-how cute!
A week later my husband came home …
Cat Name Bowtie
We had first moved to Boston in January 2009. In November I saw a pregnant feral cat hanging around outside the building. I left the back door open so …
Cat Name Kit Kat
We got Kit Kat from my mom's dad when he died. Her name was Kat, so we kept thinking of something to call her. My sister thought of a couple- Mystic, and …
Cat Name Mr Slippers
Mr Slippers arrived into my garden one morning, he was so tiny you could only just see him amongst all the plants. He saw me and just walked into the house …
Cat Name Punkin
Punkin, like Pumpkin, but slang and sweet. :) How you would end up saying it everyday anyway.
Editor's note: Thanks, Karen, for adding to our list of …
Cat Name Cinko
I found a stay cat a couple of days ago. My parents told me that it belonged to a person up the street. So I called it by the name my parents told me to …
Cat Name Zenda
My brother got this kitten at the SPCA in Largo, FL.
Very smart and fetches toys you throw to her and then brings them back. Very smart and friendly. …
Cat Name Liberty
Liberty, a Siamese mix, showed up on July 4th of 1999 and had four kittens 10 days later. None were Siamese marked and we kept mom and two kittens, Noot …
Cat Name Magick
She's white on belly, with black stripes on her back mixed with brown fur, Norwegian Forest mix. The name was chosen as the wiccan spelling of magic. She …
Cat Name Nellie
All of my cats have the same middle name: goodheart. It all started with the first cat I got as an adult. His name was Pumpkin.
Right after getting …
Black And White Cat Name Sir Boots
A young, skinny male cat showed up in our yard one day, about 2 years ago, and my son's girl friend put some dry cat food out for him. It took a while, …
Cat Name Woof
My poor Cat!!!
But it does amuse me and my neighbours when I call him in!!!
Cat Name Cricket
Cricket is a doll - he loves everyone to include the other cats and dogs in the house. He enjoys exploring the woods around our house during the day and …
Cat Name Mister B
Mister B was a stray a friend brought to my attention and I adopted. He was a whopping ten pounds, under a year old, intact, black and white male. I went …
Cat Name Moon Sugar
Once I had named my black cat Skooma I decided that my next cat would be Moon Sugar. It was interesting to see her personality come through as Moon Sugar …
Cat Name Skooma
When I first played the game Morrowind I thought to myself how fitting the drug Skooma would be as a cat name. I didn't get to implement it until years …
Cat Name Spooky
Spooky was long hair, tortoise shell in color, having a very distinctive line down her head making it half black, half red. She was so named because when …
Cat Name Wyatt
Wyatt is a funny little man I got when he was 6 weeks old. He has turned out to be one of the smartest cats I've ever owned.
He can open almost any …
Cat Name Lovely
My daughter chose her name because she said she is cute and beautiful.
Cat Name Binx
Binx was a long haired gray tabby mix, he looked like a Norwegian Forest cat. He was one of those cats that you can fling across your shoulders and he …
Cat Name Tsunami
Nami, for short. She used to run through the house full speed, jumping on & off furniture, us, the dogs, and just generally stirring up trouble. We would …
Cat Names Mickey & Minnie
Twin tuxedos we adopted years ago. We had to adjust Minnie's name because we had another cat named Winston whose nickname was Winnie and they were both …
Cat Name Baby
Baby (male cat) was abandoned by his mother and other sibling. (They were street kitties -- small babies when I found Baby -- maybe 2 months old). The …
Cat Names Fishsticks & Porkchops
We acquired fishsticks from a friend whose cat had a litter and for some reason my husband somehow thought of fishsticks. She was really aggressive so …
Cat Name Figaro
Was inside the engine of a car for about 2 hours before he was found and has never left my side ever since.
Cat Name Paisley Sweets
She just looked like a Paisley, and she can be sweet when she isn't terrorizing!
Cat Name Tickaboo
I was given Tickaboo by an ex girl friend. I was not too sure about taking in another cat since my last ex took custody of the three we had together. …
Cat Name Menta
When she was just a kitten, my cat had eyes the color of peppermint... hence her name... Menta (Italian version of Mint)! XD
Cat Name Lucky
One time my family and I were driving to the store. Then suddenly all the cars stopped. A women picked a cat up and told us "I have two dogs I can't take …
Cat Names Squire and Maggie
Squire was christened Wee Squee the Squire Boy by my son when we got him 10 yrs ago. My son was 3 and a half yrs old at the time.
Maggie Mayhem is …
Cat Name Lola
I am a Barry Manilow fan.
Cat Names Pharoah, Egypt, and Nile
Well It all started with Pharoah's father who was my first cat and he was a tuxedo cat that had a black triangle on his face. That made me think of the …
Cat Name Nightshade
Simply put, I loved the name "Nightshade" at the time, and named him even before I saw him. All I knew was that he was solid black; he was a kitten that …
Cat Names Lola and Lucy 
Lola and Lucy (two cats). They are my girls. They are sisters and very smart. They have two distinct personalities. My girls are 5 years old and are indoor …
Nachos from St Louis
I was at a Cardinals Baseball Game with my best friend Stephanie. During a rain delay, we had consumed a few beers and became hungry. While enjoying the …
Violet Not rated yet
The year is 2018. Since 2015, I had gotten confirmation that the world was getting the long-awaited sequel to Disney/Pixar's "The Incredibles", which first …
Button Not rated yet
Perfectly round face with two round shiny black eyes right in the center. He looked like a button.
Mia from Walker Not rated yet
Mia is a calico cat. She was abandoned in Texas, so my Mom's friend's grandma had her for 3 months but then died, so my Mom's friend got her. She found …
Burrito the tabby Not rated yet
Burrito the tabby.
Salem the black cat Not rated yet
He is a black cat and doesn't like my dogs and one out of the three other cats.
Fiddler from Indiana Not rated yet
Fiddler is a tabby. When she first began visiting our house, she would climb a tree and walk along a branch until she reached our roof.
She would sit …
Jemmy, Scouter, Dilly Not rated yet
"To Kill A Mockingbird" has been my favorite book since I read it as a teen. So, when I was offered the three kittens of a fellow teacher, after having …
Ace from Lancaster Not rated yet
Ace is a calico with an orange, black and white mixture. We named her Ace because our school colors are orange, black, and white and our school football …
Zeede' from Kentucky Not rated yet
Zeede' was rescued off the bumper of a car that had just pulled off the Interstate. Stopping for gas a man approached him and asked if he heard a cat crying??? …
Gloria (and Max) Not rated yet
Gloria is our first girl cat, adopted a day after we got Leonard II. Both were rescues.
Unfortunately, little Leonard did not live to be very old; he …
Leonard (Junior) Not rated yet
We had had a well-loved grey striped cat named Leonard (Leonard Kitten, after Leonard Cohen) for 16 years, and he'd passed away 6 months earlier.
Finally, …
Leonard Kitten (after Leonard Cohen) Not rated yet
Leonard was the first cat I ever had, and my husband's second. Unlike later cats, which we adopted after Leonard passed away at the age of 16, Leonard …
Belle from Leicester Not rated yet
My little girl named our cat Belle from Disney. Princess Belle is ginger brown and white and has black as well. She's a lovely cat.
Cat Name Kipu Not rated yet
Started out as Sugar, being a whitish cat. But my family always adds -poo to the end of names and when my mom started calling her kitty-poo she would respond …
Cat Names Lilybud, Queenie and Toffee Not rated yet
Lilybud: Was named after my great niece Lily and my great nephew Buddy.
Queenie: Born in Diamond Jubilee year. Therefore after our wonderful queen. …
Josephine the gray tabby Not rated yet
She is a long haired gray tabby who was actually named by my sister after my favorite singer. She is very much a princess and the name is royal sounding …
Cat Name Smokey from Grantsville Not rated yet
His coat pattern is black and grey mixed into swirls.
My uncle is a big joker. He tried to make my kitten think his name was 'target practice.' But …
Cat Name KaKa Not rated yet
My son was working on a friend's truck in the garage. There was on old truck parked out in the field. He went to the old truck to get a part off of it. …
Cat Names Boo and Cole Not rated yet
My mom and I went to the shelter. We were thinking about adopting a kitten, but instead we ended up fostering five! We named them Boo, Cole, Megan, Beau, …
Cat Name Boo (the barn cat) Not rated yet
He's a black barn cat. When he was younger he liked to jump out from the tall grass and scare us and the goats.
Editor's note: A black cat that likes …
Cat Name Starr Not rated yet
My youngest cat is called Starr. She was named by my son who said she is a little star. I just put an extra "r" on the end. She comes when called unless …
Cat Name Milly from Ireland Not rated yet
Sister of Monty the rescued cat, Milly on the other hand loves to be cuddled. Her favorite toy is a roll of aluminum foil.
Editor's note: Thank you …
Cat Name Monty from Ireland Not rated yet
Is my boy. He is a champagne ginger, 8 months old and a rescue cat, he doesn't like to be stroked that much but that's fine, I love him just the way he …
Cat Name Pawley Not rated yet
We named our orange and white tabby 'Pawley' because of this adorable 'begging' motion he does . . . he sits on his hind legs and 'begs' with his front …
Cat Name Kirby, Nickname Kirbalicious, Kirmudgeon or Mudge Not rated yet
Kirby is a black and tan tabby and he is eating strawberry yogurt here. He prefers strawberry over vanilla. He was a 5 or 6 week old stray who had lost …
Cat Name Tony Not rated yet
My husband brought home four feral abandoned kittens at 2 weeks old. I decided after bottle raising them, to keep two. The only little girl and the smallest …
Cat Name Bella Not rated yet
My husband brought home 4 feral abandoned kittens when they were only 2 weeks old. One was a little black and white tuxedo girl. She is so beautiful and …
Cat Name Sunshine Not rated yet
This is my cat Sunshine and her first (and only) litter. She is a very small American Shorthair .
She was a barn cat that was rescued and forgotten …
Cat Name Tayling Not rated yet
A small Siamese kitty who I feel in love with ten years gone that passed away. Nickname was Tay Tay.
Editor's note: Thanks, Betty, for adding to our …
Cat Name Sven Not rated yet
Sven was adopted into a loving Swedish family. Sven is a boy, and Sven translated to English means boy. :)
Editor's note: Thank you for adopting a kitty …
Cat Name Pingu Not rated yet
Squeaks like Pingu when playing with her friend goldenboy. He is 2 months old.
Editor's note: For those who aren't familiar with Pingu, Pingu is a …
Here are some more cute cat names submitted by our visitors. These submissions didn't have any pictures submitted with them, and were each too short to demand a full page on their own.
Bow Wow Meow - list of popular cat and kitten names based on pet ID tags issued. Includes meanings too.
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