The best cat name is short, easy to call and fits your cat’s look or personality. Many owners wait a few days to watch their new cat before deciding. Below are names sorted by colour, personality and humour. Part of our pet names hub.
Top picks
- Miso – short, soft and cosy
- Luna – means moon in Latin
- Pepper – for a grey or speckled cat
- Ginger – the classic for orange cats
- Smudge – for a cat with a dark patch
- Cleo – for a cat that acts like royalty
- Mochi – for a round, soft cat
- Sir Purrcival – a funny, fancy name
Pet name generator
- Biscuit
- Noodle
- Mochi
- Pretzel
- Waffles
- Bean
- Dumpling
- Coconut
- Pickle
- Peanut
Your picks (saved in this browser)
Black cat names
- Inky
- Shadow
- Onyx – a black gemstone
- Licorice
- Midnight
- Salem
- Raven
- Espresso
More ideas: black cat names.
White cat names
- Snowball
- Pearl
- Tofu
- Marshmallow
- Ghost
- Coconut
- Frost
- Luna
Orange cat names
- Ginger
- Marmalade
- Pumpkin
- Cheeto
- Apricot
- Sunny
- Nacho
- Clementine
More ideas: orange cat names.
Grey cat names
- Pepper
- Smokey
- Ash
- Slate
- Pebble
- Storm
- Earl Grey
- Misty
Names by personality
- Pounce – for a playful hunter
- Duchess – for a cat that expects to be served
- Zoomie – for a cat that runs at 3 a.m.
- Snooze – for a champion napper
- Chatterbox – for a cat that never stops meowing
- Shy Violet – for a timid cat
- Boss – for the one in charge
- Velcro – for a cat that sticks to you
Funny cat names
- Catsby – a pun on Gatsby
- Meowly Cyrus
- Purrlock Holmes
- Chairman Meow
- Fluffernutter
- Hairy Pawter
- Catrick Swayze
- Sir Naps-a-Lot
How to choose a cat name
- Pick one or two syllables. Short names are easy to call across the house.
- Watch your cat for a few days. Its personality might pick the name for you.
- Avoid names that sound like everyday words you say often, so your cat is not confused.
- Check that everyone at home likes it. You will all be saying it for years.
Questions people ask
What is the best name for a cat?
There is no single best name. Pick something short that suits your cat’s colour or personality, like Miso, Luna or Pepper.
What is a good name for a black cat?
Inky, Onyx, Midnight and Salem are popular choices for black cats.
Can I rename an adopted cat?
Yes. Use the new name often, with treats and gentle praise, and give your cat time to get used to it.
Aira Raj edits NamesGrill. She writes and checks every name list, looks up real meanings and lore, and fixes mistakes fast.