What are good cat names?

Do you have a new feline addition to your home and are looking for inspiration on what to name them? Let's see if we can help!

A good place to start is with your cat's appearance. Maybe a name like Shadow or Coal could be good for a black cat. Socks could be a good name for a kitty with white paw markings that look like, well... socks. Tiger could be a good name for an orange, striped cat, or maybe Snowball for a white cat - also a famous cat name from the Simpsons!

Catster.com lists some popular names for a cat in 2025. Luna takes the top spot in several states, and is listed as the number one name for female cats, followed by Nala and Lily. Milo is the number one for male cats, with Leo and Oliver coming in close behind. 

If you're looking for some cuddly cat names, Rover.com gives some cute options like Dumpling, Pillow, Biscuit or Cream Puff. (A cat name Creme Puff holds the Guinness World record for oldest cat at 38! We can't guarantee the name will bring that kind of longevity, but still - a solid name!)

What about some cute food names for cats? Greatpetcare.com lists some options that fit in this category. Olive, Tater Tot, or Peanut are some of my favorite selections. If your cat is a sweetheart, Cupcake or Cocoa might be fitting. Orange cats might be called Cheeto or Creamsicle. Hell, they're your cat, you could name them chicken tendies if you want! 

You could also try some pop culture names for cats. Black cats have some role models from the silver screen that they could be named after, like Binx from Hocus Pocus, or maybe Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch. But, it's not just black cats who could get the star treatment! Names like Simba or Mufasa from the Lion King (and I already mentioned Nala above) could be perfect for your feline royalty. Tigger could be a good name for a playful cat who is bouncy, bouncy, bouncy, bouncy, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun! Or maybe Garfield for a cat who is more interested in a good nap and a good meal (although we don't recommend feeding them lasagna!) Or, what about Tom after Tom of Tom & Jerry fame? 

Of course, your cat doesn't have to be named after a cat. So, if you have a favorite pop culture character, consider their name as an option for your feline companion. Rover.com recommends some popular character names like Hermione or Glinda as good mystical cat names. Mythological names for cats could include Thor, Medusa, or Aphrodite. Hercules might be fitting if you have a particularly strong kitty. Or what about naming them after a mythological animal like the Sphinx! 

Of course, some people get more creative with their naming. Catster.com lists some wacky cat names from 2025 to get your creative juices flowing. The first one is Spicy Beef Purrito, followed by Sir Woodrow Agustdus Scuttlebooty the Third, Esquire - a cat who has evidently graduated from law school! I myself once had a cat named Margaret Scratcher, who was definitely the head of the household if not quite head of state. My favorite from the Catster list is Sir Catrick Stewart, although Inigo Meowtoya is a close second!

If you're anything like me, (and most other people, if social media is to be believed), even once you settle on a name, your cat will have a slew of nick names as well - some of them not even remotely close to their name. Take for example my cat Reggie, who also goes by "watermelon boy"! 

Let me know what you decide! What's your cat's name...and what is their nick name?