188 Cat Names for Your & Your Partner's New Fur Baby

First thing's first: No fighting over Muffin vs. Midnight.
188 Of The Best Cat Names for Your New Fur Baby
Photo: Oliver Rossi | Getty Images
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by
Wendy Rose Gould
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Wendy Rose Gould
The Knot Contributor
  • Wendy Rose Gould is a freelance reporter based in Phoenix, Arizona.
  • Along with The Knot, she contributes to Martha Stewart Living, Real Simple, Insider, Verywell Mind and others.
  • Wendy has a degree in editorial journalism and a second degree in philosophy.
Updated Jul 21, 2023

There's nothing quite like bringing home your and your partner's first pet together: You're saying yes to a huge life commitment, and making promises of responsibility and financial security to one another! It's a big deal. Embarking on cat parenthood? Then you'll want to brainstorm some cat names in order to bestow your sweet feline with a fitting moniker.

Maybe it'll end up being a name inspired by the color of their fur or their quirky personality traits, or perhaps you'll come up with a cat name inspired by your favorite movies, characters or celebrities. Whatever cat name you pick, know that this is the beginning of a new little family: you, your partner and your new fur friend. (Congrats!)

In this article:

What to Know About Getting Your First Cat Together

Adopting a kitty with your partner for the first time? Welcome to the official club of feline owners! Naming your cat is fun—especially if you take time to pick out a name together—but you'll also want to make sure you've got everything else set up for a happy home, successful cohabitation and bonding.

Litter Box

Purchase a litter box, fill it with litter and place it somewhere accessible for your cat. If you have two floors, consider getting one litter box for each floor. For tiny kittens, purchase a shallow litter box they can easily climb into.

Food and Water

Make sure your new kitty has access to clean water and healthy, well-balanced food suitable for their age. Contact your cat's new veterinarian and get their specific nutritional recommendations. As for serveware, steel bowls are easy to keep clean.

Playtime

Cats are famous for their napping skills, but they love to play, too. Keep them mentally stimulated with puzzle toys, lasers and interactive games.

Bonding and Socializing

All cats need bonding and socializing time. The younger you can start them with this, the better. Spend time petting and holding them, and slowly introduce them to any other people or pets in your home.

Training

While dogs are known for doing tricks, cats are trainable, too! Use positive reinforcement to deter them from destructive off-limit behaviors, such as scratching furniture or climbing on counters. Also, familiarizing them with their crate and grooming them early on can make these necessary requirements easier down the road.

Funny Cat Names

If you fancy yourself a jokester, consider choosing a funny cat name for your new feline.

  • KitKat
  • Whisker Doodle
  • Great Catsby
  • Chonkers
  • Biscuit
  • Ninja
  • Tiny
  • Blitz
  • Speedy
  • Noodle
  • Sprout
  • Turbo
  • Bolt
  • Pickles
  • Bandit

Unique Cat Names

Want to steer clear of time-old classics or trendy cat names? Opt for one of these unique monikers.

  • Zephyr
  • Cosmo
  • Orion
  • Adelaide
  • Freya
  • Sawyer
  • Basil
  • Pippin
  • Matilda
  • Napoleon
  • Merlot
  • Jinx
  • Pixie
  • Amélie
  • Huxley
  • Pepito
  • Atticus
  • Elijah
  • Aurelia
  • Kinsley

Famous Cat Names

Name your feline after a famous musician, celebrity or actor. (Bonus points if there's any shared resemblance.)

  • Bowie
  • Beyonce
  • Elvis
  • Einstein
  • Cher
  • Madonna
  • Bono
  • Ringo
  • Mariah
  • Rihanna
  • Gaga
  • Prince
  • Mila
  • Billie Jean
  • Whitney
  • Megan Fox
  • Freddie
  • Johnny Cash

Cute Cat Names

You can't go wrong with a cute cat name for your particularly adorable little friend—and these options are supremely sweet.

  • Buttons
  • Twinkie
  • Mochi
  • Cocoa
  • Peanut
  • Sprinkles
  • Ziggy
  • Muffin
  • Gizmo
  • Cha Cha
  • Snickers
  • Tiramisu
  • Pebbles
  • Cupcake
  • Mocha

Disney Cat Names

Tap into nostalgia by picking out a classic Disney character name for your cat.

  • Nala
  • Tinkerbell
  • Figaro
  • Cheshire
  • Ursula
  • Dory
  • Gus
  • Stitch
  • Bambi
  • Aladdin
  • Jasmine
  • Aurora
  • Simba
  • Oliver
  • Baloo
  • Ariel
  • Elsa
  • Toulouse
  • Gaston
  • Belle

Black Cat Names

Your slinky black kitty sure is gorg, so give them a name that nods to their sophisticated midnight-hued fur.

  • Magic
  • Spooky
  • Midnight
  • Shadow
  • Matrix
  • Zorro
  • Onyx
  • Sable
  • Inca
  • Ace
  • Noir
  • Panther
  • Eclipse
  • Salem
  • Raven

White Cat Names

Want to take inspo from your cat's snowy white fur? We're partial to the following white cat names.

  • Snow
  • Bianca
  • Angel
  • Camelia
  • Cloud
  • Cotton
  • Pearl
  • Blizzard
  • Tic Tac
  • Diamond
  • Frosty
  • Blanche
  • Marshmallow
  • Lily
  • Casper

Orange Cat Names

Orange kitties are known for being affectionate and vocal. (And did you know that the vast majority are male?)

  • Ginger
  • Phoenix
  • Butters
  • Poppy
  • Mango
  • Clementine
  • Peaches
  • Pumpkin
  • Nemo
  • Butterscotch
  • Rusty
  • Blaze
  • Marigold
  • Tiger
  • Cinnamon

Gray Cat Names

A cool gray cat is worthy of a fun name inspired by their charcoal mane.

  • Smokey
  • Ash
  • Asher
  • Sterling
  • Misty
  • Stormy
  • Earl
  • Dusty
  • Slate
  • Grayson
  • Koala
  • Pepper
  • Dorian
  • Ember
  • Gracie

Boy Cat Names

You have no shortage of options when choosing a name for a boy cat. Start your naming process by considering these picks.

  • Fitz
  • Leo
  • Pierre
  • Diego
  • George
  • Teddy
  • Bruno
  • Spike
  • Felix
  • Hugo
  • Max
  • Noah
  • Romeo
  • Frankie
  • Sylvester
  • John
  • Winston
  • Zeus
  • Apollo
  • Milo

Girl Cat Names

Have a lovely feline lady on your hands? One of the girl cat names below may just fit the bill.

  • Roxie
  • Daisy
  • Lucy
  • Bella
  • Luna
  • Ruby
  • Gigi
  • Rosie
  • Ella
  • Coco
  • Moxie
  • Kiki
  • Tilly
  • Lottie
  • Duchess
  • Willow
  • Jazzy
  • Hazel
  • Ivy
  • Chloe
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