Cat Names That Start With R
- Rousseau
Origin:
French surnameMeaning:
"little redhead"Description:
Rousseau gives French flair to other red-haired names like Russell and Rory. It is associated with the influential eighteenth century philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, as well as the painter Henri Rousseau.
- Remo
Origin:
Italian variation of Remus, meaning unknownDescription:
Virtually unknown in the U.S., yet with its jaunty o ending and similarity to the stylish (yet unrelated) Remy, Remo may find some new followers.
- Rafa
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"happiness, prosperity"Description:
Sounds a bit like a shortening of Rafael or a condensation of Rafaela, but Rafa is a name in its own right. Whether you use it as a full name or a nickname, Rafa's casual coolness could allow it to follow in the footsteps of other tomboy names for girls, like Billie and Scout.
- Renny
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"little prosperous one"Description:
This name may be interpreted as an offbeat Anglicized form of the Gaelic Rathnait, though it could also be considered a diminutive of Renee, Renata, Lorenza, Lauren, Lorena, and similar. Influencers Bella and Dallin Lambert named their daughter Renny Lin in 2025, sister to Story.
- Randi
Origin:
Feminine diminutive of RandolphMeaning:
"shield-wolf"Description:
A relic of the midcentury Mandi-Sandi-Andi era.
- Rumo
Origin:
CornishMeaning:
"red"Description:
Ancient martyr name that sounds totally modern, but perhaps too close to rumor.
- Raga
Origin:
Sanskrit, musical termMeaning:
"color or melody"Description:
Raga is musical, yes, but that 'rag' syllable worries us.
- Rhapsody
Origin:
French, musical termDescription:
Could be seen as extravagantly ecstatic for a baby name, though feel free to rhapsodize about your little girl, whatever her name.
- Raziah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"the Lord's secret"Description:
One of a number of Hebrew girls' namestarting with Raz. Others include Razel, Raziela,Razili and Raziya.
- Rajah
Origin:
Arabic and SanskritMeaning:
"hope; ruler"Description:
Indian princely title, more exciting than Prince or Duke, that is also a widely-used name for both genders. In the US, the names Rajah and Raja are uncommon: Ten baby boys were named Rajah last year and 18 were given the Raja spelling.
- Radcliff
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"red cliff"Description:
Harvard's sibling.
- Raivo
Origin:
Diminutive of Raimond, EstonianMeaning:
"wise-protector; fury"Description:
A cool and accessible Estonian name that feels very fresh in the English-speaking world. Raivo is likely a short form of Raimond, the Estonian translation of Raymond, but some sources claim it derives from the Old Estonian word raivo, meaning "fury" or "rage."
- Ruger
Origin:
German surnameMeaning:
"renowned spear"Description:
Ruger is a German surname most famous as a gun name, which explains its popularity as a baby name in the US. If Cannon, Gunner, and Pistol are your type of name, you might like Ruger -- but we're not inviting him for a playdate.
- Raz
Origin:
Hebrew, short form of RaziahMeaning:
"the Lord's secret"Description:
Raz is one of the many modern Israeli unisex names. It's simple and sleek and translates easily to English.
- Rixa
Origin:
Diminutive of Richiza, Richenza, or Rikissa, GermanMeaning:
"wealthy"Description:
A nickname for medieval names such as Richenza and Rikissa, which were derived from the Germanic name Richiza. RIxa could easily be adapted for modern use, particularly if you're looking to honor a Richard.
- Rupa
Origin:
SanskritMeaning:
"silver"Description:
Related to the Indian word and currency "rupee', Rupa derives its meaning from the ancient Sanskrit language, and can mean both silver and beautiful. Rupa also has strong historical and literary associations (as Rupa Bhawani was a noted 16th Century poetess and mystic) from Kashmir.
- Rufina
Origin:
LatinMeaning:
"red-haired"Description:
A feminine form of Rufus, which has potential in the current trend for ancient Roman names.
- Rizpah
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"hot coal"Description:
In the Book of Samuel, Rizpah is a concubine of Saul. When her sons were killed, she built a house around their bodies and refused to leave their side for seven months.
- Rudi
Origin:
Variation of Rudy, GermanMeaning:
"famous wolf"Description:
Rudy has been heard as a feminine name before — most notably on Rudy Huxtable, the young girl on The Cosby Show. This spelling makes it a bit girlier, although it's occasionally used for boys as well.
- Rondal
Description:
Rondal is a masculine name that serves as a variation of Ronald, which derives from Old Norse elements meaning 'ruler's counselor' or 'mighty ruler.' This alternative spelling maintains the strong, decisive character of Ronald while offering a subtle distinction. The name has a firm, solid quality with its straightforward pronunciation. Rondal saw modest usage in the United States during the mid-20th century when Ronald was at its peak popularity, particularly in southern regions. It carries associations with leadership, wisdom, and authority from its etymological roots. While less common than Ronald, Rondal offers parents a way to honor traditional naming patterns while providing a slightly unique twist that distinguishes their child.
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