Cat Names That Start With R
- Ramiro
Origin:
Spanish; PortugueseMeaning:
"great judge"Description:
A charming -o name with cool nickname possibilities, Ramiro is also a historical choice: there were 2 Aragonese Spanish kings named Ramiro.
- Razili
Origin:
HebrewMeaning:
"the Lord's secret"Description:
Offbeat, under-the-radar choice to honor a Grandma Rosalie.
- Rocket
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
Starbaby name that might prove too supercharged for real life, but if like director Robert Rodriguez you're interested only in boys' names starting with R, you may need to add Rocket (and Rebel and Racer) to your list.
- Roe
Origin:
English, Scottish, Irish, Norwegian, or Korean surnameMeaning:
"roe deer; wise protector; son of Ruadh; red; clearing; ability"Description:
In the US, the multicultural surname Roe is primarily associated with the landmark Supreme Court case Roe vs. Wade, which granted the federal right to abortion, though elsewhere it might be associated with fish eggs or a small breed of reddish deer.
- Rowen
Origin:
Spelling variation of Rowan, Scottish and IrishMeaning:
"rowan tree; little redhead"Description:
With its soft sounds, its unisex appeal, and its nature connection, Rowan has become a very popular name for both boys and girls, given to nearly four boys for every girl. The Rowen variation maintains the same gender split but is much less popular for both sexes, with nearly four times as many babies named Rowan as Rowen.
- Renny
Origin:
Anglicized variation of Irish RaithnaitMeaning:
"little prosperous one"Description:
Used primarily for girls in Ireland, as a variation of Raithnait, Renny could easily be a diminutive form of a whole variety of names including Lorenzo, Laurence, Remington, Rowen, Renatus, Renaud, Reynold and simar.
- Rocky
Origin:
English, ItalianMeaning:
"rock; rest"Description:
Short for Rocco or perhaps Rochelle, this bold nickname has a more peaceful meaning: "rest". But it doubles up as a word name with a wild and edgy sound – especially for girls.
- 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.
- Roone
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"red-haired"Description:
Roone is a lively, attractive and unusual redhead entry brought into the mix by the late TV sports and news executive Roone Arledge, who seemed to own it as a one-person name when he was alive.
- Revel
Origin:
English word nameMeaning:
"rejoice"Description:
Revel is a joyous word name that may appeal to parents wanting a non-traditional Biblical choice or simply a name that expresses how they feel.
- 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.
- Rogue
Origin:
Word nameDescription:
For parents who hope their child will one day carve their own path.
- Rebel
Origin:
Word nameMeaning:
"rebel"Description:
Asking for trouble. Rebel Wilson is a hilarious Australian actress who puts a female spin on this contemporary badass baby name. Still, we think this name is truly gender neutral – though hardly neutral in any other way. Rebel is undoubtedly one of the edgiest girls' names starting with the letter R.
- Romary
Origin:
French variation of Romaric, German, and Scottish surnameMeaning:
"famously strong"Description:
Romy lovers, here's a new one for you! Romary is a surname with French and Scottish roots and has historically been a masculine given name in France. It would be a great choice on either sex, but feels slightly more feminine with the -mary ending and Romy nickname.
- 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.
- Rudi
Description:
Rudi is a masculine name commonly used as a diminutive of Rudolf, Rudolph, or Rudiger in German-speaking regions. The name derives from Germanic elements meaning 'fame' and 'wolf'. Rudi offers a friendlier, more approachable alternative to the formal Rudolf, maintaining the name's strength while adding an endearing quality. In popular culture, it gained some recognition through figures like Rudi Völler, the German footballer. The name has a pleasant, accessible sound that works well cross-culturally. While not extremely common in English-speaking countries, Rudi enjoys consistent usage in Germanic countries and has seen occasional interest elsewhere for its distinctive yet straightforward character. The name's compact, two-syllable structure gives it a modern feel despite its traditional roots.
- Raz
Origin:
Hebrew short form of RaziahMeaning:
"the Lord's secret"Description:
Raz, like many similar names, is used for both girls and boys in modern Israel. Simple, sleek, memorable.
- Rabi
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"springtime"Description:
Not to be confused with Rabbi (a Jewish leader, scholar, and teacher), Rabi is an Arabic name meaning "springtime", that also appears as Rabih and Rabeeh.
- 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.
- 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.
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