Pet Names · Cat Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 15 pages
of 15
Irish Gaelic
"man of smoke; man of god"
The meaning of this rare Irish name is not fully known. It may mean "man of god", or else derive from an element meaning "smoke". In Irish mythology, this was the name of a warrior who was killed by…
Teutonic
"wand-wolf"
Gandolf and variant Gandulf are legitimate names used in medieval Europe, including by several bishops and dukes. From it comes the name of Castel Gandolfo, the pope's summer residence. However, to…
"silver"
Common name in Japan, would have alcoholic allusions here.
Scottish
"windy place"
Guthrie, folk singer Woody's last name, makes a perfectly fine first choice for a girl. Names such as Guthrie that have no gendered history can make true nonbinary names.
Literary name
"one who forewarns of storms"
This name from the ancient Gilgamesh Epic would be a challenging choice; Hamish makes a more user-friendly option.
Choctaw, Native American
"thunder"
Thunderous name with Native American origins.
English
"gray settlement"
Sweet and southern-feeling, maybe thanks to Horton Foote, author of Tender Mercies and The Trip to Bountiful, not to mention the Dr. Seuss connection.
Spanish from Native American word name
"hurricane"
Hurricane is a storm, but it's also an American name , thanks to rising tennis star Hurricane Black -- whose sister's name is Tornado. There's no reason this tempestuous choice can't work for boys…
Native American
"rain falling"
A Miwok tribe name with a pleasant meaning.
Hindi
"moon"
Indu is truly unusual, but shares sounds with more popular choices like Indie and Indigo. Other moon names to consider: Luna, Serena, Io.
"bright iron"
Isambard is derived from Old German Isanbert, meaning "bright iron" or "famous iron". Its most famous bearer, rather fittingly, is the 19th century British civil engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel,…
"from the Iron One's estate"
A noble surname from northern England that has occasionally been used as a first name.
Gaelic
"male descendant of a wolf"
Kennelly could be an upbeat modern namesake for a Grandpa Kenneth; it can also be spelled Kenneally.
Greek
"maiden"
Kore is the original Greek form of the modern Cora, a name that's heading straight for the top of the charts in the English-speaking world. Kore was an alternate name for Persephone, goddess of the…
Persian
"azure blue stone"
Out-of-the-ordinary gemstone name derived from lapis lazuli, which is said to enhance awareness and intellect, impart ancient wisdom and cure many ailments, making it an interesting possibility for a…
Irish
"grey lady"
A variation of an old Irish saint’s name, Liadin, and the name of a lovelorn poetess in Irish folk legend. Be prepared for some clumsy pronunciation outside Ireland, however.
An old Irish saint’s name and the name of a lovelorn poetess in Irish folk legend. Liadain and Líadan are other variations.
Nature name
Olympic athlete Usain Bolt introduced this unusual and electric nature name to the lexicon when he chose it for his daughter's middle name: Olympia Lightning Bolt. Now there's a name with layers of…
Basque tree name
"Ash tree"
In the Basque lands of Spain, this name is reserved for boys. But given it's similarity to the name Lisa, we think that this might be ripe for claiming by girls.
Welsh
"gray"
A surname and first name in Wales, similar to (but less familiar than) Lloyd.
