Pet Names · Cat Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 122 pages
of 122
English word name
"without light"
The moody and mysterious name Dark could be the perfect name for a couple who embraces the magic of the unknown. Grimes and Elon Musk used it as a middle for their daughter Y, whose given name is Exa…
English
"axe-wolf"
Shakespeare's classic drunken fool. In fact, this name, carried to Britain by the Normans, was quite popular until it was brought into disrepute by the low-life character who haunts taverns with…
Greek place name
"of Delphi; womb"
An interesting unisex possibility, with an air of mystery connected to the Delphic Oracle, the most important oracle in ancient Greece; it was also a major site for the worship of the god Apollo.…
Diminutive of Bridget
"strength, power"
Uncommon choice too reminiscent of "bidet". Try Bridie instead.
Greek philosopher
Philosopher who advocated the simple life. A classical choice that's almost unused as a baby name.
Scottish
"ridge"
At one time associated with the fictional detective Bulldog Drummond, this formal surname name does boast the cute nickname Drum.
Scandinavian variation of Bridget, Gaelic, or feminine form of Birger
"strength or exalted one; help, rescue"
Not to be confused with the Hungarian and German Brigitta, Birgitta is often considered the classic Scandinavian form of the Irish Bridget, used in Iceland, Denmark, The Netherlands, Sweden, and…
After daughters named Gravity Blue and Rumble Honey, we had a lot of expectations for the name of Lucky Blue Smith's third child. Luckily, he didn't disappoint when he named his son Slim Easy in…
German
"elf, secret lore"
This German name has a whimsical meaning- a combination of "elf" and Runo, meaning "secret lore".
English, Gaelic
"minstrel, poet"
A literary word name, now synonymous with Shakespeare, Bard also refers more generally to a poet, particularly one who recited epics and traditional poems out loud. Similar in sound to Bernard,…
Polish variation of Brian, Irish
"strong, virtuous, and honorable"
Word name
"string instrument"
When Australian actress Rachel Griffiths chose this highly unusual name for her son, many assumed it was a bizarre invention, but noted Australian poet and writer of Waltzing Matilda , Banjo…
Word or occupational name
"outlaw, thief"
We hesitate to call Bandit an occupational name, any more than Rogue or Vandal are occupational names, yet its use by one of the bandmembers of My Chemical Romance (for his daughter: we're thinking…
Word name, English from Spanish and Portuguese
"banana"
Banana is one fruity name we wouldn't recommend. Pick Plum instead. There is a Japanese novelist whose pen name is Banana Yoshimoto--birth name Mahoko.
"challenge, endeavor"
Extravagant virtue name which is notably the first name of the British TV detective Inspector Morse.
Greek
"puzzle, riddle"
Bamboo is a plant name that you might want to save for the zoo's name-the-panda contest. It was used for a starbaby in 2000, though, the rapper Big Boi.
"beloved, desired"
Erasmus has long retained the image of the bearded and bespectacled Dutch philosopher, but could be one that the audacious baby namer just might dare to dust off. The fourth century Saint Erasmus was…
"God protects the king"
Balthasar was one of the biblical Three Kings who visited the infant Jesus, also used by Shakespeare and in the oil-rich Getty family; offbeat and intriguing. Balthazar is another, equally…
"brave friend"
One "bald" name we can get behind, thanks to pioneering African-American author James Baldwin – though the name is now also associated with the Baldwin brothers, particularly Alec.
