Pet Names · Cat Names
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 122 pages
of 122
Latin
"strong"
Pleasingly quaint and dainty New Testament possibility; the nickname Dru modernizes it.
Maori
"dolphin"
A light and airy Māori nature name with an adorable meaning.
Malagasy
"wise man"
Kendall is on the decline, but Kendry is a fresh and rare alternative. It is a traditionally masculine name in Madagascar.
Japanese
"wise one"
Common Japanese name from the '60s-'80s. In Japan it's now associated with the Manga series Kenichi: the Mightiest Disciple .
German
"strong with a sword"
Muscular German name that never fully assimilated into American culture.
Cherokee
"drum"
Ahuli's pleasant beat makes it a striking option for a son.
Anglo-Saxon
"strong temple"
An Anglo-Saxon name borne by the queen of Alfred the Great. American novelist Helen Ricker wrote under the pen-name Elswyth Thane. Variants include Elswith, Ealswith and Ealhswith.
Latin clan name
"wealth"
Lucretius is the name of the Roman philosopher who invented Epicureanism. But even in these days of old Roman name revival, Lucretius sounds a bit long-white-beardish, though it can be enlivened with…
Irish
"little dog"
An unusual, energetic surname choice that would make a good Madison alternative. Madigan was a typical police detective series of the 1970s, starring Richard Widmark.
"man of peace"
Hipsters might consider reviving this old German name, though we're not so sure their sons wouldn't have preferred the classic Fred name Frederick. Manfred B. Lee (born Manford) was half of the team…
Igbo
"tiger"
In its native Nigeria, Agu is a surname that signifies strength and being a force of nature. Agu as a first name has some pedigree, however: most notably via Agu Casmir, a famous Nigerian-Singaporean…
Mata is a concise feminine name with diverse cultural origins. In Sanskrit, it means 'mother' and holds sacred connotations, while in Hebrew it can mean 'gift.' The name appears in various cultures…
French
"delicate, dainty"
Charming French endearment, first used as a name by Goethe, that now makes an appealing choice -- though the proper feminine form is Mignonne. Note, though, that this is not actually used as a name…
Native American, Arapaho
"sage, wise"
Interesting Native-American choice that could be taken for Greek.
"rain"
Traditional Cherokee choice that could work for a daughter born on a rainy day.
"famous wealth"
A medieval French name which belonged to the mother of Eleanor of Aquitaine (incidentally, Aenor is thought to be an older form of the name Eleanor). Its etymology is uncertain, but it may derive…
Greek
"victory"
Derived from Greek name Nike "victory", this name has been borne by many notable figures, from ancient times to the present day. It belonged to several early kings of Macedonia and to a 1st-century…
French, English
"strong; a protected building, a stronghold"
A saints name and a word name, this is a modern, original way to convey a powerful meaning, especially in the middle place.
"strong one"
Now that Courtney is becoming more unisex for babies, surname Fortney also seems like a viable name for a boy. It fits the trend for names with an -ey ending like Huxley and Finley, with an added…
Italian from Latin
"bear"
Cool bearlike option, though Orson might be easier to embrace.
