Pet Names · Cat Names
By Brynn McKeon · Updated September 2026
Across 10 pages
of 10
English
"peacock"
Hip new middle-name choice, conjuring up the gothic tales of Edgar Allan, and current single-named pop singer Poe. As a first name, it's radically underused, given last year in the US to only five…
English diminutive of Elizabeth, Hebrew
"pledged to God"
Although she declared her independence as far back as the reign of Elizabeth I — Good Queen Bess, Bess now sounds less passé than Beth or Betsy.
English variation of Georgios, Greek
"farmer"
For girls, typically used as a nickname for names such as Georgia and Georgiana, although Orange is the New Black stars Samira Wiley and Lauren Morelli recently used it as a full name for their…
English, Frisian, Spanish, Slavic
"thought or sweetheart"
An Ethiopian place-name and multicultural diminutive for many names, including the Slavic Tatiana and the Spanish Cayetana. Tana is also a rare Frisian name, meaning "thought", as well as a masculine…
Nahuatl
"unique"
Iselle was a hurricane during the 2014 season, Iselle is thought to be drawn from the Nahuatl word icel , meaning unique or only. Iselle could fit right in with recent favorites like Isabelle and…
Scottish variation of Holmes
Distinguished actor Hume Cronyn (who shared his father's name) put this unusual choice in the lexicon.
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…
"from the island in the river"
Possible middle name for devotees of detective Sherlock...or the actress Katie.
Modern invented name
Australian writer Wendy Orr put this name on the map with her hit Nim's Island " series of children's books, about a smart young girl who lives on an island in the South Pacific. Abigail Breslin…
French from German
"comrade in arms"
French form of Hildegard
"sacred name"
A name used in Germany and Holland as a form of Jerome, it's the unlikely moniker of fictional detective Hieronymous "Harry" Bosch.
English word name
A paradox is a statement that while seeming true contradicts itself. With the less-than-pleasant "Doxy" as an obvious nickname, Paradox is perhaps a better name for a cat than a baby.
English surname
A possibility for fans of the mystery writer, but most parents would prefer Dashiell.
"having the body of a gnat"
Peabody is a quintessentially Waspy surname that your child won't thank you for -- either the pea part or the body part, or the meaning part.
French, English, Latin
"yokel"
Old French form of Petronilla borne by Perenelle Flamel (1320-1402), alchemist and wife of Nicolas Flamel. They are known for their quest to discover the philosopher's stone, a legendary substance…
Norse
"wise, learned"
The name of several legendary Danish kings, including one who declared universal peace.
Hindi
"intelligent, smart"
If meaning were destiny, this would start a boy off on the right foot.
"toad"
A name with a less conventional animal meaning, rescued by the reputation of the Greek courtesan Phryne (more beautiful than Aphrodite, one of the wealthiest women in classical Athens) and the…
"broad-shouldered"
The name of one of the greatest Western philosophers is often used as a first name in its land of origin, Greece, and would make a really interesting, thought-provoking choice here. It is remembered…
"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…
