Cat Names · Pet Names
By Brynn McKeon · Updated October 2026
Across 27 pages
of 27
Finnish diminutive of Aaron
Aro is a cute name from Scandinavia which, given the popularity of similar names like Milo, Arlo etc might be ripe for more usage outside of the Nordic countries.
Spanish
"of the sea"
Cross-cultural name with a great nautical meaning. It boomed in the 1930s and has potential for revival now.
French and Spanish, diminutive of Sebastien
"person from ancient city of Sebastia"
In this form, or as Sebastian or as Bas, Bastien is a fashionable Euro name with a possible future in America. There is a one-act comic opera by Mozart titled Bastien and Bastienne . An alternate…
"rough, unbroken horse"
For the parent who might also have Buck and Ryder on his list.
Spanish, diminutive of Filomena
Actress Mena Suvari (named after an Egyptian hotel) made this name seem especially appealing. Mena is also a minor Roman goddess of fertility.
"pure, virginal"
Y is a very rare initial, and this feisty mini-name packs a double punch with its spiky final Z. Inez or Inez are the more familiar spellings of this chic name, which is related to Agnes and could be…
Spanish, diminutive of Agostino, Justino, Martino, et al
This nickname name might be cute for a niño, but one of the full names ending in tino would make a more mature statement.
"someone from the Basque region"
Schoolchildren will recognize this name via Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama.
Juanito is the affectionate Spanish diminutive of Juan, which is the Spanish equivalent of John. The name John originates from the Hebrew Yochanan, meaning "God is gracious." Juanito literally…
Spanish place-name
"covered in snow"
Western place-name that feels equally appropriate for both genders. Note: Natives say rhyme that second syllable with had, so it's not nehv-AH-da.
Hawaiian
"long"
Though little used as a first name, Loa will be familiar to many from the name of Hawaii's most famous volcano, Mauna Loa, on the Big Island.
German and Spanish diminutive of Maria
"drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
Derived from Maria, the meaning of which is uncertain. Theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from…
Sanskrit, Latin
"shore, sail"
Vela is one of those rare names that is at once simple, straightforward, authentic, and unusual, at least in the Western World. Besides being an Indian girls' name, Vela is a Southern sky…
"lamb"
Sounds more like a car than a baby name. Some sources related it to the English surname Carter, which would be more stylish these days.
Arabic, Spanish
"swooping eagle, meadow"
This striking name has a lot going for it: it's a self-confident Spanish surname, it identifies one of the most brilliant stars in the sky, and it has a musical reference to singer-songwriter Suzanne…
"cross"
Cruz might be a sister for Concepcion and Corazon, although its masculine side was emphasized when the high profile David Beckhams chose it for their son.
Spanish word name
"five"
Following the trend of number names for babies, Cinco has the potential to be a fast riser in the coming years. Even more so now that Cassie used it as the middle name for her daughter Sunny, born in…
Finnish, Hungarian, Spanish, or literary Quenya
"air; starlight"
A name that's unknown in the US and Britain but is popular as a nature name in Finland. May also be known as a Hungarian variation of Amelia and a Spanish form of Wilhelmina. Ilma also appears in…
"arms; nature name"
The name of a river that flows through Texas into the Gulf of Mexico is given to a dozen or so baby boys and a handful of girls each year. The name derives from Spanish río de los Brazos de Dios…
"blackberry"
Intriguing derivation, though people will assume it's a simplified form of Maura.
