Cat Names · Pet Names
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 28 pages
of 28
Norse
"thunder"
Tora is the female version of Tor or Thor, the name of the Norse god of thunder. Actress Jeanne Tripplehorn chose it for her daughter.
Hebrew; also Swahili from Arabic
"thunderbolt, lightning; or blessing"
The name of the 44th president, which he inherited from his Kenyan father, is related to the Swahili word "baraka," meaning "blessing," derived from the Arabic "baracka." It is linked, through the…
Yoruba
"crown of wealth; crown has honor"
A Yoruba surname as well as a unisex given name.
Latin
"silver coin"
Scottish
"windy place"
Guthrie, one of the most attractive Scottish names that's also a surname, has a particularly romantic, windswept aura, with a touch of the buckaroo thrown in. Guthrie's folkie quality is tied to the…
Feminine variation of Edwin, English
"wealthy friend"
Edwina may still be taking tea in the parlor, but we can see her joining friends like Matilda and Josephine for a comeback, especially if pronounced like Edwin rather than Edween. She had a very…
Jewel name, from the French
"pomegranate"
One of the jewel names in use a hundred years ago, due for revival along with sisters Ruby and Pearl.
Flower, animal, and literary name, from Latin
"pertaining to the wolf"
Lupin is an unusual flower name with roots in Old French, from the Latin lupinus , meaning "pertaining to the wolf". In the literary world, it's the surname of Remus Lupin, a popular character in the…
Spanish from Greek
"blessed, happy"
Unusual and rhythmic, Macaria is the feminine form of the ancient Greek Makarios or the Latinized Macarius. It could be an unexpected way to get to cool nickname Mac, without using Mackenzie,…
English place name and surname
"peat bog, mouse clearing"
Mosley has seen a handful of uses — mostly among baby girls — since 2012, the year after Peyton Manning gave it to his daughter. It's much more familiar as a surname, such as that of novelist Walter…
Hebrew, Arabic, and Hindi
"thread, hair; blessing; margosa tree"
Multicultural name often heard in the Near East. Also spelled Neema and Nimah.
English
Surname name with an uplifting meaning. Just beware that this is a well-known mattress brand.
"Star and moon"
Stella and Luna are stylish night sky name for girls , from the Latin words for star and moon. The two names were smooshed together by children's book author Janell Cannon in 1993. Cannon gave the…
Diminutive of Zelda, Yiddish, English
"gray fighting maid"
Cute and quirky Zeldy adds some extra zip to Zelda — which is making its way back up the charts after decades out of the Top 1000.
English word, Old English
"an inlet of the sea where the land curves inward; berry"
One of the most usable of the pleasant, newly adopted nature/water names (like Lake and Ocean), especially in middle position. It's gentle, slightly whimsical, but grounded by its similarity to May…
Italian variation of Benedicta, Latin
"blessed"
The saintly Italian form of the saintly Latin Benedicta.
English, French, Latin
"waxing or waning moon; increasing, growing, springing forth"
Crescent is an intriguing word name with a pretty sound and links to the moon. Used to describe a curved shape more generally, it is heavily associated with the lunar calendar, with the moon forming…
"wealthy"
Edina is an infectious-sounding Minnesota place-name, featured in the British cult hit TV show "Absolutely Fabulous." Edina is also a poetic name for Edinburgh and is a common name in contemporary…
English, Dutch, German
"gray, black; hare"
An androgynous alternative to Hazel, Hayes, and Hayden, Hazen is predominantly used for boys at the moment, though it has been given to a handful of girls since the 2000s. Hazen is a variation of the…
Irish
"hound (or wolf) of the plain"
Conroy is one Con name that feels a bit dated, though perhaps it's so far out it's coming in? Worth consideration if you like Connor but feel it's too widely used.
