Cat Names · Pet Names
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 28 pages
of 28
English word name
Popular choice for silvery pets.
Word name
It has a variety of associations from Smokey Robinson to Smokey the bear, but Smokey still feels a bit comical for a baby.
Swedish, German, Italian, from Latin
"blessed"
Beata, a Latinate saint's name, has been widely used primarily by Roman Catholics in several European countries, but is rarely heard in English-speaking countries. Playground alert: could be…
Indonesian
"wind"
Bayou? No, but it sounds the same, and since both the Indonesian name and the English word have appealing nature meanings, this is a perfect choice for the family that wants to bridge cultures.
Greek
"flash of lightning"
In Greek mythology, Sterope is the name of one of the seven Pleiads. It is sometimes used interchangeably with Asterope, from the same root.
French place name; Old English name
"ax-wolf"
Bardou is a holiday destination in France, known for its pictureque village nestled in mountains. It is also a region of Guinea. As a name, it is more commonly known from its English derivation,…
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…
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.
Turkish
"iron moon"
Like many other popular Turkish name, Aydemir is a strong option deriving from the root ay meaning "moon".
Italian
"light wind"
A pretty addition to the Au-girl names like Audrey, Aurora and Autumn. The beginning Aur syllable, which often relates to gold, makes this an appropriate and one of the more unusual names for autumn…
Provencal; Icelandic
"hawk; thunder god"
Similar to the floral name Aster, this spelling derives separately from Old Provençal astur "hawk") and from the Icelandic name elements as ("god") and þor ("thunder"). As a surname, it has several…
"lightning"
Asterope is an undiscovered name that has three wonderful nature connotations: 1) (from its meaning) lighting; 2) it is a type of butterfly 3) it is the name of an asteroid. Asterope is a great name…
"ash tree farm"
Ashley substitute with a slightly more unisex feel; it was picked for her daughter by TV host Nancy O'Dell.
Diminutive of Tabitha, Aramaic
"gazelle"
Feline nickname for Tabitha — a bewitching vintage choice.
Variation of Asha or Ashley
Although Ashala is steadily yet quietly used as a name in its own right, it seems to be an invention derived from either Asha, a Sanskrit word and name meaning "hope" and also sometimes a variant of…
Native American, Omaha
"to the wind"
Feminissima.
Native American, Inuit
"wolf"
An interesting possibility if you're looking for a highly unusual animal name.
Tama is a feminine name with multicultural origins and meanings. In Māori tradition, it typically means 'child' or 'son' though it's used for girls in other contexts. In Japanese, Tama can mean…
Turkic, Mongol
"iron"
Although Tamerlaine, especially with the addition of an i, feels more feminine than masculine these days and is occasionally used for girls, the original Tamerlane was a fierce Mongol warrior.
This Westernized form of the name of an ancient Mongol warrior, remembered primarily today through the works of Christopher Marlowe and Edgar Allan Poe, runs the risk of sounding pompous and…
