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Choosing a cat name can be difficult, but new owners can find inspiration from their favorite books and movie stars or by using the names of famous cats they love. It’s also kind of fun to give a cat a human name. Another way to help find a suitable cat name is to look at the list of the most popular cat names for the year.
Even if you don’t choose one from the list, they can provide inspiration, or if you enjoy being different, you can ensure that you altogether avoid any of those that make the most popular names list.
Below are some of the most popular cat names in various categories. While some are more common, others might surprise you.
Most Popular Cat Names for Males
According to the Humane Rescue Alliance, the most popular cat name for toms is Oliver, with Ollie, a shortened version of the same name, also coming in at number nine.
- Charlie
- Max
- Oliver/Ollie
- Simba
- Tiger
- Tigger
Most Popular Cat Names for Females
The Humane Rescue Alliance also put together a short list of cat names for females. The most popular female cat name is Luna, which is also the most popular name for female dogs.
- Bella
- Cleo
- Lucy
- Luna
- Oreo
The Top 100 Names for Cats
If you don’t care about gender and want to know what the top names for cats are, this is the place to be. According to the Blue Cross, these are the top 100 pet cat names:
- Alfie
- Angel
- Annie
- Bailey
- Barney
- Belle
- Bertie
- Betty
- Billy
- Bob
- Bobby
- Bonnie
- Boo
- Brian
- Bubbles
- Casper
- Chloe
- Coco
- Cookie
- Daisy
- Evie
- Felix
- Fifi
- Flo
- Florence
- Fluff
- Fred
- Freddie
- Fudge
- Garfield
- George
- Ginger
- Ginny
- Gizmo
- Harry
- Henry
- Holly
- Izzy
- Jasper
- Jerry
- Jess
- Joey
- Kitty
- Lilly
- Lily
- Lola
- Maisie
- Maisy
- Meg
- Mia
- Millie/Milly
- Milo
- Minnie
- Missy
- Misty
- Molly
- Nala
- Nemo
- Oscar
- Patch
- Pebbles
- Pepper
- Phoebe
- Polly
- Poppy
- Princess
- Pumpkin
- Rigger
- Rio
- Rosie
- Ruby
- Shadow
- Smokey
- Smudge
- Snowy
- Sooty
- Sophie
- Sox
- Tabitha
- Teddy
- Tia
- Tilly
- Tinkerbell
- Toby
- Tommy
- Ton
- Willow
- Ziggy
Most Popular Celebrity-Pun Names
Who doesn’t love a good pun? The Daily Paws put together a fabulous list of pun-tastic names inspired by celebrities. Have a look!
- Ben Catleck
- Cat Zeta-Jones
- Catti B
- Catti LaBelle
- Cindy Clawford
- Clare Clawley
- Colin Furrth
- Dolly Purrton
- Drew Hairymore
- Fleas Witherspoon
- Grace Pawter
- Hairy Styles
- Harrison Furred
- Jennifer Catiston
- Jimmy Feline
- Kitty Purry
- Kitty Washington
- Matthew Purry
- Meowly Cyrus
- Nelly Furtado
- RuPaw
- Will Furrell
Most Popular Cat Food Names
There is just something so enticing about naming cats after food. They’re so adorable that you feel like you could take a bite out of them, so why not give them a popular food name to match? Yahoo! put together a great list of popular food names for cats:
- Almond
- Baguette
- Beans
- Beef
- Cinnamon
- Coconut
- Coffee
- Eggo
- Fig
- Gimlet
- Ham
- Kiwi
- Lemon
- Lemon Brisket
- Lychee
- Mango
- Margarita
- Mocha
- Oat
- Parma
- Pear
- Pineapple
- Pizza
- Plum
- Pork Chop
- Prosecco
- Schnitzel
- Toast
- Tofu
- Watermelon
Cat Names From History
Are you a history buff? If so, consider Litter-Robot’s list of famous cats throughout history as inspiration.
- Chief Mouser
- Crème Puff
- Dixie
- Félicette
- Hamlet
- Mačak
- Matilda
- Mayor Stubbs
- Oscar
- Room 8
- Scarlett
- Snowball
- Ta-Miu
- Tabby
- Tama
Inspiration for Names
Some cat owners will tell you it doesn’t matter what name you choose for a cat because they don’t listen and almost certainly won’t respond unless they’re hungry anyway. However, many cats do respond to their names. You can choose anything you like as a name for your cat, but you can look for inspiration in books, on TV and movies, or in the pages of history.
How to Choose a Name for Your Cat
Choosing a name can be difficult, and while you can choose pretty much any moniker you like, experts advise that you follow certain guidelines.
- Make It Short: Her Royalty Lady Tinkerbell the 7th might be a great name for your cat, but you should try to stick to a name that is one or possibly two syllables long and quick and easy to say. Alternatively, you can pick a longer name if it shortens easily. Long names are difficult for cats to understand.
- Avoid Names in the Family: Don’t give your cat the same name as one of your kids, or it will confuse them. You should also avoid names that sound very similar. If you have a child named Billie and a cat named Millie, your cat will find it confusing and might respond incorrectly.
- Be Consistent: Most of us shorten names and use nicknames, but if you want your cat to respond to their name, you will need to be consistent when using it. You will also need to ensure all family members are on the same page, even if they didn’t all agree to the name in the first place.
- Don’t Be Too Embarrassing: While your cat won’t get embarrassed by their name, remember that you will have to say their name at the vet, and you may have to stand at the door calling them in every night, so try to avoid anything you don’t want to shout or use in public.
Conclusion
A cat’s name is important, and you should choose one when your cat is young to give them the best chance of learning it properly and answering when you call. Avoid anything too embarrassing or complicated, and ensure everybody uses the same name.
If you’re looking for inspiration, the lists above can provide an excellent place to start, with Luna being the most popular name for female cats and Oliver the most popular for male cats.
See Also:
- Popular Fall Cat Names for Your Autumn Loving Feline
- Most Popular Cat Names That Start with C: Cute & Creative Ideas
Featured Image Credit: Aaron Zimmermann, Shutterstock
