2000+ Cat Names

  1. Dewey
    • Origin:

      Anglicized variation of Welsh Dewi, nickname of Dafydd
    • Meaning:

      "beloved"
    • Description:

      Not heard since the 1980s, Dewey shot into the Top 20 in 1898 thanks to the popularity of Spanish-American War naval hero Admiral George Dewey. Dewey has subtle links to his Welsh roots and relation to father name David . The name was borne by the fifth century St. Dewi, patron saint of Wales. Later references include the namesake of the library Dewey Decimal System, a Donald Duck nephew, the younger brother on Malcolm in the Middle and Lemony Snicket character Dewey Denouement. It has a strong but dewy feel and is appealing enough to be ripe for a modern revival.
  2. Brigitte
    • Origin:

      French variation of Brighid
    • Meaning:

      "strength or exalted one"
    • Description:

      Brigitte is the French version of the ancient Irish Brighid long associated with 1950s sex symbol Brigitte Bardot. If you want to pronounce Brigitte the French way, it's brih-ZHEET.
  3. Falcon
    • Origin:

      Bird name
    • Description:

      There is a whole new species of bird names open to the baby namer, from the light and feminine Lark to the sleek and powerful Falcon.
  4. Liesel
    • Origin:

      German diminutive of Elizabeth
    • Meaning:

      "pledged to God"
    • Description:

      Sweet but sleek, and distinctive, Liesel is an old German nickname-name for Elisabeth. It might have once seemed inextricably tied to to its country of origin, but now, like Elsa, Enzo, Saoirse, Freya, Soren, and Heidi, it leans more towards being international and European chic.
  5. Bean
    • Origin:

      English word name
    • Meaning:

      "an immature bean pod used as a vegetable"
    • Description:

      The unisex word name Bean, distant cousin of the infamous Apple, was used for the name of a child of mysterious gender in Louise Penny's novel "A Rule Against Murder." While we can imagine Bean as a cute nickname for a yet-unnamed and unborn baby, we don't recommend it for real life.
  6. Flannery
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "descendant of Flannghal"
    • Description:

      Long before the vogue of using Irish surnames for girls, writer Flannery O'Connor gave this one some visibility. It has a warm (flannelly) feel and the currently popular three-syllable ee-ending sound.
  7. Remo
    • Origin:

      Italian variation of Remus, meaning unknown
    • Description:

      Virtually unknown in the U.S., yet with its jaunty o ending and similarity to the stylish (yet unrelated) Remy, Remo may find some new followers.
  8. Blu
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "blue"
    • Description:

      Blu is a new (nu?) spelling of an increasingly popular color name, also spelled Blue and Bleu. Blu is the spelling used for one of the Waldrop sextuplets.
  9. Eda
    • Origin:

      English, Turkish
    • Meaning:

      "wealthy, well-mannered"
    • Description:

      An medieval English diminutive of Edith, which could make an unusual addition to simple vintage revivals like Eva, Ada and Ida. In Turkish, it means "well mannered".
  10. Benny
    • Gypsy
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "wanderer"
      • Description:

        Gypsy, long associated with the intellectual stripper Gypsy Rose Lee and the musical that was made about her life, was used by Drea de Matteo and Shooter Jennings as the middle name of their daughter Alabama. Be aware, however, that the word gypsy is now considered an ethnic slur when used for the Romani, or Roma, people.
    • Kuro
      • Origin:

        Japanese
      • Meaning:

        "ninth son; black"
      • Description:

        Traditionally given to the ninth-born son, which is a rarity nowadays.
    • Huey
      • Origin:

        Variation of Hugh, English
      • Meaning:

        "mind, intellect"
      • Description:

        Once upon a time, in the 1930s, Huey (yes, just Huey) was a Top 250 name. Could the 100-Year Rule bring it back?
    • Asterope
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "lightning"
      • Description:

        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 for those looking for something similar to Penelope or Aster, but even more unusual.
    • Peaches
      • Origin:

        English fruit name
      • Description:

        Unlike the other fruit names that are just coming onto the baby name menu, Peaches is an old-timey nickname previously reserved for spangled showgirls, and now would be considered an outrageous -- verging on hip -- choice. Or perhaps it was, until 2023, when it entered the UK Top 1000, not sounding too out of place beside other 2023 favorites, Honey, Blossom, Sage, Halo, and Dolly.
    • Bia
      • Origin:

        Greek, Portuguese, Romanian
      • Meaning:

        "force; blessed; white"
      • Description:

        A bright and bouncy micro name, far rarer than Mia or Gia.
    • Coby
      • Origin:

        English, diminutive of Coburn or Jacob or Jacoby
      • Description:

        Actor Coby Bell gives this short but sweet name a hefty amount of street cred. Can also be spelled Koby or Kobe, as in Kobe Bryant.
    • Remington
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "place on a riverbank"
      • Description:

        Between 1980s-era television private eye Remington Steele and Remington Arms, this name might seem all-boy. But in 2014, Remington entered the US girls' Top 1000, and it's been rising since.
    • Pollux
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "crown"
      • Description:

        Castor's twin in the constellation Gemini. That final x makes this name modern and cool.
    • Griselda
      • Origin:

        German
      • Meaning:

        "grey battle"
      • Description:

        Griselda is a famous folklore figure, noted for her patience and obedience. Her story has been told by Petrarch, Chaucer, Boccaccio and set to music by Scarlatti, Vivaldi and Massenet.