Cat Names That Mean Curious

At one time associated with the fictional detective Bulldog Drummond, this formal surname name does boast the cute nickname Drum.

Voltaire is the nom-de-plume of François-Marie Arouet, who became noted for his witty and satirical takes on enlightenment philosophy and Western society. Voltaire's most famous work, Candide, used satire as a vehicle to advocate against religion, monarchy, greed, and for tolerance, freedom and reason. It is said that his moniker was a variation of his sister's family nickname "le petit volontaire" (the determined little thing).

After daughters named Gravity Blue and Rumble Honey, we had a lot of expectations for the name of Lucky Blue Smith's third child. Luckily, he didn't disappoint when he named his son Slim Easy in 2022. The full name has been criticized, with commenters saying it sounds like a diuretic tea or diet pill. And we agree that the combination is too much. But in isolation, Easy has potential. With a carefree aura and accessible sound, Easy may be a celebrity baby name we grow to love.

This extravagant name of a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher could make for a bold alternative to Alexander.

While Barthelemy does not garner much attention these days, it has a storied history in French-speaking countries. Notable bearers include geologist and explorer Barthélemy Faujas de Saint-Fond, philosopher Jules Barthélemy-Saint-Hilaire, and historian and writer Jean-Barthélemy Hauréau, to name a few.

The short form, Raivo, is more common these days.

The most famous bearer of this name was Athenaeus of Naucratis, a Greek rhetorician and grammarian who wrote the Deipnosophistae , which roughly translates to "Dinner Table Philosophers." There was also an early Greek composer by the name, which relates to the goddess Athena and the city of Athens.

Sunita is an easily-translated name brought to the American lexicon by astronaut Sunita "Suni" Williams, who holds the record for most spacewalks by a woman.

Modesty is a virtue name dating to Roman times, but never widely used, except for hot 1960s movie spoof heroine, Modesty Blaise, based on a comic strip.

Nuha is an Arabic name meaning wise, and also a name from Semitic mythology of unknown origin, belonging to an ancient sun goddess.

Distinguished actor Hume Cronyn (who shared his father's name) put this unusual choice in the lexicon.

Now that Kimberly is no longer one of the top girl names, Kim or long form Kimball feel more gender neutral.

Modern and dynamic Hebrew name that could work for either sex.

The moody and mysterious name Dark could be the perfect name for a couple who embraces the magic of the unknown. Grimes and Elon Musk used it as a middle for their daughter Y, whose given name is Exa Dark Sideræl. Grimes chose it because, "dark matter is the beautiful mystery of our universe."

A dashing French surname name most famously borne by Henry David Thoreau, an American naturalist, writer and philosopher who influenced such notable figures as Leo Tolstoy, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. The most common modern American pronunciation is "thor-OH", with emphasis on the final syllable, although Thoreau himself pronounced it "THOR-oh".

The origins of the nom de plume Voltaire are obscure - it is believed that it is an anagram of Arovetli (the Latin form of his surname Arouet). But the name was also chosen for its connotations of speed and daring (think volts and vaulting). American anarchist Voltairine de Cleyre was named after the French philosopher - giving this feminisation a double punch of intellectualism.

The name of one of the greatest Western philosophers is often used as a first name in its land of origin, Greece, and would make a really interesting, thought-provoking choice here. It is remembered here as the nickname of the memorable character played by Sal Mineo in the classic film "Rebel Without a Cause."

A possibility for fans of the mystery writer, but most parents would prefer Dashiell.

Although Thaddeus has long been used in this country, Thaddea is almost unknown and, with its air of mystery, could make a distinctive choice.

Old French form of Petronilla borne by Perenelle Flamel (1320-1402), alchemist and wife of Nicolas Flamel. They are known for their quest to discover the philosopher's stone, a legendary substance said to turn any metal into gold and to make its owner immortal. The figure of Perenelle Flamel appeared in the Harry Potter series.