Cat Names That Mean Cat

This Top 100 girls' name in The Netherlands is unlikely to translate to the U.S., where it would undoubtedly pronounced fee-line and mistaken for the adjective that means cat-like. While the name Feline -- and Felina and Felinus -- do have the same root, the considerably more charming pronunciation in modern-day Europe is fee-LEEN-ah. Some websites mistakenly relate it to Felix and give its meaning as happy or fortunate.

Overly ambitious choice, recently borne by the hapless hero of cult movie hit Napoleon Dynamite.

Indian princely title, more exciting than Prince or Duke, that is also a widely-used name for both genders. In the US, the names Rajah and Raja are uncommon: Ten baby boys were named Rajah last year and 18 were given the Raja spelling.

If you like Dylan but find it too popular, Quillan could be a distinctive alternative.

In the Book of Genesis, Arioch is the King of Ellasar.

This form got noticed as the first name of long-reigning Russian president Brezhnev; other bearers include playwright and short-story writer Andreyev, Leonid the Magnificent,a Russian performance artist on America's Got Talent, and Leonid McGill, the protagonist of a Walter Mosley private eye series. All in all, though, Leonid is not the most likely to join the pride of lion-related names here.

Leandre, the French form of the name of a Greek mythological figure, the doomed lover of Hero, is gaining modern notice in France. Leandre is one of many leonine names, including Leopold, Leo, Leonie, and Leon, that are fashionable now.

Grrrr.

We're hearing Kat more and more being used by Katherines who are tired of Kathy, Kate and Katie. Katti or Kattie is another possibility.

A literary name coined by the French playwright Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais for the central character in his plays The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro and The Guilty Mother. It is thought that he based the name on his own nickname. In modern French, the word has come to mean "barber", due to the famous character's profession.

A distinctively Welsh name that's feeling more and more usable these days.

This international variation was publicized by Olympic skater Ekaterina Gordeeva.

Traditional African name made cartoonish by the Disney character in The Lion King. In Shona it means "strength".

With male version Leon taking off all over Europe, the female variations, from Leona to Leonie to Leone, are coming back into style too.

A Turkish name with a cool animal meaning that would wear well in the English-speaking world too.

The bright yellow weed lends itself to a creative baby name, although we don't recommend the nickname Dandy.

The bright yellow weed lends itself to a creative baby name, although we don't recommend the nickname Dandy.

This biblical name, pronounced ahr yeh, is a not uncommon boys' name in Israel. It can also be spelled Aryeh , the most popular form by far, or Arieh. The feminine equivalent is Levi'a. Possible down side: Its similarity to the hot girl name Arya or Aria.