Cat Names That Start With N

  1. Niara
    • Origin:

      Hindi
    • Meaning:

      "nebula, mist"
    • Description:

      More unusual alternative to Tiara.
  2. Norma
    • Origin:

      English or Latin
    • Meaning:

      "from the north; or, the pattern"
    • Description:

      Invented for Bellini's opera, Norma had some star quality in the silent-screen and Marilyn Monroe days, but at this point it's a graying grandma in baby name limbo.
  3. Nimbus
    • Origin:

      Latin nature name
    • Meaning:

      "dark cloud"
    • Description:

      Nimbus is a word from nature for a type of cloud that has occasionally -- very occasionally -- been used for a human. But it's evocative and upbeat and certainly makes an intriguing and stylish nature name.
  4. Nila
    • Origin:

      Indian, Tamil, Hindi
    • Meaning:

      "dark blue; moon"
    • Description:

      A sweet, simple Sanskrit name which would work in many languages and has an sparkling, colorful meaning.
  5. Nightingale
    • Origin:

      Bird name from German
    • Meaning:

      "night singer"
    • Description:

      Charming nature name made even more appealing by the connection to iconic nurse and statistician Florence Nightingale.
  6. Nacho
    • Origin:

      Word name or short form of Ignacio
    • Description:

      Not unless you want your son to grow up to be just like a wacky Jack Black character.
  7. Neptune
    • Origin:

      Roman god of the sea, freshwater springs, and horses.
    • Description:

      This Roman mythology (and planet) name would be very hard to handle. It derives from a root meaning cloud.
  8. Ngozi
    • Origin:

      African, Nigerian-Igbo
    • Meaning:

      "blessing"
    • Description:

      Dynamic and creative; common in Africa, challenging here. Pronunciation isn't as difficult as you'd guess, but everyone will have to ask. Many favor n-GO-zee, but a native speaker tells us that it is closer to n-GAW-zee, and we've found at least one n-GAH-zee, too.
  9. Nebula
    • Origin:

      Latin
    • Meaning:

      "mist"
    • Description:

      Could be the next Nova, now that celestial baby names are in the ascendent.
  10. Nima
    • Origin:

      Hebrew, Arabic, and Hindi
    • Meaning:

      "thread, hair; blessing; margosa tree"
    • Description:

      Multicultural name often heard in the Near East. Also spelled Neema.
  11. Nevada
    • Origin:

      Spanish place-name
    • Meaning:

      "covered in snow"
    • Description:

      Western place-name that feels equally appropriate for both genders. Note: Natives say rhyme that second syllable with had, so it's not nehv-AH-da.
  12. Nakos
    • Origin:

      Native American, Arapaho
    • Meaning:

      "sage, wise"
    • Description:

      Interesting Native-American choice that could be taken for Greek.
  13. Nandor
    • Origin:

      Hungarian, Scandinavian
    • Meaning:

      "bold voyager"
    • Description:

      Interesting and energetic international form of Ferdinand.
  14. Nevin
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "holy"
    • Description:

      Possible Gaelic alternative to Kevin and Devon.
  15. Niko
    • Origin:

      Finnish variation of Nichoals; diminutive of Nikolaos, Greek
    • Meaning:

      "victory of the people"
    • Description:

      Niko was used for 20 baby girls in the US last year, and twin sister Nico for another 30 -- though that's still far fewer than the 2600 baby boys who were given one of those two names.
  16. Naja
    • Origin:

      Greenlandic, Arabic or Navajo
    • Meaning:

      "boy's younger sister; success; or silver hands"
    • Description:

      One of several similar feminine names often found in the Muslim world but also a Native American name. And in Greenlandic, Naja means "a boy's younger sister", which could be a sweet connection to a big brother. It's a relatively popular name in Denmark.
  17. Nirvana
    • Origin:

      Sanskrit
    • Meaning:

      "place of great bliss"
    • Description:

      Well, parents are naming their children Eden and Heaven...so why not?
  18. Night
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      An ubercool and mysterious name, brought to you by director M. Night Shyamalan.
  19. Nicky
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Nicholas or Nicole
    • Description:

      Nicky is a forever-cute short form of Nicholas once used as a full name but now relegated to nickname (no pun intended) status.
  20. North
    • Origin:

      Word name
    • Description:

      North's image and gender status was irrevocably changed when Kim Kardashian and Kanye West announced it as the name of their newborn daughter. But why not? West is firmly established as a name, Easton is coming up strong, and North has a nice solid sound as well -- certainly as appropriate for either gender. South, though, not so much.