Only after raising a cat did I realize that naming a cat is even more brain-intensive than naming a child for school—it needs to be unique without duplicates, fit the cat’s character; easy to say and remember, and have a little hidden meaning. After all, this is the "nickname" you will call for over a decade—surely you don’t want your cat to share the same name “Mimi” with ten other cats in your neighborhood?

1. Naming Inspiration Library: From Ancient People to Contemporary, Everything Can Be a "Cat Name"

1. The Romance of the Ancients: Cultural Codes Hidden in Cat Names

Modern people love to name their cats "Mimi" or "Meow Meow," but ancient people elevated cat naming to a sophisticated level. Lu You named his beloved cat "Xiao Yutu," where "Yutu" is the Chu language word for "tiger," so the full name means "Little Tiger," praising the cat’s bravery in catching mice with a touch of cuteness; Huang Tingjian wrote “buy fish, pass through willows, and employ a cicada-carrying servant” to invite cats to catch mice—"Cicada-Carrying Servant" became an elegant cat nickname, sounding like a noble family's maid but actually praising the cat’s agility like a "cicada carrier"; even Emperor Qianlong’s royal cats had names like "Feidi" (Flying Glance), "Fanxue" (Rolling Snow), and "Miaojing" (Wonderful Quiet)—"Fanxue" refers to the cute look of a black and white cat showing its belly, and "Miaojing" sounds like a graceful cat lady. Ancient naming emphasized the integration of form, spirit, and meaning, a practice still worth learning today.

2. The Imagination of Contemporary People: Everything Can Become "Cat Name" Material

• Food Series: Cats are soft like pudding, round like milk balls, even their fur colors correspond to foods—orange cats are named "Orange" or "Sugar Orange," cow-patterned cats "Oreo" or "Cheese," white cats "Glutinous Rice" or "Milk Cap." My friend's Ragdoll cat is named "Tiramisu" because its fur is so long it drags on the ground; every time we call its name, it sounds like calling a dessert, making even the cat feel proud.
• Life Meme Series: Mahjong enthusiasts name their cats "Eight Dots" (because cats are “liquid creatures” that curl into a ball like Mahjong tiles); drama lovers name black cats "Sheriff" (a tribute to "Black Cat Sheriff"), chubby cats "Garfield"; gamers are even more creative, naming cats "Yasuo" (because they like jumping up and down) or "Luban" (because of their short legs).
• Nature and Time Series: Cats born in July are called "July," those found in the snow "First Snow," those with fur like clouds "Skylark," even months and solar terms can serve as inspiration—"Grain Full," "Awakening of Insects," evoking vivid imagery.

3. Popular Trends: 2024 Top Cat Names List

According to pet community statistics, the three most popular cat names this year are: Rou Rou (soft and chubby cats), Sheriff (black/handsome cats), Pudding (milk-colored/orange cats). Following closely are reduplicated names (Tuan Tuan, Dian Dian), food-related names (Milk Tea, Peach), and anime memes (Ponyo, Luo Xiaohei). Interestingly, wealth-attracting names like "Qian Qian" and "Yuan Bao" are rising in popularity—after all, who wouldn’t want a “cat god of wealth”?

2. Naming According to Personality: The Cat’s Character and Name Must “Fit”

The biggest taboo in naming cats is a "misnomer"—if your cat is clearly an active "destruction expert," but you name it "Jing Jing" (Quiet), every time you call its name it sounds sarcastic; if your cat is naturally aloof, calling it "Nian Nian" (Sticky) feels off. Better to observe for a week and choose a name based on personality:

• Active Type (Perpetual Motion Machine Performer): Suitable names are "Tiao Tiao" (Jump Jump), "Qiu Qiu" (Ball Ball), "Lightning"—my cow-patterned cat loves chasing the cat toy, running like a black-and-white lightning bolt, so we called it "Dian Dian" (Electric). When we call "Dian Dian," its ears immediately perk up, ready to sprint.
• Lazy Type (Sofa King): Names like "Tuo Tuo" (Lump), "Rice Cake," "Lazy Egg" fit perfectly. A friend’s British Shorthair is round like a fur ball, lying on the floor can be a cushion, so it’s called "Pillow." Now the cat reacts faster to "Pillow" than to "Baby."
• Clingy Type (The Ultimate Follower): Names such as "Tie Tie" (Stick Stick), "Gen Gen" (Follow Follow), "Little Tail" naturally convey intimacy. My colleague’s cat always follows her to the bathroom, even squats outside the shower; they simply call it "Follower," and the cat really enjoys this name, being very responsive when called.
• Aloof Type (Socially Anxious Cat): Names like "Seven Lives" (cats have nine lives, choosing a middle number is more low-key), "Viola" (the elegance of a violet), "Moyan" (like an ancient scholar’s ink block, steady and elegant). These names are meant to create a sense of distance that fits aloof cats’ persona.

3. The Key to Making Cats Remember Their Names: Not “Teaching,” but “Conditioned Reflex”

After naming your cat, the most feared thing is calling 10 times with no response. Actually, cats don’t forget their names; you just need to use the right method:

1. High frequency + short name: Cats are more sensitive to short names with 2-3 characters, such as "Rou Tuan" (Meatball) is easier to remember than "Wu Hua Rou" (Five-Spice Meat), "Tuo Tuo" is easier to say than "Soft Tuo Tuo." Call the cat’s name more than 10 times each day (during meals, petting, playing), stick with it for a week, and the cat will associate the name with "something good happening."
2. Reward mechanism: Immediately give treats, chin scratches, or play with a cat toy after calling the name, so the cat feels "being called = rewards." My cat now rushes when it hears "Dian Dian," because every call is followed by opening a pack of freeze-dried food—training dogs is even simpler.
3. Avoid “negative associations”: Never call the cat’s name when scolding it for mistakes (e.g., knocking over a water cup and yelling "Dian Dian!"), or it will associate the name with getting scolded and run away more when called. The correct approach: use "Hey!" or "No!" to interrupt misbehavior, call the name only when rewarding.
4. Accept the cat’s personality: Some cats are naturally "socially anxious" and may pretend not to hear even if they remember their names—for example, my friend’s Ragdoll cat barely raises its eyelids when called "Ponyo," as if saying "I know, don’t bother me." Don’t insist during this time; just respect the cat’s "aloof persona."

4. Naming Pitfalls: These 3 Things to Avoid

1. Don't use obscure characters or long names: Names like "Lai Lai (靇靇)" or "Victoria" are hard to call, and the cat won’t remember. My neighbor named his cat "Elizabeth Meow," but the cat only responded to "Meow," wasting the "English name."
2. Don't use negative words: Names like "Ugly Ugly," "Dumb Dumb," "Unlucky" become annoying to hear over time, and the cat picks up on your negative tone. Better to call "Little Beauty" or "Smart Egg"—cats can feel your love.
3. Don't change names frequently: Cats need time to adapt to names, especially adult cats. If you really want to change the name, use "old name + new name" as a transition (e.g., "Rou Rou, come, Milk Ball is eating"), and slowly switch once the cat accepts it.

Finally, I want to say naming a cat is essentially about "sealing the relationship" between you—it is a little happiness in your life, and the name is your exclusive "secret code." No need to pursue something too fancy; as long as when you say it your eyes shine and the cat’s ears twitch, the name is a success. After all, the best name for a cat is the "exclusive calling" that warms your heart as you say it.