When it comes to naming a cat, it is both a science and one of the "sweet troubles" for cat owners. After all, this name will accompany your little master for life (of course, if you want, you can occasionally change the "nickname"). It not only needs to sound good and be easy to remember, but it's best if it has some special meaning or is purely for fun. Generally speaking, naming a cat can start from several major directions, such as drawing inspiration from the cat's physical characteristics, referring to their personality traits, finding inspiration from food, or simply picking some interesting and culturally rich names.

Raising a cat has become increasingly popular among young people in China over the past few years; "cat addiction" and "cloud cat raising" have become daily routines for many. Cats possess a kind of "Schrödinger's charm" — they can be aloof as if you are merely a tenant, yet also soft and adorable enough to make you willingly become a devoted caretaker. Giving them a good name is like writing the first footnote to this special relationship.

So, how can you come up with a name that is both pleasant to hear and seemingly "destined"? Let's dive deeper into this.

1. Drawing Inspiration from the Cat’s "External Beauty"

This is the most intuitive and common way to name a cat, as their looks always catch our eyes first.

• By Color:
  • White cats: Snowball, Cotton, Cream, Little White, White Snow, Cheese, Yogurt. These names sound pure and soft.
  • Black cats: Little Black, Mo Mo, Oreo (if with some white), Blackcurrant, Coffee, Coal Ball. They naturally carry a mysterious and cool vibe.
  • Orange cats: Big Orange, Orange, Tangerine, Mango, Orange Peel, Yellow Yellow. Orange cats always have a humorous and substantial feel.
  • Gray cats: Little Gray, Smoke, Hui Hui, Boss of Coal (just joking), Silver, Smog (may be unlucky, use with caution). Consider names with a mysterious or metallic texture.
  • Calico or Tabby cats: Flower, Spotty, Dotty, Tiger, Leopard. Naming by patterns is simple and clear.
  • Specific Patterns: If your cat has unique marks, such as a circle on the head called “Welfare,” four dots on the body called “Ellipsis,” or a gourd-shaped pattern on black and white cats called “Gourd.” Such unique features often bring an exclusive and interesting name.
• By Body Type:
  • Chubby, Stocky, Meaty, Fatty. If your cat is the PLUS version, naming by body shape is straightforward, blunt, and cute.
  • Petite, Bean, Grain of Rice. For small cats, these names highlight their delicate cuteness.

2. Exploring the Cat’s "Inner Beauty" — Personality and Habits

Every cat has its own temperament and habits, which are important references for naming.

• Lively and Active: Jumper, Noisy, Lightning, Windy, Motor.
• Quiet and Gentle: Soft, Quiet, Obedient, Peaceful, Warm.
• Gluttonous Little Devil: This overlaps with food names, such as "Foodie" or "Rice King."
• Curious Baby: Explorer, Conan (though a human name, the meaning is clear).
• Cool and Aloof Style: Prince, Princess, Master, Majesty, Queen. In reality, they might actually treat you this way.
• Clingy Pet: Sticky, Sugar, Baby, Kissy.

3. Inspiration from the Taste Buds — Food Series

Food names are extremely popular among cats: simple, cute, and full of life. It is said that half of the cats nationwide have food-related names. This may be a bit exaggerated but shows their popularity.

• Main Course: Rice Ball, Steamed Bun, Baozi, Rice Cake, Dumpling, Sesame Cake.
• Desserts and Snacks: Sugar, Candy, Pudding, Puff, Cheese, Cocoa, Chocolate, Biscuit, Caramel, Oreo, Macchiato, Latte.
• Fruits: Mango, Orange, Tangerine, Apple, Strawberry, Blueberry, Lemon.
• Beverages: Milk, Yogurt, Coffee, Milk Tea, Sprite, Cola.
• Others: Meaty, Ribs, Meatball, Dried Fish, Cheese, Walnut, Peanut, Melon Seeds.

When choosing food names, you might already imagine the adorable sight of a kitten eating. This kind of association is full of fun itself.

4. Cultural Symbols and Unique Creativity

If you want a name with deeper meaning or to stand out, you can look for inspiration from broader cultural domains.

• Literature, Animation, and Film Characters: Tom, Jerry, Doraemon, Pikachu, Simba, Nala, Luffy, Zoro, Howl, Peppa, Buzz, Ponyo. Also, names from "Game of Thrones," "Marvel," and "Harry Potter," such as Luna, Loki, Merlin, Salem, Gandalf.
• Historical Figures or Mythology: Li Bai, Du Fu, Su Shi, Yongzheng, Bai Qian, Sun Wukong, Caishen (God of Wealth), Lucky, A-Fu, Auspicious, Ruyi, God of Wealth, Koi Carp. Mythological figures like Zeus, Odin, Athena, Apollo.
• Natural Elements: Snowflake, Star, Moon, Sunshine, Cloud, Wind, Raindrop, Sash (imitating cat litter sounds?). Many English names also have natural elements like Shadow, Smokey, Storm, Misty, Winter, Sky, Sunny, Pepper, Daisy, Willow.
• Meaningful Words: For example, Lucky symbolizing fortune, Charlie meaning “free man,” Teeny meaning “little elf,” Estelle meaning “star,” Luna meaning “moon.” Or names with power or mystery like Onyx, Pearl, Jasper.
• Reduplicated or Diminutive Sounds: Many cats like the high ending sounds of reduplicated words, so names like Mimi, Yuanyuan, Doudou, Diandian, Niuniu, Lele are easier for cats to remember and respond to.

5. Some "Out of the Ordinary" Names

Sometimes, the most interesting names are those that are unexpected.

• Down-to-Earth Series: Cuihua, Dog Egg (even though it’s a cat), Tiezhu, Master, Ergouzi. This kind of contrasting cuteness can bring surprising laughs.
• Luxury or Brand Names: Maserati, Lamborghini, Bulgari, Bitcoin, Ferrari. As some netizens joke, the owners calling these names might not even have these items, just for fun. Also car models like Mini, Cooper.
• Internet Slang: If your cat has special meme potential, consider combining some online jokes.
• Freestyle: Some names may have no logic, purely what the owner whimsically thinks up, like Abu, Kalu. What matters is that you like it, and your cat can remember it.

How to Help Your Cat Remember Its Name?

Choosing a good name is just the first step; the key is making the cat remember and respond to it. Cats are more sensitive to tone, especially reduplicated words with high intonation. One of the most effective ways is to call the cat’s name before feeding so it associates the name with something tasty. Talking more to your cat and frequently mentioning its name during interaction also helps it get familiar and remember.

Final Words

The process of naming a cat itself is the start of building a connection with it. This name contains your expectations for it, a capture of its traits, and even some of your own little whims. Whether it’s the popular names like "Luna", "Milo" or uniquely crafted names, as long as you and your cat like it, that is the best name.

Don’t forget, cats may be aloof but they also need attention and calling. A good, easy-to-remember name will make your interaction smoother and closer. So, bring out your creativity and give your little furball a unique name!

References:

• Tencent News: A roundup of good-sounding cat names?
• Lunar Calendar Network: 2017 Best Cat Names Collection
• Supakit: The Best Cat Names for 2025
• TrustedHousesitters.com: Unisex Cat Names
• Rover.com: Most Popular Cat Names in the USA
• Qidian Chinese: Funny and Magical Cat Names Collection
• Baby Naming Website: 100 Amazingly Good-Sounding Cat Names (Selected)
• World's Best Cat Litter®: World's Best Cat Names (2024 Edition)
• Rover.com: 180 Mystical Cat Names: Gemstones to Astrology Signs
• TrustedHousesitters.com: Top US pet names of 2024: the results are in!
• ACT Government: Canberra's top pet names of 2024
• Cat Tree UK: 100 Unique Cat Names for 2023 & 2024
• Qiming Website: 100 Humorous Cat Names Funny and Interesting
• Cats.com: 210 Best Unique Cat Names With Meaning
• A Beautiful Mess: 400+ Cat Names
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• Gasgoo Auto: Naming a New Car is Harder Than Reaching the Sky