How to choose a cat's name

Cat names are different from dog names, because cats are different from dogs. A dog's name is a training tool, used for recall and commands; a cat's name is mostly a word you say to get its attention, and cats are famously selective about when they respond. That gives you more freedom: a cat's name can be longer, more unusual, and more personal than a dog's name, because you will rarely need to shout it across a park. But the same basic rules still help. Short names with hard consonants — Leo, Milo, Luna, Simba — are easiest for a cat to distinguish, and cats respond best to names that end in a high-pitched sound, which is why so many cat names end in "ie" or "y": Millie, Ollie, Toby, Lily. This generator gives you curated lists of real names in four styles — classic, cute, regal and funny — by sex and by first letter, and lets you save the ones you like.

The style should suit the cat, and the cat will tell you what suits it within a few days. A dignified, aloof cat suits a regal name — Caesar, Cleopatra, Duchess, Pharaoh. A playful, chaotic kitten suits a cute or funny name — Mochi, Beans, Noodle, Chairman Meow. A classic name — Oliver, Leo, Luna, Bella — suits any cat and will never embarrass you at the vet. The generator lets you try all four styles, and the shortlist lets you live with a few candidates before deciding. Spend a day with the kitten first: its personality will usually suggest the name, and the name that suggests itself is almost always the right one.

Names by style

Classic names are the most popular: Oliver, Leo, Milo, Simba, Luna, Bella, Chloe, Lily. They are short, easy to say, and they suit any breed. Cute names — Mochi, Pumpkin, Maple, Peaches, Pippa — suit kittens and small, fluffy cats. Regal names — Simba, Caesar, Kingston, Apollo, Cleopatra, Duchess, Queenie — suit cats with presence, and cats are nothing if not full of presence. Funny names — Sir Pounce-a-lot, Chairman Meow, Beans, Tofu, Noodle — are the most memorable, and the best of them have a short version for everyday use: "Chairman Meow" is a wonderful name, but you will call the cat "Chairman" or "Meow" in practice, so make sure you like the short version too.

Teaching a cat its name

Cats can learn their names — research has shown that cats distinguish their own name from other words, even if they choose not to respond. The way to teach it is the same as with a dog: say the name, and when the cat looks at you, reward it with a treat or a game. Keep sessions short, use the name positively, and never use it to scold. Use the name once, not repeatedly. And be consistent: everyone in the house should use the same name. A cat that is called three different things by three different people will answer to none of them, which — to be fair — is also true of a cat that is called one thing by everyone.

Common mistakes

Choosing a name that is hard to say, or that you are embarrassed to say at the vet, is the most common mistake. Choosing a name that is the same as another pet or a family member is the second. Choosing a name before you have met the cat is the third — the name should fit the animal, not the idea of the animal. Changing the name repeatedly is the fourth: cats can learn a new name, but it takes time, and consistency is kinder. And naming a cat after a character or a joke that will not age well is the fifth: you will be saying this name for fifteen years, so choose one that will still make you smile in a decade.

What to do next

Generate a list, save the ones you like, and say each one out loud. The right name will feel natural, and it will usually be the one the cat responds to first. If you are still deciding on the cat itself, the cat lifespan estimator shows how long different breeds typically live, and the cat age calculator tells you how old your new cat is in human years. For feeding, use the cat food calculator.