Deciding what to name your cat can feel like a big endeavor. But whether the name is silly or serious, most pet parents are influenced by names that remind them of their favorite things or trending pop culture moments.
To see what pet parents are naming their cats in 2023, we dug into Rover’s database of millions of pet parents to uncover the most popular cat names across the country. Take a look to see how the things that matter most to us show up in how we choose to name our pets.
Top 10 Popular Cat Names
- Luna
- Milo
- Oliver
- Leo
- Bella
- Charlie
- Lily
- Kitty
- Lucy
- Loki
Top 10 Trending Cat Names
- Norbert (156%)
- Soju (131%)
- Snoop (117%)
- Choco (110%)
- Fuzz (107%)
- Tsuki (100%)
- Knox (95%)
- Munch (93%)
- Luffy (89%)
- Maizy (88%)
Star-Studded Cat Names
Celebrity cat names can make your kitty feel famous (even if it’s just in your home!) Here’s a peek at the star-studded naming trends this year.
- America’s #1 Dad: The name Pedro Pspspcal appeared on the list for the first time this year.
- Beyoncé is up 160%, followed by Hayley (107%), Chrissy (107%), Becca (93%), and Justin (83%).
- In celebrity split-related names, Sophie is down -6%, and Joe is up 21%. But the name Lady Sansa is up 43%, so she is still Queen in the North for cat parents. Meanwhile, Pete Davidson remains everyone’s favorite rebound. The name Pete is up 13%.
- Snoop and Martha are still the most i-chronic duo. Martha Stewart is up 193%, Snoop Dogg is up 126%, and Snoop is up 117%.
These Box Office-Inspired Cat Names Dominated in 2023
Barbie turned the country pink this year! Cats named Barbie are up 23%. Barb is up 93%, Allan is up 43%, Greta is up 18%, and Ken is up 1%.
The Marvel Universe is always a favorite source for cat names. Popular names for cats include Castle, Ultra, Peter Parker, and Fury. New to the list this year are Deadpool, Bakshi, and Whiplash.
Names inspired by Disney’s The Little Mermaid are part of our world. Flounder is up 126%, Eric is up 47%, Ursula is up 39%, and Ariel is up 5%. Scuttle is also climbing this year.
Tasty Names for Cats So Cute We Could Eat Them Up
New food-inspired names for cats in 2023 include Maple Syrup, Pastrami, Calzone, Burrata, Boursin, and Provolone.
Food-inspired cat names exploded in popularity this year. Here are the top 10.
- Chive (793%)
- Babybel (593%)
- Stuffing (493%)
- Dijon (218%)
- Sausage (193%)
- Morel (193%)
- Velveeta (118%)
- Stubbs (113%)
- Baguette (107%)
- Burger (101%)
Classy Drink Names for Cool Cats
- Negroni Sbagliato…with prosecco in it? Stunning. Prosecco nabbed the top spot this year at 793%.
- Seltzer, Lipton, and White Claw are also on the rise.
Top 10 Trending Drink Names
- Prosecco (793%)
- Starbucks (226%)
- Tea (193%)
- Cafe (193%)
- Seltzer (193%)
- Champagne (110%)
- Mai Tai (93%)
- White Claw (93%)
- Whisky (77%)
- Gin (73%)
Sugary Names for the Sweetest Cats
Top 10 Trending Dessert Names
- Flan (93%)
- Tiramisu (79%)
- Meringue (64%)
- Sherbert (57%)
- Jello (24%)
- Brownie (23%)
- Cookie (14%)
- Mochi (13%)
- Cheesecake (10%)
- Oreo (9%)
Music-Inspired Cat Names Top the Charts in 2023
- Blue Ivy (243%) is having a renaissance this year thanks to her incredible skills as a backup dancer on her mom’s tour.
- Harriet Styles is new to the list this year, as is Hakuna Madonna.
Pet Parents Are In Their Cat Names Era
- The name Taylor is up 21%, while Swift has jumped 133%.
- Cat names inspired by Taylor Swift’s music are trending up, including Evermore (193%), Inez (37%), Karma (29%), Lavender (27%), August (11%), and Midnight (10%).
- In the battle of the exes, Harry Styles (293%) and Harry (17%) are up. Matty is also up 33%, followed by Joe (21%). Jake is down -2%, Calvin is down -7%, and John is down -27%. If cat parents had to Speak Now, we’d say they aren’t big fans of her most notorious exes.
- A new Love Story? The name Kelce has jumped 107% this year and Travis is up 56%.
- Taylor is well-known for her love of cats. Taylor’s own cats are named Meredith Grey (up 643%), Olivia Benson (up 126%), and Benjamin Button (down -32%).
Cat Parents Love K-Pop
- The top K-Pop inspired names are Jimin (493%), Jennie (213%), V (7%), and Suga (2%).
- The names Jisoup and Tzuyu are new to the list this year.
Television-Inspired Names Are Highly Rated in 2023
And Just Like That, Cat Names Inspired by the Sex and the City Reboot Are on The Rise
- Lisa is up 46%, Che is up 5%, Nya is up 5%, and Charlotte is up 3%.
- Viewers didn’t love Miranda’s storyline in the reboot, so it’s no surprise the name Miranda is down -33%. Also down? Carrie (-3%), Aiden (-15%), and Big (-25%).
This is the way! Names Inspired by The Mandalorian Are Still Popular
- Jabba is up 40%, followed by Luke (17%), Boba (14%), and Yoda (13%).
- Cara is trending down -17%, likely related to the controversy surrounding the actress who played the role. Grogu and Baby Yoda have fallen down the list as well.
We’re gonna tell you a little secret. Yellowstone Names Are Trending Up
The picturesque drama inspired by Big Sky Country has also inspired pet parents when it comes to cat names. Teeter is up 93%, followed by Rip (25%), Walker (12%), and Jimmy (5%).
Montana is down -33%.
We Dedicate Goo Goo Muck To All The Cats Whose Names Are Inspired by Wednesday
Wednesday Addams might be the creepiest student at Nevermore Academy, but cat names inspired by the series are as cute as can be. Wednesday is trending up 55% this year.
Other names inspired by the streaming series include Enid (110%), Gomez (47%), and Morticia (26%). The names Gomez Addams and Morticia Addams are new to the list this year
Is The Bear a Popular Inspiration For Cat Names? Yes, Chef!
Top names from The Bear include:
- Richard (27%)
- Marcus (15%)
- Carmen (12%)
- Sugar (9%)
- Claire (-1%)
- Bear (-5%)
- Neil (-13%)
- Sydney (-17%)
- Chef (-19%)
- Natalie (-23%)
Carmy is on the list for cats this year and up 193%. And for the cat parents who were inspired by the viral omelet filled with cheese and topped with crushed chips, Omelette is up 10% and Boursin is new to the list this year.
Which Succession-inspired Cat Names Come Out On Top?
The final season of Succession came out this year and our data shows that the men of the show inspire pet names the most. Logan and Roman are trending up 24% and 13% respectively, while Greg and Roy are close behind.
Connor, Kendall, and Tom are all trending down.
We are happy to report that there are no cats named Waystar.
Football Is Life For Pet Parents Who Love Ted Lasso
The beloved series about everyone’s favorite expat coach ended this year. Here are some of the cat names inspired by the show:
Lasso is up 118%, followed by Leslie (32%), Keeley (11%), and Roy (7%). Goldfish is also up 60%, possibly inspired by Coach Lasso’s timeless advice, “Be a goldfish.”
New to the list this year is Coach Beard, Keeley Jones, Tartt, and in a delightful surprise that would horrify the gruff football legend, Roy Kittent.
Binge-worthy Pet Names Inspired by Our Favorite Comfort Shows
Watching and rewatching TV shows is a noble pastime shared by many of us. Check out some of the best names inspired by some of the most rewatched shows:
- Parks and Rec might be long off the air, but its influence lives on. Leslie Knope is up 93%, followed by Andy at 20%. And in a turn that would give Ron Swanson much glee, Lil Sebastian is new to the list this year.
- Friends is another popular comfort show, loved for its quirky characters that inspire equally quirky names. Pivot made the list this year, along with Phoebe Buffay, Joey Tribbiani, and Janice (OH. MY. GOD.)
- We can’t have a list of binge-worthy shows without mentioning The Office. Michael Scott is up 126%, followed by Sprinkles (13%) and Bandit (2%). Office-inspired names that made us laugh more than watching Kevin drop the chili include Pam Halpurrt and Jim Halpurrt.
Technological Advances in Cat Names
The top trending tech names include Apple (34%), Google (18%), Chip (8%), Siri (5%), and Alexa (4%).
Tech names that are becoming obsolete include Elizabeth (-9%), Pixel (-15%), Holmes (-21%), Zoom (-23%), and Elon (-30%).
The Votes Are In: Cat Names Inspired by Politics
On one side of the aisle, Kamala is up 126%, Alexandria is up 68%, and Joe is up 21%. On the other side, Donald is down -3% and Mitch is down -18%. Nancy, Warren, and Trump are also trending down.
The legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg lives on in 2023. Both Ruth Bader Ginspurrg and Baby Ruth Bader Kitsberg are new to the list this year.
Cat Parents Knocked These Names Out of the Park
Sports-Inspired Cat Names
- Avalanche (426%)
- Gronk (218%)
- Lambeau (213%)
- Irving (193%)
- Lamar (193%)
- Ozuna (193%)
- Mav (160%)
- Byron (146%)
- Boxer (137%)
- Swift (133%)
There are also cats named Buc, Clipper, and Dolphin this year.
It’s Always 420 for These Cat Names
Cannabis-inspired names are on the rise this year. When it comes to strains, Sativa is up 10% while Indica is up 4%. Rasta is up 38%, followed by Ganja and Blaze. The name Munchie is up 10%.
Cat parents with multiple cats saw an opportunity this year and they took it. This year we’re seeing cats in the same houses with kush-inspired names:
Indica and Sativa
Haze, Munchie, and Indica
Royal Names for Regal Cats
The top trending royal-inspired names in 2023 are:
Trending Royal Cat Names
- Lilibet (83%)
- Megan (66%)
- Lady (19%)
- Harry (17%)
- Queen (16%)
- Prince (12%)
- William (12%)
- Queenie (10%)
- George (8%)
- Lili (7%)
Are royal names falling out of favor? Archie and Jubilee are both down this year, -7% and -53%.
Gaming-Inspired Cat Names Are Leveling Up
Classic video game character names lead the pack this year.
Video Game-Inspired Cat Names
- Mable (80%)
- Princess Peach (43%)
- Luigi (37%)
- Bowser (35%)
- Brewster (31%)
- Link (17%)
- Yoshi (13%)
- Kirby (7%)
- Mario (6%)
- Zelda (4%)
The latest chapter in The Legend of Zelda was released in 2023. Tears of the Kingdom has inspired a number of cat names, including Hestu (193%), Koga (43%), Impa (33%), Deku (21%), and Zora (19%). The game’s Big Bad, Ganon is down -47%. New to the list this year? Mipha Grace and Hyrule.
Gotta Catch ‘em All! Pokémon Names Are Trending Up
Pokémon-Inspired Cat Names
- Shinx (210%)
- Meoth (57%)
- Eevee (24%)
- Mew (14%)
- Jessie (12%)
- Pikachu (9%)
- Misty (6%)
- Ash (1%)
- Ditto (-11%)
- Brock (-26%)
Another Wave of Pandemic-Inspired Names
Vax is up 493%, while Covid and Fauci are down. For the first time, Virus made the list this year.
Destination Cat Names: Top Names Inspired by Locations Around the World
Destination-Inspired Cat Names
- Mykonos (142%)
- Vegas (68%)
- Tokyo (63%)
- Israel (43%)
- Florence (35%)
- London (20%)
- Roma (17%)
- Cairo (13%)
- Brooklyn (13%)
- India (10%)
The Truth Is Out There: Space and Alien Cat Names
The name Catsanova is trending up 293%. Also up? Earth (193%), Saturn (45%), Neptune (33%), and Venus (26%).
For the first time ever, the names Space Cat, Earth Creature, Marvin The Martian, and Planet appeared on the list for cats.
The X-Files also continues to inspire cat names. This year’s list includes Special Agent Fox Mulder and Special Agent Dana Scully. Fox Mulder (sans the Special Agent title) is also new to the list this year.
90s Nostalgia-Inspired Names Are All That and a Bag of Chips
The 90s are back in a big way, and we’re trippin’ over the decade’s influence on cat names this year. Not into 90s nostalgia? Talk to the hand.
90s Celebrities: Heartthrobs and Leading Ladies
The 90s saw the rise of paparazzi and celebrity worship. Here are some of the highlights:
- The name Pamela is trending up 60% for cats, Pam is up 44%, and Tommy is up by 4%.
- Possibly inspired by 90s Queen Paparazzi Diva, Lindsay (Lohan) is up 68% for cats.
- For the first time, the names Brad Pitt and Brad Kitt appeared on the list for cats in 2023.
90s Music: From Grunge and Hip Hop to Boy Bands and Pop Princesses
Flannel and grunge bands were an iconic part of the early 90s, and we still see that influence in cat names today. Cornell is up 43%, followed by Jeremy (40%), Pixie (11%), Eddie (6%), and Mazzy (3%).
In delightful news, there are cats named Purrrt Cobain, Frances Bean Burrito, Furuca Salt, Kitty Corgan, and Spearl James.
Yo MTV Raps may have started in the late 80s, but this popular show ran through the mid-90s. Hip-hop artists had a huge impact on the decade and on cat names today. Snoop, Dre, Chilli, Biggie Smalls, and Pepa all made the list. Also on the list? Snoop Catt and Tupac Shapurr.
In the battle of the boy bands, who inspires more cat names?
- NSYNC trends: Justin (83%), Joey (9%), Lance (-7%), Chris (-7%), and JC (-39%)
- Backstreet Boys trends: Brian (1%), AJ (-0.5%), Howie (-6%), Nick (-9%), and Kevin (-11%)
Pop divas are all over the list this year. Christina is up 26%, Jessica is up 3%, and Britney is down -7%. Beyoncé is up 160%. There are also cats named Fergie, Shakira, Pink, and Avril.
90s Television: Teen Dramas and Iconic Cartoons
Saved by the Bell was THE show to watch after school. Of the main characters, the most popular cat name inspired by the students of Bayside High is Lisa, followed by Kelly, Zack, Slater, Jessi, and Screech.
The most infamous zip code in 90s television continues to inspire pet parents today. Cats named for Beverly Hills 90210 characters include Steve, David, Dylan, Kelly, Donna, Brenda, and Brandon. Donna Martin also made the list this year. Hopefully, she graduates!
Buffy the Vampire Slayer was another iconic TV show. Joyce is up 133%, followed by Rupert, Anya, Faith, Willow, Oz, and Giles. And because cat parents are hilarious, there’s a cat named Buffy the Vampurr Slayer.
Saturday morning cartoons were a staple of many kids of the 90s who have grown up to be pet parents today.
Ren is up 13% and Stimpy is down 7%.
Powerpuff Girls continue to inspire cat names. Blossom is up 20%, Buttercup is up 10%, and Bubbles is up 2%. Mojo Jojo is down -17%.
90s Toys: The Craze of Collectibles
Pet parents are nostalgic about 90s toys: Polly Pocket, Beanie Baby, Furby, and Tamagotchi all made the list for cats this year.
90s Sports: Hall of Fame Names
90s baseball greats are popular when it comes to cat names. Griffey, Sosa, and Jeter are all on the list.
Basketball is another popular inspiration for cat names. Michael Jordan and Shaq are on the list this year.
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The Top Pet Names 2023 report was developed by Rover between September and October 2023. Results are based on an analysis of millions of user-submitted pet names provided by pet parents on Rover.com. This report is not endorsed or sponsored by any of the brands, celebrities, and businesses mentioned within.