Here at Rover, it’s fair to say we’re obsessed with pet names. Every year we release data on the top dog names around the country, and this year, we also wanted to see the name rankings for cats. We dug deep into our huge database of pet names to reveal the most popular cat names of 2018. From there, we pulled out the top 100 female cat names, listed below. If you’re looking for kitten names for your new girl cat, this roundup is a great place to start.
Cat names used to be pretty straightforward (“here, Fluffy!”) and while there’s nothing wrong with those old-fashioned choices, these days, cat owners are choosing a wide variety for their pets. From Nala to Coco to Penelope, there’s a cat name on this list for every style…not to mention for every cat personality.
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Top 100 Female Cat Names
Ranked in order of popularity from Rover.com
- Luna
- Lily / Lilly
- Bella
- Lucy
- Kitty
- Chloe
- Callie/Cali
- Zoe/Zoey
- Sophie
- Nala
- Stella
- Lola
- Cleo
- Daisy
- Penny
- Gracie
- Mia
- Molly
- Willow
- Pepper
- Maggie
- Olive
- Phoebe
- Piper
- Penelope
- Rosie
- Ellie
- Coco
- Kiki
- Mimi
- Lulu
- Sadie
- Jasmine
- Abby
- Boo
- Princess
- Fiona
- Sasha
- Missy
- Roxy
- Emma
- Izzy
- Belle
- Oreo
- Charlie
- Athena
- Ruby
- Shadow
- Olivia
- Minnie
- Millie
- Annie
- Pumpkin
- Baby
- Ginger
- Layla
- Ella
- Hazel
- Alice
- Maya
- Kali
- Scout
- Sassy
- Harley
- Mila
- Peanut
- Zelda
- Misty
- Arya
- Leia
- Delilah
- Elsa
- Frankie
- Miss Kitty
- Winnie
- Smokey
- Charlotte
- Mittens
- Bailey
- Amelia
- Jade
- Holly
- Patches
- Josie
- Violet
- Mocha
- Ivy
- Kiwi
- Sammy
- Angel
- Pearl
- Cookie
- Bonnie
- Freya
- Lucky
- Honey
- Sugar
- Grace
- Gypsy
- Maddie
Top 20 Old Lady Cat Names
Old-timey human names are popular for cats, perhaps because of their vintage vibe—perfect for a smart cat who can’t be bothered with your nonsense. (Unless there’s salmon involved.) These are the top “grandma” names for cats in our database.
- Minnie
- Pearl
- Louise
- Beatrice
- Nellie
- Marie
- Florence
- Ethel
- Thelma
- Martha
- Myrtle
- Agnes
- Bessie
- Mae
- Gladys
- Gertrude
- Lula
- Blanche
- Rosa
- Viola
Top 11 Double Names for Female Cats
Cat owners love to give their cats a title or a middle name, and if you’ve ever met a cat, you can see why. What’s more fitting than a “Lady,” a “Miss,” or a “Princess” for a regal little kitty?
Of course, double names for cats also include adorable monikers (see: “Little Bit”) and famous characters (“Tinker Bell.”) Here are the top choices for female cats with two names in Rover’s data.
- Miss Kitty
- Kit Kat
- Sweet Pea
- Little Bit
- Tiger Lily
- Tinker Bell
- Norma Jean
- Penny Lane
- Harley Quinn
- Stevie Nicks
- Princess Leia
Trends in Girl Cat Names
Across the board, we’re seeing a big lift in human names for cats (and dogs, for that matter!) While word names like Cinder and Snow are still big, along with character names like Tigger, Felix, and Simba, the cat names with the biggest growth are also popular baby names.
That means cat lovers are choosing Mary, Millie, and Samantha (nickname Sam, of course) as kitten names rather than Lady or Kitty. Hipster baby names also find their way into our popular cat name data. Names like Poppy, Paris, and Ziggy are hot for kittens and newly adopted cats just as they are for trendsetting human babies.
God and goddess names for cats are also on the rise, with Loki and Apollo big for the boys and Athena ranking higher than ever in girl cat names. Picks like Artemis and Juno are climbing, too.
Luna: The Year’s Hottest Cat Name
What is it about Luna? This lovely name, which means “moon” in Spanish, has shot up the rankings for popular cat names. In fact, it’s number one among male AND female cats combined, and it beat out the second most popular female cat name on the list, Lily, by a mile.
Via Amazon
We’re guessing it’s a combination of factors. Cat names associated with nighttime and the moon are generally popular, perhaps accounting for the sheer number of black cats out there—and of those nocturnal choices, Luna is clearly the most feminine of the lot. (Others include Shadow and Midnight, for example). Not only that, Harry Potter fans have the ethereal Luna Lovegood as an inspiration.
Anime lovers may have also chosen Luna thanks to the cat character on the long-running show Sailor Moon.
But at the end of the day, Luna is a surprisingly popular name for human babies, where it’s risen to the top 50 girl baby names in recent years. It’s not just that it’s popular, but it’s trending: it jumped from the 453rd most popular female baby name in 2007 to the 35th in 2017! (source) That’s quite a rise, and it appears that cat owners are just as taken with it as parents of new babies.
Choosing the Best Cat Name
We get it. Your new cat is part of the family, and their name deserves to be special. Finding the perfect name doesn’t have to be difficult, though. Consider your cat’s personality: a feisty Nala or an elegant Luna? A sassy Sophie or a playful Charlie? The sky’s the limit.
Your interests and favorites play a part in pet naming, too. Cat owners have chosen names of favorite foods, book characters, colors, and musicians to name their new cat. Yes, that means you can name your cat “Kit Kat” if it makes you smile.
Cats don’t typically respond to their names in the same way that dogs do, mainly because cat owners are far less likely to train their cats (and therefore, teach their cats to associate their names with certain outcomes.) Nevertheless, you’ll be saying your cat’s name plenty, so give your top contenders a whirl. Say them out loud and get a feel for how easy they are to say, not to mention whether you enjoy hearing the sound.
Discover More Top Cat Names
Maybe this roundup of popular cat names is too, well, popular for your taste? In that case, never fear. Rover has you covered with adult and kitten name ideas galore.
Some of the cat name lists are made up entirely of our pet name data, while others include expert suggestions with popularity ranking where available. From top cat names of the year to boy cat names and cute cat names, black cat names and Harry Potter cat names, there’s a name list for every cat lover. The perfect name is out there!
