Here at Rover, we love to share the stories of our pets’ names. As animal lovers, each of our pets has a name carefully chosen just for them. Some are cute classics like Coco, while others originated from our favorite sci-fi shows, like one particularly tiny cat named Beverly Crusher.
When my family adopted two kittens last year, naming rights went to the kids. My son proudly announced that the orange kitten would be named Gandalf Carrot Cupcake. I was skeptical, to say the least, but now I love my cat’s unique name. And the cat is cool with it, too.
Choosing a unique name for a new cat can be a conversation starter as well as an expression of your personal interests and love for your pet. After all, our cats are special, and they deserve personalized names just as much as personalized care.
To spark your search for a unique cat name, I used the Rover database of hundreds of thousands of registered users in the U.S. In this list, you’ll find some of the most unique cat names and naming trends based on that data, as well as other fun categories, like names based on wild cats or literary figures.
Rare Female Cat Names
- Arrietty
- Ellery
- Guinevere
- Hazel
- Katniss
- Marian
- Minerva
- Ophelia
- Piper
- Virginia
- Zélie
- Birdie
- Turtle
- Greta
- Shelby
- Ashes
- Doodle
- Butter
- Ducky
- Fig
- Chelsea
- Wendy
- Comet
- Mara
- Mushu
- Sid
- Cubby
- Jules
- Paris
If these cat names don’t fit, you can always look at our most popular female cat names for inspiration!
Rare Male Cat Names
A unusual male cat name can sometimes be harder to find. We sorted through out list to find the most least common names from our top list.
- Amory
- Benvolio
- Caspar
- Finch
- Gatsby (or Catsby!)
- Hastings
- Hazel
- Heathcliff
- Hunter
- Hurler
- Ignatz
- Marvin
- Mowgli
- Thompson
- Wyatt
- Tyrion
- Buzz
- Ranger
- Lucas
- Diesel
- Morris
- London
- Dwight
- Jones
- Sparky
- Lionel
- Ari
- Morty
- Tyson
- Phil
- Frodo
- Captain
- Hades
- Manny
Uncommon Cat Names Inspired by Wild Cats
There are nearly 40 types of wild cats on the planet, and each one has a unique scientific name. I love the name Onca (the species name for a jaguar) for a frisky spotted kitten, and Pardalis (an ocelot) for a sophisticated older cat. These unusual wild cat names might send you in an unexpected direction with your new friend’s name.
- Acinonynx (Cheetah)
- Aurata (African golden cat)
- Badia (Borneo bay cat)
- Caracal (Caracal Lynx)
- Catopuma (Asian golden cat)
- Chaus (Jungle cat)
- Colocolo (Pampas cat)
- Concolor (Puma)
- Diardi (Borneo clouded leopard)
- Geoffroyi (Geoffroy’s cat)
- Guigna (Chilean cat)
- Jacobita (Mountain cat)
- Jaguarondi
- Jubatus (Cheetah)
- Leo (Lion)
- Leopardus (Oncilla)
- Leptailurus (Serval)
- Lynx
- Magarita (Sandcat)
- Manul (Manul)
- Margay
- Marmorata (Marbled cat)
- Nebulosa (Clouded leopard)
- Neofelis (Leopard)
- Onca (Jaguar)
- Oncilla (Oncilla)
- Pampas (Pampas cat)
- Panthera (Jaguar, Leopard, Tiger)
- Pardalis (Ocelot)
- Pardinus (Iberian lynx)
- Pardofelis (Borneo bay cat)
- Pardus (Leopard)
- Profelis (African golden cat)
- Puma (Puma)
- Rufus (Bobcat)
- Serval (Serval)
- Tilvestris (Wild cat)
- Temminckil (Asian golden cat)
- Tigrinus (Oncilla)
- Tigris (Tiger)
- Uncia (Snow leopard)
Unique Cat Names Inspired by Flowers
- Acacia
- Azalea
- Begonia
- Fritillary
- Gardenia
- Gladiola
- Hydrangea
- Jasmine
- Kiwi
- Madrona
- Orchid
- Protea
- Sorrel
- Willow
- Verbena
- Yarrow
- Zinnia
Old school but Unusual: Human Names for Cats
For some old-timey inspiration, I looked through records of 19th-century names on ancestry.com. Quinnie and Milburn are now at the top of my list!
Special female cat names
- Beulah
- Eugenia
- Francine
- Gail
- Hester
- Ivy
- Judith
- Lucille
- Lilibeth
- Maryella
- Maura
- Millicent
- Prudence
- Quinnie
- Ruth
- Sophronia
- Theodosia
- Vada
- Waverly
- Zella
Noteworthy male cat names
- Albert
- Asa
- Brogan
- Clement
- Cyrus
- Dallin
- Eldon
- Felton
- Gilbert
- Hirum
- Hyrum
- Jarvis
- Llewellyn
- Milburn
- Neville
- Orson
- Saul
- Vaughn
- Wilmur
- Wylie
How to Choose a Unique Name
Your new cat’s name can be as unique as you are. As you think about names, try the back-door test. Go to the back door or window and yell out each name on your list. If some sound too silly, or come out sounding like something different entirely (“Dinner time, Ice Cream!”), move on until you find just the right match. I like to consider nicknames, too. Each of my pets has at least a dozen. Gandalf Carrot Cupcake answers to “Cake-Cake” these days.
100 Most Unique Female and Male Cat Names
Thanks to our users, we have a huge list of unique names that can start off your search.
- Ace
- Addie
- Angus
- April
- Ashley
- Avery
- Barney
- Beatrice
- Bebe
- Bellatrix
- Bill
- Billie
- Bitty
- Boomer
- Buddha
- Buffy
- Chairman Meow
- Cinder
- Clark
- Cora
- Dakota
- Darcy
- Dewey
- Diamond
- Django
- Dottie
- Dude
- Edward
- Eva
- Evie
- Flynn
- Frida
- Garfield
- Hamilton
- Hamlet
- Hector
- Hercules
- Hermes
- Hermione
- Inky
- Jazz
- Jesse
- Jet
- Jiji
- Jimmy
- Klaus
- Leela
- Leon
- Lewis
- Little Bit
- Lou
- Luca
- Lynx
- Mack
- Marcel
- Marmalade
- Meatball
- Meow
- Mew
- Milton
- Mufasa
- Murray
- Nathan
- Neo
- Nimbus
- Nox
- O’Malley
- Opal
- Orange
- Ozzie
- Rajah
- Rambo
- Ramona
- Rey
- Ron
- Rue
- Sandy
- Sheba
- Sheldon
- Shiva
- Sierra
- Sky
- Sonny
- Stan
- Sunshine
- Sylvia
- Tallulah
- Ted
- Thumper
- Timmy
- Tink
- Toast
- Tony
- Turbo
- Wayne
- Wilbur
- William
- Yoshi
- Zara
- Zephyr
Need Cat Sitting?
Cats seem more independent than dogs, sure, but they need attention, play, and treats when you’re gone, too. Your great cat deserves great cat care. You’ve found the best cat name, so now it’s time to find them the perfect cat sitter with Rover.
Find your cat’s perfect match, right from your phone—and then hit the road happy.
Find a Great Name for Your Cat on Rover
If you’re adding a kitten or a newly adopted cat to your family, these articles will help you both get off on the right paw.