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 black cat names, which are listed below. If you’re looking for names for your new black 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 Luna to Boo to Indigo, there’s a black cat name on this list for every style…not to mention for every cat personality.
10 Most Popular Black Cat Names
from Rover’s database
- Luna
- Jack
- Stella
- Loki
- Shadow
- Pepper
- Oreo
- Smokey
- Boo
- Olive
145 More Popular Black Cat Names
These black cat names are listed in order of popularity in Rover’s international pet name data. They’re listed by relative popularity, not their actual ranking on the list.
| Dexter |
| Rocky |
| Binx |
| Felix |
| Ziggy |
| Jax |
| Sasha |
| Sadie |
| Izzy |
| Roxy |
| Salem |
| Ash |
| Midnight |
| Bagheera |
| Kali |
| Bandit |
| Misty |
| Cookie |
| Merlin |
| Jinx |
| Mowgli |
| Mocha |
| Mickey |
| Cosmo |
| Ozzy |
| Norman |
| Meeko |
| Batman |
| Stormy |
| Panda |
| Tux |
| Juno |
| Gypsy |
| Casper |
| Nova |
| Spooky |
| Smudge |
| Sylvester |
| Echo |
| Orion |
| Ghost |
| Ninja |
| Star |
| Ophelia |
| Onyx |
| Minerva |
| Aurora |
| Niko |
| Xena |
| Karma |
| Maverick |
| Calypso |
| Odin |
| Storm |
| Poe |
| Guinness |
| Moxie |
| Cocoa |
| Domino |
| Friday |
| Wednesday |
| Vader |
| Allie |
| Eve |
| Asher |
| Sabrina |
| Jupiter |
| Tabitha |
| Venus |
| Nigel |
| Blackie |
| Moon |
| Magic |
| Mojo |
| Panther |
| Ares |
| Moses |
| Lyra |
| Squeaky |
| Trouble |
| Astro |
| Toothless |
| Cleopatra |
| Nyx |
| Dante |
| Opie |
| Nero |
| Raven |
| Severus |
| Inky |
| Cinder |
| Sky |
| Bellatrix |
| Jazz |
| Nimbus |
| Turbo |
| Hector |
| Sheba |
| Luca |
| Jet |
| Shiva |
| Indigo |
| Twinkie |
| Thunder |
| Pandora |
| Java |
| Lilith |
| Leila |
| Nicky |
| Diesel |
| Turtle |
| Morty |
| Fig |
| Comet |
| Hades |
| Puma |
| Rebel |
| Skylar |
| Nani |
| Spartacus |
| Dot |
| Nori |
| Pluto |
| Lux |
| Mystic |
| Edie |
| Ember |
| Tiberius |
| River |
| Sable |
| Sherman |
| Sesame |
| Zero |
| Copernicus |
| Rain |
| Snoopy |
| Twilight |
| Sparkle |
| Moonshine |
| Diablo |
10 Nighttime Names for Black Cats
Names that reference the night or the moon are very popular for cats in general—and black cats, even more so. We can see why, since the black cat has long been associated with all things mystical.
Of course, there’s no credence to the old wives’ tale about black cats being a symbol of bad luck, but some popular black cat names do play on the idea of mystery, spirituality, and darkness. These are the most popular night-related black cat names.
- Luna
- Midnight
- Orion
- Star
- Jupiter
- Venus
- Moon
- Astro
- Nyx (Greek goddess of the night)
- Twinkle
Luna: The Year’s Hottest Cat Name
Let’s talk about Luna, which is not only the most popular name for black cats, but also for cats of every colour. What is it about Luna? This lovely name, which means “moon” in Spanish, is everywhere for cats, dogs, and human babies alike.
THE HARRY POTTER EFFECT HELPED LUNA RISE. PET TAG FROM AMAZON.
We’re guessing it’s a combination of factors. Of the nocturnal cat name 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.
Luna is also 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 Black Cat Name
We get it. Your new cat is part of the family, and their name deserves to be special. Finding the perfect black cat name doesn’t have to be difficult, though. Consider your cat’s personality: a feisty Jack or an aloof Elvira? A sassy Loki or a playful Pepper? The sky’s the limit when it comes to names for black cats.
Your interests and favourites play a part in pet naming, too. Cat owners have chosen names of favourite characters, musicians, books, flowers, and foods to name their new cat. Yes, that means you can name your black cat anything at all—no need to consider their black coat colour if it doesn’t strike your fancy. Rocket, Lily, Waffles, or Emmett could all be black kitten names, just as well as the popular Shadow or Felix.
Need Cat Sitting?
Cats seem more independent than dogs, sure, but they need attention, play, and treats when you’re gone, too. Your kitty deserves great cat care. You’ve found the best black cat name, so now it’s time to find them the perfect cat sitter.
New Cat Resources
If you’re adding a kitten or a newly adopted black cat to your family, these articles will help you both get off on the right paw.
- Why Are Cats So Cute?
- How Long Can You Leave a Kitten Alone?
- How Do Cats Choose Their Favourite Person?
- How Long Can You Leave a Cat Alone?