Looking for something more original than Tiger or Felix? We've got your bewhiskered buddies covered with this list of the best boy cat names.
Here, kitty, kitty! If that’s a constant refrain in your house, it’s probably time to give your furry friend a proper name. Choosing boy cat names can feel overwhelming because there are so many options. Sure, aloof cats might not always come running when you call them the way an eager-to-please dog will. But certified animal behaviorist Janet Cutler, PhD, says studies show kitties do recognize their own names, and picking a pet name is an important part of the bonding process.
Don’t just go with the first moniker you think of! Wildlife veterinarian James Watuwa, BVM, reminds pet owners that a name can stick with your cat for 15 or more years. That’s why picking cat names carefully matters, whether you’re naming a kitten or an older rescue.
In this guide, you’ll find more than 200 suggestions for male cat names, including everything from popular and funny names to classic, cute, Disney-inspired and food-themed nicknames. Whether you’re looking for boy kitten names that suit your pet’s tiny personality or more sophisticated male kitten names that will grow with him, this list has you covered. Read on to find your favorite.
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Most popular boy cat names
Tiger might be one of the most popular pet names of the past century, but if that doesn’t do it for you, there are plenty of options. Charlie came out on top in a recent study by Trusted Housesitters, and here are some more boy cat names everyone knows and loves:
- Charlie
- Jack
- Leo
- Loki
- Max
- Milo
- Oscar
- Simba
- Tigger
- Willie
Cute boy cat names
If you’re looking for a sweet, lighthearted name that’ll make you go “aww” as often as your little lad does, then this is the list for you. “Cats have sensitive ears and can hear and respond more to higher-pitched sounds, such as a woman’s voice or meows,” Dr. Watuwa says. So if you aren’t too embarrassed to adopt a babying tone when using one of these cutesy names, your cat might react more to your call.
- Bilbo
- Bubblegum
- Chewie
- Fluffy
- Fry
- Hiccup
- Kiwi
- Muppet
- Padfoot
- Peanut
- Pebbles
- Mittens
- Muffin
- Snowball
- Sprinkles
- Twinkie
- Wicket
Unique boy cat names
Picking a badass one-of-a-kind name for your cat means there’s less likely to be confusion in a household filled with cats and dogs. Here are some unique male cat names to help your incomparable kitty stand out from the crowd:
- Apollo
- Atticus
- Bangle
- Barley
- Bentley
- Caesar
- Carson
- Domino
- Ernest
- Flynn
- Franz
- Gizmo
- Huey
- Hugo
- Lennox
- Muse
- Oakley
- Reece
- Sox
- Yoshi
Funny boy cat names
Funny names never fail to put a smile on the faces of family and visitors. But don’t go with something too naughty or outrageous! Remember, the doctor will call out this name in your veterinary office, and you’ll use it around friends, neighbors and family. You don’t want your buddy to cause offense.
Looking for help to get a laugh? Here are some comical cat names for boys:
- Beaker
- Bruiser
- Butterball
- Catman
- Chuckles
- Freckles
- French Fry
- Garbanzo
- Giggles
- Jigglypuff
- Paw Paw
- Potato
- Pudge
- Puss in Boots
- Rascal
- Snagglepuss
- Spud
- Whiskers
- Wonton
- Yoda
Boy names for black cats
Black cat breeds have it tough: They’re often the least likely to get adopted from shelters, maybe because of superstitions that say they bring bad luck. But black cats are gorgeous, and they deserve a beautiful name to match. Don’t fancy naming your cat commonplace Shadow? Here are some other great black cat names for boys.
- Astro
- Batman
- Binx
- Coal
- Guinness
- Inky
- Jet
- Merlin
- Midnight
- Mystery
- Mystic
- Onyx
- Ozzy
- Panther
- Poe
- Sable
- Salem
- Shade
- Soot
- Vader
- Zorro
Boy names for gray cats
Picking a silvery signature for your gray cat breed is a lovely nod to their gorgeous appearance. And it isn’t just Smoky that suits. There are lots of other boy cat names for your gray fur baby:
- Argent (silver in French)
- Ash
- Blue
- Chrome
- Dusty
- Earl Gray
- Ghost
- Grayson
- Mist
- Pepper
- Pewter
- Phantom
- Rocket
- Silver
- Smoke
- Smoky
- Steel
- Sterling
- Stormy
- Thunder
Boy names for orange cats
Ginger kitties are known for being some of the most affectionate cats. If you have a big, friendly orange cat breed, picking a name that matches its color or friendly nature could be the way to go. Here are some blazing ginger boy names to toss around with the family:
- Blaze
- Carrot
- Cheeto
- Clay
- Crookshanks
- Ember
- Ernie
- Fuego
- Garfield
- Ginger
- Goldie
- Heathcliff
- Hobbes
- Marmalade
- Momo (peach in Japanese)
- Pumpkin
- Rusty
- Sunny
- Tiger
- Tony (as in Tony the Tiger, naturally)
Boy names for white cats
Some of the cutest cat breeds have striking white coats. If your guy has ivory locks, Snowy isn’t your only option. White is a color associated with simplicity and purity, but you don’t have to pick a plain name:
- Alabaster
- Alaska
- Aspen
- Birch
- Blanco
- Blizzard
- Casper
- Chowder
- Coconut
- Frosty
- Glacier
- Ice
- Igloo
- Marshmallow
- Milky Way
- Moon
- Olaf
- Q-tip
- Tic Tac
- Yuki (snow in Japanese)
Disney-inspired boy cat names
Disney offers a treasure trove of choices when naming your cat—or any pet in your household. And it’s one surefire way to get your kids on board with the naming process. As you decide on the best Disney name, consider cats from Disney flicks, characters with similar personality traits as your pet or your kid’s favorite character, like Woody from Toy Story.
- Bagheera (The Jungle Book)
- Berlioz (The Aristocats)
- Cheshire (Alice in Wonderland)
- Figaro (Pinocchio)
- Mochi (Big Hero 6)
- Mufasa (The Lion King)
- Oliver (Oliver & Company)
- Rajah (Aladdin)
- Scar (The Lion King)
- Sergeant Tibbs (One Hundred and One Dalmatians)
- Sulley (Monsters, Inc.)
Food-inspired boy cat names
“Cats may react to sounds that indicate food or attention, such as a can opener or a crinkling bag,” Dr. Watuwa says. If your cat loves to eat or you’re a foodie yourself, a nosh-inspired name is a cute and apt choice.
- Bagel
- Basil
- Beans
- Butternut
- Cannoli
- Cheddar
- Dijon
- Dill
- Fettuccine
- Flapjack
- Frito
- Meatloaf
- Miso
- Nacho
- Noodles
- Pickles
- Snickers
- Sprout
- Taco
- Tater Tot
- Tofu
- Waffles
- Walnut
Boy cat names for fluffy cats
Fluffy cat breeds deserve fuzzy names to match. Whether your Persian cat reminds you of a Wookie from Star Wars or you want to pick a hirsute word in another language, there are lots of opportunities to get creative.
- Bear
- Captain Floof
- Chewbacca
- Fluffig (fluffy in Swedish)
- Fluffington
- Fozzie
- Frizzle
- Furby
- Fuwafuwa (fluffy in Japanese)
- Fuzzball
- Grizzly
- Hagrid
- Hairy Paw-ter
- Legolas
- Mopsie
- Mop Top
- Ruffles
- Shaggy
- Sheddy Krueger
- Teddy
- Yeti
Additional reporting by Kelly Kuehn.
FAQs
What are the best boy cat names?
The best boy cat names are the ones that work for you and your pets. It all depends on your taste, and you might want to match a moniker with your kitty’s looks or personality. Dr. Watuwa recommends picking a name and sticking with it—and avoiding nicknames that might confuse your pet. Don’t rush your decision, or you could potentially be stuck with something you don’t like for a decade or more.
Cats are smarter than we often give them credit for, and they can tell the difference between their name and words of a similar length or with similar accents. But in multi-pet homes, choose carefully. “Ideally, you want cats in the same household to have names that don’t sound overly similar, as that may make it harder for them to distinguish,” Cutler says.
What should you avoid when naming your cat?
Experts suggest avoiding names that sound too similar to other pets in your household, as this can cause confusion. Dr. Watuwa also recommends shorter, pleasant-sounding names over long or complicated ones since cats respond better to these. And never use your cat’s name when scolding—names should always have positive associations.
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Sources:
- Janet Cutler, PhD, certified applied animal behaviorist
- James Watuwa, BVM, zoo and wildlife veterinarian and CEO of the Endangered Wildlife Conservation Organization
- Scientific Reports: “Domestic cats (Felis catus) discriminate their names from other words”
- Trusted Housesitters: “Most Popular Pet Names by US State | 2023 Pet Names Study”
