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200 Male Cat Names and Smart Tips for Choosing the Perfect One

Based on the pet name questions I’ve been getting in DMs, many of you are as obsessed with naming pets as we are. To finish this series, we’re covering the last category: boy cat names. We’ve already shared ideas for girl dog names, girl cat names, and boy dog names, so now it’s time to focus on male felines. While we haven’t owned a male cat together, John had two growing up: Casper (for his white coat) and Monty (after Montague Street in Brooklyn). Creating this list was a fun exercise, and with the way cats find people, we might meet a male cat someday.

Black and White Kitten Sleeping On Zebra Print

Many of these names work for any male pet — and some aren’t strongly gendered at all — so this list can be useful beyond just cats. There are lots of directions to choose from, whether you want playful, classic, or unusual names.

How To Name Your Boy Cat

Cats are clever and can learn almost any name if it’s used consistently and paired with positive moments. These tips will make that process smoother and more successful.

  • Keep it short: One- or two-syllable names are easiest for cats to recognize. For longer names, choose a short nickname to use day-to-day.
  • Think long term: Cats often live 15+ years, so pick a name you’ll be happy using for a long time. Avoid overly trendy or juvenile options if you think you’ll tire of them.
  • Take your time: Wait to choose a name until you’ve learned your cat’s personality and quirks — inspiration often comes from watching them.
  • Be creative: Pet names don’t need to be formal. You can be whimsical, meaningful, or silly — this isn’t a job application.
  • Test it out: Try a name for a few days and change it if it doesn’t feel right. Cats can adapt to a new name quickly.

Common Categories of Cat Names

There are lots of creative approaches to naming pets. Below are popular categories we often turn to for inspiration.

Cat Walking Along The Back of A Sofa
  • Food Names: Celery, Spinach, Ziti
  • Celebrity Names: Bowen Yang, Jon Bon Jovi, Steve Harvey
  • Fictional Characters: Inspector Gadget, Stefan Urquelle, Uncle Jesse
  • Human Names: Norman, Sergio, Todd
  • Object Names: Bolo, Pinball, Socket
  • Animal Names: Gopher, Newt, Possum
  • Color-Related Names: Queso (orange), Gotham (black), Gramps (gray)

25 Most Popular Boy Cat Names

Here are some of the most common male cat names in recent years. If you want something unique, this list can help you avoid the most overused options — but if you prefer a familiar, trusted name, this provides plenty of solid choices.

  1. Charlie
  2. Milo
  3. Leo
  4. Jasper
  5. Oliver
  6. Max
  7. Oscar
  8. Simba
  9. Loki
  10. Tiger
  11. Smokey
  12. Sam / Sammy
  13. Toby
  14. Shadow
  15. Rocy
  16. Gus
  17. Jack
  18. Buddy
  19. Tigger
  20. Simon
  21. Merlin
  22. Oreo
  23. Gizmo
  24. Ziggy
  25. Felix

25 Food Names for Male Cats

John Eating Lunch Next To Boy Cat At Patio Restaurant

Food-inspired names are playful and often memorable. They can reflect a cat’s color, size, or personality and are fun to say.

  1. Asiago
  2. Bacon
  3. Breadstick
  4. Broccolini
  5. Calamari
  6. Celery
  7. Dill
  8. Fishstick
  9. Flatbread
  10. Gazpacho
  11. Gnocchi
  12. Hashbrown
  13. Macaroni
  14. Mayo
  15. McMuffin
  16. Mushroom
  17. Quiche
  18. Ravioli
  19. Root Beer
  20. Salad
  21. Spinach
  22. Tomato
  23. Tortilla
  24. Whiskey
  25. Ziti

25 Celebrity Names for Male Cats

Borrowing a name from a celebrity or historical figure can give your cat a distinctive personality and make vet visits a little more entertaining.

  1. Art Garfunkel
  2. Bad Bunny
  3. Buddy Holly
  4. Bowen Yang
  5. Cedric the Entertainer
  6. Clark Gable
  7. Devon Sawa
  8. Harry Belafonte
  9. Idris Elba
  10. Jon Bon Jovi
  11. Ken Jennings
  12. Kevin Jonas
  13. Lin-Manuel Miranda
  14. Malcolm Gladwell
  15. Martin Short
  16. Patrick Swayze
  17. Pedro Pascal
  18. Philip Seymour Hoffman
  19. Ryan Seacrest
  20. Sidney Poitier
  21. Stephen Colbert
  22. Steve Harvey
  23. Timothée Chalamet
  24. Tom Hanks
  25. Walter Cronkite

25 Fictional Character Names for Boy Cats

Names from books, movies, and TV shows are great options and often come with built-in personality. You can use full character names or shortened versions at home.

  1. Aaron Samuels (Mean Girls)
  2. Benoit Blanc (Knives Out)
  3. Bruce Banner (The Hulk)
  4. Cap’n Crunch
  5. Corky St. Clair (Waiting For Guffman)
  6. Egon Spengler (Ghostbusters)
  7. Inspector Gadget
  8. Jimmy Neutron
  9. Kenneth Parcell (30 Rock)
  10. Lloyd Christmas (Dumb and Dumber)
  11. Lord Farquaad (Shrek)
  12. Marty McFly (Back to the Future)
  13. McLovin’ (Superbad)
  14. Mr. Belvedere
  15. Mugatu (Zoolander)
  16. Phil Dunphy (Modern Family)
  17. President Business (The Lego Movie)
  18. Sherlock Holmes
  19. Sherman Klump (The Nutty Professor)
  20. Stefan Urquelle
  21. Smee (Peter Pan)
  22. Terminator
  23. Troy McClure (The Simpsons)
  24. Uncle Jesse (Full House)
  25. Warner Huntington III (Legally Blonde)

25 Human Names for Boy Cats

Two Boy Cats Walking With Tails Entwined

Classic human names can feel charming or amusing on a cat. If you want more ideas, baby name lists are excellent resources.

  1. Allister
  2. Alvin
  3. Bradley
  4. Boris
  5. Ethan
  6. Gideon
  7. Hector
  8. Harvey
  9. Jonathan
  10. Joshua
  11. Mark
  12. Michael
  13. Nickolai
  14. Norman
  15. Paul
  16. Reginald
  17. Richard
  18. Scott
  19. Sergio
  20. Silas
  21. Todd
  22. Tyler
  23. Ulysses
  24. Walter
  25. Zachary

25 Object Names For Boy Cats

Object-based names can be funny, handsome, or rugged. They’re a fun way to reflect your cat’s look or attitude.

  1. Anchor
  2. Bolo
  3. Can Opener
  4. Chopper
  5. Dart
  6. Goggles
  7. Hook
  8. Hoops
  9. Kayak
  10. Kickstand
  11. Lava
  12. Mug
  13. Mustache
  14. Pants
  15. Pinball
  16. Pixel
  17. Puck
  18. Qwerty
  19. Ripcord
  20. Runway
  21. Sneaker
  22. Socket
  23. Velcro
  24. Wallet
  25. Wordle

25 Animal Names for Male Cats

Orange Boy Cat Stretching On Suitcase

For a touch of irony, name your cat after another animal. These names can comment on size, behavior, or be playfully contradictory.

  1. Ant
  2. Armadillo
  3. Cow
  4. Daddy Long Legs
  5. Dolphin
  6. Goat
  7. Gopher
  8. Guinea Pig
  9. Lemming
  10. Mallard
  11. Moth
  12. Newt
  13. Octopus
  14. Ostrich
  15. Parakeet
  16. Pigeon
  17. Possum
  18. Puppy
  19. Rooster
  20. Sloth
  21. Toad
  22. Turkey
  23. Walrus
  24. Wombat
  25. Zebra

50 Color Names for Boy Cats

Choosing a name inspired by your cat’s color is a popular route. Below are alternatives to the obvious options like “Shadow” or “Garfield.”

Orange Cat Names

  1. Carrot
  2. Fuzzy Navel
  3. Johnny Storm
  4. Julius
  5. Juice
  6. Nickelodeon
  7. Oriole
  8. Queso
  9. Rusty
  10. Torch

White Cat Names

  1. Anderson Cooper
  2. Avalanche
  3. Cirrus
  4. Ghost
  5. Milk
  6. Paper
  7. Ski Slope
  8. Walter White
  9. Yeti
  10. Yogurt

Black Cat Names

  1. Gotham
  2. Inkwell
  3. NASA
  4. Orion
  5. Ozzy Osborne
  6. Pugsley
  7. Prom King
  8. Raisin
  9. The Count
  10. Void

Gray Cat Names

  1. Almost
  2. Colossus
  3. Dime
  4. Eeyore
  5. Gramps
  6. Nermal
  7. Nimbus
  8. Robot
  9. Slate
  10. Zinc

Brown / Multicolor Cat Names

  1. Basket
  2. Between
  3. Blender
  4. Camo
  5. Paddington
  6. Pebble
  7. Rothko
  8. Sandwich
  9. Tweed
  10. Walnut

More Naming Resources

If you want even more ideas for pet or baby names, there are many lists and name guides available. Enjoy browsing these suggestions, and let me know if you pick one — I love hearing what names people choose.

  • 200 Boy Dog Names
  • 200 Girl Cat Names
  • 200 Girl Dog Names
  • 100 Classic Girl Names
  • 100 Classic Boy Names
  • 100 One-Syllable Girl Names
  • 100 One-Syllable Boy Names
  • 100+ Gender Neutral Names