Cat Name Maker

95 names · each with a meaning

Black cat names

Names for little panthers, midnight shadows and floor-level voids. Tap generate for six black cat names at a time, or browse the hand-picked list below.

95 names in the hat

CoatBlack

  • Socks

    Boy

    For the cat who has white feet and steals your actual socks.

    English8 of 12,782 Seattle cats

    Rank 208 of 5,870 · percentile 95.7

    Famous namesake: Socks, cat belonging to Bill Clinton and family

  • Poe

    Boy

    After the master of gothic tales; short and brooding for a black cat.

    English11 of 12,782 Seattle cats

    Rank 139 of 5,870 · percentile 97.4

  • Raven

    Girl

    The glossy black bird; sleek, clever and a little mysterious.

    English8 of 12,782 Seattle cats

    Rank 208 of 5,870 · percentile 95.7

  • Sesame

    Any

    Tiny seeds that open doors ("open sesame"); clever and cute.

    English9 of 12,782 Seattle cats

    Rank 179 of 5,870 · percentile 96.5

  • Artemis

    Girl

    The Greek goddess of the hunt and the moon, for a silent, skilled stalker.

    Greek17 of 12,782 Seattle cats

    Rank 72 of 5,870 · percentile 98.7

  • Wednesday

    Girl

    Gloomy and deadpan; perfect for a black cat with a stare that judges.

    English8 of 12,782 Seattle cats

    Rank 208 of 5,870 · percentile 95.7

All 95 names

Most popular black cat names

Names we tagged for a black coat, with the most Seattle licenses. The coat tag is ours. Seattle recorded the spelling, not the color.

  • Luna

    Latin for "moon", a soft, glowing pick for a cat who does her best work after dark.

    GirlLatin111 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 1 of 5,870 · percentile 99.9

  • Pepper

    Named for the speckled spice; great for a salt-and-pepper coat or a peppery attitude.

    AnyEnglish42 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 7 of 5,870 · percentile 99.8

  • Shadow

    For the cat who follows you from room to room and vanishes the moment you look.

    AnyEnglish41 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 10 of 5,870 · percentile 99.8

  • Loki

    The Norse shape-shifting trickster; ideal for a cat who knocks things off tables on purpose.

    BoyNorse40 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 11 of 5,870 · percentile 99.8

  • Cleo

    Short for Cleopatra, "glory of the father"; for a cat who expects royal treatment.

    GirlGreek34 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 16 of 5,870 · percentile 99.7

  • Oscar

    A hero's name from old Irish legend, later a famous playwright's; dapper on a tuxedo.

    BoyIrish & Celtic32 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 19 of 5,870 · percentile 99.7

  • Kiki

    A bouncy, doubled nickname that sounds like a kitten skittering across a wooden floor.

    GirlOther31 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 20 of 5,870 · percentile 99.7

  • Coco

    A chic, French-sounding nickname tied to cocoa; warm on a brown or black coat.

    GirlFrench26 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 25 of 5,870 · percentile 99.6

  • Cosmo

    From Greek kosmos, "order, universe"; for a cat who always seems to be orbiting something.

    BoyGreek25 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 27 of 5,870 · percentile 99.5

  • Smokey

    A classic for smoke-grey fur that seems to drift through the room.

    AnyEnglish23 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 35 of 5,870 · percentile 99.4

  • Cricket

    For a small cat who leaps without warning and chirps at birds through the window.

    AnyEnglish21 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 42 of 5,870 · percentile 99.2

  • Felix

    Latin for "lucky, happy"; a timeless cartoon-cat name that still delights.

    BoyLatin21 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 42 of 5,870 · percentile 99.2

  • Bean

    For a very small cat, or a cat who is clearly full of beans.

    AnyEnglish20 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 50 of 5,870 · percentile 99.1

  • Boo

    Part ghost, part term of endearment; tiny and perfect for a startle-prone kitten.

    AnyEnglish20 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 50 of 5,870 · percentile 99.1

  • Bear

    For the big, fluffy, slightly clumsy cat who naps like it is mid-winter.

    BoyEnglish19 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 56 of 5,870 · percentile 98.9

  • Minnie

    Tiny, cheerful and bouncy; works for the smallest cat in the house.

    GirlEnglish19 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 56 of 5,870 · percentile 98.9

Spooky and witchy names

Halloween all year round. Familiars, ghosts and gothic heroines for the cat who glows in the dark.

  • Midnight

    The darkest hour of the night; an obvious and beautiful pick for a jet-black cat.

    AnyEnglish18 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 63 of 5,870 · percentile 98.8

  • Salem

    A town famous for its witch trials (the name comes from Hebrew shalom, "peace"); a classic black-cat name.

    AnyHebrew15 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 86 of 5,870 · percentile 98.4

  • Nyx

    The Greek goddess of night; dramatic and short for a jet-black cat.

    GirlGreek14 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 97 of 5,870 · percentile 98.1

  • Poe

    After the master of gothic tales; short and brooding for a black cat.

    BoyEnglish11 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 139 of 5,870 · percentile 97.4

  • Binx

    A Halloween-movie black cat with a heart of gold.

    BoyEnglish9 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 179 of 5,870 · percentile 96.5

  • Jinx

    A playful hex; ideal for a black cat who crosses your path on purpose.

    AnyGreek9 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 179 of 5,870 · percentile 96.5

  • Raven

    The glossy black bird; sleek, clever and a little mysterious.

    GirlEnglish8 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 208 of 5,870 · percentile 95.7

  • Wednesday

    Gloomy and deadpan; perfect for a black cat with a stare that judges.

    GirlEnglish8 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 208 of 5,870 · percentile 95.7

  • Lilith

    A night spirit from ancient folklore; dark, dramatic and memorable.

    GirlHebrew7 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 254 of 5,870 · percentile 94.8

  • Elvira

    An old Spanish name with gothic glamour; perfect for Halloween babies.

    GirlSpanish5 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 393 of 5,870 · percentile 91.6

  • Pyewacket

    A witch's familiar from a 17th-century English pamphlet; wonderfully odd.

    AnyEnglish3 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 661 of 5,870 · percentile 83.6

  • Tarot

    Mystical fortune-telling cards, for a cat who seems to know the future.

    AnyItalian3 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 661 of 5,870 · percentile 83.6

  • Hex

    A witch's spell, borrowed from German; short and sharp.

    AnyGerman2 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 966 of 5,870 · percentile 70.9

  • Morticia

    Gothic, elegant and unbothered; for a long-haired black cat with drama.

    GirlLatin2 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 966 of 5,870 · percentile 70.9

  • Bat

    For a black cat with big ears and a habit of hanging around at night.

    AnyEnglish1 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 1,710 of 5,870 · percentile 0.0

  • Phantom

    For a cat you hear more often than you see.

    BoyGreek1 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 1,710 of 5,870 · percentile 0.0

  • Yoru

    Japanese for "night"; soft, quiet and perfect for a cat who is mostly shadow.

    AnyJapanese1 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 1,710 of 5,870 · percentile 0.0

  • Hades

    The Greek ruler of the underworld; for a dark cat who rules under the bed.

    BoyGreek0 of 12,782 Seattle catsNot in the 5,870 recorded namesEditor's pick

Night sky and space names

A black coat is a night sky with whiskers. These names are for cats who seem to have stars in them.

  • Artemis

    The Greek goddess of the hunt and the moon, for a silent, skilled stalker.

    GirlGreek17 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 72 of 5,870 · percentile 98.7

  • Sirius

    The brightest star in the night sky, also called the Dog Star.

    BoyGreek6 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 309 of 5,870 · percentile 93.3

  • Orion

    The great hunter constellation, for a cat who stalks shadows.

    BoyGreek5 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 393 of 5,870 · percentile 91.6

  • Nebula

    A glowing cloud of cosmic dust where stars are born.

    GirlLatin4 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 497 of 5,870 · percentile 88.8

  • Andromeda

    The nearest big galaxy, and a princess from Greek myth.

    GirlGreek2 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 966 of 5,870 · percentile 70.9

  • Eclipse

    The moment the moon blocks the sun; dramatic for an all-black cat.

    AnyGreek2 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 966 of 5,870 · percentile 70.9

  • Vesper

    Latin for "evening", and an old name for the evening star.

    GirlLatin2 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 966 of 5,870 · percentile 70.9

  • Cassiopeia

    A W-shaped constellation named after a vain queen of Greek myth.

    GirlGreek1 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 1,710 of 5,870 · percentile 0.0

  • Hoshi

    Japanese for "star"; short and sparkly.

    AnyJapanese0 of 12,782 Seattle catsNot in the 5,870 recorded namesEditor's pick

  • Void

    Internet slang for a black cat that looks like a hole in the universe.

    AnyEnglish0 of 12,782 Seattle catsNot in the 5,870 recorded namesEditor's pick

Gemstones, birds and nature

Glossy stones, dark birds and deep shades. Elegant names for a sleek coat.

  • Onyx

    A glossy black stone; sleek and striking for a solid black cat.

    AnyGreek13 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 110 of 5,870 · percentile 97.9

  • Cinder

    Smoldering grey-black; good for a smoky coat with ember-bright eyes.

    AnyEnglish12 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 123 of 5,870 · percentile 97.6

  • Fig

    A small, sweet, dark fruit; neat and modern for a little dark cat.

    AnyEnglish10 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 152 of 5,870 · percentile 97.0

  • Sumi

    India ink (墨), the black ink used for brush writing.

    GirlJapanese6 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 309 of 5,870 · percentile 93.3

  • Bee

    Small and buzzy, for a busy kitten.

    GirlEnglish5 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 393 of 5,870 · percentile 91.6

  • Indigo

    A deep blue-violet dye; moody and beautiful for a blue-grey cat.

    AnyGreek5 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 393 of 5,870 · percentile 91.6

  • Panther

    Sleek, muscular and silent; a big-cat name for a small black hunter.

    BoyGreek5 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 393 of 5,870 · percentile 91.6

  • Jet

    Jet-black and jet-fast; a single crisp syllable.

    BoyEnglish3 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 661 of 5,870 · percentile 83.6

  • Kuma

    Japanese for "bear", for a big, cuddly cat.

    BoyJapanese3 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 661 of 5,870 · percentile 83.6

  • Noche

    Spanish for "night"; soft and musical.

    GirlSpanish3 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 661 of 5,870 · percentile 83.6

  • Coal

    Plain, dark and warm; a no-fuss name for a solid black cat.

    BoyEnglish2 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 966 of 5,870 · percentile 70.9

  • Ebony

    A dense, dark wood with a polished shine.

    GirlGreek2 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 966 of 5,870 · percentile 70.9

  • Ladybug

    A spotted, lucky little bug for a spotted, lucky little cat.

    GirlEnglish2 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 966 of 5,870 · percentile 70.9

  • Sable

    The deep, lustrous black of heraldry and fur; luxurious and calm.

    GirlSlavic2 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 966 of 5,870 · percentile 70.9

  • Crow

    Clever, glossy and a bit of a collector of shiny things.

    AnyEnglish1 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 1,710 of 5,870 · percentile 0.0

Funny black cat names

For black cats with more comedy than mystery.

  • Ninja

    Ninja (忍者), a quick name for a cat who shows up unannounced.

    AnyJapanese5 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 393 of 5,870 · percentile 91.6

  • Vader

    For a black cat who breathes loudly and rules with an iron paw.

    BoyOther1 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 1,710 of 5,870 · percentile 0.0

  • Pumpernickel

    A dark rye bread with a name that's impossible to say grumpily.

    BoyGerman0 of 12,782 Seattle catsNot in the 5,870 recorded namesEditor's pick

Sweet and snacky black cat names

Dark foods and soft words for a black cat who is really just a big softie.

  • Sesame

    Tiny seeds that open doors ("open sesame"); clever and cute.

    AnyEnglish9 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 179 of 5,870 · percentile 96.5

  • Nori

    Nori, the edible seaweed also called laver (海苔).

    AnyJapanese7 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 254 of 5,870 · percentile 94.8

  • Boba

    The chewy tapioca pearls in bubble tea; dark, round and fun.

    AnyChinese6 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 309 of 5,870 · percentile 93.3

  • Truffle

    A rare delicacy (fungus or chocolate); a fancy name for a dark cat.

    AnyFrench5 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 393 of 5,870 · percentile 91.6

  • Cocoa

    Warm, chocolatey and comforting.

    AnySpanish4 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 497 of 5,870 · percentile 88.8

  • Licorice

    Glossy black candy with a bold flavor; sweet on a shiny black cat.

    AnyGreek3 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 661 of 5,870 · percentile 83.6

  • Goma

    Japanese for "sesame"; a cute name for a speckled cat.

    AnyJapanese2 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 966 of 5,870 · percentile 70.9

  • Azuki

    Sweet red beans used in Japanese desserts; small and lovable.

    GirlJapanese1 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 1,710 of 5,870 · percentile 0.0

  • Espresso

    Dark, intense and full of energy; ideal for a cat with a short fuse.

    AnyItalian1 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 1,710 of 5,870 · percentile 0.0

More black cat names

Classic and unusual names that look great on a solid black coat.

  • Bagheera

    The wise black panther of The Jungle Book; calm, watchful and loyal.

    BoyOther6 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 309 of 5,870 · percentile 93.3

  • Bastet

    The cat-headed Egyptian goddess of the home; the ultimate cat name.

    GirlEgyptian3 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 661 of 5,870 · percentile 83.6

  • Blackie

    A simple, old-fashioned name that generations of black cats have worn.

    AnyEnglish5 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 393 of 5,870 · percentile 91.6

  • Boots

    For a cat whose white paws look like a pair of boots.

    AnyEnglish13 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 110 of 5,870 · percentile 97.9

  • Bruno

    Germanic for "brown"; strong and simple.

    BoyGerman6 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 309 of 5,870 · percentile 93.3

  • Circe

    A sorceress of Greek myth who turned sailors into pigs; magical and fierce.

    GirlGreek3 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 661 of 5,870 · percentile 83.6

  • Cleopatra

    Egypt's last pharaoh queen; glamorous and commanding.

    GirlGreek5 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 393 of 5,870 · percentile 91.6

  • Edgar

    A brooding English name, for a black cat with a poet's soul.

    BoyEnglish6 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 309 of 5,870 · percentile 93.3

  • Inky

    Small, dark and a little messy, like a spilled ink pot.

    AnyEnglish1 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 1,710 of 5,870 · percentile 0.0

  • Jiji

    A short playful name. Dictionary hits for the reading jiji are other words, so it is not listed as Japanese vocabulary.

    AnyOther10 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 152 of 5,870 · percentile 97.0

  • Kuro

    Japanese for "black"; simple and elegant for a black cat.

    BoyJapanese6 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 309 of 5,870 · percentile 93.3

  • Layla

    Arabic for "night"; an elegant name for a dark-coated girl.

    GirlArabic6 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 309 of 5,870 · percentile 93.3

  • Marlowe

    A playwright's surname and a hardboiled detective's; cool and smoky.

    AnyEnglish2 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 966 of 5,870 · percentile 70.9

  • Merlin

    The legendary wizard, for a cat who vanishes and reappears at will.

    BoyIrish & Celtic11 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 139 of 5,870 · percentile 97.4

  • Mingus

    After the jazz bassist Charles Mingus; cool and rhythmic.

    BoyOther2 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 966 of 5,870 · percentile 70.9

  • Morpheus

    The Greek god of dreams, for a cat who sleeps 16 hours a day.

    BoyGreek4 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 497 of 5,870 · percentile 88.8

  • Odin

    The one-eyed Norse king of the gods; wise and commanding.

    BoyNorse4 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 497 of 5,870 · percentile 88.8

  • Osiris

    Egyptian lord of the afterlife; dramatic for a dignified black cat.

    BoyEgyptian3 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 661 of 5,870 · percentile 83.6

  • Persephone

    The Greek goddess who split her year between spring and the underworld.

    GirlGreek7 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 254 of 5,870 · percentile 94.8

  • Smudge

    For the cat with one dark mark that looks like a thumbprint.

    AnyEnglish8 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 208 of 5,870 · percentile 95.7

  • Socks

    For the cat who has white feet and steals your actual socks.

    BoyEnglish8 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 208 of 5,870 · percentile 95.7

  • Sooty

    Dusty and dark like a chimney sweep; a classic British pet name.

    AnyEnglish2 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 966 of 5,870 · percentile 70.9

  • Spade

    The black card suit; sharp and dapper.

    BoyEnglish0 of 12,782 Seattle catsNot in the 5,870 recorded namesEditor's pick

  • Zorro

    Spanish for "fox", and the masked swordsman; great for a cat with a black mask.

    BoySpanish8 of 12,782 Seattle catsRank 208 of 5,870 · percentile 95.7

Seattle licenses

Spellings we tagged for a black coat

These are not “top black cat names in Seattle.” The city did not record coat. The table is names we tagged black, sorted by how often that spelling is licensed. Coat, gender, and theme tags are editorial. Seattle recorded the name and how many licenses use that exact spelling. It did not record coat or sex.

NameSeattle catsRankOur coat tags
Luna1111Grey, White, Black
Pepper427Grey, Black, Tuxedo
Shadow4110Black, Grey
Loki4011Black, Tabby
Cleo3416Black, Calico & tortie
Oscar3219Tuxedo, Black, Grey
Kiki3120Black
Coco2625Black, Tabby
Cosmo2527Black, Grey
Smokey2335Grey, Black

Naming a black cat

Black cats have a head start in the naming game: their look comes with a ready-made mood. You can go spooky (Salem, Hex, Morticia), cosmic (Nyx, Nebula, Vesper), luxurious (Onyx, Sable, Truffle) or completely silly. A tiny black kitten named Void will make you smile every time she stares at you from a dark corner.

A few things to consider when you choose.

  • Contrast works. A name that clashes with the coat can be funny. Think Snowball for a jet-black cat, or Blanca, Spanish for “white”.
  • Eyes are a feature. Black cats often have striking gold, green or copper eyes. Names like Amber, Jade or Ember draw attention to them.
  • Watch for “the panther walk”. Many black cats are domestic shorthairs that move like miniature panthers, which makes Bagheera or Panther tempting.

Black cats in the sources we can cite

In European folklore, black cats have been associated with witches and with both good and bad luck. That is a paraphrase of the English Wikipedia article Black cat, not a claim about the Seattle records.

Pyewacket is a name people now give cats. In Matthew Hopkins’ 1647 pamphlet The Discovery of Witches, Pyewacket is named among imps. The line about something coming in “like a white kitling” is about a spirit named Holt, not a description of Pyewacket as a cat. The pamphlet is on Project Gutenberg.

Cats Protection says National Black Cat Day is 27 October and that the charity launched it in 2011 because black cats took about a week longer to rehome.

Kuro on the Japanese name list is the dictionary word for black. The beckoning-cat figurine, often treated as a good-luck charm, is covered on the Japanese cat names page from the Wikipedia summary of maneki-neko. This page does not add a separate claim that a black cat is lucky in Japan, or that sailors kept them, or that black coats “rust” in sunlight.

If your black cat has white paws or a white chest, also look at tuxedo names such as Oreo, Domino and Penguin in the main generator. For the opposite end of the spectrum, see orange cat names.

Black cat names: FAQ

What are popular names for black cats?

The table on this page lists names we tagged for a black coat, sorted by how many Seattle licenses use the spelling. Seattle did not record coat color, so these are not “top black cats in Seattle.”

What is a good name for a black cat?

Good black cat names play with darkness (Midnight, Noche, Eclipse), witchy folklore (Salem, Jinx, Pyewacket), dark gems (Onyx, Jet, Ebony) or dark foods (Nori, Espresso, Licorice). Pick the angle that matches your cat's personality.

Are black cats bad luck?

European folklore has associated black cats with witches and with both good and bad luck. That summary follows the English Wikipedia article on the black cat. It is not a finding from the Seattle license file.

Is there a day for black cats?

Cats Protection marks National Black Cat Day on 27 October. The charity says it launched the day in 2011 because black cats were taking about a week longer to rehome. This page does not add a separate United States date.

More cat name ideas