Black Cat Names
Black cats have been called unlucky, magical, and in some places the luckiest pet you can own. In Scotland and Japan a black cat on the doorstep traditionally brings prosperity, and British sailors once kept them aboard for safe passage. Sadly, shelters still report that black cats wait longer for adoption, which is all the more reason to give yours a name worthy of that glossy coat.
Below are more than 100 black cat names, grouped by theme: the night sky, witches and spells, famous black cats, dark foods, and names that literally mean “black” or “dark.” For more ideas see our main cat names list, our tuxedo cat names for black-and-white cats, or black dog names if you have a matching pup.
Classic black cat names
The tried-and-true favorites. Short, sleek and instantly recognizable.
| Name | Meaning / idea | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Midnight | The darkest hour | Any black cat |
| Shadow | Follows you everywhere | Velcro cats |
| Salem | Hebrew, “peace”; also Sabrina’s cat and the witch trials town | Classic boys |
| Onyx | The black gemstone | Glossy coats |
| Jet | Jet-black lignite gemstone; also “fast” | Speedy cats |
| Ebony | The dense black wood | Elegant girls |
| Raven | The glossy black bird | Girls or boys |
| Smokey | Smoky black or dark grey | Smoke-coated cats |
| Coal | Black mineral | Chunky boys |
| Sable | The dark-furred mammal; heraldic black | Silky coats |
| Panther | The black big cat | Muscular cats |
| Inky | Black as ink | Small cats |
| Sooty | Black soot; also the British puppet | Cute and classic |
| Blackie | Old-school and simple | Senior cats |
Night sky and space names
Black cats look like a scrap of night sky with eyes. For more, see names that mean night and space names.
| Name | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Luna | Latin, “moon” | Hugely popular |
| Nyx | Greek goddess of night | Short and mysterious |
| Nox | Latin, “night” | Sleek boys |
| Eclipse | The sun blocked out | Dramatic cats |
| Cosmo | Greek, “order, universe” | Friendly boys |
| Orion | The hunter constellation | Mighty hunters |
| Nova | A sudden bright star | Girls with bright eyes |
| Galaxy | A system of billions of stars | Starry-eyed cats |
| Void | Empty space | The internet calls black cats “house panthers” and “voids” |
| Pluto | Dwarf planet; also the black cat in Poe’s story | Boys |
| Nebula | A cloud of cosmic dust | Fluffy black cats |
| Vesper | Latin, “evening star” | Elegant girls |
| Twilight | The dusk hour | Calm cats |
| Stella | Latin, “star” | Girls |
| Zodiac | The star signs | Mystical cats |
| Comet | Blazing traveler | Zoomy cats |
Witchy and spooky black cat names
Black cats have been paired with witches since medieval Europe. Lean in with spells and spirits, or browse witchy names for more.
| Name | Meaning / idea | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hex | A spell or curse | Short and sharp |
| Jinx | A bad-luck charm | Playful irony |
| Spooky | Obvious and fun | Halloween cats |
| Hecate | Greek goddess of witchcraft | Powerful girls |
| Morticia | The Addams Family | Elegant queens |
| Wednesday | The Addams Family | Deadpan girls |
| Elvira | Mistress of the Dark | Glamorous girls |
| Sabrina | The teenage witch | Girls |
| Circe | Greek sorceress of the Odyssey | Enchanting girls |
| Grimalkin | Old name for a cat familiar, from Macbeth | Old souls |
| Pyewacket | A familiar named by witch-hunter Matthew Hopkins; later the cat in Bell, Book and Candle | Unusual and historic |
| Potion | A magic brew | Cute |
| Cauldron | The witch’s pot | Chunky cats |
| Cinder | Burnt remains | Ashy black cats |
| Spell | A magic incantation | Short and sweet |
| Lilith | Night demon of Jewish folklore | Dramatic girls |
| Poe | Edgar Allan Poe, author of “The Black Cat” | Literary cats |
| Mystic | Mysterious and spiritual | Aloof cats |
Famous black cats
Black cats have starred in cartoons, anime and classic literature. More in anime names.
| Name | From | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Binx | Hocus Pocus | Thackery Binx, cursed into a black cat |
| Jiji | Kiki’s Delivery Service | Kiki’s sarcastic companion |
| Behemoth | The Master and Margarita | Bulgakov’s giant talking black cat |
| Felix | Felix the Cat | The 1920s cartoon star; Latin for “lucky” |
| Krazy | Krazy Kat comic strip | George Herriman’s classic |
| Bagheera | The Jungle Book | The wise black panther |
| Isis | Star Trek, “Assignment: Earth” | Mysterious shape-shifting black cat |
| Snowball | The Simpsons | Snowball II is black, which makes the name a joke |
| Hodge | Samuel Johnson’s cat | Famous 18th-century literary pet |
| Ravenpaw | Warriors book series | Gentle black cat |
| Mistoffelees | T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats | The magical conjuring cat |
| Yoruichi | Bleach (anime) | Often appears as a black cat |
Food and drink names for black cats
Dark foods make adorable names. See food cat names for every other color.
| Name | Food | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Licorice | Black candy | Sweet girls |
| Pepper | Black pepper | Spicy cats |
| Espresso | Strong black coffee | High-energy cats |
| Olive | Black olive | Cute |
| Truffle | Rare black fungus or chocolate | Fancy cats |
| Nori | Japanese seaweed sheets | Sushi lovers |
| Sesame | Black sesame seeds | Tiny cats |
| Blackberry | The fruit | Girls |
| Oreo | The cookie | Black cats with a white spot |
| Guinness | Irish stout | Laid-back boys |
| Mocha | Coffee and chocolate | Brown-tinged black coats |
| Fudge | Dark chocolate treat | Round cats |
| Caviar | Fish eggs | Luxury cats |
| Bean | Black bean | Small cats |
| Soy | Soy sauce | Short and cute |
| Tapioca | Black boba pearls | Bubble tea fans |
Names that mean black or dark
Real names from around the world with dark meanings. Good for owners who like a name with a story.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Nero | “Black” | Italian |
| Kuro | “Black” | Japanese |
| Kali | “The black one” | Sanskrit |
| Melanie | “Black, dark” | Greek |
| Duncan | “Dark warrior” | Scottish Gaelic |
| Dougal | “Dark stranger” | Scottish Gaelic |
| Kieran | “Little dark one” | Irish |
| Ciara | “Dark-haired” | Irish |
| Maurice | “Moorish, dark-skinned” | Latin |
| Morena | “Dark-haired” | Spanish |
| Mauro | “Moor, dark” | Italian / Spanish |
| Sullivan | “Dark-eyed” | Irish |
| Layla | “Night” | Arabic |
| Corvin | “Raven” | Latin |
| Bran | “Raven” | Welsh / Irish |
| Branwen | “Blessed raven” or “white raven” | Welsh |
| Blake | “Black” or “pale” (disputed) | Old English |
| Dubh | “Black” | Irish Gaelic |
| Schwarz | “Black” | German |
| Noir | “Black” | French |
| Kara | “Black” | Turkish |
| Karasu | “Crow” | Japanese |
Names for two black cats
Adopting a pair? Matching names are extra fun when you can’t always tell them apart.
| Pair | Theme | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Salt & Pepper | Seasonings | One black, one white |
| Hocus & Pocus | The spell | Witchy siblings |
| Onyx & Obsidian | Black stones | Glossy pair |
| Sun & Eclipse | Light and dark | Contrasting personalities |
| Morticia & Gomez | The Addams Family | Devoted couple |
| Salem & Sabrina | The teenage witch | Girl and boy |
| Coffee & Cream | Morning ritual | Black and cream pair |
How to choose a name for a black cat
- Play with contrast or match. A black cat named Snowflake is a fun joke; Onyx or Midnight is sleek and fitting.
- Think about eye color. Black cats often have striking gold, copper or green eyes, which suggests names like Amber, Jade or Topaz. See gemstone names.
- Skip the spooky if it’s not you. Black cats don’t need witchy names; Olive, Pepper and Cosmo are just as charming.
- Short works best. Cats respond most readily to one- or two-syllable names with a clear vowel sound.
- Help black cats get adopted. Shelters often run “black cat” events near Halloween and on August 17, Black Cat Appreciation Day.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular name for a black cat?
Luna, Salem, Midnight, Shadow and Onyx are among the most common black cat names, with Salem especially linked to Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
Are black cats good luck?
It depends on where you are. In the US they’re sometimes seen as unlucky, but in Scotland, Japan and among British sailors, a black cat has traditionally been a sign of good fortune.
What does Salem mean as a cat name?
Salem comes from the Hebrew shalom, “peace.” It’s tied to black cats through the Salem witch trials of 1692 and Salem Saberhagen, the talking black cat in Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
What are names that mean black?
Names that mean black or dark include Nero (Italian), Kuro (Japanese), Kali (Sanskrit), Melanie (Greek), Dubh (Irish) and Noir (French).
Do black cats really get adopted less?
Many shelters report that black cats wait longer for homes, partly because of superstition and partly because they photograph poorly. Recent studies are mixed, but the concern is real enough that many shelters run black cat promotions.
What is Black Cat Appreciation Day?
August 17 in the US, and October 27 is National Black Cat Day in the UK. Both aim to dispel myths and encourage adoption.