Cute Cat Names

Cute Cat Names

Some cats just look like they need a cute name — the round face, the jelly-bean toes, the way they fold their paws under like a loaf. We’ve rounded up more than 100 adorable cat names, from bubbly “ee”-ending favorites to tiny one-syllable names, dessert-inspired picks and sweet words borrowed from other languages.

Cute doesn’t have to mean silly: many of these names (Hazel, Theo, Luna) age perfectly well once your kitten is grown. If you’d rather make people laugh, head to our funny cat names; for a brand-new baby, try our kitten names, or browse every style on the main cat names page.

Our top picks: Mochi, Button, Pudding, Bean, Kiki, Waffles, Pip, Tofu, Peaches, Sprout, Honey, Marshmallow

Cute cat names that end in an “ee” sound

Names ending in a high “ee” sound are among the easiest for cats to pick out, and they’re naturally cheerful to say.

NameMeaning / originVibe
KikiPet form of names like ChristinaBubbly and bright
BibiFrench pet name; Persian, “lady”Chic and tiny
ZuzuPet form of Susan; from It’s a Wonderful LifeRetro sweet
LuluPet form of Louise or LucyPlayful girls
TootsieOld endearment, “sweetie”Vintage charm
GigiPet form of Georgina or GiseleGlamorous little cats
ZiggyFrom Siegfried, “victory, peace”Bouncy boys
MimiPet form of Maria or MiriamSoft and gentle
PoppyThe red flowerLively girls
BitsyFrom “itsy-bitsy”Very small kittens
FrankieFrom Francis, “Frenchman”Friendly boys or girls
PixieA small mischievous fairyPointy-eared cats
DixieNickname for the American SouthSassy southern belles
WinnieFrom Winifred or WinstonChubby cuddlers
TinkyFrom “tinkle,” a small bell soundTalkative cats

Tiny names for small cats

Short names for petite cats and the kitten who stays small forever. For even more size-themed ideas, see our small dog names — plenty work for cats too.

NameMeaning / originBest for
PipShort for Philip; a small seedThe runt of the litter
BeanThe legumeJelly-bean-toed kittens
ButtonA small round fastenerButton noses
PeanutThe legumePocket-sized cats
TinyVery smallIronically huge cats, too
MouseThe small rodent (irony intended)Quiet, grey kittens
PebbleA small smooth stoneRound grey cats
SproutA newly grown shootYoung kittens
DotA small round markSpotted cats
TwigA slender stickSkinny, leggy kittens
AcornSeed of the oakBrown, round kittens
MinnieFrom Wilhelmina, “protector”Petite girls
SqueakA small high soundChatty, squeaky meows
BitA small pieceMinimalists

Sweet treat names

Desserts and candies are a go-to for cute cat names; many also match coat color. Our food cat names page has 100+ more.

NameColor or trait it suitsNote
MochiWhite or cream catsJapanese rice cake
PuddingSoft, squishy catsNickname “Puddin’”
MarshmallowFluffy white catsNickname “Mallow”
CupcakeSmall, sweet catsClassic cute
SprinklesSpeckled or spotted coatsFun for kittens
JellybeanColorful personalitiesAlso “Jelly”
HoneyGolden catsWarm and soft
WafflesGolden tabbiesBreakfast cute
BrownieChocolate-brown catsDense and cuddly
SnickerdoodleCream cats with spotsNickname “Doodle”
TruffleDark, rich coatsPosh chocolate
GumdropRound catsOld-fashioned candy
CustardPale yellow or cream catsGentle, soft
MacaronPastel-toned catsFrench pastry
ChurroCinnamon-orange catsSpanish fried dough

Cute girl cat names

Pretty, soft names that suit female cats of every age. For a full list, see girl cat names and cute girl names.

NameMeaning / originWhy it’s cute
LunaLatin, “moon”Soft, dreamy sound
HazelThe hazel treeWarm and sweet
DaisyOld English, “day’s eye”Cheerful flower name
RosieFrom the roseBlushing pink noses
PennyFrom Penelope; the copper coinCopper-colored cats
ClementineLatin, “merciful”; a small orangeNickname “Clem”
OliveThe olive treeSmall and gentle
NalaSwahili, “gift”Lion-cub energy
TillyFrom Matilda, “mighty in battle”Tiny but fierce
BirdieLittle birdChatty girls
WillaFeminine of William, “protection”Soft, modern
MaisieScottish pet form of Margaret, “pearl”Sweet and sprightly
IvyThe climbing plantShort and crisp
JunoQueen of Roman godsTiny name, big attitude

Cute boy cat names

Friendly names for affectionate male cats. Find more in boy cat names.

NameMeaning / originWhy it’s cute
MiloGermanic, possibly “merciful”Playful and bright
TeddyFrom Theodore, “gift of God”Teddy-bear fluff
OllieShort for OliverSoft and sleepy
BennyFrom BenjaminFriendly and goofy
TobyFrom Tobias, “God is good”Gentle lap cats
GusFrom Augustus, “great”Chunky and sweet
TheoGreek, “god”Modern and soft
AlfieFrom Alfred, “elf counsel”Cheeky charm
OttoGermanic, “wealth”Round sound for a round cat
BuddyAmerican, “friend”Loyal cats
LouieFrom Louis, “famous warrior”Warm and chatty
RascalA mischievous rogueTroublemakers

Cozy and soft-word names

Everyday words that simply sound snuggly. See also fluffy cat names.

NameWhat it evokesBest for
SnugglesCuddling upLap cats
CuddlesA warm hugAffectionate cats
MittensWarm hand coveringsWhite-pawed cats
SocksCozy feetWhite-footed cats
MuffinA warm bakeRound cats
BlanketSomething warm to curl up inLong-haired cats
PillowSoft cushionSleepy cats
CocoaHot chocolateBrown cats
SunnySunshineSunbathers
WhiskersThe cat’s famous featureTimeless classic
FuzzballA ball of fuzzKittens
DumplingSoft steamed doughChubby cats
NibblesSmall bitesFood-motivated cats

Cute cat names from other languages

Sweet words from around the world, many of them terms of endearment. Explore Japanese cat names for more.

NameLanguageMeaning
TofuJapanese / ChineseBean curd; great for white cats
MomoJapanese“Peach”
HanaJapanese / Korean“Flower”
NekoJapanese“Cat”
BaoChineseA steamed bun; also “treasure”
ChiquitaSpanish“Little one”
MijaSpanish“My daughter,” an endearment
ChouchouFrench“Darling, pet”
MimosaLatin via EnglishA fluffy yellow flower
BellaItalian“Beautiful”
DolceItalian“Sweet”
LieblingGerman“Darling”
MisoJapaneseFermented soybean paste

Cute names for cat pairs

Adopting littermates? Matching names are twice as cute. See our twin names for people-name pairings.

PairThemeSuits
Mochi & BobaAsian treatsCream and dark kittens
Cookies & CreamDessert comboA black and a white cat
Pip & SqueakTiny soundsTwo small kittens
Nutmeg & CloveSpicesBrown tabbies
Bert & ErnieSesame Street palsBest-friend boys
Peaches & CreamClassic pairingOrange and white
Salt & PepperSeasoningsWhite and grey
Mac & CheeseComfort foodOrange and cream
Bubble & SqueakBritish leftovers dishChaotic siblings

How to pick a cute name your cat will answer to

  • Favor high, happy sounds. Cats respond well to higher-pitched “ee” endings — Kiki, Mimi and Winnie are easy to hear.
  • Think past the kitten stage. A cute name for a 10-week-old will be said to a 15-year-old cat; names like Hazel or Theo stay sweet without feeling silly.
  • Match a feature. White paws (Mittens), a pink nose (Rosie), a chunky belly (Dumpling) — cute names land best when they’re a little bit true.
  • Keep the formal version in your back pocket. Marshmallow can be “Mallow” and Snickerdoodle can be “Doodle” day to day.
  • Test it out loud. If you’re comfortable calling “Pudding!” across the vet’s waiting room, it’s a keeper.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cutest cat name?

Cuteness is personal, but Mochi, Luna, Bean, Kiki, Peanut and Pudding are consistently loved: they’re short, soft and fun to say.

What are cute names for a girl cat?

Try Hazel, Daisy, Rosie, Clementine, Maisie, Tilly, Mimi or Poppy — sweet, easy to say and still pretty on an adult cat.

What are cute names for a boy cat?

Milo, Teddy, Ollie, Toby, Gus, Alfie and Otto are cute, friendly male cat names that suit kittens and grown cats alike.

Do cats prefer certain names?

Cats don’t have name preferences, but they learn names with one or two syllables and a clear vowel sound more easily, especially if you say them in a happy tone before treats.