Grey Cat Names
Grey cats come in more shades than most people realize — pale silver, smoky charcoal, and the soft blue-grey that breeders simply call “blue.” Genetically, a grey coat is a diluted black, and it’s the signature color of breeds like the Russian Blue, Chartreux, Korat and British Shorthair. We’ve collected more than 100 grey cat names inspired by that palette: color shades, stones and metals, storm clouds, wild animals and famous grey characters.
Many of these also work for tabbies with silver stripes; see our tabby cat names for more. For contrast, browse white cat names and black cat names, or return to the main cat names list.
Shades of grey
Color names borrowed straight from the paint chart. For more shade ideas, see gray color names.
| Name | Shade | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Ash | Soft, light grey | Short and cool |
| Charcoal | Very dark grey | Near-black cats |
| Slate | Blue-tinged dark grey | Russian Blues |
| Pewter | Dull silvery grey | Solid grey shorthairs |
| Graphite | Dark metallic grey | Sleek, shiny coats |
| Dove | Soft warm grey | Gentle, calm cats |
| Smokey | Smoky blue-grey | The classic grey cat name |
| Cinder | Grey with dark flecks | Cats with ticked coats |
| Flint | Hard dark grey stone | Tough boys |
| Gunmetal | Blue-grey metal | Glossy coats |
| Heather | Grey-purple tint | Soft, pale girls |
| Fog | Pale misty grey | Light, fluffy cats |
| Pebble | Rounded grey stone | Small, round kittens |
| Taupe | Brownish grey | Warm-toned grey cats |
Silver, metal and gemstone names
Silver cats often have a shimmer that justifies a precious name. More sparkle in gemstone names.
| Name | Meaning / origin | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | The precious metal | Silver tabbies |
| Sterling | High-grade silver | Classy boys |
| Platinum | A rare silver-white metal | Pale, shiny cats |
| Mercury | Silver liquid metal; the Roman messenger god | Fast cats |
| Nickel | A silver-grey metal | Nickname “Nick” |
| Titanium | A strong grey metal | Tough cats |
| Cobalt | Metal used for blue pigments | Blue-grey cats |
| Argent | French/heraldic word for silver | Elegant, unusual |
| Tin | A soft grey metal | Tiny kittens |
| Moonstone | Pale, glowing gemstone | Soft grey girls |
| Hematite | Grey metallic mineral | Dark grey cats |
| Onyx | Banded stone, often grey-black | Charcoal cats |
| Opaline | Milky, opal-like | Pale silver girls |
Storm, sky and weather names
Grey cats and grey skies go together. More in names that mean storm and weather names.
| Name | Meaning | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Storm | A turbulent sky | Wild energy |
| Stormy | Moody weather | Moody cats |
| Misty | Light mist | Soft grey girls |
| Thunder | Sound of a storm | Loud boys |
| Cloudy | Overcast | Sleepy grey cats |
| Drizzle | Light rain | Small kittens |
| Nimbus | Latin, “rain cloud” | Fluffy grey cats |
| Tempest | Latin, “storm, season” | Dramatic cats |
| Rain | Water from the sky | Calm, quiet cats |
| Haze | Light mist or smoke | Pale grey coats |
| Shadow | A dark shape cast by light | Stealthy cats |
| Dusk | Evening twilight | Dark grey cats |
| Twilight | Soft light after sunset | Blue-grey girls |
Smoke, ash and fire-side names
Because grey is also the color of what’s left after the flame. See names that mean fire for the other side.
| Name | Meaning / origin | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Smoke | Grey vapor | Wispy coats |
| Ember | Glowing ash | Grey with orange hints |
| Soot | Black-grey carbon | Dark, dusty cats |
| Cendrillon | French for Cinderella, “little cinder girl” | Nickname “Cendi” |
| Phoenix | Mythical bird reborn from ashes | Rescue cats |
| Pyre | A heap for burning | Unusual, dramatic |
| Ashby | English, “ash-tree farm” | Dapper grey boys |
| Fumo | Italian, “smoke” | Italian flair |
| Kemuri | Japanese, “smoke” | Japanese-inspired homes |
| Cinderella | The fairy tale | Rags-to-riches rescues |
| Asher | Hebrew, “happy, blessed”; sounds like “ash” | Handsome grey boys |
Grey animal names
Wild animals famous for their grey coats. Browse wolf names for pack-leader cats.
| Name | Animal | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Wolf | The grey wolf | Bold hunters |
| Koala | Grey Australian marsupial | Sleepy tree-climbers |
| Rhino | The big grey herbivore | Hefty boys |
| Hippo | The river giant | Round, heavy cats |
| Elephant | Grey giant with a long memory | Big cats; nickname “Ellie” |
| Pigeon | The city bird | Street-smart rescues |
| Dolphin | Grey sea mammal | Playful cats |
| Seal | Grey marine mammal | Sleek, round cats |
| Heron | Grey wading bird | Tall, long-legged cats |
| Chinchilla | Soft grey rodent | Silky, dense coats |
| Squirrel | The grey squirrel | Energetic climbers |
| Mouse | The classic prey | Ironic and cute |
Names for Russian Blue, Chartreux, Korat and British Blue cats
Each of the great “blue” breeds has a homeland worth borrowing from. See Russian names and French names for more.
| Name | Origin | Pairs with |
|---|---|---|
| Dmitri | Russian, from Demeter, “earth mother” | Russian Blue boys |
| Natasha | Russian pet form of Natalia, “born on Christmas” | Russian Blue girls |
| Anya | Russian pet form of Anna, “grace” | Russian Blue girls |
| Ivan | Russian form of John | Russian Blue boys |
| Boris | Russian, possibly “wolf” or “snow leopard” | Big blue boys |
| Pascal | French, “Easter” | Chartreux boys |
| Colette | French, “victory of the people” | Chartreux girls |
| Amélie | French, from Amalia, “work” | Chartreux girls |
| Sawasdee | Thai, “hello, good wishes” | Korats (Thailand’s good-luck cat) |
| Malee | Thai, “jasmine flower” | Korat girls |
| Winston | Old English, “joy stone” | British Shorthairs |
| Earl Grey | The bergamot tea | British Blues |
| Bramble | English blackberry bush | British Shorthairs |
Grey cat names for girls and boys
People names with a silvery or moonlit meaning. See girl cat names and boy cat names for more.
| Name | Meaning / origin | Girl or boy |
|---|---|---|
| Luna | Latin, “moon” | Girl |
| Selene | Greek, “moon” | Girl |
| Silvia | Latin, “forest”; sounds like silver | Girl |
| Grace | Latin, “grace”; a homophone of “greys” | Girl |
| Lavender | The grey-purple herb | Girl |
| Willow | The silvery-leaved tree | Girl |
| Sage | The grey-green herb; “wise” | Either |
| Grey | Old English, “grey” | Either |
| Blue | The breeders’ word for grey | Either |
| Grayson | English, “son of the grey-haired one” | Boy |
| Merlin | The wizard of Arthurian legend | Boy |
| Silas | Latin, “of the forest”; sounds silvery | Boy |
| Jasper | Persian, “treasurer”; also grey-blue jasper stone | Boy |
| Remy | French, from Remigius, “oarsman” | Boy |
Famous grey characters and cats
From wizards to cartoon cats, grey characters make great namesakes. More wizard ideas in wizard names.
| Name | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Gandalf | Gandalf the Grey, The Lord of the Rings | Wise old cats |
| Eeyore | The gloomy grey donkey in Winnie-the-Pooh | Melancholy cats |
| Tom | The grey-blue cat of Tom and Jerry | Hapless hunters |
| Grey Goose | The vodka, or the bird | Nickname “Goose” |
| Pusheen | The popular grey tabby cartoon cat | Round, cute cats |
| Dumbo | Disney’s grey elephant | Big-eared kittens |
| Fievel | The mouse in An American Tail | Tiny grey kittens |
| Totoro | The grey forest spirit in My Neighbor Totoro | Round, fluffy cats |
| Stitch | The blue alien in Lilo & Stitch | Mischievous blue cats |
| Mr. Grey | A deadpan formal name | Serious-looking cats |
| Galadriel | Elf queen of silver-light Lothlórien | Elegant silver girls |
Tips for naming a grey cat
- Check the undertone. Warm grey cats suit Dove or Taupe; cool, blue-grey cats suit Slate, Cobalt or Blue.
- Watch the kitten coat change. Some grey kittens darken or develop ghost tabby stripes as they grow, so wait a few weeks before choosing Silver.
- Honor the breed. A Russian Blue named Dmitri or a Chartreux named Colette gives a nod to where the breed came from.
- Avoid sound-alike pairs. Ash and Asher, or Storm and Stormy, are too close to use in the same house.
- Think beyond “Smokey.” It’s a great classic, but unusual choices like Pewter, Argent or Kemuri are just as easy to call. Browse unique cat names for more.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular name for a grey cat?
Smokey is the classic grey cat name, with Shadow, Misty, Ash, Luna, Stormy and Pepper also very common.
Why are grey cats called blue?
Cat breeders use “blue” for the diluted form of black, because the soft grey coat often has a bluish tint. Russian Blues, Chartreux, Korats and British Blues are all blue cats.
What is a good name for a grey boy cat?
Try Sterling, Slate, Flint, Merlin, Gandalf, Dmitri, Grayson or Asher for a male grey cat.
What is a good name for a grey girl cat?
Misty, Dove, Selene, Moonstone, Colette, Heather and Silvia are pretty choices for a female grey cat.
Are grey cats a breed?
No. Grey (blue) is a coat color that appears in many breeds and in mixed-breed cats, though some breeds, like the Russian Blue, Chartreux and Korat, come only in grey.