Kitten Names: 100 Cute Ideas for Your New Kitten

A new kitten is the best kind of naming problem. That tiny bundle deserves a name that’s cute now and still fits when it’s a full-grown, dignified cat running the household. Below are 100 kitten names across every style, plus a few tips learned over thirty years of naming kittens — starting with the one rule most people forget.

How to Name a Kitten (the one rule people forget)

Name the cat, not the kitten. That eight-week fluffball becomes a twelve-pound adult, so a name that’s adorable on a tiny kitten (“Peanut,” “Tiny”) can feel odd years later. Beyond that:

• Keep it short — one or two syllables. You’ll shorten anything longer anyway.
• Pick a bright, clear sound — names ending in an “ee” or a crisp vowel (Milo, Lily, Coco) are easiest for a kitten to learn.
• Avoid clashes — nothing that sounds like “no,” “stay,” or your other pet’s name.
• Say it out loud — you’ll call it thousands of times, so it should feel natural.

Cute Kitten Names for Girls

Luna · Lily · Bella · Willow · Daisy · Coco · Nala · Poppy · Cleo · Ivy · Mochi · Olive · Pepper · Ruby · Suki · Maple · Zoe · Millie · Winnie · Clover

Cute Kitten Names for Boys

Milo · Leo · Oliver · Simba · Loki · Finn · Ziggy · Ollie · Teddy · Miso · Biscuit · Jasper · Rusty · Boots · Gus · Otis · Tigger · Bandit · Pumpkin · Waffles

Unique Kitten Names

Looking for something no one else has? A few favorites — and for 100 more, see our full list of unique cat names:

Nyx · Orion · Pixel · Juno · Ember · Sol · Onyx · Wren · Kismet · Bram · Fig · Halo · Sable · Nova · Blue · Echo · Cyra · Bodhi · Vesper · Marlowe

Food-Inspired Kitten Names

So many kittens end up named after snacks — and honestly, they earn it:

Mochi · Biscuit · Waffles · Miso · Pumpkin · Cookie · Peanut · Nacho · Churro · Bean · Noodle · Pickle · Gnocchi · Truffle · Mango · Toast · Pretzel · Sushi · Latte · Marshmallow

Kitten Names by Color

Match the name to the coat:

• Orange kittens: Rusty, Mango, Marmalade, Simba, Ginger, Sunny — more in orange cat names
• White kittens: Snow, Pearl, Casper, Ivory, Marshmallow, Coconut — more in white cat names
• Black kittens: Shadow, Onyx, Pepper, Salem, Midnight, Binx — more in black cat names

Funny & Silly Kitten Names

For the little goofball who’s already causing chaos:

Sir Fluffington · Chairman Meow · Catsby · Purrfessor · Meowly Cyrus · Fuzz Aldrin · Cat Damon · Notorious C.A.T. · Biscuit · Toebeans · Wobbles · Zoomies · Snacc · Chonk · Gremlin · Noodle

More Kitten Naming Ideas

Still searching? Spin the cat name generator to filter by gender, origin, and personality, or explore names by culture — French, Japanese, and Italian all have gorgeous options. And if your kitten has just arrived, our new kitten checklist covers everything else those first weeks need.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are good unique kitten names?

For something uncommon, try Nyx, Orion, Pixel, Juno, Ember, or Sol — all short, meaningful, and rarely heard at the vet’s office. Our unique cat names list has 100 more.

Should I name my kitten based on how it looks now?

Be a little careful — kittens grow. A name tied to tiny size (“Peanut”) can feel off on a big adult cat. Names based on coat color, personality, or simply a sound you love tend to age better.

How do I get my kitten to learn its name?

Use it consistently, say it right before good things (meals, treats, play), and keep it short with a bright vowel sound. Most kittens start responding within a couple of weeks.

Ready to choose? Open the cat name generator and filter until one clicks.