TOP NAMES FOR CATS
72
A NAME IS JUST A NAME--OR IS IT?
What's in a name?
A rose by any other name would still be a rose--or something like that.
Naming your pet will be either a long thought out procedure or you will just look into that sweet face and the right name will pop into your head.
What are the most popular pet names? For the second year in a row the name "Max" has taken top honors as the nation's most popular pet name according to research by Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI).
Now, let's look at the top male and female cat names that made the list. A survey of VPI's 300,000-plus policyholders showed that Bailey, Buddy, Molly, Maggie, Lucy, Jake, Daisy, Rocky and Sadie rounded out the top ten pet names rankings.
TOP 10 FEMALE PET NAMES
- MOLLY
- MAGGIE
- DAISY
- SHADOW
- SADIE
- GINGER
- KITTY
- BAILEY
- SOPHIE
- ZOE
TOP 10 MALE PET NAMES
- TIGER
- BUDDY
- JAKE
- ROCKY
- BAILEY
- SHADOW
- CODY
- CHARLIE
- BEAR
- JACK
THE NAME YOU CHOOSE WILL SAY A LOT
What's in a name? Everything - if you are naming your cat. The name you choose says as much about you as it does about your cat. Picking a name for your new addition is a difficult but important job. You will be calling your kitty many times each day and you will want a name that both you and your pet like and respond to.
As a general rule, pet owners tend to give their animals names they would give themselves or their children. Surveys show that more than half of all pet names are either human names or nicknames.
Not so with cats. Cats are more often given traditional "cat" names, perhaps because they have a reputation for doing their own thing, and this tends to makes them mysterious. As every cat "owner" knows, nobody owns a cat.
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO BED! I'M NOT SLEEPY, HONEST!
NAMES CAN COME FROM ANYWHERE--APPEARANCE, LIKES, HABITS, MOVIES, ETC
Traditional names for cats once included Sooty, Misty and Felix, names that reflect either the cat's appearance or personality. Things have not changed that much.
Cat names arise from many popular categories. For example, movies and television have inspired such names as Casper, Pussy Galore, Buffy, Tony and Bada Bing, while the arts have given us Beowulf, Bronte, Desdemona, and even Ginger Spice. Anais, Chanel and Calvin materialized from the fashion world, and geographically speaking, Bangkok, Katmandu and Dakota are also on top.
The cat's breed, too, might suggest names. Persian cats are often called Babri (tiger), Pisho (pussy cat), Sefidi (Snow White) or Siah (black). Siamese cats inspire names like Isis, Athena, Sasha, Aries, Ming Toi or Chang.
If you enjoy a drink now and then, how about Brandy, Sambuca, Merlot, Budweiser or even Southern Comfort? And if you've decided to double your pleasure with two cats, consider popular duo names like Kermit and Miss Piggy, Frank and Stein, Hansel and Gretel, Footloose and Fancy Free, or even the tried-and-true romantic couples Romeo and Juliet, Bonnie and Clyde, and Katherine and Spencer.
But let's not forget about the kitty's personality. Names that reflect the very nature of your pet may be the way to go. After all, we probably have a pretty good picture of a cat that's called Mayhem, Frisky, Big Guy, Cuddles or Speedy.
PLEASE, PLEASE LET THEM PICK A GOOD NAME FOR ME!
A NAME LASTS FOREVER. CHOOSE WISELY!
How do you go about naming your cat? You might want to observe your new kitty for a few days and see if the personality suggests a name. But, for a start, keep the following tips in mind:
- Pick a name that you will be proud to call. Shadow or Molly might be less embarrassing than Kitty Poo Poo, Ooga Booga or HeyYou.
- Choose a name that your pet will easily recognize. Animals often respond best to most two-syllable names.
- Avoid names that sound too much like standard commands. For example, when you call Snowy, your kitty might only hear No.
- Pick a name that will be just as appropriate for your cat once he or she is full-grown. A 14-pound tabby might seem silly with a name like Kitty or Baby.
One more thing to keep in mind: A name is important and you want to choose the right name for your new pet, one that you will like - and one that your cat will like, too.
GREAT THINGS FROM AMAZON
|
Tokyo Bay Red Tango Large Tote with Cutout Cat
Price: $33.99
|
|
Cat Crazy Adult T-Shirt
Price:
|
|
Stressed Out Cat Adult T-Shirt
Price:
|
|
Cat Lover Adult Sweatshirt
Price:
|
GREAT THINGS FROM EBAY
|
Official Movie Cat Merchandise Thing 2 from Dr. Seuss
Current Bid: $2.99
|
|
5 lot Catnip Da Fur Thing cat toy toys kitten furry
Current Bid: $14.99
|
|
Cat In The Hat Iron On T Shirt Transfer - Thing 1
Current Bid: $3.00
|
| No Photo |
Cat in the Hat T-shirt Iron on Transfer Thing 2
Current Bid: $4.00
|
| No Photo |
Cat in the Hat T-shirt Iron on Transfer Thing 1
Current Bid: $4.00
|
|
99-9940 Kids Cat In The Hat Thing One Halloween Costume
Current Bid: $18.00
|
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK & JOIN MY FAN CLUB
Thank you, Patty, for stopping by! Glad you liked the Hub--good to know another kitty lover! I think they respond to any name because of the food and love attached to your voice.
My kitty is a Chocolate Sealpoint Siamese Munchkin named Babykitty (aren't I creative? LOL). He was a Christmas present from my husband 5 years ago, flown in from Idaho. He was so tiny and cute we just fell in love with him at first sight! Now that he's "grown" he's a real pistol--never know what he's going to do next.
Very cute! Our dogs' names are Garrett and Earl. Our cat is Romeo. :-)
Hi, Steph--thank you for stopping by! Now, Romeo wouldn't be a roamer and a lover, would he? Got a cute Hub coming along those lines--keep an eye out for it!
I named my three kittens the day they were born only to find out a month later that one kitten I had named a boy's name turned out to be a girl. (She looked like she had a you-know-what when I first checked! :P)
So then I was faced with the dilemma: Should I change the kitten's name? But I'd already gotten used to calling her Motmot. And she's gotten used to it, too. Well, I ended up keeping the name. She's a spunky tomboy anyway so the name fit perfectly. :D
Hi again Ruthie,
Uhhhhh yes, very creative LOL,,,,,,,,that's ok, my son's dog was named, are you ready for this? DOG. I said what???? he said, well that's what she is sooooo,,,go figure! She answered to it too. My friend has a male cat named Ed. Let's see, dogs I've had in the past included Chilly, Cooler, Spooky, Laddie. The cats I hardly remember the names, I had so many LOL,,
Also very cute names, Steph and Susan,,
PS- we also have a bird named Tequila, a small Sun Conure (parrot family).
Keep writing Ruthie! :)
Patty
Susan--Sometimes it almost seems like the pet will fit the name it's given and not the other way around! Like they go "OK, that's my name and that's how I'll be." LOL I've seen it happen before with friends.
Thanks for stopping by!
Patty--Well, at least your son didn't call your dog "kitty" which is what a cousin of mine did! Wow, you've had a lot of pets! Must have a lot of area to have so many--lucky you! Don't think I'll ever get a bird--everytime I go by one at the pet store at the Mall it just goes nuts! Flapping and squawking to beat the band! I was told that there are certain people birds sense something about and don't like. Perhaps because I'm a cat person? HEE HEE!!
Thanks for stopping by--hope to talk to you again soon!
Ruthie
Hi Ruthie,
LOL, noooo not kitty!
I had a home that sat back in the woods with about 1 1/2 acres, I loved it. Adopted all my dogs from shelters, and one stray.
I wasn't thrilled about getting a bird, but it's my daughter's and she was moving in with me,,,of course I was very concerned because of the 3 cats. Well, long story short, we found the kitten laying in the cage, just hangin out, the bird was just chillin too LOL,,,,none of the cats did anything but get a look at her, and thought, geeze, another pet LOL,,,,we got really lucky with that cause the bird lives outside her cage, her favorite place. She only goes in to eat.
I don't know if they 'sense' anything like a dog would, but who knows?
Patty
Really cool hub, Ruthie.
My two kitties, sister and brother, were named by my daughter. Pepper for the girl, Butterscotch for the boy. The female was a muted calico, mostly salt and pepper in color, and the male an orange tabby. Pepper remained Pepper until her death, but Butterscotch early on turned to Ed (much easier than Butterscotch), after my uncle, although I don't recall why this happened. At his ripe old age of 18, Ed is still Ed.
As for Siamese cats, my aunt Ronnie had a Siamese she named Jasmine, which didn't suit her at all. She should have been called "Cliff" for cliff hanger or "Doortop" for her penchant for leaping to the top of a door, splaying out across the narrow ledge, left and right legs draping down the inside and the outside of the door, or "Woolsie" for her appetite for wool socks and the wool batting out of antique quilts, or "Tumbles" for her love of getting into the clothes dryer without being noticed, and going a round or two before someone heard the loud thunking and came to her rescue.
Finally, my daughter's two cats, one dog, and one fish are all named after different brands of vodka.
Naming pets is just as challenging as naming kids! Thanks for such a fun hub.
I had an aunt who named her cat "He-She" because she was. First a He, til he got pg and obviously proved he was a she forever known as HeShe.
My most memorable cats were Prissy, because she was/ lived to be 27 - with me the whole time, then Smoky, adopted us at our country home we rented after our fire..he just showed up, was a gray tabby and since it was after our home fire, we named him smoky...
Now I have Sassy, because she is....brown siamese looks just like the one in your pic. =) gotta love em
had a tiny dog when I was growing up named Atlas...because he wasn't
and a parakeet named Jack Sprat...I forgot why. LOL
Patty--You're almost like a miniature Noah's Ark! Stop by any time!
Sally-- I agree, naming pets is hard sometimes! But it's great to be creative because they can't complain about their name! Thanks for stopping by and sharing! Drop by again soon!
Marisue--Yes, I agree the "pg" factor was a dead giveaway as to which way the name should go! You were so lucky to have your Prissy for 27 years--she must have been a grand old lady! Thanks for sharing with us! Stop by again soon and say "HELLO!"
LOL, Noah's Ark?? Years ago it did feel that way,,,and quite honestly, if I had the time and the room, it would be pretty darn close!
I volunteered at an animal shelter's 'Pet Therapy' program. Once a month, I would pick up a kitten and puppy and take them to a nursing home. The pure joy on those folks' faces! and the wonderful stories they would tell me, as well as share pictures of their beloved departed pets. After a year, I decided to call it quits, as it was not only rewarding, but emotionally draining,,,not to mention, if I had my way, I'd be the proud owner of 24 pets LOL,,,
Patty
Patty--I think you sound like a very sweet gal and someone I'd be proud to know!
My two female cats are named Michi and Tiger (aka Chicken) Michi is a ragdoll and Tiger is large tabby. Both are expressive and loving, but I never forget they are cats, so no silly hats on birthdays, no baby-talk, and no making them feel foolish! They would take weeks to forgive me if I ever did that!
I think the ragdolls are so cute--such sweet faces. I just saw some pictures of Ragdoll Munchkins----I want one!! Don't talk "real" baby talk to my kitty but "sort of" baby talk--there is a subtle difference. LOL
Thanks for stopping by--drop in again anytime!
Love the U-Tube video. I like the name CHLOE for a female cat's name.
That would be a good name. I thought the little kitten in the video was just sooo cute!! and just like a baby!
Thanks for stopping by, Shane. You're always welcome.
This was fun! My dogs are Jack, who came from the shelter with his name and Foster Child who we got from someone who found him on the streets of Chicago. He was a mess and looked like an orphan, just pitiful. My fish all have names but I won't go there as it would take a while. Fun to hear everyones pet names too. Thank you for this one.
You're very welcome! I think it's so interesting what names everyone comes up with for their pets. There's got to be something in there somewhere for a psychologist to look at!
Thank for stopping by!!
Very cute hub!
I volunteer at an animal shelter. The top name for cats we get in is "Lucky". I always think, "Hmmm... not so lucky if you're being given up by your family. But Lucky that you're here where we can love on ya and find ya a new family."
My favorite cat name ever was my friend's cat, named "Feedme". That was one great cat.
LOL---that's a wonderful name for a cat, and oh so true!! Mine was bugging me to death this morning and that's all he wanted!
I salute you for your volunteer work--wish I had more time to work something like that into my schedule.
Thanks for coming by, Veronica, hope to see you again!
Don't you realize that I posted fan mail to you and you haven't approved it yet? This is a good hub I suppose if you like cats. :P Seriously it is a good hub. I'm just not much of a cat person.
Chatroom is still going also if you want to join me and SHirley at the moment.
Some pets pick their own names. I have a dog that found us and I went through all kinds of names and he picked Duke. I said the name Marmaduke and his ears picked up when the name Duke came out so that is his name. Now my cats, most of them got their names by what they looked like or their attitudes. I have a hub called The Chosen Ones and most of my cats are on there and some of their stories too. Shadow is called that because when I finally got her socialized and not as feral as she was she used to follow me like my Shadow. Pinkie, because when she was born her nose was pink and it was for about a year until the color turned to a light tan--she is a tortie and I will write a story just about her and some of the other ones will have their own stories too. Come by and take a peek and leave some comments.
Wow, no Fluffys? :)
Guess that's not a very popular name just now. Who knows-just give it a couple of months and everything will change!
Thanks for stopping by!
I love this hub RUTHIE. It will be more interesting if you include top ten asian names also.
Thanks for the idea--I'll have to see about doing that.
Thanks for coming by!
Enjoyed your hub. We have 4 cats, Wanabe, Rip, Cosmo and Blackie. Don't know how we ended up with Blackie such a common name. All boys.
Thanks so much. Love the name "Wanabe"!
HA! Good topic! My Cats have been named "Callie, Big Boy, Peanut, Tina, and Millie."
We called our first kitten Elijah, because we found him abandoned on the last day of Passover, when the prophet Elijah is supposed to turn up. We found his brother the next day, and called him Yossie, to match Elijah.
My parents' cat is called Little Cat. Original, huh?
- I COULD BE A CRAZY CAT LADY
Loving cats is one thing but how many do you have to have to become a "Crazy Cat Lady"? Find out here! - THE CHOSEN ONES
A touching Hub about the special connection this hubber has for her animals.
trish1048 says:
2 years ago
Hi Ruthie! Love this hub! That video is just tooooooo cute! The pictures are adorable, especially the tuxedo in the litter container LOL :)
My 3 cats are named Sasha (tuxedo), Krissy (big ole fat grey/brown short haired domestic) and Cindy (long haired grey/white (mix?). I picked names with the letter 's' in it because I felt that since cats tend to respond to pssssttt,,,,they would learn their names, which thankfully they did. I didn't realize cats respond better to two-syllable names, interesting. All 3 were rescues, Sasha was given to me, mom was just some stray someone adopted, Krissy was found in NY while visiting family, and Cindy was rescued from a car lot.
I also love dogs, but I work too many hours to own one again.
Thanks for this cute hub!
Patty