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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Famous cats make memorable name inspiration, whether you’re drawn to a movie hero, a television favorite, a cartoon, a book, or a real-life feline. The names below are prompts rather than a ranking: the right choice depends on what you like and what feels like a fit for your cat.
Movie-inspired cat names
For a name with a story behind it, start with cats from films. These examples appear in Catster’s movie-name ideas; a familiar character can be a direct fandom nod or simply a name you enjoy saying.
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- Figaro
- Binx
- Nala
- Simba
Famous television cat names
Television offers names that may feel familiar even to people who have not watched every episode. Catster includes these examples among its TV-inspired suggestions.
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- Salem
- Lucky
- Spot
Cartoon and book cat names
Animated characters and literary cats supply a mix of playful, classic, and distinctive possibilities. Catster’s cartoon and book examples include:
- Garfield
- Crookshanks
- Felix
- Tom
Names inspired by famous real cats
Some of the most recognizable cat names belong to cats who became famous in their own right. Catster’s historically famous-cat list includes these choices:
- Grumpy Cat
- Felicette
- Socks
- Tama
Internet-famous cats are another source of ideas. A July 2014 Friskies chart called the “Friskies 50” named Grumpy Cat, Lil’ Bub, Colonel Meow, Oskar & Klaus, and City the Kitty among its leading internet cats for that month. The company said its chart considered social reach and engagement along with news mentions, so it is a historical snapshot, not a current ranking of fame. Read the Friskies announcement.
How to choose a name that feels right
There is no evidence here that one name is objectively best for a particular cat. T. S. Eliot’s line, “The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter,” as quoted by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF), captures the familiar challenge; the poem appeared in his 1939 book Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. Use a few personal filters to narrow your list:
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- Source connection: Choose a character or famous cat you genuinely like, rather than a name that is familiar only because it is popular.
- Fit with your cat: Consider appearance or personality if either suggests a name naturally. This is a subjective way to make a shortlist, not a rule.
- Distinctiveness: If you want a less common choice, compare your favorite with popularity lists from the relevant place and dataset. Whether uncommon is better is a matter of preference.
For a simple comparison, write down a few candidates and note what each one offers:
| Name | Source connection | Possible personal fit | Distinctiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Figaro | Movie | Decide based on your cat’s look or personality | Compare with a relevant popularity list |
| Salem | Television | Decide based on your cat’s look or personality | Compare with a relevant popularity list |
| Felicette | Famous real cat | Decide based on your cat’s look or personality | Compare with a relevant popularity list |
Try saying each candidate aloud and see which one you enjoy using. That is a practical personal check, not a claim that cats respond better to any particular sound.
How popular cat names vary by dataset
Popularity results describe the cats and people counted, not every cat everywhere. These snapshots use different populations and methods, so their leaders should not be merged into a universal ranking.
Rank #4
| Source and date | Who or what was counted | Reported leaders | What the result represents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cats Protection, 2019 | 34,000 responses to a survey sent in March and April to the charity’s newsletter subscribers and social media followers | Poppy ranked first overall; female leaders included Poppy, Molly, and Luna; male leaders included Charlie, Oscar, and Alfie | A UK charity survey, not a population-wide census. Cats Protection survey |
| GCCF, 2024 | A database search covering around 22,000 cats registered per year | Luna ranked first among both pedigree and household cats | Cats registered with GCCF, not all cats in the UK. GCCF results |
| Rover, October 2025 | A survey of 1,500 US pet parents; the report also analyzed millions of user-submitted pet names | Milo was the most popular male cat name and Luna the most popular female cat name in Rover’s US table | Rover’s US dataset, not a universal ranking. Rover’s 2025 report |
These rankings can help you gauge whether a name is common within a particular dataset. They cannot determine whether it suits your cat. As Rover Senior Director of Brand Marketing Ashton Doyle put it, “Our pets are true members of the family and the names we select for them are a profound reflection of our current cultural obsessions and their individual nature.” That is a company representative’s perspective, not an independent research finding.
Famous names are a starting point, not a verdict
A character’s name may connect you to a story, while a real cat’s name may stand out because you remember the cat. Use those associations to build a shortlist, then choose the option that feels most natural for your own cat and your household. There is no universal winner.
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