When you bring home a new cat, you’re adding a whole new family member to your home. They’ll have a role in the family, a spot in the home, and they’re going to need a name, too. Coming up with a name for your cat can take some time, however, and the right one might not strike you right from the start. That’s OK — we’re here to help!
You might find inspiration for your cat’s name in many different places, but you can often look to your cat’s coat color for ideas. If your new furry friend is a gorgeous black kitty, there are plenty of fitting names for you to try — many of which have become popular pet names over the years. Whether you’re looking for black male kitten names or the perfect monicker for your female kitten, this list of black kitten names will help get you started.
Black cat names
Here is a list of male and female kitten names for you to consider naming your house panther:
- Ash
- Asher
- Bandit
- Batman
- Boo
- Calypso
- Casper
- Cinder
- Ebony
- Echo
- Indigo
- Inky
- Jet
- Jinx
- Lilith
- Loki
- Luna
- Magic
- Midnight
- Minerva
- Misty
- Mocha
- Moon
- Morticia
- Mowgli
- Mystic
- Nero
- Nova
- Odin
- Onyx
- Oreo
- Panda
- Panther
- Pepper
- Puma
- Raven
- Salem
- Shadow
- Smokey
- Smudge
- Spooky
- Stella
- Storm
- Trouble
- Tux
- Venus
- Wednesday
- Xena
Popular cat names — regardless of coat color
As cute as it can be to name a black cat Shadow or Noir (that’s “black” in French), you might like the vibe of a classic cat name better. Whether old-fashioned or popular, an iconic name like one of these can be the cat’s meow. After all, only you know what will fit your feline best!
- Albus
- Boots
- Bella
- Brownie
- Charlie
- Cookie
- Domino
- Daisy
- Eevee
- Enid
- Felix
- Ginger
- Kitty
- Leo
- Lily
- Loki
- Lucy
- Luffy
- Luna
- Mable
- Max
- Milo
- Mochi
- Norbert
- Olive
- Oliver
- Oreo
- Peach
- Pedro
- Pixie
- Princess
- Rosie
- Socks
- Teddy
- Trixie
- Violet
- Waffles
More tips for naming your black cat
While the names above can inspire you, don’t be afraid to look to other elements of your life for name ideas, too. Your favorite flowers, musicians, song lyrics, artists, sports teams, towns, states, book characters, TV shows, and movies can all be full of name ideas.
To make sure that you find that perfect name, start by brainstorming a list of potential names. Put any names you think of on the list; even if you don’t choose them, they might help you think of other names you like more. Get your friends and family to help out, and add the names they think of to the list, too.
If you want to find an extra-special and unique name for your cat, consider turning to foreign languages. Look up translations of the word “black” and its synonyms in different languages, and you’ll have a whole slew of unique cat names from which to choose.
Once you’ve created a big list of names, start narrowing down your options until you’re left with a few top picks. When you’re selecting your top picks, look for a name that fits your cat’s personality, but that’s also easy enough for you to use when calling your cat. If you do want to choose a larger, more complicated name, think about a nickname that you can use as your cat’s everyday name.
It’s also important not to confuse your new cat, so don’t choose a name that sounds too much like the name of another human or pet in the house.
Additional ways to help your new cat feel at home
Finding the perfect name for your new cat is just one part of helping him settle into your home. Make sure that you also give your cat an area where he feels safe and secure, like a room that other pets can’t access.
Keep in mind that cats often feel safer when they’re able to climb up high and look down on the action, so give your cat spaces that allow this when you let him out to explore the rest of your home. Perches, window seats, and cat trees are all great options. You can also help your cat gain confidence through playtime and positive interactions with him.
If you have other pets in the home, make sure that you make gradual, supervised introductions so all of your pets stay safe and your new cat can feel more secure in the home. You might need to use pet gates for a while until all of your pets are comfortable with one another.
Welcome home, kitty!
Bringing home a new cat is an exciting time, and there are many ways to make him feel like a part of your family. You might be tempted to hurry up and pick out a name for your new family member, but you can take your time, too. The more you get to know your cat, the better you’ll be able to choose a name that truly fits.
Once you do find the perfect name, make sure that everyone in your family uses the name around your cat so he learns to recognize it. Be consistent in using the name and avoid too many nicknames until your cat learns his new name. While he might not exactly respond to it—he’s still a cat, after all, and he operates on his own schedule—at least you’ll have the perfect name for him to acknowledge when he’s good and ready!
