Help me think of names for cats to keep to hand for when I'm short of inspiration

[thecatneuterer]

I have to name dozens of cats a month. Any cat I bring in to the rescue that is for homing (as opposed to neuter and return) needs a name. I'm really running out of ideas.

I'm looking for names that aren't actual people names - and preferably that are normal nouns with a nice sound and no awkward connotations.

For example, Puddle and Truffle. They don't need to end in 'le' of course - although that does give a particularly appealing sound I feel.

Any suggestions?

You could look at the racing pages of the news paper and nick a horse name.

Rivers from around the world. Trent, Severn, Thames, Amazon, Nile, Mississippi, Hudson etc

Car models eg. Zafira, Mondeo, Astra, Polo, Clio, Sierra, Mini, Cooper, Aston & Martin, Rolls & Royce, Ferrari, Panda etc

Kids TV, so Peppa, Tinky Winky, Po, Clanger, Fraggle, Tobermory, Orinoco, Scoop, Blue Peter, Torchy, Andy Pandy, etc

Wines like Shiraz, Rioja, Pinot, Merlot, Malbec, Chardonnay

Brie, Emmental, Cheddar, Stilton, Leicester, Camembert, Fetta ,Edam, Gouda, Danbo, Havarti, Maribo, Saga, Samso, Tybo, Beaufort, Charolais, Roquefort, Cabriou

Smith, Jones, Evans, Johnson,

Barley, Maize, Rye, Canola, Soya, Rice, Millet

Damaris, Dorcas, Cyrus, Hereward, Kenelm, Corrick, Carrick, Lavinia

Roman gods and goddesses

Roman emperors and empresses

Get an old A-Z and look at street names. Victorians were good at interesting but pronounceable names.

I have to say though, surely it doesn’t matter if you’ve used a name before, as long as there is no current or very recent cat with that name ?

Scottish island names

Islay, Iona, Skye, Harris, Lewis, Arran, Mull, Jura, Tiree. Barra, Cora, Eigg, Canna, Rum, Coll, Kilda

Scottish Munro's

Lomond, Nevis, Cairn, Lawers, Avon, Alder, Dorain, Beinn,

Scottish lochs (theme here)

Nessy, Maree, Katrine, Tay, Rannoch, Leven, Eilein, Morlich, Tulla, Rusky, Laggan, Ewe, Ba, Drunkie, Affric, Akran, Alvie, Anna, Arnicle, Lochy, Meana, Banton, Beanie, Bertha, Birnie, Blair, Boor, Bowie, Brandy etc (list on wiki)

Random foods:

Soup, Noodles, Potato, Chickpea, Turkey, Carrot, Beef, Oranges, Celery, Ramen, Seaweed, Raisin,

Names from narnia

Mr. Tumnus, Eustace, Caspian, Reepicheep, Mr Beaver, Miraz, Trumpkin, Puddleglum, Tirian, Bree, Nikabrik, Trufflehunter, Doctor Cornelius

Loofah
Trivet
Hatch
Farrow
Squeegee
Hovis
Sporran
Sherbet
Barley
Toast

Fabric types:-

Velvet
Chambray
Chiffon
Denim
Silk
Corduroy
Taffeta
Tulle
Damask
Cotton
Polyester
Vinyl
Suede
Nubuck
Mohair
Merino
Acrylic
Viscose
Baize
Lace
Batik
Brocade
Hessian
Burlap
Canvas
Cambric
Felt
Dupion
Velour
Voile
Twill
Tartan
Calico
Serge
Satin
Plush
Poplin
Moore
Loden

Chiffon is lovely -- use that.

Snapshot
Mischief
Pankhurst
Padstow
Starling
Columbus
Rooster
Calypso
Fedora
Sombrero
Jacamo
Woodseaves
Prairie
Cuffley
Bay

Harry Potter last names

Granger, potter, Voldemort, Malloy, Dumbledore, Snape, Weasley, McGonnagall, Longbottom, Lestrange, Lupin, Pettigrew, Tonks, Moody, Filch, Parkinson, Trelawney, Finnigan, Flitwick, Lockhart, Bagman, Binns, Boot, Cattermole, Creevey, Diggle, Digory, Figg, Fudge, Goyle, Krum, Lovegood, Ollivander, Pomfrey, Riddle, Skeeter, Sprout,

Planets
Weather ie sunny , rainy etc
Sweets
Flowers
Alcohol maybe Tia Maria , Malibu etc

I once met a cat called marrow 😂😂😂 so maybe some veg ones

Human names
Ie Dave , Steve, gary etc!

Farrow and ball paint colours - I'd LOVE to see a cat called Smoked Trout, Fruit fool, Pantalon, Broccoli Brown (!!) honestly it's a goldmine

Agate
Amber
Amethyst
Beryl
Citrine
Coral
Diamond
Emerald
Garnet
Jade
Jet
Lazuli
Obsidian
Onyx
Opal
Pearl
Peridot
Pyrite
Ruby
Sapphire
Serpentine
Spinel
Topaz
Tourmaline
Zircon

I'm reading a book where the cat is called Fibonacci (as in sequence)!
I have a Fuzzy, and previous cats/cats known to me called Flossie, Diamond, Muffin, Rufus, Smokey, and Amber (also Sophie, Penny, Jasper and Florence but they are people names). I know of someone who used trees, including Rowan and Willow.

Fender
Gibson
Marshall

Goatee
Mullet
Pizzazz
Kahlua
Bikini
Shiitake
Bean sprout
Mambo
Fox trot
Caffitiere
Gondola
Lindy hop
Jive bunny
Mung bean
Frankfurter
Mankini
Budgie smuggler
Word fonts: Candara, FangSong, Kalinga etc.

@thecatneuterer

I did once name a load after fishing areas: Viking, Forties, Cromarty, Dogger, Fisher etc. However it wasn't a great success as most ended up misspelled and mispronounced and generally caused confusion.

I know you are short on ideas but I must say that Dogger is a very weird name for a cat 😂. Plus it had very naughty connotations!!!

Place names? Shetland has a great list (but maybe leave the new owners to rename their cat Twatt).

Who couldn’t resist a Biggings, Fladdabister, Grimister, Gunnista, Oddsta, or Skelberry?

Fusilli, Ravioli, Orzo, Macaroni, Pappardelle, Rotini, Cannelloni, Linguine, Penne, Tagliatelle, Rigatoni, Fettuccini, Farfalle, Tortellini

@thecatneuterer

Theramin - brilliant! Definitely using that. Zither too!

As I said themes aren't necessary - although handy for kittens. But generally we're talking about single cats. I'm just looking for appealing words.

Yes but a "theme" gives you a list you can work down or select from. Then you can have a load of names ready so you aren't scrabbling around when they come in. I think that's why people are suggesting themes.

Industrial names

Sprocket, cog, nut, hammer, gimlet, awl, nail, wingnut, hook, claw, spanner, mattock, spike.

Rocks, Gemstones and Metals

Quartz, Topaz, Coral, Opal, Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Turquoise, Gold, Silver, Copper, Tin, Brass, Bronze, Pewter, Zinc, Jet, Onyx, Jasper, Beryl, Amber, Pearl.

Granite, Tuff, Lava, Basalt, Chalk, Flint, Marble, Slate, Obsidian, Chert, Shale, Greywacke

Earwig
Bumble
Damsel
Moth
Midge
Cricket
Skipper

If you have that many cats, can't you just use Human names? Then just work through a baby name book.
All my rescues had random human names, which I promptly changed to different human names 😁

@RoseSays

If you have that many cats, can't you just use Human names? Then just work through a baby name book. All my rescues had random human names, which I promptly changed to different human names 😁

I was literally going to say this. Soooo many human names, why anti them? And can just get a baby book or two and work through them. My friends cat is called Gary. Brilliant!

Do they have to be not real names or can they just be unUSUAL names?

Albion
Alam
Bram
Benson
Bilaal
Bleddyn
Clarence
Catalin
Dale
Dennis
Divine
Dud
Eg
Emiliano
Gary
Jarvis
Kacey
Linus
Jim
Kavan
Lyndon
Macauley
Myron
Nadir
Norman
Raffle
Sage
Teilo
Thorin
Weston

Acacia
Adina
Amri
Atlanta
Delphi
Delaney
Gwennan
Lennox
Lotti
Lux
Merida
Carlotta
Vintage
Binta
Tula
Ardelia
Arietty