Black Cat Names: 200+ Best Names for Black Cats (Boy, Girl, Unique & Tuxedo)

What are the most popular black cat names?

The most popular black cat names are Luna, Bella, Leo, Loki, Willow, Kitty, Coco, Pepper, Oreo and Shadow, according to the pet-care company Rover’s database of black cats. Only two of the top ten, Pepper and Shadow, describe a dark coat; the rest are simply well-loved names.

That tells you something useful: most owners of black cats pick a name they love first and a color name second. If you want the name to say “black cat” the moment someone hears it, look past the top ten to classics like Midnight, Onyx, Salem and Jet.

What are good black cat names for boys?

Good black cat names for boys include Onyx, Jet, Panther, Salem, Sirius, Bagheera, Coal and Vader. Male black cat names tend to sound bold and sleek, often borrowing from big cats, gemstones, villains and the night sky.

A strong, muscular tom suits Panther, Thunder or Diesel. A gentleman cat suits a classic human name such as Sebastian, Mordecai or Edgar, after Edgar Allan Poe, who wrote a famous short story called “The Black Cat.” Star names like Orion and Sirius suit a boy with bright eyes that shine in the dark.

What are good black cat names for girls?

Good black cat names for girls include Raven, Ebony, Sable, Nyx, Luna, Morticia, Velvet and Willow. Female black cat names often lean elegant or witchy, matching a glossy coat that looks like dark silk.

Elegant girls suit Sable, Velvet and Ebony. Witchy girls suit Morticia, Sabrina, Elvira and Hecate. Sweet girls suit Olive, Blackberry and Dusky, a soft word for evening light. For a black girl with a wild streak, try Bellatrix, Latin for “female warrior.”

Need more ideas? Our girl cat names page has 440 more.

What are unique and cool black cat names?

Unique and cool black cat names include Vanta, Obsidian, Umbra, Caligo, Erebus, Eclipse and Nightshade. These rare names are rarely heard at the vet, and most of them carry a dark meaning in science, myth or another language.

Vanta comes from Vantablack, one of the darkest materials ever made. Obsidian is black volcanic glass, Umbra is the darkest part of a shadow, and Caligo is Latin for darkness or mist. Erebus, the Greek god of darkness, is almost never heard at a vet clinic, so your cat will likely be the only one.

Cool names also come from stories: Gotham for a city-loving cat, Blackjack for a lucky gambler, or Ember for a black girl with a fiery temper. Set the generator above to “Unique” to see more.

What are cute black cat names?

Cute black cat names include Bean, Inky, Soot, Licorice, Sesame, Peppercorn and Truffle. Little food words and tiny, round sounds make a black kitten seem even smaller and more huggable.

Many of the cutest picks are black foods: Blackberry, Fig, Raisin, Licorice and Nori, the black seaweed wrapped around sushi. Sesame works well for a black kitten with a tiny white spot. Small-word names such as Bean and Jellybean stay sweet even when the cat grows up.

What are funny black cat names?

Funny black cat names include Darth Purr, Purrlock Holmes, Catniss Everclean, Meowgic, Batcat and Eightball. Puns and ironic names get a laugh every time, and they show off a cat with a big personality.

Ironic names are a favorite trick: call a jet-black cat Snowball, Casper, Vanilla or Marshmallow and watch guests do a double take. Old-fashioned names like Igor and Quasimodo suit a slightly gothic cat. Superstition jokes work too, such as Friday or Thirteen.

Funny names are best when the short form is easy to call. Purrlock Holmes can be “Sherlock” at home, and Catniss Everclean can be “Cat.”

What are spooky, witchy and Halloween black cat names?

Spooky black cat names include Salem, Binx, Jinx, Hex, Hocus, Pocus, Grimalkin, Wraith and Cauldron. Black cats and Halloween go together, which makes these witchy names a favorite every October.

Grimalkin is an old word for a witch’s cat; a form of it, Graymalkin, appears in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Binx is the black cat in Hocus Pocus, and Salem is the black cat in Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Pair names like Hocus and Pocus suit two black kittens adopted together.

Which black cat names have special meanings?

Black cat names with special meanings include Nyx (Greek goddess of night), Bastet (Egyptian cat goddess), Kuro (Japanese for black), Noir (French for black) and Noche (Spanish for night). A name with meaning gives you a story to tell every time someone asks.

Many languages have a word for night or black that makes a lovely cat name: Notte in Italian, Nacht in German, Noctis in Latin and Yoru in Japanese. Nero means black in Italian, and Kuro means black in Japanese.

Myth adds even more: Erebus was the Greek god of darkness, Morpheus was the god of dreams, and Hecate was the goddess of magic. The generator shows a meaning under many names as you browse.

What are famous black cat names from movies, TV and books?

Famous black cat names include Salem (Sabrina the Teenage Witch), Binx (Hocus Pocus), Jiji (Kiki’s Delivery Service), Bagheera (The Jungle Book) and Pluto (Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Black Cat”). These names are instantly recognizable to fans of the story.

Human characters make great names too: Morticia and Wednesday from The Addams Family, Coraline from the film of the same name, and Natasha, the first name of Black Widow. Lazlo, the vampire in What We Do in the Shadows, suits a cat who prowls at night. Sirius, as in Sirius Black from Harry Potter, suits a loyal boy.

Black-and-white cartoon cats such as Sylvester and Felix the Cat also make easy, friendly names.

What are good black and white cat names?

Good black and white cat names include Domino, Oreo, Tux, Panda, Penguin, Jeeves and Sylvester. These cats look like they are wearing a tuxedo, so smart, dapper and two-tone names fit them best.

Dapper names such as Jeeves, Alfred, Bond and Spats suit a cat with a neat white bib. Two-tone things work for both boys and girls: Domino, Checkers, Piano, Orca, Magpie and Yin. For a black and white girl, try Duchess, Sundae or Magpie; for a boy, Tux, Bandit or Mozart.

In the generator, switch the coat to “Black & white (tuxedo)” for the full list.

What are good names for black cats with green or gold eyes?

Good names for black cats with green eyes include Emerald, Jade, Clover and Juniper, and good names for gold-eyed black cats include Goldie, Amber, Topaz and Citrine. On a black coat, the eyes are the brightest feature, so they make a natural naming clue.

Black cats most often have green, yellow, gold or copper eyes. The Bombay, a breed that comes only in black, is known for copper-to-gold eyes, so Copper and Penny fit it well. For an all-black cat with startling eyes, try Comet or Galaxy.

How do you choose a name for a black cat?

Choose a name for a black cat by matching it to her personality, eye color or a story you love, then test it out loud for a day before you commit. A short name of one or two syllables is easiest for a cat to learn.

Watch your cat for a few days first. A calm, watchful cat suits Shadow or Velvet, a bold one suits Panther, and a clown suits Darth Purr. Try the name for half a day, and drop it if it feels awkward to say.

Avoid names that sound like “no,” another pet’s name or a family member’s name, because cats learn by sound. Say the name before meals and play, so hearing it always means something good.