Finding the purr-fect name for your feline friend is one of the most daunting decisions you'll make as a new pet owner. After all, once you've chosen a meow-niker, you'll be calling it out every day for the next 10 to 15 years! If you have a black cat who's in need of a name right now, you're in luck. There are plenty of choices out there to suit every cat-titude while paying tribute to your cat's color and unique mystique.
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Traditional female black cat names
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Luna: Spanish for the moon
Stella: Latin for star
Mia: Italian for mine
Bella: Italian for beautiful
Cleo: Greek for fame, pride or glory
Sophie: Greek for wisdom
Penelope: Greek for weaver
Molly: Old Irish diminutive of Mary
Millie: Germanic for strength in wisdom
Juliet: Old English for Youthful
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Traditional male black cat names
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Max: English for greatest
Charlie: French for free man
Oscar: Irish for champion warrior
Leo: Latin for lion
Milo: Latin for soldier
Harry: German for home ruler
Gus: Irish for exalted and venerable
Nigel: Irish for black-haired
Jasper: Persian for treasure bearer
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Mysterious black cat names
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Tarot: Inspired by the fortune-telling card game.
Omen: A magical name for your lucky charm.
Jinx: A cute name that plays on the North American superstition that black cats are unlucky. In Japan and Britain, they are regarded as good luck and bearers of fortune.
Phantom: For a black cat who's mastered their disappearing act.
Voodoo: For a black cat that has cast a spell on your heart.
Houdini: For a black cat who's always getting in — and out — of trouble.
Salem: Black cats and Halloween go hand-in-hand, so why not name yours after the city that celebrates it best? Bonus: Salem is also the name of the talkative black kitty in Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
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Color-inspired black cat names
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Inky: For a cat with a coat as glossy and black as ink.
Ebony: Dark tropical timber, synonymous with black beauty.
Midnight: The darkest hour.
Poppy: Inspired by the color of poppy seeds.
Sooty: For a cat who's as black as soot.
Velvet: For a cat whose fur reminds you of black velvet.
Blackjack: Inspired by the popular card game. It's also another word for the classic skull-and-crossbones pirate flag.
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Food-inspired Black Cat Names
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Espresso: For a cat as smooth and dark as your favorite pick-me-up. Bonus points if they really do wake you up in the morning.
Licorice: Black-as-night confection, soft and sweet.
Treacle: Scottish word for black molasses.
Guinness: Famously dark Irish stout.
Pepper: Inspired by roly-poly black peppercorns.
Olive: Not only is Olive a real name, but olives are black. Bonus if your cat's eyes are green. Alternative name: Kalamata.
Caviar: Elegant hors d'oeuvre that pairs well with champagne.
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Mythological black cat names
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Krishna: Widely-revered Hindu deity whose name means "dark" in Sanskrit.
Erebus: Greek god of darkness.
Loki: Norse god of mischief.
Thor: Germanic god of thunderstorms.
Zeus: Greek god of thunderstorms.
Jupiter: Latin god of thunderstorms.
Athena: Greek goddess of wisdom.
Pluto: Roman god of the underworld.
Orion: Hunter in Greek mythology. Also, the name of a constellation in the night sky.
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Pop Culture-Inspired Black Cat Names
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Thackery Binx: Immortal black cat in the 1993 film, Hocus-Pocus.
Bagheera: The wise black panther in The Jungle Book, who protects and mentors Mowgli.
Felix: The star of silent-era cartoon, Felix the Cat
Darth Vader: The dark-cloaked villain in Star Wars.
Morticia: The charming black-gowned Addams Family matriarch.
Wednesday: The sweetly sadistic daughter of Morticia Addams.
Elvira: "Mistress of the Dark" and slinky horror hostess.
Minnaloushe: The black cat referenced in John Butler Yeats' famous poem, "The Cat and the Moon".
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Funny & cute black cat names
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Snowball: Typically reserved for cats with all-white coats, this one is a playful twist of irony. Other options include Casper, Frosty, and Snow White.
Sharpie: For the black cat who is sure to leave a permanent mark on your heart.
Bandit: For the stealthy black cat who's full of mischief.
Jester: For the black cat who can't stop clowning around.
Now for a few "punny" black cat names:
Don Drapurr: A play on Don Draper, the dapper star of Mad Men.
Margaret Scratcher: A play on Margaret Thatcher, former British prime minister.
Purrnest Hemmingway: A play on 20th-century American novelist Ernest Hemingway.
Charles Lickens: A play on 19th century British novelist Charles Dickens.
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Nature-inspired black cat names
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Eclipse: Inspired by the rare astronomical event.
Jet: The gemstone that inspired the term "jet black."
Onyx: Another black gemstone.
Obsidian: Naturally-occurring black volcanic glass.
Galaxy: For the black cat who's a star in your night sky.
Raven: The name of this beautiful crow-like bird is also another word for black.
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International Black Cat Names
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Nero: Italian for black.
Chicco: Italian for coffee bean or grape seed.
Preto: Portuguese for black.
Kuro: Japanese for black.
Chibi: Japanese for small or short.
Akimi: Japanese for beauty.
Schwarz: German for black
Krümel: German for crumb.
Noir: French for "black." Le Chat Noir is a famous French cabaret poster.
Ele' ele: Hawaiian for black.
Pango: Maori for black.
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Celebrity-Inspired Black Cat Names
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Beyoncé: For a fierce and talented feline.
Elvis: For a charismatic and charming black cat.
Bowie: Inspired by the iconic David Bowie, perfect for a creative and expressive kitty.
Streep: For a black cat with an air of elegance, named after the acclaimed actress Meryl Streep.
Jagger: Inspired by Mick Jagger, for a black cat with some serious swagger.
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Literary-Inspired Black Cat Names
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Poe: Inspired by the master of the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe, who wrote "The Black Cat."
Brontë: For a cat with a literary and mysterious air, inspired by the Brontë sisters.
Gatsby: For a stylish and enigmatic feline, inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby."
Darcy: After the brooding, romantic hero of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice."
Rowling: For a magical black cat, inspired by the author of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling.
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Historical Figure-Inspired Black Cat Names
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Cleopatra: For a regal and powerful black cat.
Tesla: For an intelligent and inventive feline, inspired by the famous inventor and engineer Nikola Tesla.
Frida: Inspired by the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, perfect for a strong, independent kitty.
Churchill: For a black cat with a strong and unwavering presence, inspired by the former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Boudica: For a brave and fearless feline, named after the ancient Celtic warrior queen.
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Sport-Inspired Black Cat Names
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Bolt: For a fast and agile black cat, inspired by the legendary sprinter Usain Bolt.
Beckham: For a stylish and athletic feline, inspired by the famous soccer player David Beckham.
Serena: For a powerful and dominant black cat, named after the tennis star Serena Williams.
Kobe: For a talented and driven feline, inspired by the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant.
Gretzky: For a black cat with a natural talent for sports, inspired by the ice hockey great Wayne Gretzky.
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Music-Inspired Black Cat Names
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Hendrix: For a black cat with a free-spirited and creative nature, inspired by the iconic guitarist Jimi Hendrix.
Aretha: For a soulful and powerful feline, named after the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
Sinatra: For a smooth and sophisticated black cat, inspired by the legendary crooner Frank Sinatra.
Mozart: For an intelligent and artistic feline, named after the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Joplin: For a wild and free-spirited black cat, inspired by the singer Janis Joplin.
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Space and Astronomy-Inspired Black Cat Names
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Nebula: For a mysterious and enchanting feline.
Comet: For a fast and bright black cat.
Apollo: For an adventurous and daring feline, inspired by NASA's Apollo missions.
Andromeda: For a black cat that's out of this world, named after the Andromeda Galaxy.
Vega: For a shining and beautiful feline, inspired by one of the brightest stars in the night sky.
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Superhero-Inspired Black Cat Names
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Batman: For a stealthy and mysterious feline, inspired by the Dark Knight.
Storm: For a powerful and commanding black cat, named after the X-Men character.
Nightcrawler: For a black cat with incredible agility and stealth, inspired by the X-Men character known for teleportation and acrobatics.
Mystique: For a shape-shifting and enigmatic black cat, inspired by the X-Men character.
Shadowcat: For a black cat with exceptional agility and stealth, named after the X-Men's Kitty Pryde.
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Gothic and Dark-Inspired Black Cat Names
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Dracula: For a black cat with a mysterious and captivating presence, inspired by the famous vampire.
Morticia: For a dark and elegant feline, inspired by the matriarch of the Addams Family.
Belladonna: For a beautiful yet deadly black cat, named after the poisonous plant.
Nosferatu: For a haunting and eerie feline, inspired by the classic silent horror film.
Ophelia: For a tragic and romantic black cat, named after the character from Shakespeare's "Hamlet."
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Art and Design-Inspired Black Cat Names
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Picasso: For a creative and unique black cat, inspired by the famous painter.
Van Gogh: For a passionate and expressive feline, named after the iconic artist.
Monet: For a black cat with a soft and dreamy nature, inspired by the Impressionist painter.
Dali: For a surreal and eccentric feline, named after the famous surrealist Salvador Dalí.
Kandinsky: For an abstract and unconventional black cat, inspired by the Russian painter and art theorist.
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Animal-Inspired Black Cat Names
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Panther: For a sleek and powerful black cat, inspired by the majestic big cat.
Bear: For a large and cuddly black cat with a gentle nature.
Crow: For a clever and mysterious black cat, named after the intelligent bird.
Puma: For an athletic and agile feline, inspired by the fast and graceful big cat.
Stingray: For a graceful and enigmatic black cat, named after the unique marine creature.