What Are The Cutest Cartoon Cat Names For Kittens?

There's a cheeky energy that makes cartoon-cat names feel like they were tailor-made for a rowdy tabby, and I love throwing together lists for that exact vibe. If my tabby were a character in 'Tom and Jerry', I'd call him 'Tom' with a grin — it's classic, chase-ready, and comes with slapstick potential. 'Sylvester' from the old 'Looney Tunes' shows has that lisping, scheming charm that fits a cat who always thinks he's one whisker away from a big score. 'Cheshire' (a nod to 'Alice in Wonderland') suits a cat who disappears, reappears, and leaves smug little toothy smiles behind. For a more sarcastic, lounge-around-but-make-trouble style, 'Garfield' is perfect even if your tabby is more into mischief than lasagna. I once named a foster tabby 'Salem' after 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch' because he loved stealing socks and plotting late-night raids on the pantry. Other fun picks: 'Felix' for the mischievous classic, 'Jiji' from 'Kiki's Delivery Service' for a smaller, snarky type, or 'Hobbes' for an energetic tabby who doubles as a stuffed tiger in your lap. When I pick a name, I try it out like a costume for a week — some names grow into the cat, others flounce away. In the end, the one that makes me laugh first thing in the morning usually wins.

Names like 'Garfield' or the Cheshire Cat do half the character work for you — they set a mood, a speed, and a snack preference before the first scene. For me, cartoon cat names land on a spectrum from blunt descriptors to sly irony. A name like 'Garfield' telegraphs lazy, lasagna-loving sarcasm; you expect slow smiles and barbed one-liners. Contrast that with 'Puss in Boots' — you picture swagger, charm, and dramatic swordplay. Even short, classic names like 'Tom' bring to mind non-stop chase energy and slapstick resilience because of the legacy of 'Tom and Jerry'. I also notice that visual style and voice inform name choices. Big, round, soft cats often get cutesy, friendly names; sleek, angular designs get sharper, edgier names. Mystical or eccentric cats end up with names that hint at otherworldliness — think of the nameless smirk of the Cheshire Cat in 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' or the knowing dry wit of 'Salem' from 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch'. Those names shape how we interpret their actions; a cryptic name invites us to read their scenes twice. On a practical fan note, I love how these names influence cosplay or pet naming. Naming a real cat 'Jiji' or 'Felix' already nudges you toward certain behaviors and props in pictures. It’s playful shorthand: the name suggests a personality script you can dress it up with, whether you’re writing fanfic, making comics, or just scrolling through late-night memes. Personally, it makes me smile to watch a tiny, sassy cat live up to a big, storied name.

Naming a calico kitten after the 'Warrior Cats' universe is such a fun way to honor their unique coat! Calicos have that striking mix of orange, black, and white, so I’d lean into colors or patterns for inspiration. Think 'Patchpelt' for a messy splotch of fur or 'Emberfleck' if they have fiery orange spots. Clan roles matter too—maybe 'Briarshadow' for a stealthy kitten or 'Sunstripe' for one who basks in sunlight. Personality plays a huge part. Is your kitten bold? 'Tigerheart' fits. Playful? 'Dapplejump'. Don’t forget nature themes—'Ferncloud' or 'Ripplestep' sound soft yet wild. I once named a feisty calico 'Stormwhisker' because she’d pounce like thunder. The key is mixing their looks, vibe, and a dash of Clan lore!

Picking a name for a new furry roommate makes me secretly giddy, and I love matching cartoon vibes to personality. If your cat is a sly, nighttime prowler, I reach for names like Tom (from 'Tom and Jerry'), Luna (a nod to moonlit antics), or even Sylvester if they’re theatrical and chase anything that moves. For dogs that are goofy and loyal, I always consider Scooby, Snoopy (from 'Peanuts'), or Odie — names that breathe personality before the pup even learns 'sit'. I split my favorites into playful categories: classic slapstick ('Tom and Jerry', 'Looney Tunes' vibes), sweet and soft ('My Neighbor Totoro' inspired Totoro or Mei for an adorably small cat), and anime-flavored for high-energy pals (short, punchy names like Naruto or Luffy work brilliantly for energetic dogs). Don’t be afraid of puns — 'Paws' for a small dog or 'Whiskerburst' for a dramatic cat can be hilarious. I like thinking about how a name sounds at the vet’s office vs. at the park; try calling it out loud to see if it fits. Picking a name is half the joy of bringing them home, and I usually end up laughing at the ones I test-drive the most.

I'm a huge fan of goofy name-picking rituals, so when someone asks what cartoon-cat names suit black cats best, my brain lights up like a neon sign. For a sleek, mysterious kitty that stalks the windowsill, I immediately think of names that lean into shadowplay and classic cartoon cool: 'Felix the Cat' vibes give you Felix or just Felix for a timeless, vintage feel; 'Sailor Moon' brings 'Luna', which feels soft and magical; and 'Kiki's Delivery Service' gives 'Jiji'—short, snappy, and perfect for a chatty companion. If your cat is more mischievous and theatrical, names like Salem or Cheshire nod to the trickster archetype and carry that sly, animated grin energy. I also love playing with contrasts. A fluffy black cat named 'Midnight' or 'Noir' reads elegant and cinematic, while a goofy, food-obsessed black cat named 'Pudding' or 'Nibbles' becomes instantly charming. For fans of the spooky side of cartoons, pulling from darker shows or films can be fun: 'Salem' (the sarcastic familiar), 'Cheshire' (from 'Alice in Wonderland'), or even 'Bagheera' (from 'The Jungle Book') if your cat has a panther-like presence. I tend to watch a lot of older cartoons and animated films, so I often mash up nicknames — 'Night-Felix', 'Luna-Mischief', 'Jiji-Shadow' — until it clicks. Honestly, I enjoy the naming process almost as much as playing with the cat afterward; whatever you pick, it should make you grin when you call it, and that’s the real test.

I keep a running shortlist of cat names inspired by anime because every new show seems to drop the perfect little moniker into my brain. Some are literal — the cameo pets from big series — and some are just inspired by a character’s vibe. If your cat is elegant and nocturnal, 'Luna' or 'Artemis' from 'Sailor Moon' are obvious picks; for a sassy little black cat, 'Jiji' from 'Kiki's Delivery Service' nails it. I also love 'Chi' from 'Chi's Sweet Home' for kittens that are tiny and curious, and 'Kirara' from 'Inuyasha' for a fluffy, two-tailed vibe. Beyond the obvious, there are so many playful or cool options: 'Nyanko' or 'Madara' (the big grumpy cat in 'Natsume's Book of Friends') if your kitty has personality; 'Happy' or 'Carla' from 'Fairy Tail' for chatty, affectionate cats; 'Meowth' or 'Persian' from 'Pokémon' for a cat that looks like it’s plotting world domination. If you want something quirky, 'Bananya' (the banana-cat) is perfect for a silly lap cat, and 'Gatomon' from 'Digimon' works well for a brave little hunter. I usually match the name to appearance and temperament — 'Shiro' for white cats, 'Kuro' for black ones, or 'Tama' for a classic Japanese-flavored name. Adding a cutesy suffix like -chan or a nickname (Lunu for 'Luna', Jiji → Ji) makes it cozier. I once called a mischievous orange tabby 'Sakamoto' after the talking cat in 'Nichijou' and it just fit like a glove. Naming cats after anime characters is half homage and half personality match, and I end up smiling every time I call them, which is the whole point to me.

Little black furballs deserve names that click — short, snappy, and a tiny bit mischievous. I tend to favor names with one or two syllables because they stick in a kitten’s ears and make recall training easier, plus they suit the sleek, shadowy vibe of a black coat. If you want personality-based choices, try 'Nyx' (a twilight goddess feel), 'Jiji' (playful and instantly reminds me of 'Kiki's Delivery Service'), 'Onyx' (stone-solid and elegant), 'Sable' (soft luxury), or 'Noir' (a chic, Parisian whisper). For ultra-cute, consider 'Mimi', 'Pip', or 'Kit'; for slightly witchy or mystical, I like 'Nyx', 'Nox', or 'Rune'. Different names give off different day-to-day energy, so I match them to behavior. If your kitten is a talker, go with something clipped like 'Zee' or 'Tess' that naturally carries when she meows back. If she’s a lap-sleeper who purrs like a tiny engine, 'Velvet' or 'Coco' fits. For an aloof, regal vibe choose 'Onyx' or 'Sable'; for a curious darting sprite pick 'Pip', 'Tiki', or 'Jazz'. Pop-culture nods are fun too: 'Jiji' (from 'Kiki's Delivery Service') and 'Luna' (from 'Sailor Moon') both feel perfect for black queens with attitude, and they’re short so training stays simple. I once had a tiny melancholy kitten and tried out four names over a weekend — by Monday she fully owned 'Nyx' and I knew it was right. Practical tip: say a name out loud while offering treats; the one that makes you grin when she looks up is usually the winner. Also think about nicknames that can come naturally — 'Ony', 'Nix', 'Pip' — they give flexibility as she grows. Whatever you pick, I find short names make for cute Instagram captions and quicker recalls, and that little black shadow at your feet will answer no matter what you call her. She’ll probably end up renaming you, anyway — but 'Nyx' keeps sounding perfect to me.

If you want the deep, dusty gems, start where historians and collectors hang out online — that’s been my golden rule for finding rare vintage cartoon cat names. I love digging into archives like the Internet Archive and HathiTrust because they host old film catalogs, children's book scans, and studio publicity that list character names most modern indexes skip. Search their catalogs with era filters (1920s–1950s, for example) and keywords like 'cat', 'kitten', 'feline', or studio names such as Fleischer, MGM, Warner Bros., and Famous Studios. You'll pull up production notes, lobby cards, and program booklets that name one-off or regional characters you won't see on Wikipedia. Another place I live in online is specialist comic and animation databases: the Big Cartoon Database (BCDB), Lambiek Comiclopedia, Comic Book Plus, and the archived pages of 'Toonopedia'. Those sites often catalog obscure newspaper strips and international comics where cats had strange, wonderful names. Don’t skip newspaper archives — Newspapers.com, the British Newspaper Archive, Trove (Australia) and Chronicling America (Library of Congress) are treasure troves for local cartoon strips that gave side characters memorable names. Finally, use fandom wikis, vintage toy and ephemera marketplaces (Etsy, eBay), and collector forums. Search YouTube for compilations of silent and early sound cartoons, then check the video descriptions and comments for name leads. When I’m hunting, I also go multilingual — search Spanish, French, or German terms for 'cat cartoon' to find European strips with wildly unique names. It’s a rabbit hole, but finding a perfectly peculiar vintage cat name is worth the rabbit-hole vibes — I always come up grinning.

The world of cartoon cat characters in books is absolutely packed with iconic figures that have charmed generations. One that immediately springs to mind is the mischievous yet lovable 'Garfield' by Jim Davis. His lazy, lasagna-loving antics have been a staple since the late '70s, and his sarcastic humor resonates with both kids and adults. Then there’s 'The Cheshire Cat' from 'Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland'—that enigmatic grin and cryptic dialogue make him unforgettable. For younger readers, 'Pete the Cat' by James Dean is a modern favorite with his cool, laid-back attitude and colorful adventures teaching life lessons. Another classic is 'Skippyjon Jones' by Judy Schachner, a Siamese cat with a wild imagination who believes he’s a Chihuahua superhero. His bilingual puns and energetic stories are a hit with kids. And let’s not forget 'Thomasina' from the novel 'The Three Lives of Thomasina', a poignant tale about a cat’s journey through different lives. Each of these characters brings something unique—whether it’s humor, mystery, or heart—and they’ve all left paw prints on literary history.

I love diving into name hunts, and if you want a cartoon-themed baby girl list, there are a bunch of pleasant places to start. My first stop is usually name-focused sites like Nameberry and BabyNames.com — they often run themed lists (think ‘Disney’ or ‘cartoon’ inspired). BuzzFeed, PopSugar, and Romper also post fun roundups titled something like ‘Cartoon Baby Names’. For deeper dives, fandom wikis on Fandom (search a show like 'Sailor Moon' or 'Adventure Time') give full character rosters you can comb through. I like to make a tiny spreadsheet and note pronunciation, origin, and any meaning so I don’t pick something that’s weird in another language. If you want more visual inspiration, Pinterest boards and Instagram accounts with baby-name aesthetics are gold — they often link back to source lists. And don’t forget classic places like the Social Security site to check how popular a name already is. Personally, I get a kick imagining nicknames and middle-name combos as I collect names; it turns the research into a little creative project that I actually enjoy.