Black Cat Names: 80 Ideas for Male and Female Cats

Black cat names can celebrate a dark coat, a favourite story or a personality that has nothing to do with colour. Here are 80 ideas in five distinct styles. Start with a theme, then test a shortlist of three.

For more styles beyond colour, browse our full cat-name guide. The Dog & Cat Name Generator is another way to find suggestions.

Black cat names inspired by night and space

These names use evening and sky imagery. A small white patch might suggest Starlight; a quiet arrival could suggest Dusk. These are creative prompts, not a claim about a cat’s temperament.

• Comet
• Cosmos
• Dusk
• Eclipse
• Galaxy
• Midnight
• Moon
• Nebula
• Nightfall
• Nova
• Orbit
• Shadow
• Starlight
• Twilight
• Umbra
• Vesper

Male black cat names with a familiar feel

For black cat names male cats can grow into, compare a friendly nickname with a formal version. Walter and Walt may tell you quickly which style you prefer. Any of these can suit a cat of any sex.

• Alfie
• Angus
• Barney
• Bert
• Cecil
• Chester
• Clyde
• Duncan
• Edwin
• Frank
• Gilbert
• Harold
• Mortimer
• Norman
• Reggie
• Walter

Female black cat names and softer sounds

Female black cat names do not need a spooky theme. This list is useful if you want a familiar name that stands on its own, whether your cat is shy, bold or still settling in.

• Agatha
• Anya
• Astrid
• Belle
• Cleo
• Dahlia
• Elvira
• Flora
• Greta
• Hattie
• Iris
• Lydia
• Mavis
• Nellie
• Opal
• Violet

Cute black kitten names and playful contrasts

Cute black cat names can come from an everyday object or a contrast that makes your family smile. Snowball is deliberate wordplay; the name does not need to describe your kitten literally.

• Bean
• Biscuit
• Buttons
• Cookie
• Cricket
• Fizz
• Jellybean
• Lentil
• Miso
• Muffin
• Noodle
• Pepper
• Pip
• Snowball
• Socks
• Toast

Names for a black cat inspired by textures and colour

Think about the particular coat you see in daylight: a soft sheen, a smoky shade or a glossy finish. Names inspired by food are not advice to offer those foods to a cat.

• Ash
• Carbon
• Cinder
• Coal
• Ebony
• Graphite
• Ink
• Jet
• Liquorice
• Obsidian
• Onyx
• Raven
• Sable
• Satin
• Slate
• Velvet

Choose a name beyond the coat

Write one detail that is not visual: a favourite resting spot, a funny household ritual or the place where you met. Then compare that detail with your colour-based shortlist. You might prefer Velvet because of a blanket, rather than because of fur.

A simple example: “Mavis—Grandma’s suggestion; Orbit—our favourite hobby; Cricket—the little sound we keep hearing.” This is a naming exercise, not a behaviour assessment.

Make the first photo part of the story

Our cat photography guide helps you plan a gentle photo session. Record the date and why you chose the name. If you want a dedicated keepsake, Your Pet Memory offers interactive photo and story fields plus a separate printable PDF; no physical book is shipped.

Black cat name questions

What are the best black cat names?

Choose a name you like for more than its theme. Onyx, Mavis and Bean are three different starting points; none is objectively the best.

Can I use these as names for female black cats?

Yes. The male and female labels make browsing easier, but the suggestions are flexible.

Should black kittens have different names from adult cats?

They do not need separate rules. Consider both the full name and its nickname so the choice still feels comfortable later.

Name lists are original editorial suggestions, not a popularity survey or a promise that a name is unique worldwide. Names can suit pets of any sex. Word associations describe our inspiration, not verified name etymologies.

Photo by Zooey Li on Unsplash.