# Need names for kittens **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 30, 2023, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364 "2023-06-30T18:22:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364/1 "2023-06-30T18:22:29Z")
So, we plan to adopt a pair of kittens. We’ve been fostering them, and they came with names, but i don’t particularly like their names, and we’ve just learned that “Richard” is a girl. So I’m looking for something else. Preferably not human names, although my husband suggested “Blanche” for the girl, who is mostly white with little patches of gray tabby. My daughter suggested “Meringue” for that kitten, which would probably be shortened to “Meri”. We plan to keep this one. The others are all black and white. The one we are most likely to keep is a little fuzz ball. I think he will end up with long hair, or at least, medium hair. The other likely choice is mostly black, short haired, with some white markings on the face and feet, and almost invisible stripes. (Lighter black on darker black.) I guess I’ll let whoever adopts the short haired one that’s mostly black with white legs, face, and a white line over the shoulders. The name he came with is “Hilary”, although he’s pretty obviously male. Anyway, both serious and humorous suggestions are welcome. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364/2 "2023-06-30T18:29:14Z")
You do know pictures are required? Meri or Merry or Marie are good kitten names. * * * Did you foster to adopt or are these foster fails? ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364/3 "2023-06-30T18:30:30Z")
Eh, Hilary can be a male name. But it’s not a very “cat-ish” name IMHO. Suggestions: Paws Bandito Ashes Spot Dragon Mumford Sasha ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364/4 "2023-06-30T18:47:12Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > You do know pictures are required? Sadly, I’m not willing to host photos in some random place just to show them here. I have lots of photos, of course. > [@What\_Exit](#): > > Did you foster to adopt or are these foster fails? The former. We’ve been planning to adopt some kittens since our last cat from the prior batch died. Rachel, the elderly cat who escaped and was recovered, is new to us, but we wanted more cats, and told the shelter that we might adopt some from them. I’m a little allergic to cats, and much more allergic to some than to others, so I’m a huge fan of the “foster to adopt” path. It makes it really easy to give my immune system a good workout, and to get rid of anyone who isn’t a good match without harm. We’ll probably take a break in fostering after we adopt these, so we can spend enough time with them. But i expect to foster other cats for the shelter going forward. We have the space, kittens are fun, and we can provide much more comfortable accommodations for older cats than the shelter can. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364/5 "2023-06-30T18:48:17Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Eh, Hilary can be a male name. But it’s not a very “cat-ish” name IMHO. I agree with both those points. But our friends plans to adopt him, so I’m not working on a name for him. Also, i really like Ashes. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364/6 "2023-06-30T19:36:33Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > almost invisible stripes. (Lighter black on darker black.) I’ve heard that described as ‘black masking tabby’. If this one is a he, and if he’s black and masking, how about Zorro? ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364/7 "2023-06-30T19:54:56Z")
When I was 12, my white cat, Cotton, had kittens, two black, two white (one of which was a runt, and didn’t live very long), and one white one with three little black spots on her head. We called the black ones Gomez and Morticia, the surviving white one Elvira, and the spotted one Grits. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364/8 "2023-06-30T20:03:22Z")
Mittens Socks Jasper or, Sprinkles ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364/9 "2023-06-30T20:10:13Z")
Oreo is an obvious choice for a black with white markings (tuxedo). Most tuxedos are very sweet and affectionate, by the way, or so my tux is telling me to say at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364/10 "2023-06-30T20:16:54Z")
Felix Sylvester Mr. Sassypants Emergency Food Supply ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364/11 "2023-06-30T20:16:59Z")
Hosting for @puzzlegal; She’ll have to let us know who’s who? I love the first one especially. [![](https://i.postimg.cc/jSCk6Dks/Puzzle-Gal-Kittens-2.jpg) ](https://i.postimg.cc/jSCk6Dks/Puzzle-Gal-Kittens-2.jpg) [![](https://i.postimg.cc/qMJFRbs6/Puzzle-Gal-Kittens-3.jpg) ](https://i.postimg.cc/qMJFRbs6/Puzzle-Gal-Kittens-3.jpg) [![](https://i.postimg.cc/qM15Cswb/Puzzle-Gal-Kittens-4.jpg) ](https://i.postimg.cc/qM15Cswb/Puzzle-Gal-Kittens-4.jpg) [![](https://i.postimg.cc/SQ75mFMp/Puzzle-Gal-Kittens-5.jpg) ](https://i.postimg.cc/SQ75mFMp/Puzzle-Gal-Kittens-5.jpg) [![](https://i.postimg.cc/MHDr5VSG/Puzzle-Gal-Kittens-1.jpg) ](https://i.postimg.cc/MHDr5VSG/Puzzle-Gal-Kittens-1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364/12 "2023-06-30T20:17:22Z")
Buddies ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364/13 "2023-06-30T20:27:12Z")
Ooh, thanks, @What_Exit ! I can give you their current names, but i wonder if that spoils you to come up with new ones? I’ll hide the names, and you can decide. The first one, Brian, the fuzziest, is the one we will probably keep. He cuddles around my head. The second one, Robert, mostly white, we plan to keep for sure. She is my husband’s favorite, and I think she will grow up to be a nice lap cat. Maybe she’s my favorite, too. The third, one Hilary, like a less fuzzy version of the first one, is going to friends. He’s the most active, and their kids like playing with him. Also, they had already decided they want a tuxedo cat, which he is. The fourth, Bruce, is mostly black. He’s the quietest, and was probably the runt of his litter. (I believe this is two kittens from each of two litters, that were sick and had to be reared by a volunteer.) We might keep him, if we don’t keep the first. He tends to suckle on the neck of the third, and if we think that’s bothering the third enough and want to split them up, we might keep him instead of the first. They are all charming kittens, and very friendly. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364/14 "2023-06-30T20:28:34Z")
And yes, they are all sitting on my belly in that last photo. Also, my daughter vetoed “ashes”, because her last cat was cremated and that freaks her out. My husband suggested “blanche” for the white one. That might stick. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364/15 "2023-06-30T21:13:32Z")
Frank Muir suggestions for what to name kittens after: An obscure renaissance sculptor An English village (West Country - not home counties) A spice discovered in the 14th century, but now lost to history A character referred to in a Sam Cooke song Etc ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364/16 "2023-06-30T22:20:21Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Preferably not human names Pets should always have gender-blind human names, since it creates more space for confusing people. Which should be the #1 goal in all of our human interactions: Acquaintance: “Hey, are you free for lunch tomorrow?” You: “I don’t know. I’d like to, but Bob has been feeling poorly and throwing up a lot. I’ll have to see how it goes.” A: “Oh, is Bob your boyfriend?” Y: “No, she’s my cat.” Barring that, the next best bet (confusion-wise) is to name them after different animals, a la Kinkajou and Cacomistle. Y:“I had to take my pet, Kinkajou, to the vet.” A: “Oh my God! You have a pet kinkajou! Can I come meet it someday!” Y: “Sure, I guess. I didn’t know you were that into cats.” A: 🤨 Personally I think their current names are perfectly cromulent. But if you must go with something new, I’d go with Savage Dictator (aka “savvy”) and Imperious Overlord (aka “impy”). ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364/17 "2023-06-30T22:20:28Z")
For me, it would be “cat” and “cat”. I suppose you could be clever and spell one with a “K”, if differentiation is needed. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364/18 "2023-06-30T22:53:28Z")
Dammit and Little Shit. StG ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364/19 "2023-06-30T23:22:20Z")
They are currently producing more than a little shit. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364/20 "2023-06-30T23:30:13Z")
Whatever you do, don’t name any of them Abomination. It didn’t go well. > [@Tamerlane](#): > > Pets should always have gender-blind human names, since it creates more space for confusing people. Which should be the #1 goal in all of our human interactions: I have a friend with a cat named Mrs. Norris, and boy does that result in some fun misunderstandings. Even though I know the cat, I always do a double take. “Mrs. Norris was scratching at the door to be let out and then took a swipe at me.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-names-for-kittens/986364.md?page=2)