Black Cat Names: 150 Ideas for Boys, Girls and Halloween

A black cat deserves a name as striking as its coat. Below are 150 black cat names, grouped by style – spooky, elegant, cute, funny, food-inspired, nature and mythology – with picks for boys, girls and any cat. Read them out loud and watch which one makes your cat's ears turn.

Want names that match your cat's exact personality? Describe your cat in the free cat name generator and get 20 fresh ideas in seconds.

Spooky and Halloween black cat names

Perfect if your cat arrived in October – or just acts like it owns the night.

1. Salem
2. Raven
3. Hex
4. Spooky
5. Shadow
6. Phantom
7. Midnight
8. Wednesday
9. Grimm
10. Morticia
11. Banshee
12. Spellbound
13. Cauldron
14. Wraith
15. Nightshade
16. Pumpkin
17. Specter
18. Hocus
19. Pocus
20. Elvira
21. Bat
22. Crypt
23. Omen
24. Moonshadow
25. Jinx

Elegant black cat names

For the cat that walks into a room like it's on a runway.

26. Onyx
27. Obsidian
28. Velvet
29. Noir
30. Ebony
31. Sable
32. Jet
33. Duchess
34. Coco
35. Celeste
36. Midnight Rose
37. Cleo
38. Bastian
39. Sterling
40. Ink
41. Raven Belle
42. Opal
43. Ophelia
44. Lord Byron
45. Isadora

Cute black cat names

Short, sweet and easy to call across the house.

46. Bean
47. Pip
48. Inky
49. Smudge
50. Button
51. Puddle
52. Boots
53. Blackberry
54. Mittens
55. Dot
56. Fig
57. Peppy
58. Tux (for a black cat with a white chest)
59. Socks (for white paws)
60. Ziggy

Funny black cat names

If your cat knocks things off tables for fun, it has earned one of these.

61. Void
62. Sir Hiss-a-Lot
63. Dark Lord Fluff
64. Batcat
65. Blackout
66. Dusty (for a cat who's never been dusty)
67. Sir Pounce
68. Taxes
69. Toaster
70. Ninja
71. Professor Purr
72. Captain Midnight
73. Meowrticia
74. Lord Floof
75. Sergeant Shadow

Food-inspired black cat names

Dark and delicious, like your cat.

76. Licorice
77. Pepper
78. Domino (for black-and-white cats)
79. Espresso
80. Mocha
81. Truffle
82. Olive
83. Fudge
84. Brownie
85. Sesame
86. Caviar
87. Poppy Seed
88. Bean Dip
89. Black Bean
90. Mochi
91. Nori
92. Cocoa
93. Java
94. Molasses
95. Blackberry Jam

Nature and space black cat names

For a cat with a calm, cosmic vibe.

96. Eclipse
97. Nova
98. Luna
99. Orion
100. Comet
101. Storm
102. Thunder
103. Ember
104. Cinder
105. Ash
106. Coal
107. Nyx
108. Galaxy
109. Starling
110. Crow
111. Rook
112. Panther
113. Twilight
114. Night Sky
115. Pluto

Mythology and literature names

Black cats have a long history in folklore. These names nod to it.

116. Bastet (Egyptian cat goddess)
117. Freya (Norse goddess whose chariot is pulled by cats)
118. Hecate (Greek goddess of magic)
119. Loki (Norse trickster)
120. Morgana (from Arthurian legend)
121. Merlin
122. Poe (after the writer of dark tales)
123. Lenore
124. Nyx (Greek goddess of night)
125. Erebus (Greek god of darkness)
126. Hades
127. Persephone
128. Anubis
129. Odin
130. Circe

Boy black cat names

A quick list of strong picks for male cats.

131. Jet
132. Bruno
133. Shadow
134. Onyx
135. Ozzy
136. Bandit
137. Ace
138. Felix
139. Zorro
140. Diesel

Girl black cat names

A quick list of favorites for female cats.

141. Luna
142. Raven
143. Willow
144. Coco
145. Nyx
146. Jade (for green eyes)
147. Bella
148. Ivy
149. Stormy
150. Pearl

How to choose the right name for your black cat

• Look at the eyes. Many black cats have striking gold, amber or green eyes. Names like Amber, Jade or Ember play off that contrast.
• Watch the personality for a week. A shy cat might suit Velvet or Bean; a chaos goblin might be a Jinx or a Void.
• Keep it to one or two syllables. Cats tend to respond better to short names they hear often, and short names are easier to call at dinner time.
• Say it out loud – a lot. You'll say this name thousands of times. If it feels awkward on day one, it won't get better.
• Avoid names that sound like commands. "Kit" sounds a lot like "sit", and "Bo" sounds like "no".

Black cats and superstition

In some cultures a black cat crossing your path is bad luck; in others, such as parts of the UK and Japan, black cats have traditionally been seen as signs of good luck. Today, many cat lovers celebrate them, and Black Cat Appreciation Day is marked each year on August 17. Whatever the folklore, a black cat is just a cat – often a very affectionate one.

Get more names with the cat name generator

Still stuck? Describe your cat in the free cat name generator – for example "a black kitten with yellow eyes, sneaky and dramatic" – choose a style like Cute, Funny, Elegant or Mythical, and you'll get 20 original names with a short note on why each one fits. It's free and needs no sign-up.

Have a dog too? Try the dog name generator.

FAQ

What is a good name for a black cat? Classic choices include Salem, Shadow, Midnight, Luna and Onyx. If you want something less common, try Nyx, Obsidian, Licorice or Eclipse.

What are good black cat names for Halloween? Spooky picks include Hex, Phantom, Banshee, Hocus, Wednesday and Nightshade. See the Halloween section above for 25 ideas.

What should I name a black cat with yellow eyes? Play on the contrast: Ember, Amber, Eclipse, Goldie or Sunspot all work well.

Should I give my cat a human name? Many people do – names like Felix, Ivy, Bella or Oscar are popular. Choose whatever you enjoy saying; your cat will learn it either way.