Black cat names are easy to love and hard to photograph, but they are never hard to name. That glossy dark coat opens the door to dozens of ideas, from gems and night skies to witches, myths and your favourite cartoon.
This guide gives you more than 100 black cat names, grouped by theme so you can jump straight to the style you like. You will also find words for “black” in Urdu, Arabic, Japanese and other languages, ideas based on eye colour, and a few simple tests to help you decide.
Most Popular Black Cat Names
Some names show up on nearly every list of black cat names, and it is easy to see why. They are short, simple to call across the house and they suit a dark coat without trying too hard.
| Name | Why it works |
| Shadow | Suits the quiet cat that follows you from room to room. |
| Midnight | A classic that works for any gender. |
| Luna | Latin for moon, a soft contrast to a dark coat. |
| Salem | The talking black cat from Sabrina the Teenage Witch. |
| Onyx | A glossy black gemstone, ideal for a shiny coat. |
| Pepper | Good for a small kitten with a spicy temper. |
| Raven | Borrowed from the bird known for its black feathers. |
| Jet | Short, sleek and unisex. |
| Binx | The black cat from the film Hocus Pocus. Easy to call. |
| Smokey | A gentler pick for a cat with a slightly smoky shine. |
If you want something less common, keep reading. The sections below move from coat-based ideas to stories, myths and languages.
Black Cat Names Inspired by the Coat
The simplest black cat names are to look at that coat and borrow from things that share the same colour. These ideas fall into a few small groups.
Gems, stones and dark woods
Dark stones and woods suit a cat with a deep, glossy coat. Many of these sound elegant but are still short enough to call out loud.
| Name | Meaning |
| Onyx | A black or banded gemstone |
| Jet | A dense black gemstone made from fossilised wood |
| Obsidian | Black volcanic glass |
| Ebony | A very dark hardwood |
| Basalt | A dark volcanic rock |
| Sable | A dark animal fur, and the colour black in heraldry |
| Flint | A hard, dark stone |
| Cinder | A piece of burnt ember |
| Graphite | The dark grey-black material in pencils |
| Coal | The black fuel, and a simple name for a jet-black cat |
Ink, smoke and shadows
These names play on the way a black cat seems to blend into dark corners. They are a good fit for a cat that appears out of nowhere.
- Shadow: the all-time favourite
- Soot: the fine black powder left by smoke
- Ink: short and neat
- Shade: a cool, shaded spot
- Phantom: for a cat that moves silently
- Ninja: for a stealthy jumper
- Noir: French for black, also a dark film style
- Eclipse: when the sun disappears behind the moon
Night and sky Black Cat Names
Black cat names often look like a piece of the night sky with eyes. That makes space and evening names a natural match.
- Midnight: the middle of the night
- Dusk: the fading light after sunset
- Vesper: Latin for evening
- Orion: a bright constellation named after a hunter in Greek myth
- Sirius: the brightest star in the night sky
- Nebula: a cloud of gas and dust in space
- Comet: a fast-moving ball of ice and dust
- Cosmo: short for cosmos
- Astro: a cheerful, playful space
Food and drink names
Dark foods make cute black cat names, especially for kittens. They also tend to be easy to say and easy to remember.
- Pepper: black pepper
- Licorice: a dark, chewy sweet
- Espresso: strong, dark coffee
- Mocha: coffee with chocolate
- Truffle: a rich chocolate sweet
- Cocoa: warm and dark
- Olive: a classic for a female black cat
- Blackberry: a dark, juicy fruit
- Brownie: dark, soft and sweet
- Cola: a dark fizzy drink
Male and Female Black Cat Names
Cats do not care about gender when it comes to names, so treat these as starting points rather than rules. Many of the names above work for any cat, and the ones below are simply a few extra ideas that people often link to girls or boys.
For female black cat names, these names work well:
- Raven: sleek and bird-like
- Vesper: soft and elegant
- Cleo: short for Cleopatra, a nod to ancient Egypt
- Pearl: a black pearl is rare and prized
- Esmeralda: Spanish for emerald, a lovely match for green eyes
- Ophelia: a literary name with a dramatic feel
For a male black cat, these names fit well:
- Nero: Italian for black
- Jett: a stylish spelling of Jet
- Bandit: for a cat with a cheeky streak
- Merlin: the wizard of legend
- Duke: a regal name for a calm cat
- Zorro: the masked hero who dresses in black
Black Cat Names From Movies, Books and Cartoons
Fiction is full of dark cats, and some of the best picks come straight from the screen or the page. If you pick one, you also get a ready-made story to tell guests.
| Name | Where it comes from |
| Jiji | The sarcastic black cat in the Studio Ghibli film Kiki’s Delivery Service |
| Pluto | The cat in Edgar Allan Poe’s story The Black Cat |
| Behemoth | The huge black cat in Mikhail Bulgakov’s novel The Master and Margarita |
| Felix | The classic black cartoon character Felix the Cat |
| Luna | The black cat adviser in the anime Sailor Moon |
| Bagheera | The black panther in The Jungle Book |
| Toothless | The black dragon in How to Train Your Dragon, popular with cat owners |
| Vader | Darth Vader from Star Wars, known for his black armour |
| Wednesday | A character from The Addams Family, known for her dark style |
| Poe | The writer behind The Black Cat, short and easy to call |
Witchy and Halloween Black Cat Names
Halloween is close, which makes this a good time to think about spooky options. Witchy names are playful rather than frightening, and many have a story behind them.
- Elvira: the horror hostess known for her black dress
- Morticia: the elegant matriarch of The Addams Family
- Elphaba: the green witch from Wicked
- Bellatrix: a Harry Potter villain, and also a star in the Orion constellation
- Hex: a spell or curse
- Cauldron: the witch’s big cooking pot
- Broomstick: a witch’s ride, funny for a cat that zooms around
- Spell: short and magical
- Boo: a friendly ghostly name
- Spooky: a simple, fun Halloween pick
Myth and Legend Names
Ancient stories give black cats a regal feel. These names come from gods, spirits and myths, and they work well for a cat that acts like it owns the house.
- Bastet: the Egyptian goddess linked with homes and protection, often shown with a cat’s head
- Nyx: the Greek goddess of night
- Hecate: a Greek goddess linked with magic and the night
- Anubis: the jackal-headed Egyptian god, often shown with black skin
- Erebus: the Greek personification of darkness
- Huginn: one of Odin’s two ravens in Norse myth, meaning thought
- Muninn: Odin’s other raven, meaning memory
If you are choosing a name tied to a faith or culture, it is worth reading a little about it first. Most people simply enjoy the sound and the story, but a short check avoids awkward moments later.
Words for Black in Other Languages
Another easy trick is to use the word “black” in a different language. It sounds unusual, but it still describes your cat perfectly. This is a section many lists skip, and it includes words from South Asia and the Middle East.
| Name | Language and meaning |
| Kuro | Japanese for black |
| Nero | Italian for black |
| Noir | French for black |
| Preto | Portuguese for black |
| Schwarz | German for black |
| Kala | Hindi and Urdu for black |
| Siyah | Persian for black, also widely used in Urdu |
| Aswad | Arabic for black |
| Kara | Turkish for black |
| Dubh | Irish for black, pronounced roughly like “duv” |
| Mavro | Greek for black |
| Madow | Somali for black |
Kuro is a good fit if you like a short name, while Siyah and Aswad feel more elegant. Always check the spelling and pronunciation with a native speaker before you commit, since some words change slightly between regions.
Names Based on Eye Colour
Black cats often have gold, amber or green eyes, and the contrast is striking. Matching the name to the eyes is a smart way to stand out from the usual Shadow and Midnight.
Kittens are born with blue eyes, and the final colour settles over the first few months. If you can wait, pick the name after the colour has changed.
- Amber: for golden-orange eyes
- Honey: for warm golden eyes
- Topaz: a yellow gemstone, great for bright eyes
- Marigold: for deep yellow-orange eyes
- Jade: for green eyes
- Clover: a fresh, lucky choice for green eyes
- Moss: for soft green eyes
- Penny: for copper-toned eyes
Personality-Based Black Cat Names
After a week or two at home, your cat will show who it really is.Personality based black cat names can feel more natural than a colour name, because it describes the cat you actually live with.
- Bandit: for the cat that steals socks and snacks
- Gremlin: for a cat that gets the midnight zoomies
- Houdini: for an escape artist
- Trouble: for a cat that finds mischief everywhere
- Velvet: for a soft, calm cat
- Mochi: for a squishy, sleepy cat
- Opera: for a very talkative cat
- Panther: for a sleek, confident cat
Black Cats, Luck and Why the Name Matters
Few animals have been judged as harshly as the black cat. In parts of Europe, black cats have long been linked with witches and bad omens. Some writers trace the stereotype to the Middle Ages and the Church, though historians do not all agree on how much weight that story deserves.
Other places see black cats very differently. In Japan, black cats are often seen as lucky, and in parts of Britain a black cat crossing your path is considered good fortune. In ancient Egypt, cats were respected and linked with the goddess Bastet.
This long history is why so many black cat names lean into mystery. It is also why a warm, friendly name can feel like a small act of kindness. Shelters often say black cats can wait longer for a home, although the figures differ by place, so a name like Sunny or Pepper is a nice way to show off a cat’s character.
Two dates are worth knowing. Black Cat Appreciation Day is marked on August 17 in the United States, and National Black Cat Day is observed on October 27 in the UK. Both are good moments to share your cat’s name story.
How to Choose Right Black Cat Names
A long list is fun, but it can also make the final choice harder. These simple checks help you to choose black cat names
- Keep it short. One or two syllables are easier to call, and easier to shout from the back door.
- Say it out loud. Call it across the room and imagine saying it at the vet’s front desk. If it feels awkward, move on.
- Avoid command sounds. Names that sound like words you use often, such as No or Sit, can cause confusion.
- Think long term. A kitten called Tiny will not stay tiny. Pick something that suits an adult cat too.
- Give it a few days. Watch how your cat behaves first. Personality names fit best once you know the cat.
- Check your household. Avoid names that sound like family members or other pets in the home.
- Plan a nickname. A long name such as Obsidian can easily become Obi for everyday use.
A good test is to try your top three names for a day each. Use the name in a cheerful voice while feeding, playing and calling your cat, and see which one feels natural for you. Cats do not pick names the way people do, so the name that you enjoy saying is usually the right one.
Final Thoughts
Black cat names can be bold, funny, elegant or spooky, and there is no wrong answer. A name from the coat, the night sky, a favourite story or a word for black in another language all work well, as long as you like saying it.
Start with a shortlist of three or four names, test them for a few days and let your cat’s personality guide the final choice. Whichever one you pick, you are giving a cat with a misunderstood reputation a warm and memorable start.
For more information about cats and adoption, visit the ASPCA cat adoption guide.
FAQs
What are good black cat names?
Shadow, Midnight, Onyx, Luna, Salem and Pepper are the most popular choices. They are short, easy to say and suit a dark coat.
What are unique black cat names?
Try Vesper, Sable, Huginn, Obsidian or a word for black in another language, such as Siyah or Aswad. These are less common than Shadow or Midnight.
What are cute black cat names for kitten?
Pepper, Mocha, Truffle, Mochi and Velvet are all sweet picks. Food names and soft names suit kittens well.
What are witchy black cat names?
Salem, Elvira, Morticia, Hecate and Hex are popular witchy choices. They fit well around Halloween but also work all year.
What does Nero mean for a cat name?
Nero means black in Italian. It is also the name of a Roman emperor, which gives it a strong, confident feel.
Are black cats really bad luck?
No. Beliefs vary by culture, and in places such as Japan and parts of Britain black cats are seen as lucky. The bad-luck idea is a superstition, not a fact.
