150+ Names for Your New Black Cat
Get inspired by magical, mysterious, and iconic names for your new black kitty.
Get inspired by magical, mysterious, and iconic names for your new black kitty.
by Katie Koschalk, | January 27, 2025
Marta Locklear / Stocksy
So, you’ve just adopted a black cat, or maybe you’re planning to, and you’re thinking about ideal black cat names. First of all, thank you. Sadly, black cats have the lowest rate of adoption (10 percent) compared to cats of other colors. This is largely due to old superstitions from the Middle Ages that unfairly labeled black cats as “bad luck.”
But let’s set the record straight: Black cats are just as loving, playful, and amazing as any other kitty — and they’re definitely not bad luck. In fact, black cats are seen as a good omen in many places, including the United Kingdom and Japan.
Now that we’ve cleared that up, it’s time to tackle the fun part: finding the perfect name for your new black cat. Read on to discover name ideas that will capture your cat’s sleek beauty and unique personality.
Here are some tips to help you pick a name that’s best suited for your new kitty.
Think about their personality: Draw inspiration from your cat’s personality. A playful and mischievous kitty might be a perfect “Binx,” while “Velvet” might be a good fit for a calm and elegant kitty.
Test it out: Use the potential name for half a day, or even a full day, to see how it fits. It should feel natural and be a name you’re comfortable saying often.
Draw inspiration from interests: Are you a big Harry Potter fan? Or maybe you love cooking? Let your interests inspire you.
Avoid confusing names: Steer clear of names that sound too similar to those of other pets or people in your household, as this can make it harder for your cat to recognize when you’re calling them.
Don’t overthink it: If a name from this list catches your eye and feels right, trust your instincts and go with it. Your initial instinct is often the best one.
If your new dark-coated boy cat is all mystery and charm, a name as sleek and bold as his look could be the perfect fit to compliment his inky fur.
Cinder
Erebus
Sirius
Ashen
Cypress
Smudge
Orion
Mochi
Poe
If you’re looking for a name that captures her midnight beauty and fierce personality, these names blend sophistication with a nod to her striking, shadowy coat.
Ember
Veyra
Midnara
Umbra
Domino
Thistle
Nebula
Stella
Wren
If your new black cat melts your heart with their sweet personality and adorable antics, a cute name could be a great choice. These names highlight their charm while giving a nod to their dark coloring.
Inky
Olive
Cosmos
Cosmo
Tux
Dot
Dottie
Velvet
Bear
Checkers
Blackie
Pudding
Shadow
Luna
Moon
Beetle
A cool name is the way to go if your black cat has a sleek, edgy vibe or a striking presence.
Midnight
Storm
Eclipse
Raven
Vesper
Hades
Panther
Dante
Crow
Galaxy
Ninja
Black Jack
Diablo
Nyx
Gotham
Zelda
Gypsy
Ichabod
Black cats and Halloween go hand-in-hand, making a spooky or seasonal name perfect for your feline family member.
Spooky
Spook
Pumpkin
Trick
Hex
October
Boo
Spell
Hocus
Pocus
Bat
Blair
Magic
Jack (like jack-o’-lantern)
Wicked
Goblin
Mystic
Venom
Omen
Dracula
Bones
Charm
Candy corn
Eve (as in All Hallows’ Eve)
Tarot
Pluto (as in the Roman God of the underworld)
A color-inspired name is a simple way to celebrate your black cat’s striking coat. Here are some creative options.
Ebony
Charcoal
Coal
Slate
Dusk
Sable
Jet
Soot
Obsidian (Obie for short)
Onyx
Smokey
Smoke
Noir
Twilight
Dusty
Ash
If you have a sense of humor, choosing an ironic name can be a fun and unusual name for a black cat. These names playfully contrast with their dark fur, making them memorable and unique.
Casper
Ghost
Whitey
Snowball
Blizzard
Marshmallow
Polar
Cloud
Sunny
Frosty
Ivory
Pop culture is full of iconic black cats, making movies and TV shows a great source of inspiration for naming your new kitty.
Salem (Sabrina the Teenage Witch)
Luna (Sailor Moon)
Lucifer (Cinderella)
Bagheera (The Jungle Book)
Felix (Felix the Cat)
Binx (Hocus Pocus)
Figaro (Pinocchio)
Isis (Star Trek)
Cobweb (Hocus Pocus 2)
Sylvester (Looney Tunes)
Jiji (Kiki’s Delivery Service)
Miss Kitty (Batman Returns)
Kitty (The Munsters)
Human characters with a spooky or mysterious edge can also be a great source of inspiration.
Morticia (The Addams Family)
Gomez (The Addams Family)
Wednesday (The Addams Family)
Thing (The Addams Family)
Buffy (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Sabrina (Sabrina the Teenage Witch)
Winifred (Hocus Pocus)
Bellatrix (Harry Potter)
Hermione (Harry Potter)
Draco (Harry Potter)
Crookshanks (Hermione’s cat in Harry Potter)
Harry (Harry Potter)
Hedwig (Harry’s owl in Harry Potter)
Edward (Twilight)
Bella (Twilight)
Jasper (Twilight)
Eleven (Stranger Things)
Lydia (Beetlejuice)
Laszlo (What We Do in the Shadows)
Colin (What We Do in the Shadows)
Pablo (Ash vs Evil Dead)
Coraline (Coraline)
Marceline (Adventure Time)
Sookie (True Blood)
Ursula (The Little Mermaid)
Batman (Batman)
Darth (as in Darth Vader from Star Wars)
Vader (as in Darth Vader from Star Wars)
Calling all foodies — these food-inspired names are a creative way to highlight your black cat’s personality and unique look.
Licorice
Pepper
Cocoa
Brownie
Bean
Mocha
Espresso
Oreo
Molasses
Blackberry
Nori
Chia
Coffee
Fig
Guinness
Despite some outdated (and untrue) superstitions, black cats make great companions and are just as wonderful as any other cat. If you’re ready to adopt a cat (black or otherwise), you can search Adopt a Pet for cats available near you. You can even filter your results by color to specifically search for a black cat. You can also visit your local pet shelter, where there is likely to be a black cat waiting for a loving home.
Carini, Robert M., et al. “Coat Color and Cat Outcomes in an Urban U.S. Shelter.” Animals, vol. 10, no. 10, 23 Sept. 2020, p. 1720, https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101720. Accessed 1 Dec. 2020.
Yuko, Elizabeth. “Why Black Cats Are Associated with Halloween and Bad Luck.” HISTORY, A&E Television Networks, 13 Oct. 2021, www.history.com/news/black-cats-superstitions.
Embree, Abby, et al. “Poe’s Depiction of Male Madness in the Black Cat (1845).” Uiowa.edu, Pressbooks, 2019, pressbooks.uiowa.edu/poetales/chapter/kathleen-zeivel-main-text/.
Licensing, Pet. “Regional Animal Services of King County.” kingscounty.gov, 2712.
Lindberg, Melissa. “Purr-Fectly Charming Black Cats | Picture This.” The Library of Congress, 31 Oct. 2024, blogs.loc.gov/picturethis/2024/10/purr-fectly-charming-black-cats/. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
Now, Circulating. “The Truth about Black Cats.” Circulating Now from NLM, 31 Oct. 2018, circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov/2018/10/31/the-truth-about-black-cats/.
Katie Koschalk is a freelance writer based in Northern California. Fusing her love and knowledge of animals with her journalism degree and years of professional writing, Katie is dedicated to improving the lives of pets and their caretakers by sharing helpful and accurate information. When she’s not at her desk, you can find her exploring trails with her Aussie, Hunter, cooking plant-based meals, and talking to her two cats, Jax and Sadie, in really ridiculous voices.
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