Somewhere between bringing your new cat home and finding her standing on your chest at 3 a.m., you realize the moon theme picked itself. She sleeps through daylight. She comes alive after dark. And there’s a good chance several people in your house already rearrange their lives around her.
Luna is gorgeous, but have you considered Gibbous? Picture a round British Shorthair called Gibbous. Picture the vet opening the waiting room door and saying, “Gibbous?” That’s the kind of possibility we’re dealing with here.
These moon cat names range from elegant goddesses and icy moons to things you can realistically call an orange kitten with his head stuck in a tissue box. Let’s find your little weirdo a name.
Classic moon cat names that sound good out loud
| Name | Which cat is getting it? |
|---|---|
| Luna | The classic for a reason. Try saying “Luna, come cuddle” without immediately wanting a cat called Luna. |
| Moonbeam | A sweet little shadow who follows you from room to room. Bonus points if she goes by Beanie. |
| Crescent | The cat who sleeps curled into a perfect crescent with one back foot sticking out. |
| Blue Moon | A lovely name for a blue-gray kitten. “Blue” is easy to call and looks ridiculously cute on a tag. |
| Moonlight | An elegant cat with silvery fur who looks expensive sitting next to your very cheap lamp. |
| Moonstone | For pale, shimmery fur. Stoney is a surprisingly good nickname for a cat this glamorous. |
| Moonrise | The shy rescue who finally ventures out from under the couch once the house gets quiet. |
| Moonshadow | A black cat who follows you down the hallway so closely you’ve learned to shuffle. |
| Gibbous | A magnificent name for a magnificently round cat. Gibby when he’s being a baby. |
| Eclipse | For the cat who parks her entire body between you and the television. |
Real moon names from across the solar system
Some of the best celestial cat names are already orbiting something. Even dwarf planets get in on the action. Pluto has a moon called Nix, which might be the perfect name for a tiny cat with a pointy face and questionable intentions.
| Name | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Callisto | Jupiter’s moon gives you one of the prettiest built-in nicknames on this list. Callisto for the paperwork, Callie for the couch. |
| Europa | One of Jupiter’s icy moons, and a gorgeous pick for a cool, composed white cat. |
| Io | Two letters, two syllables, one very volcanic moon. An excellent match for a kitten with explosive energy levels. |
| Ganymede | The largest moon in the solar system. Obviously, give this one to the smallest kitten in the litter. |
| Titan | Saturn’s largest moon lends some muscle to a boy who still needs help getting onto the bed. |
| Rhea | Saturn’s moon has a short, soft name that works beautifully for a gentle older rescue. |
| Dione | Another moon of Saturn, and a lovely choice for a female cat who sits with her front paws neatly crossed. |
| Mimas | Has the makings of a magnificent government name for a cat everyone calls Mimi. |
| Enceladus | Goes on the adoption form as Enceladus. Becomes Enchilada by Thursday. You know how this works. |
| Tethys | A slightly witchy space name that suits a watchful little tortie. |
| Titania | A moon of Uranus with fairy-queen credentials. For the cat who gets the velvet chair and knows exactly why. |
| Oberon | Sounds like a distinguished gentleman. Particularly good if he has enormous whiskers and a bit of food on his chin. |
| Miranda | A sweet human name for the sort of cat you address in full sentences. “Miranda, we talked about this.” |
| Ariel | Light and nimble, with just the right sound for an adventurous cat who spends a lot of time above door height. |
| Umbriel | Dark, romantic and a little theatrical. Imagine a long-haired black cat called Umbriel stretched across a piano. |
| Triton | Neptune’s largest moon gives a big, broad-faced tomcat a suitably beefy introduction. |
| Charon | Pluto’s largest moon. A handsome choice for the quiet fellow who escorts everyone to the bathroom. |
| Nix | Short, sharp and particularly satisfying in the phrase “Nix, give me back my earring.” |
| Styx | Another of Pluto’s moons. Ideal if your household leans goth and your cat leans off shelves to slap people. |
| Hydra | A great name for one kitten who somehow appears to be causing trouble in three rooms at once. |
The real moons in this batch belong to Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. If you’re naming a pair, Callisto and Io share a planet, as do Titania and Oberon.
Moon goddess names for cats who expect worship
Looking for a mystical name with an air of mystery? In Greek mythology, Selene personifies the moon. Meanwhile, in your kitchen, a six-pound tabby is refusing breakfast because you served it on the wrong saucer. She’s ready for her goddess era.
| Name | The appeal |
|---|---|
| Selene | Soft, elegant and especially lovely for a silver tabby. “Miss Selene” also sounds right when she’s kept you waiting. |
| Artemis | For the little huntress who can catch a moth midair while you’re still looking for a cup to put it in. |
| Diana | A Roman goddess name with a wonderfully human quality. “Diana ate my sandwich” is a much better story when Diana is a cat. |
| Hecate | For the witchy feline friend who sits beside your candles and stares at an empty corner until you get nervous. |
| Chang’e | The Chinese moon goddess lends her name to a cat who deserves a little poetry. |
| Tsukuyomi | The Japanese moon deity is a striking namesake for a boy cat. Tsuki is lovely for everyday use. |
| Máni | A Norse moon name for a little guy with a big presence. |
| Khonsu | An Egyptian lunar god and a handsome namesake for a long-legged cat with an imperious stare. |
| Asteria | A starry detour into Greek mythology. This one comes with the very wearable nickname Aster. |
| Nyx | The Greek personification of night. A sleek celestial name for a black cat whose eyes are the last thing you see before she pounces. |
Cozy cat names inspired by full moons
Full moons have given us names like Strawberry Moon, Harvest Moon and Wolf Moon. Borrowing just the first word gives you a lunar name with a completely different feel. Nobody at the vet has to know your fluffy orange boy called Buck has an astronomy backstory.
| Name | Why you might love it |
|---|---|
| Strawberry | Ridiculously sweet on a cream kitten with pink toe beans. |
| Harvest | Warm and autumnal, especially for tortoiseshell cats with copper patches. |
| Wolf | For a tiny cat with a surprisingly gravelly meow. |
| Snow | A soft little name for a white cat who disappears against the duvet. |
| Flower | Particularly charming on a grizzled rescue tom with half an ear and a tender heart. |
| Buck | A sturdy name for a ginger boy with big paws and absolutely no brakes. |
| Hunter | For the backyard adventurer who brings home a leaf and expects applause. |
| Frost | Crisp and pretty for a cat with silver tips on dark fur. |
| Beaver | For the kitten systematically reducing every cardboard box in your home to mulch. |
| Worm | Hear me out. A long, skinny kitten slides under your bedroom door, and you get to say, “Oh good, Worm’s here.” |
Dark and dreamy moon names for black cats
Some black cats suit a grand, gothic name. Others tumble off the windowsill halfway through looking mysterious. Both kinds are represented here.
| Name | The vibe |
|---|---|
| New Moon | For the black cat you can never find until the laundry pile blinks. |
| Moonless | A little spooky and unusually pretty when you say it aloud. |
| Nightshade | A velvet-black coat, green eyes and an immediate ban on touching the belly. |
| Vesper | An evening name that sounds particularly good whispered to a sleepy cat. |
| Midnight | Still a classic, especially if that’s when your cat starts moving furniture. |
| Penumbra | A shadowy eclipse-inspired pick with Penny tucked inside it. |
| Umbra | Shorter, darker and excellent for a cat who materializes silently beside an open yogurt. |
| Moonveil | A dreamy choice for a smoky undercoat that flashes silver when your cat moves. |
| Inkwell | For the little pool of black fur curled up under a moonlit window. |
| Dusk | Simple and soft for the cat who joins you on the doorstep to watch the day wind down. |
Moon cat names for pop culture people
If your idea of studying the night sky involved watching Sailor Moon after school, you’re among friends. Pop culture has given cat parents some genuinely great cat names, especially if you want a reference that fellow fans will clock immediately.
| Name | Where the idea comes from |
|---|---|
| Usagi | Sailor Moon herself. A sweet choice for a snack enthusiast with a flair for crying dramatically. |
| Chibiusa | For the smallest member of the household, particularly if she’s already terrorizing the adults. |
| Tuxedo Mask | A black-and-white cat name so obvious you’re practically obligated to try it on him. |
| Moon Prism | A little Sailor Moon sparkle for a kitten who makes an entrance. Prism works beautifully on its own. |
| Princess Serenity | An unnecessarily grand title for an animal currently licking gravy off her eyebrow. |
| Moony | A wink to Remus Lupin for anyone who grew up waiting for their Hogwarts letter. |
| Moon Knight | For the Marvel fan whose white cat patrols the landing after everyone’s gone to bed. |
| Sokka | An Avatar pick for the funny boy with an unusually complicated relationship with the moon. His first girlfriend really set the bar. |
| Yue | A lovely lunar nod to Princess Yue from Avatar. Especially pretty for a pale kitten with blue eyes. |
| Majoras | A pet-name spin on Majora’s Mask for Zelda fans who still haven’t emotionally recovered from looking up at that moon. |
Funny moon cat names you’ll enjoy explaining to the vet
The best way to judge a funny cat’s name is to imagine somebody saying it in a completely serious voice. “We have the test results for Mr. Moonpants.” See? Worth it.
| Name | Who deserves it |
|---|---|
| Moon Unit | A unique name for a cat built like an ottoman. |
| Moon Pie | Round face. Soft middle. Everybody’s favorite. |
| Moon Boots | Little white socks make this an easy decision. |
| Moon Cheese | For the dairy bandit who can hear a cheese wrapper from two floors away. |
| Crater Face | An affectionate pick for a scruffy tom with the face of a retired heavyweight. |
| Moon Biscuit | For the champion kneader who clocks in on your stomach at bedtime. |
| Captain Crater | The kitten who has personally tested the structural integrity of every houseplant. |
| Lunar Tuna | Say it once in your cat voice. Good luck ever calling her anything else. |
| Sir Gibbington | For a deeply unserious animal who photographs like a minor British aristocrat. |
| Mr. Moonpants | Works especially well on a long-haired cat with magnificent fluffy trousers. |
| Moon Loaf | Four paws tucked away, eyes half shut, gently rising on a heated blanket. |
| Houston | So you can walk into a room full of shredded toilet paper and say, “Houston, we have a problem.” |
| Moon Goose | An excellent escalation if you already call every animal in the house a silly goose. |
| Space Cadet | For the cat who loses track of the fly he’s chasing, then looks accusingly at you. |
| The Big Dipper | For the big boy who insists on drinking by dipping one enormous paw into your glass. |
More celestial cat names for the space-obsessed
Maybe you started with moon-inspired names and discovered you’d happily name your cat after practically anything in the night sky. These space-themed cat names branch out into stars, celestial objects and space exploration. There’s even a good one here for the kitten who hasn’t quite mastered landing.
| Name | Why it belongs on the shortlist |
|---|---|
| Apollo | A nod to the missions that took astronauts to the moon. A big name for a kitten attempting his first couch jump. |
| Buzz | A tip of the space helmet to Buzz Aldrin. Also suits a cat who purrs like an electric toothbrush. |
| Tranquility | Inspired by the moon’s Sea of Tranquility. Whether your kitten grows into it is between you and your curtains. |
| Rocket | For the kitten already halfway up the stairs before you finish opening the treats. |
| Orbit | For the cat who circles your ankles approximately seventeen times while you’re carrying hot coffee. |
| Comet | A streak of orange fur just went past with somebody’s sock. |
| Nova | Short, bright and easy to call across the house. |
| Nebula | A gorgeous choice for tortoiseshell cats with swirls of cream, copper and black. |
| Sirius | The brightest star in the night sky happens to be called the Dog Star. Naming a cat after it feels appropriately petty. |
| Stardust | Particularly pretty for a dark coat sprinkled with tiny white hairs. |
| Cosmo | A friendly little space name for a cat who greets visitors before you do. |
| Satellite | For the clingy sweetheart who maintains a steady orbit around the one person trying to get things done. |
| Lander | For the adventurous cat whose takeoffs are considerably more graceful than his landings. |
| Dusty | A moon-dust name for a gray rescue who looks as though he’s just emerged from under the fridge. Possibly he has. |
| Earthrise | A lovely name for a quiet window-watcher, especially if space photography is your thing. |
How to pick the moon name you’ll actually use
Try your favorites in the two voices that matter. First, the soft one you’ll use when your new cat finally climbs into your lap. Then the voice you’ll use when she’s halfway into your dinner. If “Oh, Moon Pie, look at you” and “Moon Pie, get your face out of my pasta” both feel natural, you’ve probably found the perfect name.
Still torn? Let your cat’s personality break the tie. A dignified silver girl might be Selene until the first night she crawls under the covers, stretches out to three times her apparent length and steals your pillow. Suddenly, you understand the appeal of Worm.
Which moon cat name would you actually put on the collar? And, more importantly, what deeply embarrassing nickname would you be calling them by the end of the week?
