Black cats are mesmerizing with their gleaming eyes and sleek ebony fur. Finding the perfect name for your midnight-colored companion is a delightful challenge.
I’ve pulled together this massive collection of black cat names across different categories, each with a little comment that might make you smile. Plus, we’ll explore some fascinating legends and superstitions about these mysterious midnight-colored companions.
Classic Black Cat Names
Looking for the perfect black cat name that captures your midnight-colored companion’s personality? These classic options blend style with that special something.
- Shadow – For the kitty who follows you around like he’s attached to your feet (and somehow always manages to trip you when you’re carrying groceries)
- Midnight – When your cat is as dark as those 2 AM thoughts that keep you awake
- Onyx – A gemstone of protection that’s nearly as precious as your little black bean
- Coal – Because he’s warming your heart, even if he leaves black smudges on your white duvet
- Ink – Perfect for the cat who somehow manages to leave paw prints in places you didn’t even know he could reach
- Ebony – When your cat is so elegantly dark, he makes formal wear look casual
- Obsidian – For the cat with a glossy coat that reflects like volcanic glass (and a personality just as sharp)
- Raven – When your cat’s intelligence matches his sleek black feather-like fur
- Jet – Smooth, black, and prone to creating static electricity when he zooms across your carpet
- Eclipse – For the dramatic feline who loves to completely block your view at the most important moments
Literary & Movie-Inspired Names
This comprehensive list of unique black cat names includes literary gems that capture your midnight companion’s personality perfectly.
- Bagheera – For the dignified black cat who secretly gives life advice (whether you asked for it or not)
- Salem – When your cat definitely seems like he might be plotting world domination from your windowsill
- Poe – For the dramatically melancholic kitty who stares into the void (aka the empty food bowl)
- Vader – Because the force is strong with this one, especially at 5 AM when he wants breakfast
- Sirius – Named for the “Dog Star” but perfect for a cat who’s seriously good at getting into mischief
- Toothless – When your black cat resembles the adorable Night Fury dragon (but with all his teeth intact for those 3 AM love bites)
- Boo – For the shy kitty who startles easily but is secretly very brave
- Batman – The vigilante of your house who protects you from dangerous dust bunnies
- Merlin – For the magical cat who makes things disappear (especially hair ties and socks)
- Grimm – When your cat tells dark tales with just a look from across the room
Historical & Mythological Names
Searching for the perfect name for your little black boy cat? These mythological black cat names add a touch of legend to your midnight companion who already rules your home like a deity.
- Apollo – God of light, ironic for your midnight-colored companion who brightens your day
- Bastet – Named after the Egyptian cat goddess, for when your cat clearly thinks he’s divine
- Hades – Ruler of the underworld, or in this case, the space under your bed where all toys go to die
- Loki – For the trickster who knocks things off shelves while maintaining direct eye contact
- Osiris – The Egyptian god of the afterlife who judges whether your offerings (treats) are worthy
- Morpheus – Dream lord for the cat who somehow takes up the entire bed despite his small size
- Perseus – The hero who slayed Medusa, or in your cat’s case, the fearless hunter of sock monsters
- Zeus – When your cat’s meow sounds suspiciously like thunder when dinner is late
- Anubis – Egyptian god with a jackal head, for the cat who guards your home like it’s the afterlife
- Thor – For the kitty whose nighttime zoomies sound like thunder across your hardwood floors
Food & Drink Inspired Names
Searching for the perfect black cat names for your midnight companion? These delicious options top our black cat names list for your distinguished little gentleman.
- Pepper – When your cat has just enough spice in his personality to keep things interesting
- Espresso – For the cat with energy levels that suggest he’s been drinking coffee all day
- Truffle – A rare delicacy as precious as your little black furball
- Licorice – Sweet but with a distinctive character that’s not for everyone
- Olive – For the cat who’s extra virgin in the sense that he’s never caught that red dot
- Cocoa – Sweet as chocolate but without the toxic effects (for him, at least)
- Bean – Because when curled up, he looks exactly like a little black coffee bean
- Caviar – For the sophisticated gentleman with expensive taste in toys (ignoring the ones you actually paid for)
- Pepper – A little dash of spice and everything nice (except at 3 AM)
- Merlot – Deep, rich, and gets better with age (unlike your furniture under his claws)
Nature-Inspired Black Cat Names
Our collection of male black cat names inspired by nature captures your shadowy friend’s wild spirit—perfect for black boy cat names with an untamed essence.
- Storm – For the cat who brings chaos with the same unpredictability as weather forecasts
- Ash – What remains after your cat has burned through nine lives of mischief
- Forest – Deep, mysterious, and occasionally filled with unexpected creatures (like the hair ties he’s been collecting)
- Flint – Small but capable of creating quite a spark when the mood strikes
- Coal – Heats up your heart and occasionally leaves marks on your white couch
- Slate – For the cat who gives you a clean slate every morning (after judging all your life choices)
- Moss – Soft, resilient, and somehow appears in unexpected places
- Cinder – Small, gray-black, and hot when he’s running around like his tail is on fire
- Timber – The warning you should yell before your cat knocks something valuable off a shelf
- Carbon – The essential element of life, just like your cat is to your home
Musical Names
For black cats who make your heart sing, these melodious names for black cats will hit all the right notes when you call your velvety companion.
- Jazz – For the improviser who never plays by the rules you’ve established
- Hendrix – When your cat’s midnight serenades are electric and slightly psychedelic
- Blues – For the soulful kitty with expressive eyes that tell a thousand stories
- Bowie – For the cat with two different colored eyes and a flair for the dramatic
- Miles – When your cat somehow covers miles of territory without leaving your apartment
- Prince – For the majestic kitty who acts like royalty (and expects to be treated accordingly)
- Ziggy – The stardust in your life who seems to be from another planet sometimes
- Mozart – For the composer of 3 AM symphonies on your kitchen counters
- Cash – For the cat who’s always dressed in black, like the Man in Black himself
- Floyd – When your cat’s behavior is definitely on the dark side of the moon
Dark & Mysterious Names
Your black cat already commands attention with his mysterious presence—these unique black cat names embrace his enigmatic allure with style.
- Phantom – For the cat who appears and disappears without warning
- Hex – When your cat definitely seems like he might be casting spells when you’re not looking
- Shade – Both as dark as a shadow and as sassy as throwing shade
- Mystic – For the cat with knowing eyes that suggest he understands the universe better than you do
- Enigma – Because you’ll never truly understand what’s going on in that little black head
- Voodoo – For the cat who seems to have mysterious powers over your behavior
- Ghost – Ironically perfect for a black cat who moves silently and startles you regularly
- Vortex – The center of a black hole that somehow sucks in all your attention and loose items
- Specter – When your cat haunts the hallway at exactly 2:37 AM every night
- Diablo – For the mischievous troublemaker who’s too cute to stay mad at
Astronomical Names
Just like the vast night sky, your black cat inspires wonder. These celestial black boy cat names are written in the stars for your little cosmic sidekick.
- Cosmos – For the cat whose eyes contain entire universes
- Nova – A star that suddenly becomes extremely bright, like your cat at 4 AM
- Nebula – A cloud of gas and dust in space, not unlike the cloud of fur after a good brushing
- Comet – For the cat who zooms through your house with a trail of destruction behind him
- Galaxy – Because he’s the center of your universe (and he knows it)
- Orion – For the mighty hunter who brings you “gifts” from the great outdoors
- Pluto – Small but mighty, and possibly not what you expected
- Luna – For the cat who goes crazy during full moons (or really, any time)
- Quasar – Extremely luminous, just like your cat’s eyes reflecting light at night
- Jupiter – For the big personality in a surprisingly compact package
Gemstone & Metal Names
Our black cat names list wouldn’t be complete without these precious options that shine as brilliantly as your black cat’s eyes in the moonlight.
- Slate – Hard, smooth, and occasionally leaves marks on your furniture
- Sable – For the cat with the luxuriously soft fur that people pay thousands to imitate
- Graphite – Slick, gray-black, and occasionally makes marks on your white clothes
- Pewter – Durable, slightly silvery-black, and improves with age
- Titanium – For the indestructible kitty who survives impossible jumps
- Cobalt – Deep blue-black for the cat with subtle color variations in sunlight
- Sterling – For the silver-tongued devil who convinces you to give extra treats
- Mercury – Quick, slightly dangerous, and fascinating to watch
- Platinum – Because your cat deserves the very best (and never lets you forget it)
- Bronze – For the cat with subtle brown undertones in his black coat
Black Cat Legends & Superstitions
The Good Luck Cats
Despite Western myths, black cats bring luck in many cultures! In Japan, they supposedly attract suitors for single ladies. I mean, I already had a husband when we got our cat, but suddenly the delivery guys started being extra friendly, so maybe there’s something to it?
Sailors considered black cats incredibly lucky—ships with black cats aboard were protected, and sailors’ wives kept them at home to ensure safe voyages. These seafaring black cats were so valued that they were often prohibitively expensive—the original “luxury cat”!
In Scotland, if a strange black cat arrives at your home, tradition says it brings prosperity. I’m still waiting for my mysterious prosperity-bringing visitor, though the black cat hair on all my clothes does make me look prosperous in a “covered in fur” kind of way.
The Halloween Connection
The Halloween-black cat connection comes from medieval times when elderly women caring for strays (often black ones) were suspected of witchcraft. These medieval “cat ladies” supposedly had supernatural feline assistants.
The witch trials throughout Europe and colonial America further cemented this association. Black cats were sometimes even killed alongside their human companions under suspicion of being demonic entities.
Today’s Halloween decorations reflect these old fears. Hard to believe my goofy cat who falls off the couch while napping was once feared! Though his ability to detect an opening tuna can from across the house does seem supernatural.
Black Cat Crossing
We’ve all heard that a black cat crossing your path brings bad luck, but this superstition isn’t universal. In Britain and Japan, a black cat crossing your path is actually considered good fortune!
In medieval Europe, a black cat crossing your path meant bad luck. Germans believed direction mattered: right-to-left crossing brings misfortune, left-to-right brings good luck.
My cat crosses my path constantly, especially when I’m carrying laundry or navigating the dark hallway. My only “bad luck” is stubbed toes or accidentally stepping on his tail (followed by howls that wake the baby I spent forever putting down).
The Theater Cat
In theatrical circles, black cats are actually welcomed as good luck charms! Many theaters keep a “theater cat” (often black) to bring good fortune to productions. The superstition is so strong that some actors and directors will seek out a black cat to pet before opening night.
This tradition likely began from the practical benefit of cats keeping theaters free of mice that would otherwise damage costumes and scenery. Over time, the helpful mousers became seen as lucky omens.
Adoption Challenges
Black cats still face adoption discrimination due to superstitions and because they don’t photograph as well. Some shelters even restrict black cat adoptions around Halloween, fearing they’ll be used as temporary decorations.
The good news is that “Black Cat Appreciation Day” on August 17th has helped raise awareness about these adoption challenges. Many shelters now hold special “black cat” events with reduced adoption fees to help these ebony beauties find their forever homes.
Consider adopting one of these mini-panthers! Just know black cat hair appears everywhere—even on clothes purchased after putting the cat in another room. It’s like they’ve mastered quantum physics to teleport their fur!
Final Thoughts
Whether you believe the superstitions or not, there’s something undeniably magical about black cats. Those sleek, mysterious little shadows bring so much joy into our lives, even when they’re waking us up at ungodly hours or judging our Netflix choices.
I hope this massive list of black cat names has given you some inspiration for your ebony companion! Whatever name you choose, make sure you enjoy saying it repeatedly—at 3 AM when coaxing them from under the bed or at 6 AM when begging for just fifteen more minutes of sleep.
What’s your favorite black cat name from the list? Or do you have your own special name for your midnight-colored companion? These velvet-pawed little ninjas steal our hearts as easily as they steal our warm spots on the couch, and they deserve names as special and mysterious as they are!
Ready to name your shadowy little diva? Black Girl Cat Names are just a click away!
And for more inspiration on boy cat names, explore these posts:
