120 Movie & TV Cat Names: From Salem to Wednesday
Every great film needs a cat. The villain strokes one, the hero rescues one, and the audience remembers the cat longer than the plot. Sometimes the most borrowed names are not cats at all: Toothless, the Night Fury from How to Train Your Dragon, is a favorite for sleek black cats. Television is no different: some of the most beloved characters on the small screen have four legs and a tail.
Below are 120 movie and TV cat names in six lanes: the all-time most popular picks, real live-action movie cats with their films and years, TV's famous felines, the Cats musical crew, legendary film characters, and small-screen stars. Every entry carries its exact source, so you know precisely which story you are borrowing. A note on scope: Harry Potter, Star Wars, Disney princesses, and anime each have their own pages here, so this list leans into the names those pages missed.
Key Takeaways
- The most-loved screen cat names are Salem, Tom, Garfield, Felix, and Jonesy. Short, iconic, and instantly recognized.
- Real movie cats make the best stories: Jonesy survived Alien, Orangey won two PATSY awards, and Tombili got a bronze statue in Istanbul.
- TV cats count too: Salem, Azrael, Snowball, and Miss Kitty Fantastico all come with built-in fan bases.
- Human characters work beautifully as cat names: Rick, Ilsa, Maverick, Wednesday, and Eleven all pass the back-door test.
- Still deciding? Our cat name generator deals fresh ideas by gender and style.
Most Popular Movie & TV Cat Names
The icons: the screen cats everyone knows on sight.
Read the sixteen as a group and you can see why they endure. Half are cartoon immortals, Tom, Felix, Sylvester and Garfield among them, cats drawn once and recognised forever. Several are Disney royalty, Marie, Duchess and her kittens Toulouse and Berlioz, elegant names that suit a graceful cat. And Salem sneaks in from television, proof that a sarcastic TV cat can outlast most film stars. What they share is brevity: nearly every name here is one or two syllables, the length a cat learns fastest and an owner can call across a park without embarrassment. When in doubt, start with this list, because these are the movie cat names that have already passed the hardest test of all, decades of daily use by millions of owners.
Tap any card to copy the name.
Big-Screen Cats: Live-Action Legends
Real cats, real films. Each one below appeared on screen with fur and whiskers intact.
This is the lane for anyone who wants a true story behind the name. These cats were not drawn or imagined; they were working animals with trainers, stand-ins and, in a few cases, awards. Orangey, the marmalade star of Rhubarb, won two PATSY awards, the animal equivalent of an Oscar, and he had been a rescued stray before his career began. Jonesy survived Alien alongside Ripley and became the most famous ginger in science fiction. Choosing a name from this list means the dinner-party answer is never just a film title; it is a biography, and often a rescue story, which makes these some of the most satisfying cat names from movies for owners who love the real thing.
| Name | Meaning | Good for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesy | Ripley's ginger cat aboard the Nostromo in Alien (1979) | Jonesy is the ultimate survivor, for the unflappable hero. | |
| Goose | The "cat" in Captain Marvel (2019), secretly a tentacled alien called a Flerken | Goose is the plot twist, for the cat with hidden depths. | |
| Orion | The cat carrying an entire galaxy on his collar in Men in Black (1997) | Orion is cosmic importance, for the small cat with a big destiny. | |
| DC | The Siamese star of That Darn Cat! (1965) | DC is the meddling detective, for the nosy neighborhood watch. | |
| Bigglesworth | Mr | Bigglesworth, Dr. Evil's hairless cat in Austin Powers. Bigglesworth is bald villainy, for the hairless charmer. | |
| Jinx | Mr | Jinx, the Himalayan of Meet the Parents (2000), played by two cats. Jinx is the toilet-flushing trickster, for the mischievous genius. | |
| Church | The resurrected cat of Pet Sematary (1989) | Church is the spooky return, for the black cat with an eerie stare. | |
| Milo | The ginger kitten of The Adventures of Milo and Otis (1986) | Milo is the curious wanderer, for the adventurous orange boy. | |
| Keanu | cool breeze over the mountains | Keanu is the adorable MacGuffin, for the impossibly cute scene-stealer. | |
| Fuzzypants | The billionaire's pampered cat in Nine Lives (2016) | Fuzzypants is luxury itself, for the spoiled aristocrat. | |
| Fred | peaceful ruler | Fred is the gentle survivor, for the differently-abled sweetheart. | |
| Buttercup | yellow wildflower | Buttercup is the grump with a heart, for the standoffish softie. | |
| Jake | The alien cat in The Cat from Outer Space (1978) | Jake is the extraterrestrial, for the weird and wonderful. | |
| Spot | Data's orange tabby in Star Trek Generations (1994) | Spot is the logical pet, for the calm, dignified companion. | |
| Pyewacket | The witch's Siamese familiar in Bell, Book and Candle (1958) | Pyewacket is bewitching elegance, for the hypnotic-eyed beauty. | |
| Cat | Holly Golightly's deliberately unnamed cat in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) | Cat is the no-name icon, for the independent drifter. | |
| Rhubarb | The cat who inherits a fortune in Rhubarb (1951), played by 14 cats | Rhubarb is the lucky heir, for the pampered prince. | |
| Orangey | The real cat actor behind Breakfast at Tiffany's and Rhubarb; a two-time PATSY award winner | Orangey is Hollywood royalty, for the natural-born star. | |
| Bob | bright fame | Bob is the life-changer, for the rescue who saved his human. | |
| Tombili | Istanbul's famous lounging street cat, immortalized in a bronze statue | Tombili is the relaxed legend, for the champion loafer. | |
| Tardar | Grumpy Cat's real name (Tardar Sauce) | Tardar is the meme immortal, for the permanently unimpressed face. | |
| Lil Bub | The perma-kitten internet star of Lil Bub & Friendz (2013) | Lil Bub is pure sweetness, for the tiny forever-kitten. |
TV's Famous Felines
The small screen's greatest cats, from cartoons to sitcoms.
| Name | Meaning | Good for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azrael | Gargamel's sarcastic cat in The Smurfs | Azrael is the henchman with doubts, for the conflicted sidekick. | |
| Snowball | The Simpsons' cat (Snowball II) | Snowball is the long-running regular, for the dependable background star. | |
| Scratchy | The cat half of Itchy & Scratchy on The Simpsons | Scratchy is cartoon suffering, for the accident-prone comedian. | |
| Miss Kitty Fantastico | Willow's cat in Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Miss Kitty Fantastico is the full title treatment, for the cat with grandeur. | |
| Lord Tubbington | Brittany's cat in Glee | Lord Tubbington is aristocratic absurdity, for the fancy fool. | |
| Bandit | One of Angela's many cats in The Office | Bandit is the office stray, for the aloof professional. | |
| Sprinkles | Angela's other cat in The Office | Sprinkles is the sweet-named sourpuss, for the ironically named grump. | |
| Zazzles | One of Sheldon's many cats in The Big Bang Theory (the rest were named for Manhattan Project scientists) | Zazzles is the quirky exception, for the oddball. | |
| Alf | The Alien Life Form of ALF (1986), here as an honorary cat name | Alf is the wisecracking outsider, for the cat who eats like an alien. | |
| Snagglepuss | The pink mountain lion of Hanna-Barbera TV since 1959 | Snagglepuss is theatrical flourish, for the dramatic exit-maker. Exit, stage left! | |
| Oggy | The blue cat of Oggy and the Cockroaches | Oggy is the put-upon homeowner, for the cat tormented by invisible pests. | |
| Stimpy | The dim-witted cat of Ren & Stimpy | Stimpy is joyful idiocy, for the happy fool. | |
| Toonces | The driving cat of Saturday Night Live | Toonces is the impossible dream, for the cat who can almost drive. | |
| Kedi | Turkish for "cat," and the title of the 2016 documentary about Istanbul's street cats | Kedi is the insider pick, for the worldly stray. | |
| Sarı | One of the Kedi documentary cats | Turkish for "yellow." Sarı is the street philosopher, for the golden wanderer. | |
| Duman | smoke | Turkish for "smoke." Duman is the grey ghost, for the smoky drifter. |
The Cats Musical Crew
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats, from T.S. Eliot's poems: the greatest ensemble of cat names ever assembled.
| Name | Meaning | Good for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grizabella | The Glamour Cat, once beautiful, now faded | Grizabella is the torch song, for the dignified older girl. | |
| Macavity | The Mystery Cat, the Napoleon of crime | Macavity is the criminal mastermind, for the treat thief. | |
| Mistoffelees | Mr | Mistoffelees, the magical conjuring cat. Mistoffelees is the showman, for the cat with party tricks. | |
| Rum Tum Tugger | The rocking, curious cat who wants the opposite of what he has | Tugger is contrariness itself, for the cat who wants the other room. | |
| Skimbleshanks | The Railway Cat | Skimbleshanks is the supervisor, for the cat who patrols the hallway on schedule. | |
| Bombalurina | The red queen flirt | Bombalurina is the confident tease, for the beautiful troublemaker. | |
| Munkustrap | The protector and narrator | Munkustrap is the responsible eldest, for the guardian cat. | |
| Mungojerrie | The mischief-making twin | Mungojerrie is the chaos agent, for the curtain-climbing duo. | |
| Rumpleteazer | Mungojerrie's partner in crime | Rumpleteazer is the accomplice, for the second half of the disaster pair. | |
| Jennyanydots | The Gumbie Cat who sleeps all day and works all night | Jennyanydots is the secret night shift, for the 3 a.m. zoomer. | |
| Bustopher Jones | The dandy cat about town | Bustopher Jones is the full three-name treatment, for the portly gentleman. | |
| Old Deuteronomy | The wise old Jellicle leader | Old Deuteronomy is the elder statesman, for the venerable sage. | |
| Gus | venerable, majestic | Gus is nostalgia itself, for the old soul. | |
| Jellylorum | Gus's gentle caretaker | Jellylorum is quiet devotion, for the nurturing companion. |
Legendary Leading Roles
Human film characters whose names belong on a collar.
| Name | Meaning | Good for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rick | Rick Blaine of Casablanca (1942) | Rick is the cynical romantic, for the cat who pretends not to care. | |
| Ilsa | Ilsa Lund of Casablanca | Ilsa is the unforgettable, for the beautiful mystery. | |
| Scarlett | scarlet cloth | Scarlett is survival in a hoop skirt, for the dramatic diva. | |
| Rhett | Rhett Butler of Gone with the Wind | Rhett is the rogue with a heart, for the frank charmer. | |
| Dorothy | gift of God | Dorothy is the journey home, for the sweet adventurer. | |
| Toto | Dorothy's cairn terrier of Oz | Toto is the tiny brave, for the small dog-hearted cat. | |
| Holly | holly shrub | Holly is the free spirit, for the glamorous drifter. | |
| Atticus | of Attica | Atticus is quiet integrity, for the noble gentleman. | |
| Indiana | Indiana Jones of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) | Indiana is the whip-cracking archaeologist, for the fearless explorer. | |
| Marty | Marty McFly of Back to the Future (1985) | Marty is the time traveler, for the hyperactive teen. | |
| Ferris | Ferris Bueller of Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) | Ferris is the day off itself, for the charming rule-breaker. | |
| Maverick | independent-minded | Maverick is the need for speed, for the daredevil. | |
| Rocky | Rocky Balboa (1976) | Rocky is the underdog, for the fighter who goes the distance. | |
| Rambo | John Rambo of First Blood (1982) | Rambo is the one-cat army, for the intense loner. | |
| Forrest | Forrest Gump (1994) | Forrest is simple wisdom, for the sweet, unhurried soul. | |
| Truman | Truman Burbank of The Truman Show (1998) | Truman is the watched life, for the cat who performs for the camera. | |
| Maximus | greatest | Maximus is the general, for the commanding leader. | |
| Jack | Jack Dawson of Titanic (1997) | Jack is the free spirit, for the sketch-loving romantic. | |
| Rose | rose | Rose is the survivor, for the elegant beauty. | |
| Neo | Thomas A | Anderson of The Matrix (1999). Neo is the chosen one, for the cat who bends the rules of physics. | |
| Trinity | triad; threefold | Trinity is the cool operative, for the sleek black-clad hunter. | |
| Vito | life | Vito is the quiet don, for the cat who runs the household. | |
| Hannibal | Hannibal Lecter of The Silence of the Lambs (1991) | Hannibal is the brilliant menace, for the too-smart schemer. | |
| Norman | northman | Norman is the mama's boy, for the creepily devoted shadow. | |
| Amélie | Amélie Poulain of Amélie (2001) | Amélie is whimsical kindness, for the quirky helper. | |
| Dude | The Dude of The Big Lebowski (1998) | Dude is the rug-tied-together-room, for the ultimate loafer. | |
| Jules | Jules Winnfield of Pulp Fiction (1994) | Jules is the philosophical hitman, for the deep thinker. | |
| Vincent | conquering | Vincent is the cool professional, for the laid-back operator. | |
| Mia | Mia Wallace of Pulp Fiction | Mia is the dangerous dance, for the captivating girl. | |
| Django | Of Django Unchained (2012) | Django is the freedman gunslinger, for the liberated spirit. |
Small-Screen Stars
Television's human icons, ready for a collar.
| Name | Meaning | Good for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucy | light | Lucy is the scheme queen, for the redheaded troublemaker. | |
| Fonzie | Arthur Fonzarelli of Happy Days | Fonzie is cool itself, for the unflappable dude. | |
| Hawkeye | Hawkeye Pierce of M*A*S*H | Hawkeye is the wisecracking surgeon, for the clever comedian. | |
| Kramer | merchant | Kramer is the slide-through-the-door neighbor, for the chaotic friend. | |
| Elaine | Elaine Benes of Seinfeld | Elaine is the shove and the dance, for the bold girl. | |
| Ross | Ross Geller of Friends | Ross is the lovable nerd, for the earnest sweetheart. | |
| Rachel | Rachel Green of Friends | Rachel is the glow-up, for the beautiful late bloomer. | |
| Phoebe | bright, radiant | Phoebe is the eccentric songbird, for the weird wonderful one. | |
| Carrie | Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City | Carrie is the columnist, for the fashionable observer. | |
| Miranda | admirable, wonderful | Miranda is the sharp lawyer, for the no-nonsense girl. | |
| Tony | priceless, short for Anthony | Tony is the boss, for the cat who runs the family. | |
| Don | Don Draper of Mad Men | Don is the mysterious ad man, for the handsome enigma. | |
| Walter | ruler of the army | Walter is the transformation, for the mild cat with a wild streak. | |
| Saul | Saul Goodman of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul | Saul is the fast talker, for the persuasive meower. | |
| Tyrion | Tyrion Lannister of Game of Thrones | Tyrion is the clever imp, for the small witty one. | |
| Arya | Arya Stark of Game of Thrones | Arya is the faceless fighter, for the fierce little warrior. | |
| Eleven | Eleven of Stranger Things | Eleven is the powerful runaway, for the intense, loyal girl. | |
| Wednesday | the day Wednesday | Wednesday is the deadpan goth, for the dark, brilliant girl. | |
| Ted | Ted Lasso | Ted is relentless optimism, for the biscuit-bringing sweetheart. | |
| Michael | Michael Scott of The Office | Michael is the world's best boss, for the cluelessly lovable goof. | |
| Dwight | Dwight Schrute of The Office | Dwight is the beet farmer, for the intense rule-follower. | |
| Sheldon | Sheldon Cooper of The Big Bang Theory | Sheldon is the genius, for the particular, brilliant cat. |
Tips for Naming Your Cat After Movies & TV
- Pick the reference you will still love in ten years. Fads fade; Casablanca and Seinfeld do not. Choose the story you never tire of retelling.
- Real movie cats carry the best stories. Telling guests your cat is named for Orangey, the two-time PATSY winner, beats any pun.
- Mind the syllables. Salem, Jonesy, and Arya are easy to call. Bustopher Jones is a formal title, not a summons.
- Check your other pages first. If you already used a Disney, Harry Potter, or Star Wars name from our other lists, keep the theme consistent or start a new one.
- Human names need the right cat. A tiny kitten named Vito is comedy. A massive Maine Coon named Vito is destiny. Cast accordingly.
- Test the vet call. "Tombili, the vet is ready" works. "Miss Kitty Fantastico, the vet is ready" gets a laugh and a very long appointment slip.
Our Pick
If we were naming a movie cat tomorrow, we would pick Salem for a boy and Arya for a girl: both are short, both come from beloved shows, and both suit kittens and dignified adults alike. For a unisex pick, Jonesy is hard to beat: a real film cat, a survivor's story, wearable for fifteen years.
More Names You'll Love
- Browse the full cat names collection for every style.
- For cartoon favorites: cartoon cat names.
- For Disney magic: Disney cat names.
- For a galaxy far away: Star Wars cat names.
- For wizarding names: Harry Potter cat names.
- For anime icons: anime cat names.
- Still deciding? Our cat name generator deals fresh ideas by gender and style.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good movie name for a cat?
Salem, Jonesy, Goose, Orion, and Church are the all-time favorites. Each one is a real movie cat with a story worth retelling.
What are good TV cat names?
Salem, Azrael, Snowball, Miss Kitty Fantastico, and Zazzles. Television has given us some of the most beloved cats in pop culture.
What movie characters make good cat names?
Rick, Ilsa, Indiana, Maverick, Vito, and Amélie. Human film characters work beautifully, especially when the personality matches.
What should I name my cat after a TV show?
Pick the character you love most: Eleven, Wednesday, Arya, Ted, or Sheldon. Short character names work best as everyday cat names.
What is the Cats musical about for cat names?
Cats is built on T.S. Eliot's cat poems, and its character names (Grizabella, Macavity, Mistoffelees, Skimbleshanks) are some of the most musical cat names ever written.
Can I name my cat after a villain?
Absolutely. Lucifer, Hannibal, Norman, and the Joker (see our badass cat names) make fantastic names, especially for cats with a mischievous streak.
What are good female cat names from movies?
Plenty of leading ladies double as elegant cat names from movies and television. From animation, Marie and Duchess of The Aristocats remain the graceful standards, and Duchess suits an adult cat while Marie fits a kittenish one. From live action, try Ilsa of Casablanca, Scarlett of Gone with the Wind or Amélie of the French film of the same name. Television adds Wednesday, Eleven of Stranger Things, and sitcom classics Rachel and Phoebe of Friends and Elaine of Seinfeld.
What are good movie names for a male cat?
The boys lean heroic. Maverick of Top Gun is the confident pick of the decade, while Rocky and Rambo cover the bruisers and Atticus of To Kill a Mockingbird suits a calm, dignified cat. Adventurers give you Indiana of the Indiana Jones films and Marty of Back to the Future, both short and easy to call. From the cat roles themselves, Salem, Felix and Tom remain the most recognised male movie cat names of all, and each one comes with a built-in personality the whole family already knows.
What are good horror movie names for a cat?
Horror offers a small but superb shelf. Church, the resurrected cat of Pet Sematary, is the definitive horror cat name, especially for a grey cat with an unnerving stare. Hannibal, borrowed from The Silence of the Lambs, suits a cat of unnerving intelligence and perfect manners. Norman, after Norman Bates of Psycho, works best as the joke only film fans catch, sweet on the surface and quietly sinister underneath. For a lighter gothic note, Wednesday brings the Addams Family gloom without the body count, and it has become one of the most popular spooky choices since the Netflix series.
By Brianna Baxter