150 Literary Cat Names: Characters, Authors & Poets

There is a special pleasure in calling a name across the house and hearing a whole story inside it. Literary cat names carry that magic: every shout of "Cheshire!" or "Atticus!" is a small tribute to a book you loved, and the best of them sound just as good on a collar as they do on a title page.

Below are 150 literary cat names in three flavors: real cats from books (Cheshire, Crookshanks, Behemoth, Church), beloved human characters (Gatsby, Matilda, Darcy, Sherlock), and the authors and poets themselves (Poe, Austen, Byron, Plath). Start with the most popular picks, then browse classic literature, Shakespeare, modern and fantasy books, children's favorites, and poetry-inspired names. Each entry tells you exactly which book or writer it comes from, so you always know the story behind the name.

Key Takeaways

The best-known literary cat names fall into three lanes: real cats from books (Cheshire, Crookshanks, Behemoth), beloved characters (Gatsby, Matilda, Darcy), and author names (Poe, Austen, Byron). This list keeps the lanes clearly separated so you know what you are choosing.
Two names come with built-in cat trivia: Tybalt is literally nicknamed the "Prince of Cats" in Romeo and Juliet, and Grimalkin (Graymalkin) is the witch's grey cat in Macbeth Act 1.
Short literary names like Poe, Pip, Rue, and Vin are the easiest to call across the house; longer ones like Crookshanks and Behemoth usually earn a nickname within a week.
Say every finalist out loud before you commit: a name you love on the page should feel natural at the vet and at 2 a.m.
If you are still deciding, our cat name generator deals fresh ideas by gender and style.

Most Popular Literary Cat Names

The names book lovers reach for first: famous felines, unforgettable characters, and legendary authors. These are the proven crowd-pleasers, the names that make fellow readers smile in recognition at the vet. If you want a literary name with instant social currency, start here: Cheshire, Gatsby, and Atticus need no explanation.

Tap any card to copy the name.

Classic Literature Cat Names

Beloved characters from the novels everyone knows: Austen, Dickens, Dumas, Hugo, Stoker, and more. Classic literature gives you names with weight and history, and most of them age gracefully from kitten to senior cat. Pick a character whose temperament matches your cat: a wild Heathcliff for the stormy one, a steady Jane for the calm one.

Name	Meaning	Good for
Oliver	the olive tree	Gentle and kind; for the sweet boy who asks for more, after Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist.
Dodger	the Artful Dodger of Dickens's Oliver Twist	Quick and streetwise; for the clever boy who nicks treats, after Dickens's young pickpocket.
Elizabeth	God is my oath	Witty and spirited; for the clever girl with opinions, after Elizabeth Bennet of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
Bennet	the Bennet family of Austen's Pride and Prejudice	Classic and proper; for the dignified cat from Austen's beloved household.
Emma	whole, universal	Charming and confident; for the girl who runs the social scene, after Jane Austen's Emma Woodhouse.
Jane	God is gracious	Quiet and strong; for the steady girl with hidden depths, after Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre.
Rochester	Edward Rochester of Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre	Brooding and magnetic; for the mysterious boy with a guarded heart, from Brontë's novel.
Cathy	Catherine Earnshaw of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights	Wild and free; for the untamable girl of the moors, after Brontë's heroine.
Tess	harvester	Gentle and pure; for the sweet girl with sad eyes, after Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles.
Jude	praised	Dreamy and earnest; for the thoughtful boy reaching for the stars, after Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure.
Valjean	Jean Valjean of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables	Noble and redeemed; for the strong boy with a second chance, after Hugo's hero.
Cosette	Cosette of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables	Sweet and resilient; for the little girl who survived hard times, after Hugo's beloved child.
Javert	Inspector Javert of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables	Stern and watchful; for the patrol-every-corner cat, after Hugo's relentless inspector.
Gavroche	Gavroche of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables	Cheeky and brave; for the scrappy little fighter, after Hugo's beloved street boy.
Eponine	Éponine of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables	Loyal and tender-hearted; for the devoted girl who loves fiercely, after Hugo's tragic heroine.
Dantes	Edmond Dantès of Alexandre Dumas's The Count of Monte Cristo	Daring and transformed; for the survivor who came back stronger, after Dumas's hero.
Athos	Athos of Dumas's The Three Musketeers	Noble and quiet; for the dignified boy with a mysterious past.
Porthos	Porthos of Dumas's The Three Musketeers	Big and jolly; for the large, lovable boy with a huge appetite.
Aramis	Aramis of Dumas's The Three Musketeers	Dashing and clever; for the elegant boy with a romantic soul.
Scrooge	Ebenezer Scrooge of Dickens's A Christmas Carol	Grumpy turned golden; for the grouch who secretly loves cuddles, after Dickens's miser.
Marley	Jacob Marley of Dickens's A Christmas Carol	Haunting and wise; for the grey ghost who rattles around at night, after Dickens's phantom.
Cratchit	Bob Cratchit of Dickens's A Christmas Carol	Warm and humble; for the gentle family cat, after Dickens's kind clerk.
Tim	Tiny Tim of Dickens's A Christmas Carol	Tiny and beloved; for the smallest kitten with the biggest spirit, after Dickens's little hero.
Jekyll	Dr Jekyll of Robert Louis Stevenson's novella	Gentleman by day; for the polite boy with a wild midnight side, after Stevenson's tale.
Hyde	Mr Hyde of Robert Louis Stevenson's novella	Wild by night; for the 3 a.m. zoomies specialist, after Stevenson's dark alter ego.
Victor	conqueror	Ambitious and brilliant; for the clever boy building grand plans, after Victor Frankenstein of Mary Shelley's novel.
Dracula	son of the dragon	Dark and dramatic; for the black cat who rules the night, after Bram Stoker's count.
Mina	Mina Harker of Bram Stoker's Dracula	Brave and clever; for the sharp girl who outwits the darkness, after Stoker's heroine.
Lucy	light	Sweet and luminous; for the bright girl with a gentle glow, after Lucy Westenra of Bram Stoker's Dracula.
Jonathan	Jonathan Harker of Bram Stoker's Dracula	Steady and brave; for the loyal boy who faces the unknown, after Stoker's solicitor.
Van Helsing	Professor Van Helsing of Bram Stoker's Dracula	Wise and fearless; for the hunter of red dots, after Stoker's vampire expert.
Quixote	Don Quixote of Miguel de Cervantes's novel	Dreamy and noble; for the idealist chasing windmills, after Cervantes's knight.

Shakespearean Cat Names

The Bard's stage is full of names with music in them, including the most authentically feline name in all of literature. Shakespeare wrote the only cat name with a real pedigree: Tybalt, whom Mercutio calls the Prince of Cats, and Grimalkin, the witch's grey cat in Macbeth. Beyond those two, his plays offer some of the most beautiful-sounding names in English: Titania, Oberon, and Viola roll off the tongue like poetry.

Name	Meaning	Good for
Oberon	king of the fairies	Commanding and magical; for the regal boy who rules the house, from A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Titania	of the Titans	Graceful and proud; for the queenly girl who expects worship, from A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Prospero	Prospero of Shakespeare's The Tempest	Wise and powerful; for the dignified boy who orchestrates everything.
Miranda	admirable, wonderful	Wonder-filled and sweet; for the curious girl seeing the world fresh, from The Tempest.
Beatrice	she who brings happiness	Witty and sharp; for the clever girl who always has the last word, from Much Ado About Nothing.
Benedick	Benedick of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing	Charming and bickering; for the boy who argues then cuddles, from Shakespeare's comedy.
Portia	Portia of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice	Brilliant and fair; for the clever girl who solves every problem.
Viola	violet	Resourceful and brave; for the girl who thrives anywhere, from Twelfth Night.
Hermia	Hermia of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream	Bold and loyal; for the girl who follows her heart into the forest.
Desdemona	ill-fated	Gentle and devoted; for the sweet, trusting girl, from Othello.
Iago	Iago of Shakespeare's Othello	Sly and scheming; for the clever plotter of treat heists, from Shakespeare's tragedy.
Perdita	lost	Found and cherished; for the rescue who wandered home, from The Winter's Tale.
Cordelia	Cordelia of Shakespeare's King Lear	Honest and loving; for the true-hearted girl who says what she means.
Rosalind	gentle horse	Clever and radiant; for the quick-witted girl, from As You Like It.
Orlando	Orlando of Shakespeare's As You Like It	Romantic and brave; for the lovesick boy writing poems in the margins.
Hamlet	Hamlet of Shakespeare's Hamlet	Thoughtful and moody; for the brooding philosopher of the windowsill.
Horatio	Horatio of Shakespeare's Hamlet	Loyal and steady; for the faithful friend who never leaves your side.
Macbeth	the Thane of Shakespeare's Macbeth	Ambitious and intense; for the bold boy reaching for the top spot.
Banquo	Banquo of Shakespeare's Macbeth	Noble and haunted; for the grey ghost who appears at dinner.
Malvolio	Malvolio of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night	Pompous and proper; for the dignified cat with strict routines.
Petruchio	Petruchio of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew	Bold and taming; for the confident boy who wins everyone over.
Caliban	Caliban of Shakespeare's The Tempest	Wild and misunderstood; for the rough-edged boy with a tender core.
Grimalkin	grey cat	The witch's familiar; in Macbeth Act 1 the witch cries "I come, Graymalkin," making this the most authentically Shakespearean cat name of all.
Bianca	white	Sweet and fair; for the pale beauty, from The Taming of the Shrew.

Modern & Fantasy Book Characters

From Middle-earth to Hogwarts to the Hunger Games arena: heroes worth naming a cat after. Modern fantasy names have a practical advantage: they are familiar to almost everyone under forty, so your cat's name starts conversations instead of needing footnotes. They also tend to be short and punchy: Sam, Ron, Vin, and Rue are all easy to call across the house.

Name	Meaning	Good for
Sam	heard by God	Loyal to the end; for the devoted companion who never leaves, after Samwise Gamgee of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.
Bilbo	Bilbo Baggins of Tolkien's The Hobbit	Cozy and adventurous; for the homebody with a secret wild streak, after Tolkien's hobbit.
Gandalf	Gandalf of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings	Wise and grey; for the distinguished greybeard, after Tolkien's wizard.
Aragorn	Strider, the king of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings	Rugged and noble; for the scruffy boy with royal bearing, after Tolkien's ranger.
Legolas	the elf of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings	Swift and graceful; for the agile climber with perfect aim, after Tolkien's elf.
Pippin	Peregrin Took of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings	Cheerful and hungry; for the merry boy always ready for second breakfast.
Galadriel	maiden crowned with radiant garland	Luminous and wise; for the ethereal queen, after Tolkien's elf lady.
Eowyn	Éowyn of Rohan in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings	Fierce and fearless; for the brave girl who bows to no one.
Ron	Ron Weasley of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter	Loyal and funny; for the goofy best friend, after Rowling's wizard.
Neville	Neville Longbottom of Rowling's Harry Potter	Timid turned brave; for the shy boy growing bolder daily.
Draco	dragon, serpent	Sleek and proud; for the silver-tongued charmer, after Draco Malfoy of Harry Potter.
Dobby	Dobby the house-elf of Rowling's Harry Potter	Devoted and big-eared; for the loyal oddball, after the freed house-elf.
Hagrid	Rubeus Hagrid	Big and gentle; for the giant softie who loves all creatures, after Rowling's gamekeeper.
Hedwig	Harry Potter's snowy owl	White and loyal; for the pale messenger, after Rowling's owl.
Peeta	Peeta Mellark of Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games	Kind and steady; for the gentle boy with a warm heart, after Collins's baker.
Rue	herb	Small and swift; for the tiny girl with a brave song, after Collins's young tribute.
Prim	Primrose Everdeen of Collins's The Hunger Games	Gentle and healing; for the soft-hearted nurturer.
Annabeth	Annabeth Chase of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson	Clever and strategic; for the planner of every escapade, after Riordan's heroine.
Grover	grove of trees	Goofy and loyal; for the clumsy best friend, after Riordan's satyr.
Kvothe	Kvothe of Patrick Rothfuss's The Kingkiller Chronicle	Gifted and red-haired; for the brilliant ginger, after Rothfuss's hero.
Vin	Vin of Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn	Quiet and powerful; for the small girl with hidden strength, after Sanderson's heroine.
Kelsier	Kelsier of Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn	Charismatic and daring; for the smiling schemer, after Sanderson's Survivor.
Kaz	Kaz Brekker of Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows	Clever and ruthless; for the limping strategist, after Bardugo's bastard of the Barrel.
Inej	Inej Ghafa of Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows	Silent and deadly; for the graceful climber, after Bardugo's Wraith.

Children's Book Favorites

The stories read at bedtime make wonderful names: gentle, musical, and easy to call. These are the softest names on the list, perfect for kittens and for families with young children who will be saying the name daily. Many of them come from actual cats in the books: Dinah was Alice's own cat, and Mog starred in her own beloved series.

Name	Meaning	Good for
Dinah	Alice's cat in Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland	Sweet and proper; for the well-behaved girl, after Alice's own cat.
Mog	Judith Kerr's forgetful cat	Lovable and clumsy; for the cat who means well and knocks things over, from Kerr's Mog books.
Paddington	Paddington Bear of Michael Bond's books	Polite and marmalade-loving; for the courteous bear of a cat.
Peter	Peter Rabbit of Beatrix Potter's tales	Mischievous and quick; for the garden raider, after Potter's most famous rabbit.
Tabitha	gazelle	Proper and fussy; for the tidy girl keeping everyone in line, after Beatrix Potter's Tabitha Twitchit.
Tom	twin	Naughty and charming; for the scamp into everything, after Beatrix Potter's Tom Kitten.
Ginger	the cat of Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Ginger and Pickles	Sleek and businesslike; for the ginger cat with shopkeeper sense, from Potter's tale.
Pickles	the dog of Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Ginger and Pickles	Jolly and loyal; for the cheerful companion, from Potter's shopkeeping duo.
Winnie	Winnie-the-Pooh of A.A. Milne's books	Sweet and honey-loving; for the cuddly bear of a cat.
Piglet	Piglet of A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh	Small and timid; for the tiny worrier with a huge heart.
Eeyore	Eeyore of A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh	Gloomy and lovable; for the droopy-eared philosopher.
Christopher	Christopher Robin of A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh	Kind and imaginative; for the boy who leads grand adventures, after Milne's hero.
Stuart	Stuart Little of E.B. White's novel	Small and dapper; for the tiny gentleman in a big world.
Snowbell	the Littles' cat in E.B. White's Stuart Little	Sleek and pampered; for the elegant housecat, after White's novel.
Wilbur	the pig of E.B. White's Charlotte's Web	Sweet and humble; for the pink-nosed innocent, after White's pig.
Charlotte	the spider of E.B. White's Charlotte's Web	Wise and kind; for the clever girl who writes the truth, after White's spider.
Fern	Fern Arable of E.B. White's Charlotte's Web	Tender and animal-loving; for the gentle rescuer of runts.
Socks	the cat of Beverly Cleary's Socks	Playful and striped; for the tabby tornado, after Cleary's 1973 novel.
Junie	Junie B. Jones of Barbara Park's books	Sassy and outspoken; for the girl with endless commentary.
Sophie	Sophie of Roald Dahl's The BFG	Brave and kind; for the clever girl befriending giants.
Charlie	free man	Lucky and good-hearted; for the golden-ticket boy, after Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
BFG	the Big Friendly Giant of Roald Dahl's book	Big and gentle; for the enormous softie with a booming purr.

Poetry & Author-Inspired Names

Name your cat after the greats themselves: poets, novelists, and the verses they left behind. Author surnames make distinguished, gender-flexible cat names: Austen, Eliot, and Wilde suit any cat with a thoughtful face. And for the truly bookish, T.S. Eliot is the patron saint of literary cats: his Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats gave us Macavity himself.

Name	Meaning	Good for
Raven	the raven of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven"	Dark and intelligent; for the black-feather-voiced talker, after Poe's 1845 poem.
Lenore	light	Lost and lovely; for the haunting beauty, after Lenore of Poe's "The Raven".
Annabel	lovable	Beloved and eternal; for the cherished girl of the kingdom by the sea, after Poe's "Annabel Lee".
Plath	Sylvia Plath, author of The Bell Jar	Fierce and brilliant; for the intense girl with a sharp mind.
Esther	star	Thoughtful and searching; for the introspective girl, after Esther Greenwood of Plath's The Bell Jar.
Neruda	Pablo Neruda, Chilean poet	Passionate and soulful; for the romantic with odes to everything.
Byron	Lord Byron, poet of Don Juan	Dashing and brooding; for the dark romantic with a wild streak.
Shelley	Percy Bysshe Shelley, poet of Ozymandias	Visionary and free; for the dreamer reaching past the horizon.
Keats	John Keats, poet of "Ode to a Nightingale"	Tender and lyrical; for the sweet singer of the night.
Frost	Robert Frost, poet of "The Road Not Taken"	Crisp and contemplative; for the cool observer of snowy mornings.
Whitman	Walt Whitman, author of Leaves of Grass	Big-hearted and free; for the sprawling soul who contains multitudes.
Dickinson	Emily Dickinson, American poet	Quiet and deep; for the reclusive genius of the upstairs room.
Eliot	T.S. Eliot, author of Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats	The patron saint of literary cats; for any cat at all, from the poet who named Macavity.
Yeats	W.B. Yeats, Irish poet	Mystical and proud; for the elegant dreamer of fairy tales.
Wordsworth	William Wordsworth, poet of "Daffodils"	Gentle and wandering; for the nature-loving roamer.
Daffodil	the flower of Wordsworth's "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud"	Bright and golden; for the sunny girl dancing in the breeze.
Wilde	Oscar Wilde, author of The Picture of Dorian Gray	Witty and flamboyant; for the dramatic show-off.
Twain	Mark Twain, the famous cat-loving author	Warm and mischievous; for the riverboat rascal, after the author who adored cats.
Austen	Jane Austen, author of Pride and Prejudice	Sharp and elegant; for the observant girl with perfect manners.
Dickens	Charles Dickens, author of Oliver Twist	Big-hearted and bustling; for the characterful boy of many moods.
Hemingway	Ernest Hemingway, keeper of the polydactyl cats	Rugged and storied; for the many-toed adventurer, after the Key West legend.
Orwell	George Orwell, author of Animal Farm	Watchful and wise; for the keen observer of the household.
Woolf	Virginia Woolf, author of Mrs Dalloway	Luminous and deep; for the starer out of windows.
Bronte	the Brontë sisters, authors of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights	Wild and windswept; for the moody romantic of stormy nights.

Tips for Choosing a Literary Cat Name

A few practical notes before you commit:

Pick your lane first. Real literary cats (Cheshire, Church, Greebo), human characters (Scout, Darcy, Lyra), and author surnames (Poe, Eliot, Woolf) each give a different feel. Decide which one fits your cat before you fall in love with a specific name.
Say it out loud, twice. "Behemoth, dinner!" is fun the first time; make sure it is still fun the five hundredth time. Short names like Pip, Poe, Rue, and Vin pass this test instantly.
Check the story behind the name. A quick look at the book or character saves surprises: you will enjoy calling your cat Iago or Dracula more once you know exactly which delicious villain you borrowed.
Know the species you are borrowing. Aslan is a lion, Hedwig is an owl, and Paddington is a bear. They still make fine cat names, but the best literary cat names (Cheshire, Macavity, Grimalkin) were cats on the page too.
Plan for the nickname. Long literary names almost always shrink: Crookshanks becomes Crooks, Behemoth becomes Bee, Hermione becomes Mione. Love the nickname as much as the full name.
Pair them for two cats. Literary names are perfect for duos: Romeo and Juliet, Elizabeth and Darcy, Sherlock and Watson, Benedick and Beatrice. Adopting a bonded pair is the best excuse to use two favorites.

Our Pick

If we were naming a literary cat tomorrow, our top three would be Cheshire for the mysterious grinning cat who appears and vanishes, Matilda for the brilliant girl who runs the house, and Atticus for the dignified boy with old-soul judgment. Each one is instantly recognizable, easy to say, and backed by a story worth telling at the vet.

More Names You'll Love

Still deciding? These lists go deeper in every direction:

All cat names: the complete collection, 520 names and counting
Female cat names: 315 names for her
Male cat names: 384 names for him
Cute cat names: 219 names for the softie
Funny cat names: 284 names for the comedian
Unique cat names: 205 names for the one of a kind
Greek cat names: 149 names from myth and legend
Warrior cat names: 110 names for the brave
Cat name generator: deal fresh ideas by gender and style

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most popular literary cat names?

Cheshire, Crookshanks, Gatsby, Matilda, Alice, Scout, Atticus, Darcy, Sherlock, and Poe top the list. They are recognizable, easy to say, and each one carries a story worth telling.

Should I name my cat after a real literary cat or a book character?

Both work, and this list separates them for you. Real literary cats (Cheshire, Behemoth, Church, Macavity, Grimalkin) give the most direct connection; human characters (Gatsby, Matilda, Lyra) and author names (Austen, Byron, Plath) give you a far bigger pool to choose from.

What are the best Shakespeare names for cats?

Tybalt (literally the "Prince of Cats" in Romeo and Juliet), Grimalkin (the witch's cat in Macbeth), Ophelia, Puck, Ariel, Oberon, Titania, Perdita, and Viola. Shakespeare's names are musical, short enough to call, and nobody at the park will have the same one.

Are long book character names practical for everyday use?

Usually, yes, because they shrink into nicknames fast: Crookshanks becomes Crooks, Behemoth becomes Bee, Hermione becomes Mione. Just make sure you love the nickname too, since that is what you will actually shout.

What are good literary names for a pair of cats?

Romeo and Juliet, Elizabeth and Darcy, Sherlock and Watson, Benedick and Beatrice, and Frodo and Sam are all perfect for bonded pairs. Pick the duo whose dynamic matches your two cats.

Is it okay to name my cat after a villain?

Absolutely, as long as you know the vibe you are borrowing. Iago, Hyde, Dracula, and Javert are fun, dramatic names; just be ready to explain the reference with a smile when people ask.

What are some cute literary names for cats?

For a softer, sweeter pick, the children's book lane is full of cute literary cat names: Dinah (Alice's own cat), Mog (Judith Kerr's lovable klutz), Winnie, Piglet, Sophie, and Fern. They are short, gentle, and easy for young children to say, which makes them ideal for family kittens.

What was Edgar Allan Poe's cat called?

Poe's beloved tortoiseshell was named Catarina. She famously sat on his shoulder while he wrote, and she is said to have kept him warm during his final illness. Naming your cat Poe is the literary tribute; knowing about Catarina is the bonus trivia for fellow Poe fans.

By Brianna Baxter

Featured photo: Photo: ThePoeticFrame, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

150 Literary Cat Names: Book Characters, Authors & Poetic Ideas