2025 Cat Name Rankings | Latest Edition with Gender, Fur Color, Nicknames, and Origins [Poponeko Survey] ~ Also Featuring Unique Names ~

What are the most popular cat names? Poponeko surveyed pet owners to create a ranking of cat names.

We collected "real voices" from pet owners, full of cat love, including the origins of names and nicknames! Please check them out!

1. 2025 Cat Name Popularity Ranking [Overall]

First, we will announce the top 30 most popular cat names overall.

The unchanging number one spot is... and names derived from food and Japanese-style names also rank high.

The most popular cat name is "Mugi." It's most common for calico (kiji-tora) and white calico (kiji-shiro) cats, but "Mugi" also seems popular for brown-and-white, brown tabby, and tortoiseshell cats.

Coming in second is "Rin." Many owners decided on this name based on their intuition when they first met their cat, with reasons like "she had a sharp face for a kitten" or "because of her dignified features."

Following these are traditional Japanese names like "Azuki" and "Kinako," and two-syllable names like "Momo," "Suzu," "Ten," "Hana," and "Fuku."

2. Rankings by Gender

There was a significant difference in name trends between male and female cats.

Top 20 Male Cat Names

In the male category, "Ten" took the top spot! "Leo" and "Sora" followed closely behind.

For male cats, there's a trend of names polarizing into those with a cool and powerful image, and those with a gentle sound reminiscent of nature or food.

It's also noteworthy that many male cats have kanji names such as Kotetsu, Kohaku, and Kotaro.

Top 20 Female Cat Names

In the female category, "Hana" took the top spot, followed by "Mugi," "Momo," and "Suzu," which are all two-syllable names that are easy to say and have a cute sound.

Female cats tend to have names with a gentle image, and it's noticeable that many names, such as "Koko" and "Mimi," repeat the same sound.

3. Rankings by Cat Breed/Coat Color

Looking at the rankings by cat breed and coat color, names related to the coat color are, as expected, at the top.

For tabby and white cats, "Mugi" and "Azuki" are popular, while for brown and white, and red tabby cats, "Kinako" and "Chachamaru" are popular. For black cats, "Kuro" and "Jiji" ranked high, and for white cats, "Yuki" and "Koyuki".

In addition, "Hachi" ranked first for tuxedo cats, "Rin" for mackerel tabby and white cats, and "Wasabi" for tortoiseshell cats.

Tabby & White Cat Category TOP 10

Brown & White / Red Tabby Cat Category TOP 10

Black Cat Category TOP 10

White Cat Category TOP 10

Calico Cat Division TOP 10

Looking at popular names by cat breed, unique and individual names stand out.

For example, Scottish Folds, characterized by their round bodies and folded ears, tend to have cute names such as "Moka," "Mikan," and "Mao."

Energetic American Shorthairs, on the other hand, often have names that evoke a sense of style or strength, such as "Rin," "Koko," "Kotaro," and "Gin."

4. Pet Name/Nickname Rankings

These are the rankings of the "pet names" and "nicknames" owners commonly use for their cats. While most owners call their cats by their official names, many also add "-chan" to the end of the name.

Some cats even have nicknames that are longer than their actual names, or unique nicknames full of affection. You can almost imagine the cats responding with a "nyaan" when their owners gently call their names.

5. Name Origin Ranking

How did owners choose their cat's name? We analyzed the reasons.

*Multiple answers allowed

The most common names were those chosen by "intuition" based on the cat's appearance or personality.

Many cases were seen where the name reflected the first impression of the cat, such as "Mugi" and "Kinako" for their light brown fur, and "Ran" because their running form was cute.

Names derived from characters in movies, dramas, anime, and manga were also common, with "Anya," "Kiki," "Jiji," "Chachamaru," "Teto," "Belle," "Marie," "Mei," and "Leo" being popular.

Some rescued cats continue to live with the names they had when they were rescued, so as not to confuse them. Cat names are filled with the deep love of their owners.

6. Unique Cat Names Full of Love

Although they didn't make it into the rankings, here are a few unique names that show the deep love of their owners!

Gon Mercedes (Nickname: Gon-chan)
My husband was teaching about Gongitsune at work. Also, it was a cat found in the engine room of the principal's Mercedes-Benz.

Hanpenta (Nickname: Pen-kun)
When he was a skinny, dirty kitten, his rescuer named him hoping he would become as white and fluffy as hanpen (fish cake).

Kinakomochio (Nicknames: Kina, Ki-chan)
His fur was light-colored, like kinako (roasted soybean flour). Kinako sounded too much like a girl's name, so "mochio" was added. It's a middle name.

Tamasaburo (Nicknames: Otama, Tamatama, Tamachon, Ochibi)
As fast as a bullet, and as alluring as a kabuki actor.

Ninsoir (Nickname: Nin)
Bonsoir + Ninsouwaru (a play on words, meaning "bad face")

Bontenmaru (Nicknames: Bon-chan, Bocha, Chama)
He was so bad at fighting that I wanted his name to at least sound strong.

Koshian (Nickname: Kochi)
When I first petted him, his fur felt soft and fluffy, and I thought the color was more like koshian (smooth red bean paste) than just black.

Hijiki, Mozuku, Aosa, Norio
All seaweed-related names.

Gyao (Nickname: Gyaopi)
His meow was like a dinosaur's and adorable.

Hatena (Nickname: Hacchan)
His bobtail was shaped like a "?".

Summary: The Owner's Thoughts Reflected in Cat Names

Analysis of the 2025 cat name ranking revealed that popular names were those that were "easy to call," "food-related," and "Japanese-style."

From the top-ranked names to unique and distinctive names, what all names had in common was the deep love of owners who wish for their "child's happiness."

For Escapes and Lost Pets! ID Tags Recommended

You can create a beautiful ID tag with your cat's name, wishing for their happiness!

Poponeko's all-metal ID tags are completely waterproof. Since they are stamped on brass, the letters won't bleed or disappear even when wet.

Moreover, they are very light, weighing about 2g. Your cat's name can be up to 6 characters (Kanji/Hiragana/Katakana/English letters), and your phone number can also be printed.

We also offer a double-sided printing type that respects privacy, allowing your cat's name on the front and your phone number and owner's name on the back.

For cats that don't like ID tags, "non-dangling, waterproof cat ID tags" or "name stickers" are recommended!

To ensure your cat can return home if lost, it's reassuring to attach an ID tag to their collar. Let's thoroughly implement escape and lost pet prevention measures to protect your precious cat.

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