Fluther: I got a black cat. Will you help me name him?

Ebony

Hawaii_Jake (37335

)“Great Answer” (1

)

Congrats, he sounds lovely.

I’ve always wanted to name a black cat “Indigo”. Not sure why.

longgone (19535

)“Great Answer” (2

)

If you want to name him for his color and his stealth style, it sounds like he’s courting the name Shadow.

People get names before they’ve displayed any traits, but a lot of us seem to want to call our pets something descriptive. We had a black cat named Luciano because he vocalized like one L. Pavarotti.

Jeruba (55824

)“Great Answer” (4

)

Onyx.

chyna (51301

)“Great Answer” (2

)

Ninja

Midnight

Or, since you got him on Halloween, Samhain. Sammy for short.

zenvelo (39408

)“Great Answer” (4

)

I thought of Samhain.

tinyfaery (44083

)“Great Answer” (3

)

Tsukuyomi

ragingloli (51958

)“Great Answer” (2

)

Pepper.

RedDeerGuy1 (24454

)“Great Answer” (4

)

Charcoal (or Char or Coal)
Midnight
Devil
Hades
Soul

Pied_Pfeffer (28141

)“Great Answer” (1

)

Minx

janbb (62859

)“Great Answer” (3

)

OMG Pepper.

tinyfaery (44083

)“Great Answer” (4

)

My sister named one of her cats Michou. I always like that name. Pronounced mee-shoo. Japanese for beauty I think. I’m almost positive she chose the name because of the Japanese connection. Her other cat was Kiwi.

Also, Michou is a French nickname for Michele (male name in France). There was a French drag performer who called himself Michou.

JLeslie (65412

)“Great Answer” (1

)

I was thinking Sammy as well.

filmfann (52220

)“Great Answer” (0

)

Eclipse

anniereborn (15511

)“Great Answer” (1

)

What color are the eyes?

chyna (51301

)“Great Answer” (0

)

Golden eyes

tinyfaery (44083

)“Great Answer” (0

)

Bela as in the Hungarian male name

janbb (62859

)“Great Answer” (1

)

Vanta. After Vantablack. The darkest material known to humans it absorbs 98% of light. Or maybe more.
Shout out to the Jelly who suggested the name for our black kitten in 2014.

Dutchess_III (46807

)“Great Answer” (5

)

Just do not use the name that H.P. Lovecraft named his cat.

ragingloli (51958

)“Great Answer” (2

)

@ragingloli Uhhh… wow. I never knew that and I definitely will not be using that.

tinyfaery (44083

)“Great Answer” (1

)

Gollum?

janbb (62859

)“Great Answer” (2

)

Felix.

JLeslie (65412

)“Great Answer” (3

)

@JLeslie I like that! Now I’ll be singing all night!

janbb (62859

)“Great Answer” (1

)

Gorgeous

Inspired_2write (14486

)“Great Answer” (0

)

Charlie
Joey
Harker
Pitch
Count
Batman
Midnight
Shammy ( M Night Shyamalan )
Knows ( The Shadow…knows )
Cole
Ichabod

mazingerz88 (28796

)“Great Answer” (0

)

Inky, or Sooty

flutherother (34519

)“Great Answer” (0

)

Pics please!
Pixi

rebbel (35547

)“Great Answer” (1

)

I know a guy who named his cat Ow, Fuck! because he kept getting scratched.

Caravanfan (13520

)“Great Answer” (2

)

Is he very vocal? I had a cat that talked loudly; I named him Bouche (Boosh), French for mouth. I like Onyx and Ebony. Soots/Sooty, Ashes. Pango is black in Maori. Whatever you choose, I just hope it’s nothing negative like Satan, etc. I’m so happy for you! I, myself am trying to get up the courage to adopt an older cat, or a couple if they’re bonded. My nickname here is after a cat who had individual gray and white toes, like he’d been playing in soot.

smudges (10703

)“Great Answer” (1

)

We had a female dog called Onyx and now have a male called Chert (black chert is flint).

Tropical_Willie (31119

)“Great Answer” (0

)

I like Felix. I also like Pepper but it reminds me of Marvel. I’ve been thinking maybe Lazarus because I found out he died while he was under anesthesia. I’m still thinking Coal or Ash.

tinyfaery (44083

)“Great Answer” (6

)

I had a black cat named Boo Boo (also known as “The Boo” or “My Black Boo”). I also had a black cat named Charlie. I think Boo Boo was a cute name because it was kind of Halloween-ish.

jca2 (16252

)“Great Answer” (1

)

Name him “Coal.”

Ramm (11

)“Great Answer” (2

)

Mombo or Merlin

gondwanalon (22863

)“Great Answer” (1

)

Mr. Mistoflees…the original conjuring cat. Especially since you got him on Halloween

seawulf575 (16658

)“Great Answer” (2

)

I was browsing around for names and found this. Thought it might give you ideas.

https://pethelpful.com/cats/Names-for-Cats-With-Gold-or-Amber-Eyes

smudges (10703

)“Great Answer” (0

)

Prince because you know he will eventually fit the name. Cats always do, or Topaz for the eyes. If kitty has a really rich color black coat that is silky, then name him Silky. Or name him something silly. Like BooBoo if he always looks skiddish.

Pandora (32192

)“Great Answer” (1

)

Response moderated

Boo boo or just Boo is cute. Makes me think of Yogi and Boo Boo, although the black cat and witches/Halloween thing, Boo goes with that too.

What about Beau? Or, Bear?

What’s his personality like? I named one cat Peri, short for perezoso, because that cat just laid around a lot. Lol.

JLeslie (65412

)“Great Answer” (1

)

Diabol, the black god. Bali for short.

KNOWITALL (29686

)“Great Answer” (1

)

Sagittarius A is the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy. “His” gravity is so powerful that not even light can escape its hold.

If your cat is the center of your galaxy and bogarts all the light, then perhaps some variation of that name would fit.

Brian1946 (32268

)“Great Answer” (2

)

Nyx
Jinn
Skosh
Bogie
Oscuro (Oski for short)
Wardle
Cui

raum (13206

)“Great Answer” (2

)

How about Dimples or Snallygaster? How about Murk?

kneesox (4593

)“Great Answer” (3

)

You could always go with something cute, like Jinx or Chuckie or Wally.

jca2 (16252

)“Great Answer” (1

)

Nori

Kardamom (33285

)“Great Answer” (2

)

If you pet is pitch black I would like to suggest the names Sable, Raven, Ebony or Jet.

Poseidon (2293

)“Great Answer” (1

)

@raum Oscar as a derivative of Oscuro I like.

JLeslie (65412

)“Great Answer” (1

)

Response moderated (Writing Standards)

Lucky, to show that the superstition about crossing paths with a black cat does not apply in this case.

LostInParadise (31905

)“Great Answer” (0

)

Please let us know when you decide.

chyna (51301

)“Great Answer” (1

)

Ooh. I like Oscar for Oscuro.

raum (13206

)“Great Answer” (0

)

Name him Chestnut. :)

thelethargicdog (6

)“Great Answer” (1

)

Response moderated

Felix. Or Sylvester.

Nomore_lockout (7592

)“Great Answer” (0

)

I’ve narrowed it down to Coal or Pan but now I am considering Jinx. Thanks @jca2. I don’t have a great picture yet because it’s hard to photograph a black cat and he’s stuck to me like glue all of the time.

tinyfaery (44083

)“Great Answer” (2

)

”...he’s stuck to me like glue all of the time…”

Glue Boy
Sticker
Duct Tape
Hitch
Epoxy

or be cool and make it Cole.

kneesox (4593

)“Great Answer” (0

)

@kneesox Or Shadow. Since he’s always stuck to them. And also a nod to his coloring.

raum (13206

)“Great Answer” (1

)

@raum
Or Armus, the Tar monster from the TNG episode “Skin of Evil”.

ragingloli (51958

)“Great Answer” (3

)

@raum, Shadow was suggested in the third post in this thread. Color and behavior.

Jeruba (55824

)“Great Answer” (2

)

@ragingloli Thumbs up for Armus as well.

@Jeruba Oh yes! I’d actually given you lurve for your answer, but had forgotten after reading so many answers. :P

raum (13206

)“Great Answer” (1

)

A former Jelly has a cat in the UK named Shadow.

janbb (62859

)“Great Answer” (2

)

I like “Pan”.

Dutchess_III (46807

)“Great Answer” (0

)

Jinx was the name of Robert de Niro’s cat in Meet The Fockers.
Just put it out there, since there might be a chance your family or friends will, if you go with that name.

rebbel (35547

)“Great Answer” (3

)

@rebbel
I am sure most people would associate that name with that Gyaru Pokemon

ragingloli (51958

)“Great Answer” (0

)

Roberta then, I guess?

rebbel (35547

)“Great Answer” (0

)

Jinx makes me think of the rescue cat with the crazy eyes.

raum (13206

)“Great Answer” (1

)

How about “Grimalkin” – works on a few levels except the cat’s sex:

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/grimalkin

janbb (62859

)“Great Answer” (0

)

I like Jinx.

JLeslie (65412

)“Great Answer” (2

)

I read somewhere that pets you call for by name really only hear the vowel sounds, especially when shouted. So “Rover” would sound like “oh-eh.” (OP mentioned a vowel ending, too.) If that’s true, it seems like a name of more than one syllable would be helpful for recognition.

Isn’t that true for people too? If you call for Billy or Lisa to come in, do they hear more than “ih-ee” or “ee-uh”?

Out of many cats, I’ve only ever had one who responded to his name when I called him in, and maybe it wasn’t his name but my voice. Anyway, he came running.

kneesox (4593

)“Great Answer” (1

)

Oh @kritiper! You disappoint me! Do you not know that “spook” and “tar baby” are derogatory names for our African American friends?! I don’t even like typing them!

smudges (10703

)“Great Answer” (4

)

I have a friend whose little Boston Terrier ‘sticks to her like glue’. His name is Nigel, but she sometimes calls him Velcro.

smudges (10703

)“Great Answer” (3

)

Response moderated (Off-Topic)

Response moderated (Spam)

Salem.

kritiper (25757

)“Great Answer” (4

)

Response moderated (Off-Topic)

Now I want to know how one conducts an experiment to determine what animals hear.

Hawaii_Jake (37335

)“Great Answer” (2

)

Response moderated (Off-Topic)

Incognito.
Cinder.
Crispy.
Robber.
Stealthy.

kritiper (25757

)“Great Answer” (0

)

So nu, @tinyfairy, what’s his name?

janbb (62859

)“Great Answer” (1

)

I went with Coal though I mostly call him baby boy. Thanks for all of your suggestions.

tinyfaery (44083

)“Great Answer” (6

)

yayyyy Coal! He’s a good boy. I hope his health continues to improve.

smudges (10703

)“Great Answer” (1

)

I would totally be naughty, if I got a sweet black kitty in my stocking. :)

raum (13206

)“Great Answer” (3

)

Response moderated (Off-Topic)

Here are a few more. There is one other but it might offend, although I know not why, but some would recoil from it. I will PM you with the stand out.

Jet, Inky, Noir, Onyx, Ebony, Raven, Sable, Asphalt, Twilight, Midnight.

kritiper (25757

)“Great Answer” (1

)

Why do so many people think the only basis for a pet’s name is its color?

kneesox (4593

)“Great Answer” (2

)

^In this case, the OP seemed to be leaning that way by thinking of Coal and Jett originally. So my answer went in that direction.

chyna (51301

)“Great Answer” (3

)

@tinyfaery

“I have considered Coal and Jett, but animals are more likely to respond to a name with a vowel sound at the end of their names.”

“I went with Coal though I mostly call him baby boy.”

If he doesn’t respond to Coal, then how about Cola? ;p

Brian1946 (32268

)“Great Answer” (5

)

Timmy

SnipSnip (6768

)“Great Answer” (2

)

I am definitely a person who gives their pets many nicknames so I am sure Coal will just be his official name. I’m already calling him my little night fury and cuddle bug.

tinyfaery (44083

)“Great Answer” (3

)

Is “Little Asshole!” one of his names? It’s one of Vanta’s names.

Dutchess_III (46807

)“Great Answer” (1

)

NO! He is sooo sweet and gentle.

tinyfaery (44083

)“Great Answer” (2

)

@Dutchess_III
There is a German animated children’s movie titled Little Asshole

ragingloli (51958

)“Great Answer” (0

)

I am not clicking on that link Raggie!

Dutchess_III (46807

)“Great Answer” (3

)

Response moderated (Spam)

@tinyfaery How are you two doing? Is Coal continuing to get better? Have you adapted to having a pint-sized terror zooming around? You probably already know this, but have lots of toys – only let him have 5–6 of them, and after a week or so, take them away and give him 5–6 others. I’ve heard it keeps their interest better and am witnessing it first-hand with a friend’s two puppies. I’ve also heard to adopt cats in twos so they can keep each other company. Hope everything’s going well. :)

smudges (10703

)“Great Answer” (1

)

My grandkids are terrified of my black cat, @tinyfaery!

Dutchess_III (46807

)“Great Answer” (0

)

He is doing great. He had to have had a family before he was found on the street because he is so good, and sweet, and he listens when I tell him no.

Honestly, Coal really isn’t sticking as a name. I still just call him baby boy.

tinyfaery (44083

)“Great Answer” (8

)

@tinyfaery How about the Yiddish for a little boy – Boychick? (Works in a gender bending way too.)

janbb (62859

)“Great Answer” (4

)

Glad to hear you two have become a real pair! Maybe you’ll feel like renaming babyboy. ohmigosh – what about Beau?

smudges (10703

)“Great Answer” (2

)

He does have a very sweet little meow, @janbb.

tinyfaery (44083

)“Great Answer” (2

)

I said Beau above, and also Bear, but thought Boo boo was really cute too, someone else said Boo boo.

Maybe just stick with Baby boy. Why not if it feels right.

JLeslie (65412

)“Great Answer” (1

)

I said Boo Boo – i had a black cat that was Boo Boo aka The Boo.

I also used to have a cat named Baby. I loved him like a baby and he would lay in my arms like a baby.

jca2 (16252

)“Great Answer” (4

)

Licorice

King_Galaxius (348

)“Great Answer” (3

)

I thought about Licorice but it doesn’t seem to flow.

I’ve been calling him Jasper now but I think his name wants to be Root Beer.

tinyfaery (44083

)“Great Answer” (7

)

Lol. So many names.

What about Valentino?

Salomon and call him Salo or Moni for short. Or, the Italian Salomone.

Salvatore. Sal for short.

Giuseppe. Pepe.

Giovanni and Joe Joe for short.

Bibi pronounced Bee bee.

Chucho Chicho Chamo.

JLeslie (65412

)“Great Answer” (1

)

Can you post a pic?

chyna (51301

)“Great Answer” (1

)

Yes, he seems like a Root Beer. Definitely! ;)

smudges (10703

)“Great Answer” (0

)

Root beer I’d nickname him Rooty.

jca2 (16252

)“Great Answer” (2

)

^^Yeah, and if you’re like most animal lovers, you’ll come up with all sorts of nicknames. Rooty made me think of Rooty Tooty Poo-Pooty. lol

smudges (10703

)“Great Answer” (0

)

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1EhBXx9wwshy7iT_5X7hVTFsUEDSh5tFb?usp=sharing

tinyfaery (44083

)“Great Answer” (4

)

Ohhh! He’s a staunch one!

Dutchess_III (46807

)“Great Answer” (0

)

Oh my goodness – he is adorable! All Black, even his nose.

How about Rudi?

janbb (62859

)“Great Answer” (0

)

Awww…hi baby! sniff sniff…I want one

smudges (10703

)“Great Answer” (0

)

Adorbs

Hawaii_Jake (37335

)“Great Answer” (0

)

Gorgeous!

chyna (51301

)“Great Answer” (0

)

Is he chipped?

What name do you think you’ll use on his chip?

Brian1946 (32268

)“Great Answer” (0

)

Okay. Last round. Which do you like best?
Jasper
Asher (Ash)
Phantom

tinyfaery (44083

)“Great Answer” (0

)

Jasper. Because you can do a lot of nicknames off of Jasper.
Jazz, Jazzy, JJ, etc.

chyna (51301

)“Great Answer” (3

)

Jasper

JLeslie (65412

)“Great Answer” (2

)

Jasper

janbb (62859

)“Great Answer” (2

)

Definitely phantom. Look at him! He’s just looking for mischief.

Hawaii_Jake (37335

)“Great Answer” (1

)

I like Jasper.

jca2 (16252

)“Great Answer” (1

)

Kingsford comes to mind.

;>0)

Tropical_Willie (31119

)“Great Answer” (1

)

Now that he is comfortable and feels safe his mischievous personality is coming out. I’d call him Loki but that name has become so well known because of the MCU.

tinyfaery (44083

)“Great Answer” (0

)

You could go for Floki, who was from Vikings:

https://www.fanpop.com/clubs/vikings-tv-series/images/38232483/title/vikings-floki-season-3-official-picture-photo

He was nuts but fun and always ready for battle.

jca2 (16252

)“Great Answer” (0

)

I like Asher but that’s probably just because it reminds me of Ashton, which makes me think of Ashton Kutcher, who’s so effin’ hot!

smudges (10703

)“Great Answer” (1