Egyptian cat names

Cats were sacred in ancient Egypt — worshipped, mummified, and painted on temple walls — so it's no surprise that Egyptian cat names carry more weight than almost any other tradition. Bastet, the cat goddess of home and protection, gives us one of the most evocative names you can give a feline. Cleopatra (and her short form, Cleo), Anubis, Ra, and Nefertiti are all instantly recognizable and easy to call across a room — which is half the battle of naming a cat.

This collection draws from Egyptian gods and goddesses, pharaohs, sacred animals, and concepts from ancient religion. Long names like Tutankhamun and Hatshepsut shorten beautifully to Tut and Hat; short names like Ra, Isis, and Thoth stand on their own. Many of these names work for cats of any gender — Egyptian theology was less prescriptive than later traditions.

Egyptian cat names suit cats who carry themselves with quiet authority: a Russian Blue with golden eyes, a regal black cat, a long-limbed Abyssinian (a breed thought to descend from the cats Egyptians once worshipped). Browse the full list below, or filter by name length and sound to find the one that fits your kitten.