Cat Names that Start with Y

Introduction

Choosing a name for your new feline family member can be pawrifically creative! It’s a great idea to narrow it down by choosing a letter from the alphabet. Some pet parents may choose a letter that has some significance, such as an important initial or maybe they simply like the sound of it. If your letter of choice is “Y”, you’ll likely find the purrfect name on this list.

Don't see your cat's name on the list? Be sure to share it or the story behind it below and tag #wagwalking or @wag on Instagram for a chance to be featured!

Cat Names that Start with the Letter "Y" in Pop Culture

Featured Famous Cat with a "Y" Name

Yoko

Millennial pet parents will probably have fond memories of watching the children’s TV show Timothy Goes to School. It premiered September 30, 2000, and aired its final episode on January 26, 2002. In this show we’re introduced to Timothy’s best friend, a sweet tabby cat named Yoko.

Yoko is a light gray tabby cat with slightly darker gray stripes on her head and tail. She has a bright pink nose and green eyes. If Yoko sounds at all like your cat’s doppelgänger, it could be a great name choice. She usually wears a yellow dress with a red jacket and pink trim on the front.

According to the book series that the show is based off of written by Rosemary Wells, Yoko lived in Japan when she was really little. Her father is still in Japan. She is even nicknamed “Little Cherry Blossom” by her mother. Does that adorable nickname feel like it fits your sweet little kitty as well? Yoko plays the violin and enjoys a few aspects of Japanese culture like sushi and origami. When she takes sushi and red bean ice cream to school for lunch, she gets teased by her classmates for being different. Then, with the help of her teacher, she learns to become proud of her differences. If you have an affinity with Japanese culture, giving your cat a Japanese name like Yoko could be a creative way to express it.

Yoko’s personality is friendly, sweet, and a little withdrawn compared to her more rambunctious classmates. She comes across as sensitive, mature, and smart. Her compassionate nature motivates her to stand up for others. If your cat is the type to comfort you when you're upset, is very affectionate, or plays well with other pets, it sounds like the name Yoko might be just the right fit.

Cat Names that Start with the Letter "Y" Considerations

The letter “Y” is probably the most unique letter in our alphabet, because it can act as a vowel or a consonant. Whether it’s Yoko or Yzma, “Y” can make completely different sounds. This gives you a huge variety of different sounding names to choose from for your new kitty. Names that start with the letter “Y” usually sound strong or peppy, so if your cat’s temperament fits the bill, this might be a great place to start. Yippiyayay!

Although names that start with the letter “Y” are pretty rare in the US, they are much more common in different parts of the world. You’ll notice that many names that start with “Y” are rooted in Hebrew, Japanese, Russian, and Arabic cultures. If you enjoy a connection with any of these cultures, a “Y” name could be a great choice.

Not only are names that start with the letter “Y” unique, but they can hold deep meaning as well. In ancient times, the letter “Y” represented a fork in the road, or a time in your life when you needed to make an important decision. According to Pythagoras, an ancient Greek philosopher, the letter Y represents paths of virtue or vice. Perhaps your new cat has a look of wisdom in their eyes?

Male Cat Names that Start with "Y"

Votes	Name	Vote
0	Yak A wild ox with shaggy hair and large horns.
0	Yam A starchy root vegetable similar to a sweet potato, also an acronym for Yet Another Meme.
0	Yao A Chinese surname meaning "handsome, good-looking."
0	Yar Nautical term that means ready, or prepared for action.
0	Yeti A large hairy creature said to live in the Himalayas, also know as the Abominable Snowman.
0	Yogi Someone who practices Yoga.
0	Yoshi A cute dinosaur from Super Mario video games.
0	Yukon A wild, mountainous territory in Northwest Canada.
0	Yellow A bright, cheerful color.
0	Yeep An expression of surprise or alarm.
0	Yonkers A city along the Hudson River in New York.
0	York A city in Northern England.
0	Yogi Bear A beloved television and comic book character who steals picnic baskets.
0	Yogo An Australian yoghurt dessert snack.
0	Yael A Hebrew name meaning "mountain goat."
0	Yellowstone A famous national park in Western United States.
0	Yoohoo A beloved chocolate flavored beverage.
0	Yosemite Sam A Looney Toons cartoon character who is a cowboy with a temper.
0	Yang The masculine, positive principle in Chinese cosmology.
0	Yodel A type of singing where high and low notes are rapidly alternated.
0	Yaris A supermini Japanese car sold by Toyota.
0	Yolo Acronym for You Only Live Once.
0	Yasser An Arabic name meaning "one who makes things easier".
0	Yoghurt A tart, white, dairy product that's pawfect for a light-colored feline.
0	Yoda A Jedi Master in the Star Wars films.
0	Yeller Someone who speaks in a loud voice, or the yellow mutt from the movie Old Yeller.
0	Yale A prestigious Ivy League university for the studious kitty in your life.
0	Yago From Japanese culture, a word that means a name that's passed down for reasons other than blood relations.
0	Yaakov A popular Hebrew name meaning "held by the heel."
0	Yaacoub The name of a prophet in Islam.

Female Cat Names that Start with "Y"

Votes	Name	Vote
0	Yamura A name of Hindi origin meaning "moon."
0	Yin The female, negative principle in Chinese cosmology.
0	Yetzali A name of Aztec origin meaning "little heart".
0	Yvette A name of French origin meaning "yew", a slow-growing evergreen tree.
0	Yafa A name from Hebrew origin meaning "beautiful, pretty."
0	Yashi A name of Hindi origin meaning "good faith, fame."
0	Yummy Used to describe something delicious.
0	Yuppy Stands for a "young urban professional", or someone fashionable with a well-paid job.
0	Yahoo A rude, noisy, or violent person.
0	Yaya An ancient Greek word for "women", and sometimes a nickname for Greek grandmothers.
0	Yoyo A great name for a cat that bounces up and down like a toy yo-yo.
0	Yankee A name that refers to people from the Northern United States, or the New York Yankees baseball team.
0	Yenta A Yiddish name that is derived from the Italian word gentile, meaning noble or refined.
0	Yuki A name of Japanese origin meaning "snow" or "happiness."
0	Yama Japanese for "mountain."
0	Yoko For the Japanese multimedia artist and peace activist, Yoko Ono.
0	Yalla A common expression in the Arabic language meaning "come on" or "hurry up."
0	Yucca A plant native to hot, dry parts of the Americas and Caribbean.
0	Yahtzee A popular dice game.
0	Yonce Short for Beyonce.
0	Yolanda A Spanish name meaning "violet flower."
0	Yeet Slang for throwing something away from you.
0	Yitty A Yiddish name meaning "light."
0	Yawney A descriptive name for a very sleepy cat.
0	Yaritzi A name of Aztec origin meaning "loved one" or "queen of the waters."
0	Yakira A Hebrew name meaning "costly, precious."
0	Yappy Someone who is inclined to talk a lot, in a foolish way.
0	Yemma Arabic word for "mother."
0	Yippee An expression of wild excitement.
0	Yareli A Native American name meaning "small butterfly"