Movie Inspired Cat Names | Popular Male and Female Cat Names | Popular Male and Female Names

Introduction

Movies inspire us and take us places. They make us laugh, cry, jump out of our skin, and fall in love. They’re also a great source of names for our feline friends! From the familiar to the unusual, there’s no shortage of “pawsome” monikers in movies. So if you’re welcoming home a new family member and wondering what to call them, look no further than your favorite flick.

Not much of a movie buff? Don’t worry, Wag! has got you covered. Below are some movie-inspired names for male and female cats alike, so grab some popcorn and have fun browsing!

Movie-Inspired Cat Names in Pop Culture

Featured Famous Cat With a Movie-Inspired Name

Nala

When burly Scotsman Dean Nicholson left his home in Dunbar in 2018 to explore the world by bike, he never expected to meet a travel companion along the way. But that’s exactly what happened—3 months into his journey, he came across a stray kitten in Bosnia. The little tabby wouldn’t stop following him and meowing, so he ended up taking her with him.

With the kitten in tow, Nicholson crossed the border into Montenegro, where he took her to the vet. Over the next few days, he got to know his new feline friend better. He noticed her “lioness traits” and “feisty and loving personality”, so he decided to call her Nala, after the lioness in The Lion King.

Since crossing paths, the unlikely duo have become social media stars, with over 900,000 followers on Instagram and more than 180,000 subscribers on YouTube. They’ve also published a book that highlights their beautiful friendship and recounts their fun adventures around the world. According to Nicholson, Nala changed his life, making him more easygoing and open-minded. And there’s no doubt that he changed her life too.

Nicholson couldn’t have chosen a more fitting name for his trusty four-legged sidekick. Her namesake, Nala the lioness, first appeared in the 1994 Disney animated movie The Lion King as a cub. The best friend of Simba, Nala is known to be sassy and clever, and her mischievous and curious nature would sometimes get her into trouble. She is, however, a kind and encouraging friend to Simba, maintaining their relationship even when he says or does something wrong. Adult Nala is more mature, often serving as the voice of reason for Simba. She would later become Simba’s queen and, though no longer as fiery as she used to be, remained an unwavering pillar of the pride.

The Lion King was both a critical and commercial success upon its release, garnering “pawsitive” reviews from notable critics from top newspapers, websites, and television and radio programs. It grossed more than $763 million worldwide, beating Forrest Gump, The Mask, True Lies, and Speed to become the most successful film of 1994. Two more movies, spin-offs, and a theatrical remake have followed since. In 2016, The Lion King was added to the National Film Registry, a list of movies that are to be preserved by the Library of Congress due to their cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance.

Movie-Inspired Cat Name Considerations

When using movies to find name ideas and inspiration, it can seem daunting! Narrow down the thousands of possibilities by considering your favorite movies. Think about your favorite characters and their personalities, along with your cat's to see if you've found a fun match. Does your cat have a distinctive physical feature similar to a silver screen character or actor? And do you want your feline friend’s namesake to be a cat, some other animal, or a person?

Cats have appeared in movies for years, so there are definitely plenty of names to choose from. There are also a lot of non-cat characters with names that would be “purrfect” for felines, so be open to the possibility that your kitty could get their moniker from a person or a different animal.

What’s important is that the movie-inspired name you choose for your cat matches their temperament and/or appearance. For example, Joker works well for a playful cat, while Mittens would be more suited for a feline that’s small and cuddly.

Of course, it’s important that you like the name too. Church and Hades may sound cool, but don’t hesitate to pass on those options if you’re not keen on naming your little furball after an antagonist.

Take some time in selecting a movie-inspired moniker for your cat, because your star deserves the best!

Male Movie-Inspired Cat Names

Votes	Name	Vote
0	Aslan The creator of Narnia who represents all that is good. Aslan means “lion” in Turkish.
0	Simba The young lion prince who would eventually become the king of the Pride Lands.
0	Rafiki A wise mandrill who provides guidance to Simba. Rafiki means “friend” in Arabic.
0	Garfield The cynical, lazy orange tabby who is known for his love of lasagna.
0	Salem Sabrina’s familiar, who was sentenced to spend 100 years as a cat for attempting to take over the world.
0	Artemis A white tomcat who serves as Sailor Venus’s guardian and adviser.
0	Bagheera A black panther who is Mowgli’s protector and mentor.
0	Shere Khan A Bengal tiger who is feared in the jungle. His name roughly translates to “tiger king”.
0	Sergeant Tibbs A tabby cat who helped save 99 of the 101 Dalmatians.
0	Mr. Bigglesworth The hairless pet cat of Dr. Evil.
0	Crookshanks Hermione Granger’s orange pet cat. He is half-Kneazle, which is a magical beast that looks like a cat.
0	Tigger Winnie the Pooh’s bouncy friend (literally and figuratively).
0	Binx The immortal black cat from Hocus Pocus whose full name is Thackery Binx.
0	Leonidas A lion who loves soccer and rules over the Isle of Naboombu.
0	Rajah Princess Jasmine’s loyal pet tiger. His name means an Indian king or prince.
0	Dandelo A long-haired white cat who is the Delambre family’s pet in The Fly.
0	Figaro Geppetto and Pinocchio’s cute cat. He has also appeared as Minnie Mouse’s feline companion.
0	Toulouse One of the Aristocats, this laid-back orange kitty enjoys painting like his artist namesake.
0	Tao A Siamese cat who traveled 250 miles with Luath the Lab and Bodger the Bull Terrier in The Incredible Journey.
0	Neo A Latin name meaning “new or gift”, this Matrix-inspired moniker would be a great choice for a city cat.
0	Chewbacca Does your feline friend have a long, silky coat? Then name them after this hairy Star Wars character.
0	Beast A monosyllabic name for a cat who is smart and physically active, just like the X-Men character.
0	Wolverine Another X-Men name, Wolverine would suit a headstrong feline really well.
0	Olaf An endearing name for your sociable cat, inspired by the friendly snowman from Frozen.
0	Groot One of the Guardians of the Galaxy. This would make a wonderful name for a loyal and affectionate cat.
0	Spock If your kitty has pointy ears, then consider naming them this famous Star Trek monkier.
0	Hercules A heroic name for a strong male cat.
0	Sulley A fitting name for a cat that reminds you of the gentle giant from Monsters, Inc.
0	Rocky This name is strong and masculine, just like Rocky Balboa.
0	Naveen The lively, fun-loving prince from The Princess and the Frog. Name your cat Naveen if they make you laugh.

Female Movie-Inspired Cat Names

Votes	Name	Vote
0	Sassy The sarcastic Himalayan cat who went on an adventure with Shadow the Golden Retriever and Chance the American Bulldog in Homeward Bound.
0	Duchess The kind and beautiful pet cat of Madame Bonfamille in The Aristocats.
0	Chloe A chubby gray tabby who lives in a New York apartment in The Secret Life of Pets.
0	Boots Inspired by Puss in Boots, Shrek’s little orange friend.
0	Luna A black-purple cat who is Sailor Moon’s friend and mentor.
0	Goose Captain Marvel’s orange tabby. She is actually a Flerken, which is an alien species that looks like a cat.
0	Rhubarb A feral cat who ends up inheriting a millionaire’s fortune and baseball team.
0	Snowbell A fluffy white feline who is Stuart Little’s enemy turned best friend.
0	Thomasina A marmalade cat who comes back to life.
0	Felicia The plump, spoiled pet cat of Ratigan in The Great Mouse Detective.
0	Jiji The loyal feline companion of Kiki the witch.
0	Selina The hidden real name of DC's Catwoman.
0	Moana A Hawaiian name meaning “ocean” or “sea”, and an excellent choice for an easygoing feline.
0	Katniss A pretty name for an athletic or courageous cat, just like the heroine from The Hunger Games.
0	Rogue This X-Men-inspired name is “purrfect” for a mischievous feline companion.
0	Jubilee Another X-Men name for your four-legged bundle of joy.
0	Scarlett Inspired by the Gone With the Wind character, this moniker is ideal for a spoiled kitty who enjoys being the center of attention.
0	Yoda A cute name for a cat with big ears.
0	Eywa Uncommon and pretty, this is the name of the deity in Avatar.
0	Juno A short and sweet name for the feline who is always up for a challenge.
0	Violet A flower name associated with characters from The Incredibles and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
0	Matilda A classic name for a cat who is clever and confident, just like the Roald Dahl character.
0	Nakia Unusual but easy to pronounce, this name comes from Black Panther.
0	Cassidy Originally a surname (e.g., Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid); also makes a beautiful given name.
0	Hermione This Harry Potter character name is a wonderful choice for an intelligent cat.
0	Lilo A Hawaiian name that means “generous one”—great for a feline who always brings you gifts like leaves and toys.
0	Clementine A lovely name for an orange or extroverted cat.
0	Amelie A variant of Amelia and Emily, Amelie means “industrious”.
0	Jasmine This flower name is suited for a cat who is strong and independent, just like Aladdin’s love interest.
0	Princess Leia A charming name for your feline princess.