60+ Exotic Cat Names – Beautiful, Unique Names for Your Cat
Last updated: by Jessi LarsonAre you looking for a cool, unique name for your cat? If so, exotic cat names are the way to go.
Sometimes a popular cat name like Bella, Max, Tigger, or Chloe won’t do. Picking exotic cat names means it’s doubtful that someone else will have the same name for their kitten, and it’s also a fun conversation starter to explain how you picked the name and what it means.
The downside is that the name may be difficult to pronounce, and you’ll have to explain it to people who meet your cat. However, that’s a small price to pay for a rare, gorgeous cat name.
We’ve created a collection of our favorite 60+ exotic cat names from around the globe, along with their traditional means. Of course, this is by no means an exhaustive list, so if you have other ideas, please let us know.
Exotic Cat Names with an Asian Flare
- Adhira – meaning restless in Sanskrit/Indian
- Adita – first root in Sanskrit/Indian
- Akemi – beauty in Japanese
- Akira – bright in Japanese
- Ari – lion in Hebrew
- Arun – sun in Burmese
- Bala – strength in Sanskrit/Indian
- Bao – precious treasure in Chinese
- Chantrea – moon in Cambodian
- Daiki – great glory in Japanese
- Dae-jung – great and vast in Korean
- Fairuz – turquoise in Arabic
- Haneul – heaving, sky in Korean
- Indra – God of rain and thunder in Sanskrit/Indian
- Kameko – superior child in Japanese
- Kali – black in Hindu
- Karima – generous and noble in Arabic
- Krishna – dark, black in Sanskrit/Indian
- Mukhtar – chosen in Arabic
- Myeong –bright and clear in Korean
- Priya – love in Sanskrit/Indian
- Rangsey – seven colors in Cambodian
- Ruwa – beauty in Arabic
- Saki – cape in Japanese
- Suki – beloved in Japanese
Exotic Cat Names with a European Touch
- Achilles – warrior in Greek
- Amara – everlasting in Italian
- Amorita – little loved in Latin
- Alessandro – defender of mankind in Italian
- Ambrossio – divine in Spanish
- Anatoly – sunrise in Russian
- Bacio – kiss in Italian
- Demetria – Goddess of harvest and fertility in Greek
- Dirk – famous ruler in German
- Ekaterina – pure in Russian
- Farfalle – butterfly in Italian
- Hans – gift from God in German
- Ivana – God is gracious in Czech
- Javiera – owner of the house in Spanish
- Lilja – lily in Finnish
- Maia – goddess of spring in Greek
- Oro – gold in Spanish
- Renaldo – ruler in Spanish
- Sabine – German form of Sabrina
- Svetlana – star in Russian
- Thalia – blooming in Greek
- Ulrich – ruling wolf in German
- Vladimir – renowned prince in Russian
Exotic Cat Names with African Heritage
- Abasi – serious in Egyptian
- Annipe – daughter of the Nile in Egyptian
- Azizi – precious in Egyptian
- Goya – wild cat in South African
- Hamisi – Thursday’s child in Somalian
- Inama – wild animals in Zambian
- Kamilah – perfect in Egyptian
- Lencho – lion in Ethiopian and Kenyan
- Panya – mouse in Kiswahili
- Sabra – patient in Egyptian
- Sempala – antelope in Ugandan
- Senkima – monkey in Ugandan
- Siri – tiger in Nigerian
- Twiga – giraffe in Kiswahili
- Ugo – Eagle in Nigerian
- Uma – second daughter in Nigerian
- Zaki – lion in West African
Exotic Female Cat Names
- Lotus – A flower often found in exotic locations.
- Sushi – Inspired by the exotic Japanese cuisine.
- Safari – After the exotic African adventure.
- Bugatti – After the exotic car brand.
- Kimono – Named after the traditional Japanese garment.
- Mandala – Inspired by the exotic geometric figure representing the universe in Hindu and Buddhist symbolism.
- Iguana – Named after the exotic reptile.
- Bamboo – After the plant often associated with Asia.
- Durian – After the exotic fruit from Southeast Asia.
- Rainforest – Inspired by the exotic and lush tropical ecosystems.
- Aston – A shortened version of the exotic car brand, Aston Martin.
- Sari – A traditional garment worn by women in South Asia.
- Dot – A nod to the Aboriginal dot paintings.
- Tropica – A word reflecting tropical, exotic locations.
- Venus – Named after the Venus flytrap, an exotic plant.
- Fennec – After the Fennec fox, an exotic animal.
- Orchid – Named after the exotic flower species.
- Lamborghini – After the exotic car manufacturer.
- Djembe – Named after the West African drum.
Exotic Male Cat Names
- Python – Named after the exotic snake species.
- Sahara – After the largest hot desert in the world, quite an exotic location.
- Escargot – Inspired by the exotic French dish.
- Ferrari – After the exotic car brand.
- Samurai – Named after the ancient Japanese warriors.
- Kalahari – Inspired by the African desert, a name that definitely stands out.
- Taro – A type of root vegetable common in exotic cuisines.
- Panda – Named after the exotic animal native to south-central China.
- Cayenne – After the pepper, adding a spicy touch to your cat’s name.
- Mayan – Inspired by the exotic, ancient civilization.
- Amazon – Named after the largest rainforest in the world, quite an exotic and vast ecosystem.
- Bonsai – After the miniature trees grown via an Asian cultivation technique.
- Masai – Inspired by the Maasai Mara, the famous wildlife reserve in Kenya.
- Brioche – After the rich, sweet French bread, adding a French exotic twist to his name.
- Sumo – Named after the traditional form of Japanese wrestling.
- Jaguar – After the exotic animal and also sharing the name with a luxurious car brand.
- Safari – A reminder of wild, exotic adventures.
- Kalahari – After the African desert, a name that suggests an adventurous spirit.
- Armani – After the Italian exotic fashion brand.
- Inca – A significant civilization in history, a name filled with exotic culture and mystery.
For other exotic cat names, try these other international ideas:
Japanese cat names
Korean cat names
Siamese cat names
Native American cat names
30 Comments
Great list of names…. I loved it but…….. My cats names are Zen and Shaggy
Love all the ideas my friend is geting 2 new kittens and this helped a ton
You should also include the name
Bubinga.
Don’t it sound like an African Tiger?
Excellent list of suggested names.
In 2004 I named a female kitten Priya. It suits her well and is so beautiful. she is with me now and turns 14 this summer.
In 2005 I chose to call a black male kitten Sandon. Its seems such a handsome name, just like him.
I’m getting a bengal cat any ideas of an exotic name ?
Ian ..I too am getting a Bengal. Is yours male or female? Amara means everlasting. Siri means tiger in Nigerian. Indra is God of rain and thunder. Halo, Juju…
“Ora” Spanish for gold?
The correct word is oro. With an O at the end.
Thank you.
Fixed, thank you!
I just got a kitten, he is gray, black, with hints of white, any names to fit him?
Thanks for the listing! I named ours Ruwa and Suki
My cat is black with yellow eyes she is sweet and kind of shy.. Please suggest me some names for her😊
We brought a new white female kitten with blue eyes pls suggest good name
We will soon be having 2 Burmese boys ; please can anyone suggest Burmese names for them
We bought white female kitten and male colour is sightly orange and hints of grey pls suggest a beautiful name
I had a white fluffy kitten with ♡ shaped face & named her Persia♡
I named My male kitten “Bandi “
Bamsi
My Bengal maine coon mix is Azizi…A name that is so much fun to say!
I named my kitten Jessi
Satchmo, Sphynx,
My cat gave birth to white male kitten…Plz suggest cute Marathi name for him..
i got a kitten its brown n i am trying to find a name for it
ivana and hans have to be swiched i look them both up and ivana is gift from god and hans is god is gracious
Kedar is a good maharashtran name
I have a male cat named Misha. I believe that is Russian for “Like God”. He is a very peaceful house cat . He is my friend and we have a good understandine between us. When my poodle had a broken rib, Misha would bring dog food (in his mouth) to the dog and sleep in the dog bed with Snowflake Dog.
My new Kitten who we believe is a little girl needs a short name in Arabic. Any suggestions please??
I have bought fawn colour male cat can u please suggest me cute name
Amara in Italian doesn’t mean everlasting. It mean bitter (feminine adjective). And farfalle is the plural meaning butterflies. The singular is farfalla. All very nice names but may want to double check with natives.
Kiran you said you were looking for a name that fits a black cat with hints of white what about snowflakes. Because of the little dots of white or snow for short.
My savannah f5 is called deja