Are you a cat lover or parent searching for some of the most beautiful and elegant Egyptian cat names? You’ll absolutely love our list!
We chose 25 ideas each for male and female kitties that are just perfect.
Take a look, and then tell us your favorite!
Egyptian Cat Names
In Ancient Egypt [1], cats were considered sacred beings (something cats have never forgotten!). Egyptians were superstitious and held particular beliefs about magic.
They believed that cats were magical creatures that brought good luck and fortune to their owners.
Based on that, many Egyptians would treasure these pets, and wealthy families clothed their domesticated cats – often Maus – in jewels and fed them like royalty. Once these cats died, they were mummified and often buried with their owners.
In the nineteenth century [2], it was more common for domestic pets in Egypt to have a human-like name. Cats were seen as the embodiment of Gods.
They represented the goddess named Bastet [3] or Bast and known as Baset, Baast, or Ubaste. This was the sun god and the daughter of Ra. Cleopatra was the queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC.
She loved pets and had an Egyptian Maus cat named Tivali.
The worshiping of cats started when the Ancient Egyptians realized that cats could protect them against tiny rodents and insects who were destroying their food and houses.
It was just a little step from there to the cats becoming sacred. The Egyptian cat names we present now are charming, and they really are Egyptian names for Sphynx cats.
These are some of our favorite Egyptian cat names that could be a recommendation for your own kitten.
CHECK: Cat Names From Literature and Mythology
100 Egyptian Cat Names for Females
These include a selection of female cat names, all of which are Egyptian, and appropriate for naming your cat. They are quite popular and are as follows,
- Mau – is the Egyptian word for cat.
- Aisha – it means ‘peaceful.’
- Anukis – was the goddess of the Nile
- Annipe– daughter of the Nile
- Aya– Queen in the 13th dynasty.
- Cleopatra – choosing Cleopatra as a cat name can be a very inspired idea
- Dalila – it’s the Egyptian word for ‘sweet.’
- Femi – it means ‘lover.’
- Gamila– means ‘beautiful.’
- Jamila – means ‘beauty.’
- Kakra – the Egyptian word for ‘twin.’
- Kamilah– means ‘perfection.”
- Keket – was the goddess of darkness.
- Kissa – or ‘the sister of twins.’
- Lapis – lapis lazuli is a semi-precious, blue jewel.
- Lotus – the lotus is a gorgeous flower
- Monifa – this is the Egyptian word for ‘lucky.’
- Nefertiti – she was the Queen of Egypt.
- Oni – it means ‘wanted.’
- Sabola – or ‘prophetess.’
- Selma – the Egyptian word for ‘secure.’
- Shani – it means ‘wonderful woman.’
- Tia – was a princess of the 19th dynasty.
- Zahra – another Egyptian word for ‘flower.’
- Wadjet has varied spelling like Wadjit but was commonly called Buto, Uto, or Edjo. This was the cobra goddess.
- Bastret – ‘Egyptian cat goddess’.
- Hehet – Goddess of the immeasurable.
- Isis – ‘ goddess of life and magic’.
- Keket – ‘mythical Goddess of darkness’.
- Hathor – ‘house of the Horus’.
- Heqet – ‘helper of women in childbirth’.
- Niut – ‘mythical Goddess of nothingness’.
- Nut – ‘vault of the heaven’.
- Paket – this name means ‘she who scratches’.
- Keket – ‘mythical Goddess of darkness’.
- Kosey – ‘lion’.
- Menhit – ‘Goddess of war’.
- Mekal – ‘fierce devourer’.
- Mafdet – ‘Goddess who slays serpents’.
- Maat – ‘mythical Goddess of order and justice’.
- Selk – ‘another form of the Goddess Isis’.
- Serq – goddess associated with fertility and magic.
- Tauret – ‘Goddess of pregnant women’.
- Uadjit – ‘mythical cobra Goddess’.
- Mut – ‘mother’.
- Naunet – ‘mythical Goddess of the ocean’.
- Nekhbet – ‘mythical vulture Goddess’.
- Nephthys – ‘lady of the house’.
- Net – ‘terrifying one’.
- Sekhmet – ‘might’; Goddess of war.
- Acenath – Daughter.
- Chione – mythetical daughter
- Hasina – good.
- Jamila – beauty.
- Kamilah – perfect.
- Masika – rain born.
- Mandisa – sweet.
- Nabirye – twin mother.
- Raziya – agreement.
- Sagira – little.
- Selk – supreme goddess.
- Sslama – peaceful.
- Suma – request.
- Tefnut – moisture.
- Uadjit – cobra goddess.
- Uatchit -Hathor.
- Umayma – litle mother.
- Walidah – newborn.
- Ebonique – black.
- Eshe– life.
- Femi – love.
- Haqikah – honest.
- Heqet – frog head goddess.
- Lapis – beautiful blue gemstone.
- Maimonides – Egyptian philosopher.
- Masudi – merry.
- Moke – sweetened with honey.
- Monifa – lucky.
- Msamaki – fish.
- Mshai – the wanderer.
- Aya – magical angel.
- Aziza – precious.
- Lotus – flower.
- Kissa – twin sisters.
- Meht urt – cow.
- Mosi – first born.
- Mukarramma – revered.
- Neith – divine mother.
- Nile – from the river.
- Ojufemi – beloved.
- Oni – desired.
- Panya – mouse.
- Pili – second born.
- Oseye – happy.
- Rehema – compassionate.
- Sabola – prophetess.
- Nuru – day born.
- Siti – lady.
- Subira – patient.
- Sslama – peaceful.
All the Egyptian cat names are interesting and have a unique meaning. It’s like they were each made to match the personality of any cat.
CHECK: Warrior Cat Names for Black and White Cats
100 Egyptian Cat Names for Males
These include a selection of male cat names, all Egyptian and appropriate for naming your cat. They are gaining popularity and are as follows,
- Abasi – may be the most ironic name for a cat; it means ‘serious.’
- Adio – it means ‘righteous.’
- Akil – it’s the Egyptian word for ‘smart.’
- Ammon – or ‘mystery,’ like any cat we know.
- Anubis – was the God of the Afterlife.
- Ata– means “twin.”
- Ausar– another name for the god Osiris
- Bes– a dwarf deity with lion-like features, making it a great name for a munchkin cat!
- Dakarai– means “happiness”
- Darius – the name of a Pharaoh.
- Fadil– means virtuous, excellence, and grace.
- Hamadi means ‘praised,’ and it’s perfect for any cat.
- Horus – was the God of the Sun.
- Kahotep – is the Egyptian word for ‘peaceful.’
- Khons – he was the God of the Moon.
- Luxor – it means temple.
- Mekal – is the Egyptian word for ‘fierce devourer.’
- Nessor – or ‘victorious.’
- Oba – simply, it means ‘King.’
- Omari – is an Egyptian ‘high-born’.
- Osiris – or the Lord of Life After Death.
- Seti – a ruler from the 19th dynasty.
- Sphinx – is a lion with a human head.
- Tor – another word for ‘king.’
- Tut – short for the famous Tutankamun.
- Cairo – modern capital city of Egypt, and victorious.
- Chigaru – hound
- Ahotep – peaceful.
- Khalid – immortal.
- Mkhai – fighter.
- Nomti – strong.
- Ammon – mystery.
- Akil – smart.
- Masudi – happy.
- Husani – handsome boy.
- Kamuzu – healer.
- Masud – good fortune.
- Shakir – grateful.
- Sefu – sword.
- Nkosi – the law.
- Jabari – brave.
- Mshai – the wanderer.
- Nephi – good son.
- Asim – protector.
- Imhotep – famous ancient Egyptian philosopher.
- Ptahhotep – famous ancient Egyptian philosopher.
- Seth – Osiris’s brother.
- Horus – Osiris’s son.
- Amenhotep – famous ancient Egyptian philosopher.
- Ra/Re – Sun god.
- Mafdet – feline goddess.
- Mau – the divine cat.
- Ptah – Sekhmet’s husband.
- Geb – god of the Earth.
- Mihos. (lion-headed son of Bastet.
- Pasht – another name for Bastet.
- Gata – “cat” in Greek.
- Ahmenhotet III – Egyptian ruler who loved cats.
- Herodotus – Greek historian who wrote about Egypt’s love of cats.
- Bubastis – Egyptian city which housed Bastet’s temple.
- Pakhet – lioness goddess of war.
- Bennu – Egyptian deity of creation, often shown as a falcon.
- Sepest – Egyptian god who lives in a tree,
- Mekal – fierce devourer.
- Aladdi – famous Egyptian fencing master.
- Sobek – crocodile god)
- Anhur – god of hunting and war.
- Thoth – Egyptian philosopher.
- Tahemet – “queenie”.
- Damietta – branch of the Nile.
- Aswan – famous Nile river dam.
- Kyky – monkey.
- Azizi – precious.
- Sefu – sword.
- Sethos – prince.
- Yahya – given by God.
- Un nefer – God of dead.
- Tum – God of Annu.
- Zuberi – strong.
- Sadiki – faithful.
- Ur – great.
- Khons – god of moon.
- Omari – high born.
- Yafeu – bold.
- Zoser – name of a Pharaoh.
- Akhenaten – devoted to Aten.
- Nun – god of ocean.
- Osahar – God hears me.
- Osaze – loved by God.
- Sa’d – goodluck.
- Taafeef – praise God.
- Tarik – warrior.
- Shakir – grateful.
- Ur-Atum – great.
- Wamukota – left-handed.
- Fukayna – intelligent.
- Garai – settled.
- Horus – god of sky.
- Idogbe – brother of twins.
- Djoser – divine of the body.
I know there are a lot of jokes about cats being the masters of the house, but it’s important to realize that at some point, they really were.
What Did Egyptians Name Their Cats in Ancient Egypt?
Many people have wondered this exact question. [4] Firstly, animals in Egypt were called or known as Miut. [5] Knowingly, cats carried status as they resembled God.
So, their names had to follow in this accord. Popular names mentioned above included Nefirtiti, Berenice, Papyrus, Ma’at, Tut (representing Tutankhamun), son of Bastet, Salma, Bahiti, Rana, and Sara.
The name of an Egyptian cat carried their status and symbolized something to society. So, their name was not given loosely.
Sekhmet, the Egyptian goddess of war, is often depicted as a lioness, which symbolizes the cat feline bloodline’s great status. Whether you have female cats or male cats, all these names are suitable for either.
Tips to Choosing an Egyptian cat name
If you’re looking for an Egyptian god or Egyptian goddess name for your little lionesses or divine cat, then an Egyptian one is suitable.
When it comes to choosing a name, you have to think about what you want your cat to represent or stand for.
Is your cat the protector of children, fighter, or a breed that represents an Egyptian ruler? Select a name that matches the characteristics of your cat, and stick by it.
It’s magnificent if the name is not well-received by others, provided that you love it and that it resembles your cat’s character.
Find out some of the most amazing Egyptian cat breeds!
FAQs
Are cats still seen as sacred in Egypt?
No. Cats were only seen as a vessel of God [6] which drew many to want a cat to obtain closeness to divinity.
Can anyone use Egyptian names for their cats?
Yes. It won’t be appropriating their culture or language by doing so.
Do Egyptians still have cats?
Yes. Although the meaning behind the cat might be somewhat different as opposed to back in the day.
Can I name any breed of the cat an Egyptian name?
Yes! You aren’t ever restricted in terms of what to name your cat. So, regardless of whether it is a black cat or white cat, you can name it whatever you feel is appropriate.
Will my cat listen to their new name if I rename them?
Yes [7]. Provided that you put in the work to train your cat, they should be able to understand and pick up on your body language and tone that you are speaking to them.
Finally,
Cats in Egypt carried remarkable status, and their names reflected just that. Names are important.
Cats know and recognize their own name, and among other things, they can aid in training and having your cat as an indoor pet.
You want to name your pet something that is appropriate, fun, and not necessarily as popular and common as other cats.
Remember, nothing is ever set in stone and changes can be made through training if you would like to change your cat’s name.
Now, that you are equipped with a selection of Egyptian names suitable for your feline wanderer, we hope that this will be of help to you as you consider naming your cat.
References
- 1. Cats Rule in Ancient Egypt [Internet]. Pages. 2014. Available from: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/pages/article/cats-rule-in-ancient-egypt
- 2. Fischer HG. More Ancient Egyptian Names of Dogs and Other Animals. Metropolitan Museum Journal. 1977;12:173–8.
- 3. The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. Bastet | Egyptian goddess [Internet]. Encyclopædia Britannica. 2018. Available from: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bastet
- 4. What did Ancient Egyptians name their cats? [Internet]. Quora. [cited 2022 Feb 9]. Available from: https://www.quora.com/What-did-Ancient-Egyptians-name-their-cats
- 5. Hill J. Cats in Ancient Egypt | Ancient Egypt Online [Internet]. Ancientegyptonline.co.uk. 2010. Available from: https://ancientegyptonline.co.uk/cat/
- 6. Yuko E. How Cats Became Divine Symbols in Ancient Egypt [Internet]. HISTORY. 2021. Available from: https://www.history.com/news/cats-ancient-egypt
- 7. Pet Adoption: Should You Rename Your Dog or Cat? [Internet]. www.petmd.com. [cited 2022 Feb 9]. Available from: https://www.petmd.com/dog/care/pet-adoption-should-you-rename-your-dog-or-cat
Andreea is a very passionate content creator and her purpose is to provide you with the most interesting articles, while constantly discovering new facts. She’s been freelance writing for the past five years and has created numerous articles and educational materials while managing her own business.
Wow! Such a great list of unique Egyptian Cat names! Thanks for sharing!
These are such unique looking cats. I like the list of names here!
These are all really great cat names, so many to choose from.
Beautiful and unique names! I will share this list with my brother. He loves cats and is seriously getting another one sometime soon.
So many great names on this list! I think that Neith is my favorite 🙂
I love Egyptian cats. I think they’re so beautiful. These names are great as well.
There are so many great choices for your cat. I personally like the name Tia.
I always knew that cats were revered in ancient Egypt, but, I didn’t know why. Thanks for sharing that explanation! There are a lot of great names on the list.
These are all great, unique names. It is tough to find something suitable and I like these choices.