Ciao gatto! Perhaps you would like an Italian name for your kitty. In Italian folklore, cats have a bit of trickster in them. They may use their abilities for good like Puss in Boots or Papa Gatto “The Colony of Cats” or they can be like the deceitful cat in Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio.
Italian names are a bit on the lyrical side. Here are some Italian cat names that might fit your fur baby.
How to name Your Cat (Cesar is taken!)
Due to Italy's high Roman Catholic population, a lot of the people there are named after saints. Sometimes, the name comes from the saint whose feast is celebrated on the person's birthday.
A girl born on December 13 would be named Lucia and a boy born on April 23 would be named Giorgio.
Someone born on March 17 (Just happens to be Italian Unification Day) might be named Patrizio or Patrizia or even Geltrude after the patron saint of cats.
A girl born on January 19 might be named Agnese after the patron saint of maidens. Talking of patron saints, maybe you can name your cat after one.
Franco or Francesca after the patron of animals would be appropriate. Uberto after the patron saint of hunters would be good for a cat who likes to chase things.
The archangel Ariel has a name that means “lion of God” and makes a good namesake for your little angel.
Female Italian Cat Names
The one thing Italy is well known for is all the types of pasta! You could name a girl cat after a type of pasta. Farfalle means “butterfly” in Italian and also refers to a type of pasta sometimes called “bow tie”.
Campanelle means “bell” and refers to a pasta type also called Gigli which means “lily”. Mafalda, Rotelle, Bavette and even Lasagna can inspire a good cat name.
Famous Italian women can also inspire a name. Caterina de Medici was a queen often described as a bit catlike. She and Lucrezia Borgia were both rumored to have a nasty habit of poisoning people they didn't like. Artemisia Gentileschi was a Baroque painter who depicted women as strong heroines.
Christine de Pizan was a Venetian woman who wrote that women had no inferiority to men. For modern day, Sofia Loren, Asia Argento and Isabella Rossellini are three great actresses to name a cat after. While Pia Zadora's acting accolades were mostly booby prizes, she is genuinely a good singer.
Florence after the beautiful Italian city makes a good name for a girl cat. Bianca would fit for a white cat. Margherita is Italian for “daisy” a flower associated with Italy.
Susanna is the Italian variant of the Hebrew name that means “lily”, another flower associated with Italy. Olivia after the olive tree is a pretty name. Since the emblem of Italy is a star, you can call her Stella. (Feel free to do your Stanley Kowalski impression.) Here are more suggestions.
- Adelasia
- Adelina
- Adele
- Adona
- Adriana
- Agnese
- Adrina
- Torta
- Albina
- Agostina
- Alba
- Alberta
- Alda
- Alegria
- Alessandra
- Alessa
- Alessia
- Anita
- Annalisa
- Annetta
- Barbara
- Beata
- Beatrice
- Benedetta
- Benigna
- Bertina
- Bettina
- Bianca
- Bambi
- Prima
- Bianca
- Calvina
- Camilla
- Capricia
- Carla
- Carlita
- Cecilia
- Celestina
- Celia
- Cesarina
- Chiara
- Clara
- Claudia
- Concetta
- Consolata
- Cosima
- Delfina
- Desideria
- Detta
- Diamante
- Elena
- Eleonora
- Elettra
- Elisabetta
- Elnora
- Eliosa
- Elvira
- Emiliana
- Emma
- Fabrizia
- Federica
- Felicita
- Ferdinanda
- Fernanda
- Fiore
- Fiorella
- Flavia
- Florentina
- Geltrude
- Gemma
- Genevra
- Genoveffa
- Giachetta
- Gioconda
- Gioffreda
- Giorgia
- Giorgina
- Giosetta
- Giovanna
- Ilaria
- Imacolata
- Imelda
- Ines
- Lalia
- Lauretta
- Leonora
- Letizia
- Marcella
- Maria
- Marisa
- Marta
- Martina
- Nereza
- Nicola
- Nicoletta
- Nina
- Oria
- Oriana
- Orsina
- Paloma
- Paola
- Pasqualina
- Raffaella
- Renata
- Riamonda
- Riccarda
- Romana
- Serafina
- Serena
- Signorina
- Sonia
- Stefania
- Stella
- Teodora
- Teofina
- Teresa
- Trilby
- Trillare
- Trista
- Valeria
- Vanessa
- Volante
- Ysabel
- Ysabelle
Male Italian Cat Names
The film The Godfather suggests many interesting Italian names. Besides the mob boss Don Vito and his sons Michael and Sonny we have Clemenza, Carlo, Bruno, Sollozzo and Fredo. (Who just might break your heart!)
Paulie Gatto would be a punny name for your cat. You may have noticed a cat in the opening scene of The Godfather. A cat wasn't called for in the original script.
The cat in the film was a stray director Francis Ford Coppola found wandering the Paramount lot. Marlon Brando got along with it, so the cat got into the movie where it's seen as a symbol of Don Vito hiding claws under a disguise of warmth.
Italy is home to many great artists, the Renaissance artists being the most admired. Yes, every fan of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles knows Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael. For a black and white cat, you could try Caravaggio, after the artist who contrasted brights and darks.
A reddish brown cat could be named Titian after the painter who liked painting people with this hair color. Botticelli depicted beautiful and graceful people, so it fits a beautiful and graceful cat.
Naples is a region of Italy known for romantic countryside. Rome is a stately city to name a dignified cat after. Feliciano means “happy” and is a good name for a happy cat. Guido is a macho sounding name, though it means “guide”. The national animal of Italy is the wolf so maybe you can name your cat Lupo. Here are more suggestions.
- Abele
- Achille
- Adamo
- Adelmo
- Adriano
- Alfieri
- Alfredo
- Alphons
- Amadeo
- Baldassare
- Bartolo
- Bartolomeo
- Basilio
- Benigno
- Benito
- Callisto
- Calvino
- Camillo
- Claudio
- Clemente
- Danilo
- Damiano
- Dante
- Domenico
- Drago
- Edoardo
- Elmo
- Emilio
- Ennio
- Enzo
- Eraldo
- Fabrizio
- Faramundo
- Faustino
- Ferdinando
- Fibonacci
- Filippo
- Flavio
- Francesco
- Fredo
- Gastone
- Gavino
- Geppetto
- Giacinto
- Giampiero
- Gian
- Giancarlo
- Gianfrancesco
- Gilberto
- Giorgio
- Giovanni
- Ilario
- Innocenzo
- Italo
- Ivo
- Lando
- Lazzaro
- Laureano
- Leonardo
- Leone
- Luca
- Luchino
- Luciano
- Lucio
- Macario
- Macuto
- Manlio
- Marcello
- Marco
- Maurilio
- Maurizio
- Mauro
- Neri
- Nero
- Niccolo
- Orazio
- Oreste
- Orso
- Pierluigi
- Piersanti
- Pietro
- Placido
- Plinio
- Renato
- Renzo
- Riccardo
- Rico
- Roberto
- Sabatino
- Sabato
- Salvatore
- Sam
- Simone
- Stefano
- Tazio
- Temistocle
- Tino
- Tito
- Tiziano
- Ubaldo
- Uberto
- Ugo
- Valerio
- Vincentio
- Vincenzo
- Vitale
- Vito
Conclusion
Italian cat names offer a touch of la dolce vita and a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of Italy. These names can be as elegant as a Venetian masquerade ball or as charming as a rustic Tuscan village.
Whether inspired by famous artists, delicious cuisine, historical landmarks, or the melodious sound of the Italian language, these names add a sense of style and sophistication to your feline companion's identity.
Choosing an Italian cat name is not just about naming your pet; it's about infusing their personality with the warmth and allure of Italy, creating a unique and memorable bond. So, when selecting an Italian name for your cat, savor the beauty of the language and let it become a beautiful part of your shared journey.
The Italian language is a beautiful one that lends to beautiful names. The art, literature, history and even cuisine of this richly layered country is sure to inspire a name that is molto perfetto!