“The Naming of Cats is a difficult matter”, wrote poet T.S. Lewis. “It isn't just one of your holiday games;” Difficult, perhaps, but it can be fun too!
The first rule of naming an animal or child: Will you feel comfortable shouting this name from your back porch? Because you will.
And for a unique beauty, we have round up 278 Tortoiseshell Cat Names for you!
Names for the Ultra Rare Male Tortie
Let's say your cat is the lovable and beautiful tortoiseshell patterned type. Chances are very good such a cat is female. On the odd chance you do find one of those rare male torties, it's because he has an extra X chromosome. Why not commemorate this rarity by naming him Xerxes, the one name that has two X's? It's especially appropriate if he has Persian blood.
You may consider other X names like Xavier or Max or Felix (the wonderful wonderful cat!). Because he's such a rarity, you might also consider names like Lucky or Jasper or Nadir. (Means “rare” in Arabic)
An ancient Peruvian god named Ai-Apaec was known to take the form of a tomcat. Li Shou was a singular feline hero in Chinese mythology who kept rats and mice from eating the crops.
If he's mostly black, you might call him Ovinnik after a Polish fae. If you feel more modern, recall that it's believed that torties can keep ghosts away from a house so Peter, Ray, Winston or Egon might fit for your little Ghostbuster.
If his face is perfectly divided in two colors, a Star Trek fan might be drawn to the names Bele and Lokai. Also depending on his fur pattern and how magical he is maybe some of these Harry Potter inspired fictional names may do the trick!
Female tortoiseshell cat names
Some people like to give their cats human names, to make them feel more like one of the family.
If you like Disney inspired names, there's Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Megara, Elsa, Anna, Aurora, Esmeralda, Tinkerbell, Merida, Mulan, Nala, Tiana or Moana.
If you like flower themed names, try Heather, Holly, Daisy, Sage, Lily or Iris. Lola's a good name, if you don't mind associations with a song about a crossdresser.
If you name her Delia, be prepared to hear someone sing “Delia's Gone” should she go missing. Robyn's a pretty name, but if you give it to a cat, someone might wonder why you named her after something she tries to catch and eat.
Kameko means “tortoise child” in Japanese and would fit.
Here is a list of female names:
- Annie
- Arielle
- Bella
- Beth
- Carla
- Celine
- Alexis
- Amber
- Amos
- Angie
- Annie
- Chloe
- Connie
- Delia
- Emery
- Emily
- Emma
- Birdie
- Bonnie
- Bunny
- Eunice
- Florence
- Frankie
- Georgie
- Harper
- Cinder
- Clementine
- Cleo
- Cleopatra
- Cocoa
- Heather
- Hollie
- Isla
- Iris
- Dawn
- Della
- Dinah
- Fiona
- Freya
- Isabel
- Jennie
- Judy
- Kimmie
- Kirsty
- Gail
- Galena
- Georgia
- Gilda
- Golda
- Gypsy
- Laurie
- Lily
- Lola
- Lottie
- Mabel
- Maddie
- Mia
- Mollie
- Nora
- Olivia
- Opal
- Polly
- Quinn
- Robyn
- Sage
- Sarah
- Sophie
- Tessa
- Hannah
- Hazel
- Hilda
- Trinnie
- Trixie
- Vickie
- Wilma
- Jessica
- Jinx
- Josephine
- Zinnie
- Zoe
Names for a Mostly Orange Tortie
Some tortoiseshells have mostly orange fur. Ginger is a good name for such a cat. Pumpkin would be fitting for a sweet natured orange tortie, particularly if she was born near Thanksgiving or Halloween.
If you still like flower names, Dahlia, Cosmos, Marigold and Sunflower would all be fitting. Marmalade, Peaches and Honey are all sweet names.
You could get fancy and call her Lady Marmalade for a song about the Moulin Rouge. If you don't care for that song about going to the country to eat a lot of peaches, consider Momo, the Japanese word for peach.
If Honey feels a bit jejune, try Pamela which is Greek for “All honey”.
List of Orange Tortie Cat Names:
- Aloe
- Amber
- Canna
- Cider
- Clay
- Copper
- Coral
- Elmo
- Mario
- Daphne
- Tigger
- Yosemite Sam
- Blossom
- Cosmos
- Crown
- Dahlia
- Ember
- Fire
- Flame
- Albaster
- Apricat
- Aslan
- Avenger
- Baggy
- Beans
- Flare
- Ginger
- Honey
- Iris
- Leo
- Marigold
- Marmalade
- Peaches
- Rosa
- Russell
- Inferno
- Jarred
- Rusty
- Spark
- Cheeto
- Carrots
- Dorito
- Pepper
- Pumpkin
- Spice
- Sunset
- Tangelo
- Tango
- Tigger
Also maybe you would like to check out this full list of orange cat names for your feline.
Black Tortoiseshell cat names
If your tortie is mostly black, try the mysterious. Ancient mythology suggests good names for such cats. Try Bastet, Luna, Venus, Freya, Hecate, Minerva, Sekhmet, Diana, Phoebe, Selene, Dawon, Atalanta, Tyche or Isis. If you like Disney villains Grimhilde, Maleficent or Ursula would work.
Cruella might be fitting if her head is half one color and half another, but perhaps Cruella isn't a good person to name a cat after. (In the original source material, she isn't any nicer to cats than she is to dogs.)
Ebony, Jet, Onyx, Sable, Raven, Shadow and Pepper are all good names for your dark lady.
List of black tortoiseshell cat names:
- Bear
- Char
- Coal
- Inky
- Bella
- Betsy
- Magpie
- Magic
- Dusky
- Ebony
- Guiness
- Ink
- Jet
- Clara
- Dahlia
- Dinah
- Elvira
- Ellie
- Elsa
- Beauty
- Boots
- Emily
- Liquorice
- Luna
- Magic
- Mars
- Mystery
- Mystic
- Mystique
- Gina
- Gretta
- Midnight
- Moonshine
- Neptune
- Noon
- Onyx
- Pepper
- Pitch
- Ingrid
- Pocus
- Puma
- Jasmine
- Kara
- Kiki
- Pluto
- Raven
- Rorschach
- Silky
- Trixie
- Whiskers
- Wiggles
- Za Za
- Tux
- Sable
- Saturn
- Shadow
- Ace
- Blue
- Bullet
- Coal
- Goth
- Midnight
- Mystery
- Magic
- Merlin
- Shady
- Sooty
- Twiglet
- Twilight
- Venus
Tortoiseshell unique cat names
Now suppose you have a torbie, a tortoiseshell cat with a tabby pattern mixed in. If you're a fan of T. S. Elliot, Jenny-Any-Dots might be appropriate.
Likewise, consider Mungojerrie and Rumpleteaser if you have a bonded pair. (Even if they aren't the best role models for kittens.) Freckles, Marbles, Patches, Blaze and Streaky are all tried but true names for such cats.
Harley Quinn reflects both the multicolored coat and a bit of mischief. Paisley and Polychrome reflect images of a colorful swirling pattern.
List of unique torto cat names:
- Lena
- Maci
- Megara
- Xaria
- Xenia
- Myla
- Nia
- Paisley
- Primrose
- Raegan
- Rarity
- Rogue
- Lucifer
- Damien
- Frankenstein
- Dracula
- Twilight
- Shadow
- Warlock
- Banshee
- Rosalie
- Rue
- Ruth
- Sloane
- Storm
You may also want to check out this extensive list of unique cat names for your kitty.
Cute names for tortoiseshell cats
If your tortoiseshell cat is cute by nature and you just cant sway away from her cute looks than you may want to give her an appropriate cute name so that everyone knows whats her nature like.
Some beautiful and cute tortoiseshell names are:
- Angel
- Aster
- Autumn
- Baby
- Blossom
- Bluebell
- Booties
- Coco
- Cookie
- Cruella
- Cupcake
- Hello Kitty
- Ladybug
- Whiskers
- Snowball
- Buttercup
- Camellia
- Cherry
- Clover
- Daisy
- Dahlia
- Echo
- Faith
- Penny
- Rainbow
- Bubbles
- Lily
- Lucky
- Honey
- Jewel
- Kitty
- Luna
- Mitten
- Nabi
- Samantha
- Sasha
- Peaches
- Peony
- Pickles
- Rosalie
- Sky
- Sunflower
- Sweetie-belle
- Tansy
- Tiptoe
- Tulip
Other Meaningful Names
If you're a fan of The Bard, there's Juliet, Gertrude, Ophelia, Miranda, Portia, Beatrice, Cordelia, Tamora, Rosalind and Titania.
If you'd like her to be named for a queen try Cleopatra, Victoria, Elizabeth, Isabella, Nefertiti, Hatshepsut, Rani, Bodicea, Zenobia or Eleanor.
Since torties are also known as “money cats” consider Penny, Lira, Ruby, Opal, Pearl, Goldie, Balboa, Florin, Korona or Phoenix.
There are so many names out there, you're sure to find one for your unique little kitty!
