A new study dove into the most popular pet names of 2025, and in the cat world, one name remained on top for a second consecutive year.
TrustedHousesitters, a pet-sitting platform, gathered data from the 100,000 dogs and cats registered to the community in July 2025 to find the most popular names for our furry friends.
Earning the most popular cat name in 2025, among males and females, is Luna, which also earned the title the previous year. Rounding out the Top 5 are Charlie, Lucy, Bella and Leo.
The name Charlie gained in popularity, coming in at number two after just missing the Top 5 a year prior.
The rest of the top 25 monikers included a mix of cat classics—Pepper, Coco and Shadow—as well as using traditionally human names.
During the Middle Ages, animals received names reflecting something about their physical appearance, according to the ASPCA. Names then transformed to mirror a pet’s personality. As people began treating their pets as family members, human names rose in popularity, and pop culture has since become a major influence on names.
From movies and food, pet parents are drawing inspiration from all around. BookTok, a community on TikTok for literary enthusiasts to share and discuss books, especially gave owners name ideas this year.
The study found that the Fourth Wing book series by Rebecca Yarros sparked a 318 percent increase in the name Violet and a 320 percent increase for Onyx, among both cats and dogs.
The names Feyre, Azriel, and Rowan, from Sarah J. Maas’s fantasy universe, also gained popularity as pet names.
Do Cats Know Their Names?
As owners obsess over finding the perfect moniker for their pet, they might begin to wonder whether or not cats actually know their names.
Pet experts found that not only can felines recognize their names, they can also differentiate them from other household pets’ names, according to an article from PetMD. The recognition is likely due to positive reinforcement and a cat’s association of their name with attention, food or play.
Cats can also differentiate between their owner’s voice and that of a less-visited guest. They recognize tones of voices, influencing how likely they are to pay attention to us.
To test if your cat understands their name, see how they respond. Chances are, if they turn their head or orient themselves toward you, they recognize their name. But, as independent creatures, don’t get offended if they don’t listen.
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