Harry Potter Cat Names

40 hand-picked Harry Potter cat names from the Name Vault — plus how to make one stick.

How to Pick One

The books hand you three cats outright. Crookshanks belongs to Hermione, Mrs Norris to Filch, and Minerva McGonagall first appears as a tabby sitting on a wall. Minerva is a Roman goddess as well, so it stands up on its own if nobody catches the reference, and the same is true of Luna, which was a common cat name long before anyone thought of Lovegood. Sirius and Bellatrix are both stars as well as characters, which gives them a second life. Hedwig, Fawkes, Nagini and Buckbeak belong to an owl, a phoenix, a snake and a hippogriff, so putting one on a cat is a deliberate joke rather than a natural fit. Two syllables ending brightly carries furthest outdoors, which puts Luna ahead of Crookshanks, a name most owners shorten to Crooks within a week.

FAQ

How do I choose the right Harry Potter cat name?

Say your top three out loud at feeding time — the one that feels natural to call across a room is the winner. Two-syllable names ending in a bright vowel get the fastest response.

Which Harry Potter names suit a cat best?

The ones that were cats. Crookshanks belongs to Hermione, Mrs Norris to Filch, and Minerva McGonagall first appears in the form of a tabby. Luna works on its own merits and is a common cat name whether or not you know the books. Sirius and Bellatrix are stars as well as characters, so they keep a second meaning if the series falls out of fashion.

Are any of these names a poor fit for a cat?

Hedwig is an owl, Fawkes a phoenix, Nagini a snake, Trevor a toad and Scabbers a rat, so using any of them for a cat is a deliberate joke rather than a natural match. Fluffy is a three-headed dog, which is a better joke than most. Long names also get shortened in practice, so expect Crookshanks to become Crooks and Bellatrix to become Bella.

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