Lord of the Rings Cat Names

40 hand-picked Lord of the Rings cat names from the Name Vault — plus how to make one stick.

How to Pick One

Tolkien built his names as a philologist, which is why so many of them sound like real words even when you do not know the story. Gandalf is already cat-shaped, being grey, aloof and inclined to turn up when it suits him, and so are Bilbo, Frodo, Pippin, Merry and Rosie, none of which need explaining to a neighbour. Arwen and Galadriel are the elegant end of the list, while Smaug and Gollum suit a hoarder or a cat with an unpleasant noise. Shadowfax fits a fast one and Radagast the cat that keeps bringing things in from the garden. Watch the length, though: Rivendell, Lothlorien and Mordor are places rather than characters and are too long to call, whereas two syllables ending on a bright vowel gets the quickest response, which Bilbo, Frodo and Rosie all have.

FAQ

How do I choose the right Lord of the Rings 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 Tolkien names work on a cat that is not a reference?

Gandalf, Bilbo, Frodo, Rosie, Merry and Pippin all pass as plain names to anyone who has not read the books, and Rosie and Merry were ordinary English names first. Arwen and Elrond sound invented but pronounce cleanly and spell easily. Avoid the place names, because Rivendell, Lothlorien and Mordor are long, and you will be calling this out of an open window.

Is Gandalf a good name for a grey cat?

It is one of the better matches on the list, since the character is grey, keeps his own hours and arrives when it suits him rather than when he is wanted. It shortens to Gandi or Dalf, which matters because longer names get shortened anyway. Elsewhere, Shadowfax suits a fast cat, Smaug a hoarder, and Radagast one that brings things in from the garden.

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