Para tu michi
Mexican cat names with meanings
Michi is what Mexicans actually call a cat. Around it sit the coat names (Pelusa, Manchas, Canela), the Nahuatl words (Meztli, Ocelotl, Papalotl) and the ones borrowed from people (Frida, Catrina, Chuy). Every name here means something.
The Mexican words for cat
- MichiMEE-chee
cat, in Mexican internet slang
Good for: any cat
The affectionate word Mexicans use online for a cat, from michino. If you want one word that says 'Mexican cat', this is it.
Spanish - Gatitogah-TEE-toh
kitten, little cat
Good for: kittens
Spanish - Mininomee-NEE-noh
kitty, the word you call a cat with
Good for: any cat
Spanish
Named for the coat
- Pelusapeh-LOO-sah
fluff, lint
Good for: long-haired cats
Spanish - ManchasMAHN-chahs
spots
Good for: calico and tabby cats
Spanish - RayasRAH-yahs
stripes
Good for: tabbies
Spanish - Canelakah-NEH-lah
cinnamon
Good for: ginger cats
Spanish - Chocolatechoh-koh-LAH-teh
chocolate, from Nahuatl
Good for: dark brown cats
Nahuatl - NubeNOO-beh
cloud
Good for: white or grey cats
Spanish - SombraSOHM-brah
shadow
Good for: black cats that follow you
Spanish - GüeroGWEH-roh
fair-haired, blond
Good for: cream and white cats
Spanish - MoroMOH-roh
dark-coated
Good for: black cats
Spanish - Azabacheah-sah-BAH-cheh
jet black
Good for: black cats
From Arabic az-zabaj, the black stone; a common Mexican name for a black animal.
Arabic - Cenizaseh-NEE-sah
ash
Good for: grey cats
Spanish - Mielmee-EL
honey
Good for: golden-eyed cats
Spanish - PerlaPER-lah
pearl
Good for: white females
Spanish - Pelusinapeh-loo-SEE-nah
little fluff
Good for: fluffy kittens
Spanish
Nahuatl and Maya names
- MeztliMES-tlee
moon
Good for: silver and grey cats
Nahuatl - Citlaliseet-LAH-lee
star
Good for: bright-eyed cats
Nahuatl - XóchitlSOH-cheetl
flower
Good for: delicate females
Nahuatl - Ocelotloh-SEH-lohtl
jaguar
Good for: spotted cats; the source of the English word ocelot
Nahuatl - Balambah-LAHM
jaguar, in Maya
Good for: powerful, silent cats
Maya - Tonatiuhtoh-nah-TEE-oo
the sun
Good for: golden cats
Nahuatl - Papalotlpah-PAH-lohtl
butterfly
Good for: cats that chase things
Nahuatl - Quetzalket-SAHL
the long green feather, and the bird
Good for: green-eyed cats
Nahuatl - Tamaltah-MAHL
the steamed corn dish, from Nahuatl tamalli
Good for: a cat that sits wrapped in a blanket
Nahuatl - Eloteeh-LOH-teh
corn on the cob, from Nahuatl elotl
Good for: yellow cats
Nahuatl - ChileCHEE-leh
chili pepper, from Nahuatl chilli
Good for: small, fiery cats
Nahuatl - XoloSHOH-loh
short for Xoloitzcuintli, the Mexican hairless dog
Good for: hairless breeds like the Sphynx
Nahuatl - Cempasúchilsem-pah-SOO-cheel
the marigold of Día de Muertos
Good for: orange cats
Nahuatl - Copalkoh-PAHL
the tree resin burned as incense
Good for: smoky grey cats
Nahuatl - Tepacheteh-PAH-cheh
the fermented pineapple drink
Good for: golden cats
Nahuatl
Named for a person or a legend
- NachoNAH-choh
nickname for Ignacio, and the dish
Good for: cats with attitude
Spanish - PanchoPAHN-choh
nickname for Francisco
Good for: bold males
Spanish - ChuyCHOO-ee
nickname for Jesús
Good for: friendly males
Spanish - Lupitaloo-PEE-tah
little Guadalupe
Good for: sweet-tempered females
Spanish - FridaFREE-dah
peace, after Frida Kahlo
Good for: strong-willed females
Germanic - Catrinakah-TREE-nah
the elegant skeleton of Día de Muertos
Good for: black and white females
La Catrina is José Guadalupe Posada's skeleton in a feathered hat, the emblem of Day of the Dead.
Spanish - CocoKOH-koh
nickname for Socorro; also the film
Good for: brown cats
Spanish - Solovinosoh-loh-VEE-noh
'he came alone', the name for a stray who adopted you
Good for: rescued strays
Spanish
Everything else
- LunaLOO-nah
moon
Good for: the most popular cat name in Mexico
Spanish - Estrellaes-TREH-yah
star
Good for: cats with a white chest mark
Spanish - TigreTEE-greh
tiger
Good for: brindle and tabby cats
Spanish - PumaPOO-mah
the mountain lion
Good for: tawny cats
Quechua rather than Nahuatl, borrowed into Spanish from South America.
Quechua - ChispaCHEES-pah
spark
Good for: kittens that never sit still
Spanish - Bigotesbee-GOH-tes
whiskers, moustache
Good for: any cat
Spanish - PatasPAH-tahs
paws
Good for: cats with white socks
Spanish - GarrasGAH-rrahs
claws
Good for: the one who shreds the sofa
Spanish - Ronrónrrohn-RROHN
purr
Good for: lap cats
Spanish - Perezosopeh-reh-SOH-soh
lazy one
Good for: cats that sleep eighteen hours
Spanish - GordoGOR-doh
chubby, an affectionate word in Mexico
Good for: large cats
Spanish - ChiquisCHEE-kees
little one, tiny
Good for: small females
Spanish - Frijolfree-HOHL
bean
Good for: small black cats
Spanish - SalsaSAHL-sah
sauce, and the dance
Good for: lively females
Spanish - ChurroCHOO-rroh
the fried dough stick
Good for: long, golden cats
Spanish - Magueymah-GAY
the agave plant
Good for: spiky-furred cats
Taino rather than Nahuatl; the Nahuatl word is metl.
Taino - JadeHAH-deh
jade, the green stone the Aztecs valued above gold
Good for: green-eyed cats
Spanish - ReinaRAY-nah
queen
Good for: the cat who runs the house
Spanish - ReyRAY
king
Good for: the cat who runs the house
Spanish - Princesapreen-SEH-sah
princess
Good for: pampered females
Spanish - Bonitaboh-NEE-tah
pretty
Good for: any female
Spanish - ChulaCHOO-lah
cute, pretty in Mexican slang
Good for: any female
Spanish
Choosing a Mexican name for a cat
Cats respond to a sharp vowel and two syllables, which is why Michi, Luna, Pelusa and Nacho all work. Coat names are the Mexican default: a cat is named for what you can see, so a ginger cat is Canela, a grey one Ceniza, a spotted one Manchas. If you want a name with more behind it, the Nahuatl words are the richest source, and Ocelotl has the pleasing fact that it gave English the word ocelot, even though in Nahuatl it meant jaguar.
For dogs, see Mexican dog names. For people, start with the name finder and filter by "Short, 1 to 2 syllables".
Mexican cat names FAQ
What is the most popular cat name in Mexico?
Luna, by a wide margin, the same as in much of the Spanish-speaking world. After it come Michi (the affectionate slang word for a cat), Pelusa, Manchas, Negro, Bigotes and Michifús.
What does michi mean?
It is Mexican internet slang for a cat, from michino, an old Spanish call-word for cats. It is the closest thing to a single word that says "Mexican cat", which is why so many cats end up named it.
What are Aztec cat names?
Ocelotl (jaguar, and the source of the English word ocelot), Balam (jaguar in Maya), Meztli (moon), Citlali (star), Papalotl (butterfly), Xóchitl (flower) and Tonatiuh (the sun). See Aztec names for the full list.
What should I name a black cat?
Sombra (shadow), Azabache (jet black), Ceniza (ash, for a smoke coat), Moro, Frijol or Noche. Mexicans also use Negro plainly for a black animal, though it reads very differently in English.