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When you bring home a new cat, one of the first tasks is to name your feline companion. Coming up with a name can be challenging; after all, it will be your cat’s name for the rest of their life! So, how do you go about finding the perfect name? One way is to consider names from history, particularly ancient figures. There are plenty of ancient figures to choose from who came from different areas of the world.
If you’re a history buff, this post may help you in choosing the best name for your new kitty. We’ll start with male ancient Greek figures, ancient Roman, Egyptian, and biblical figures and their meanings, followed by females in the same genres.
How to Name Your Cat
When it comes to naming your new feline kiddo, you have many options in going about it. One way, such as the premise of this article, is to name your cat after an ancient figure. You can take it a step further and observe your cat’s personality to come up with a suitable name. Is your cat rambunctious? Maybe your cat is calm and laid back. Whatever the personality, choose a fitting name to match.
While browsing our list, read the meanings to help you find the perfect match based on your cat’s personality. If that doesn’t work, you can always pick a name that just seems to suit your cat, regardless of its meaning or who they were.
Male Historical Cat Names Inspired by Ancient Greek Figures
Greek mythology contains an overabundant group of legends about gods and goddesses, warriors, heroes, monsters, and fools. Greek myths were used in everyday life to help people understand the world around them. While some figures evolved from fancy tales, some merit historical fact. However, the names may make an excellent name for your male cat. Let’s have a look.
- Achilles (hero of the Trojan War)
- Adonis (mortal lover of Aphrodite and Persephone)
- Alexander the Great (considered one of the greatest military leaders in world history)
- Apollo (Greek god of sun and light)
- Ares (Greek god of war and courage)
- Aristotle (teacher of Alexander the Great, a famous Greek philosopher)
- Atlas (Greek Titan god condemned to hold up the sky and heavens)
- Cronos (King of the Titans)
- Eros (Greek god of love and sex)
- Hades (Greek god of the dead)
- Hector (a Trojan prince)
- Hercules (God of strength and heroes)
- Hermes (Greek god of wealth trade, thieves, and travelers)
- Homer (Greek poet, author of the famous poem Odyssey)
- Leonidas I (king of the city-state Sparta)
- Odysseus (king of Ithaca)
- Pericles (leader during the Golden Age of Greece)
- Plato (philosopher and student of Aristotle)
- Poseidon (Greek god of the sea, earthquakes, flooding, drought, and horses)
- Zeus (sky and thunder god of ancient Greece)
Male Historical Cat Names Inspired by Ancient Roman Figures
When you think of Rome, gladiators and the Colosseum typically come to mind, but Rome has an incredible history that includes much more. Rome had an abundance of emperors and philosophers, with a few tyrants mixed in. Below are the names of the most well-known ancient Roman figures in history, and hopefully, one name will stand out as the perfect name for your male kitty.
- Antonius Pius (resided over Rome during the most peaceful periods)
- Augustus (founder of the Roman Empire)
- Caligula (tyrannical emperor, committed many barbaric acts)
- Claudius (scholar and emperor who led the conquest of Britain)
- Commodus (emperor turned gladiator, chose weak opponents)
- Constantine (unified the division of the Roman kingdom)
- Diocletian (saved Rome from the “Crisis of the Third Century”)
- Gaius Marius (legendary Roman general)
- Hadrian (secured Rome and its borders)
- Julius Caesar (most well-known Ancient Roman, self-appointed dictator)
- Marcus Aurelius (regarded as one of history’s most essential philosophers)
- Marcus Cicero (one of the greatest writers of ancient Rome)
- Nero (known as the “madman” of Rome and the most notorious Roman of all time, an excellent name for a naughty cat!)
- Septimius Severus (transformed the Roman military)
- Spartacus (the most famous gladiator in Roman history)
- Sulla (Roman general and statesman)
- Tiberius Gracchus (best known for his ideologies and helping people who were experiencing poverty)
- Trajan (first emperor of non-Italian origin)
- Valerian (the first Roman emperor to be taken as a prisoner of war)
- Vespasian (stabilized Rome after Nero’s cruel reign and devised construction plans for the Colosseum)
Male Historical Cat Names Inspired by Ancient Egyptian Men
Egypt has its share of ancient male figures that may be fitting (if you can pronounce them, that is). Given we’re discussing ancient figures, we felt we couldn’t leave Egyptian history out. Have a look below.
- Amenhotep (promoted the worship of the sun god)
- Cambyses II (second King of Kings during the Achaemenid Empire
- Imhotep (developed the sixth-layer pyramid)
- King Tut (pharaoh of Egypt at age 9)
- Thutmose III (sixth pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty)
Male Historical Cat Names Inspired by Ancient Biblical Men
Our last male category comes from well-known male biblical figures. These figures are undoubtedly the oldest in the history of the world, so let’s check them out.
- Abaddon (angel of destruction)
- Abdon (judge of Israel)
- Abel (second son of Adam and Eve, murdered by his brother, Cain)
- Abraham (Biblical patriarch)
- Barnabus (trained Paul in the ministry)
- Cain (brother of Abel)
- Daniel (brought godliness to a godless time)
- Eleazar (biblical warrior)
- Eli (high priest of Shiloh)
- Elisha (powerful prophet in the Bible)
- Enoch (walked with God)
- Jesus (the son of God, teacher, savior in Christianity)
- Job (God allowed Satan to put his faith to the test)
- Moses (parted the Red Sea)
- Paul (formerly known as Saul, he was known for his missionary journeys)
Female Historical Names Inspired by Ancient Greek Women
If you need a name for your female cat, a Greek name may be the ticket. Greece is rich with female figures who contributed much to their societies; some were even heroic.
- Agnodice (first recorded female in midwife history)
- Anyte (3rd century BC poet and epitaph writer)
- Aphrodite (ancient Greek goddess of love, beauty, and pleasure)
- Arete (first female philosopher)
- Artemisia (warrior and Ally of the Persians)
- Aspasia (intellectual and political advisor)
- Athena (Greek goddess of wisdom)
- Cleobulina (Greek poet known for her riddles)
- Corinna (Greek lyric poet)
- Gorgo (Queen of Sparta)
- Hydna (swimmer and diver known for sabotaging the Persian Fleet)
- Lysimache (Priestess of Athens)
- Noesis (Greek poet)
- Olympias (mother of Alexander the Great)
- Sappho (first female poet of Ancient Greece)
- Telesilla (another Greek lyric poet)
Female Historical Cat Names Inspired by Ancient Roman Women
Rome has its share of famous ancient Roman women who helped shape the Roman Empire. Some were married to emperors, some were mothers, and some were downright ruthless. If you have a naughty female kitty, you may just find a fitting name in this list.
- Fulvia (the most powerful woman in the Roman Empire and an influential player in politics)
- Livia (one of the most powerful women in the early Roman Empire)
- Valeria Messalina (third wife of Emperor Claudius)
- Agrippina the Younger (mother of the Roman emperor Nero)
- Claudia Metrodora (Graeco-Roman public benefactor)
- Venus (Roman Goddess)
- Bellona (ancient Roman goddess of war)
- Aurelia (mother of Julius Caesar)
- Cornelia (mother of the Gracchi)
- Helena (mother of Roman Emperor Constantius, credited with bringing Christianity to Rome)
- Lucilla (empress of Rome and wife to emperor Lucius Verus)
- Octavia (was a role model for Roman women)
- Julia Domna (first empress of the Severan dynasty)
- Galla Placida (mother, tutor, and advisor to Emperor Valentinian)
- Zenobia (third-century queen of the Palmyrene Empire)
- Lucretia (noblewoman in ancient Rome)
- Aelia Pulcheria (Eastern Roman empress)
- Poppaea Sabina (second wife of emperor Nero)
- Julia Soaemiasa (a Syrian noblewoman)
- Julia Maesa (ruthless woman who had her daughter and grandson executed)
- Julia Mamaea (daughter of Julia Maesa)
- Ulpia Severina (wife of Emperor Aurelian, a renowned general murdered by his own soldiers)
- Poltina (wife of Optimus Princeps)
- Rhea Silvia (mythical mother of twins Romulus and Remus)
Female Historical Cat Names Inspired by Ancient Egyptian Women
If you still haven’t found the winner, perhaps the names of famous ancient Egyptian women will work. We’ve listed just a few here; however, these women had significant roles in Egyptian society.
- Cleopatra (Egyptian queen)
- Hatshepsut (first female pharaoh in Ancient Egypt)
- Merneith (first woman ruler in Egypt)
- Nefertiti (meaning “a beautiful woman has come”)
- Sobekneferu (first monarch named after the crocodile god Sobek)
Female Historical Cat Names Inspired by Ancient Biblical Women
Last but not least, here is a list of ancient biblical women who had influential roles that are still influential today. Let’s take a look to see if any of these names draw inspiration.
- Delilah (brought about the ruin of Samson, a judge over Israel)
- Eve (first female in history, ate the forbidden fruit)
- Hagar (enslave Egyptian)
- Jezebel (vengeful queen of Israel)
- Jochebed (mother of Moses)
- Lydia (successful businesswoman in a male-dominated business world)
- Mary (mother of Jesus)
- Mary Magdalene (faithful follower of Jesus Christ)
- Miriam (Moses’ older sister)
- Phoebe (paved the way for female ministerial work)
- Priscilla (leather tent maker, successful businesswoman)
- Queen Esther (Jewish queen who saved her people)
- Rachel (a significant figure in the Old Testament)
- Rahab (provided shelter to Israelite soldiers)
- Sarah (mother of the Jewish nation)
Conclusion
We hope our list of historical cat names inspired by ancient figures helps you in finding the perfect name for your new cat. We recognize that some of the names may be hard to pronounce, but if you like the meaning behind a name, you can always shorten it to make it more appealing and easier to pronounce. If anything, these names make excellent conversation starters! Remember to observe your cat for a little while to help you name him something fitting to his personality.
Featured Image Credit: Be Seen and Bloom, Shutterstock
