Get

In Your Inbox

Catster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Scientific Cat Names: 180 Great Ideas for Your Smart Cat

Scientific Cat Names

Bringing home a brand new kitty is so exciting. Whether adopting, buying from a breeder, or picking up a kitten from a free litter, your new family member will surely bring you joy and happiness. However, you have to find a suitable name. So, where should you start? If you are a science buff, there are several selections you can make in this category that would be unique and fitting. Here are 180 scientific names for your new kitty.

divider cat paws oct 2026Great Inventors of the Past

We wouldn’t be where we are today without the world’s great inventors. You might not be familiar with every inventor, but some of them have pretty cool names. And they did some pretty amazing things.

Male Cat Names

  • Edison—Thomas Edison
  • Graham Bell—Alexander Graham Bell
  • Henry—Henry Ford
  • Franklin—Benjamin Franklin
  • Eli—Eli Whitney
  • Archimedes—Archimedes
  • Babbage—Charles Babbage
  • Morse—Samuel Morse
  • Gutenburg—Johannes Gutenbyrg
  • Jefferson—Thomas Jefferson
  • Logie—John Logie Baird
  • Galileo—Galileo
  • Vitaly—Vitaly Abalakov
  • Guido—Guido of Arezzo

Female Cat Names

  • Marian—Marian Croak
  • Margaret—Margaret E. Knight
  • Beasley—Maria E. Beasley
  • Hedy—Hedy Lemarr
  • Josephine—Josephine Cochrane
  • Melitta—Melitta Bentz
  • Beulah—Beulah Louise Henry
  • Sarah—Sarah Boone
  • Florence—Florence Parpart
  • Patricia—Patricia Bath
  • Magie—Lizzie Magie
  • Ellen—Ellen Egin
  • Caresse—Caresse Crosby
  • Esther—Esther Takeuchi
Devon Rex cat is travelling on owners lap in a car
Image Credit: Veera, Shutterstock

Famous Scientific Researchers

Thanks to the ongoing research and service scientific researchers have put in through the years, several of the world’s mysteries have been solved. You could honor your favorite researcher by naming your kitty after their works of genius.

Male Cat Names

  • Einstein—Albert Einstein
  • Darwin—Charles Darwin
  • Tesla—Nikola Tesla
  • Hawking—Steven Hawking
  • Copernicus—Nicolaus Copernicus
  • Aristotle—Aristotle
  • Bohr—Neils Bohr

Female Cat Names

  • Rosalind—Rosalind Franklin
  • Marie—Marie Curie
  • Barbara—Barbara McClintock
  • Rita—Rita Levi Montalcini
  • Ada—Ada Lovelace
  • Lise—Lise Meitner
  • Wu—Chien-Shiung Wu
  • Doudna—Jennifer Doudna
cat with glasses
Image by: Kashaeva Irina, Shutterstock

Science on TV

Whether you’re talking fiction or nonfiction, there are plenty of science buffs on TV, too. You could name them after a type of scientist on your favorite show or go with a classic.

Male Cat Names

  • Nye—Bill Nye
  • Beakman—Beakman’s World
  • Sid—Sid the Science Kid
  • deGrasse—Neil deGrasse Tyson
  • Dr. Emmet Brown—Back to the Future
  • Dr. Frankenstein—Frankenstein
  • Strangeglove—Dr. Strangeglove
  • Rotwang—Metropolis
  • Walter—Breaking Bad
  • Wu—Jurassic Park
  • Farnsworth—Futurama
  • Szalinski—Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
  • Ross—Friends
  • Jimmy Neutron—Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius
  • Dexter—Dexter’s Laboratory
  • Pinky—Pinky & the Brain
  • Bruce—The Incredible Hulk
  • The Professor—Gilligan’s Island
  • Wall-E—Wall-E

Female Cat Names

  • Miss Frizzle—The Magic School Bus
  • Scully—X-Files
  • Jane—Thor: Dark World
  • Keough—Outbreak
  • Gwen—Gwen Stacy
  • Jo—Twister
  • Stone—Gravity
  • Lily—Chain Reaction
  • Marta—The Bourne Legacy
  • Helen—The Day the Earth Stood Still
  • Charlie—Top Gun
  • Sarah—The Lost World: Jurassic Park
  • Emma—The Saint
  • Bindi—Bindi the Jungle Girl
  • Sue Storm—The Fantastic Four
  • Ellie—Jurassic Park
  • Susan—Robot
  • Mears—Contagion
  • Amelia—Interstellar
  • Grace—Avatar
  • Fossey—Gorillas in the Mist
  • Peggy—Captain America: The First Avenger
  • Arroway—Contact
grey cat reading book
Image Credit: HannaN, Shutterstock

Famous Mathematicians

We all know that math and science go hand in hand. Are there any mathematical geniuses that you could name your cat after?

Male Cat Names

  • Newton—Isaac Newton
  • Euclid—Euclid of Alexandria
  • Pythagoras—Pythagoras of Samos
  • Archimedes—Archimedes of Syracuse
  • Magnus—Albertus Magnus
  • Alexander—Alexander Grothendieck
  • Carl—Carl Gauss
  • Leonhard—Leonhard Euler
  • Arthur—Arthur Caley
  • Hilbert—David Hilbert
  • Riemann—Bernhard Riemann

Female Cat Names

  • Ada—Ada Lovelace
  • Emmy—Emmy Noether
  • Sophie—Sophie Germain
  • Hypatia—Hypatia
  • Sofya—Sofya Kovalevskaya
  • Majorie—Majorie Lee Browne
  • Ingrid—Ingrid Daubechies
  • Euphemia—Euphemia Haynes
  • Dorothy—Dorothy Vaughn
  • Evelyn—Evelyn Boyd Granville
  • Phillipa—Phillipa Fawcett
  • Daina—Daina Taimina
ginger-cat-reading-book
Image Credit: Happy Author, Shutterstock

Science-Related Words

Rather than naming them after a person, there are plenty of excellent words relating to nature, space, chemical compounds, and other words in science.

  • Beaker
  • Everest
  • Permafrost
  • Botany
  • Celsius
  • Fahrenheit
  • Zinc
  • Compound
  • Molecule
  • Atom
  • Chemist
  • Alchemy
  • Robot
  • Pi
  • Cortex
  • Quantum
  • Bunsen
  • Flask
  • Pipette
  • Petri
  • Thermos
  • Graphite
  • Nimbus
  • Cirrus
  • Cumulus
  • Fossil
  • Darwin
  • Cuvette
  • Data
  • Gibbous
  • Syzygy
  • Penumbra
  • Magnet
  • Arctic

Space-Related Science Names

Here are some space-related words you can use for your kitty if you are so inclined. We think they would be interesting at the very least and pretty cool in the best-case scenario! If you’re looking for a conversation starter, start with these unisex names that work for boys or girls!

  • Comet
  • Cosmo
  • Constellation
  • Sputnik
  • Nasa
  • Orbit
  • Orion
  • Andromeda
  • Draco
  • Jupiter
  • Cassiopeia
  • Nova
  • Aries
  • Sirius
  • Moon
  • Neptune
  • Halley
  • Celeste
  • Oberon
  • Star
  • Janus
  • Mercury
  • Juno
  • Luna
  • Eclipse
  • Light Year
  • Pluto
  • Alien
  • Fractal
  • Plasma
  • Wandflower
  • Jaxa
  • Density
  • Soyuz
  • Asteroid
  • Galaxy
  • Phobos
  • Echo
cat in a space suit on the moon
Image by: 12222786, Pixabay

divider single cat paw oct 2024

How to Name Your Cat

Naming your cat can be challenging and exciting at the same time. So, what is a good way to pick your cat’s name? You probably already have a couple of options you’ve been mulling over, but you can’t pick the one that fits them best. Don’t worry, sometimes, we all need a little inspiration.

Pick at Random

You could always let fate decide for you. Just put your favorites in a hat or whatever you choose. You can draw a name and call it a day.

Personality Fit

Naming your cat based on their personality is one of the best ways to go about it. Sometimes, specific names just fit like a glove. Test out a few and see what works!

Pick a Sentimental Favorite

If you can’t decide, name your cat after your favorite scientific innovator or science-related subject matter.

In the Name of Science

We scoured the web and put our heads together to come up with terrific scientific names we think you’ll love. Check them out!

calico cat sitting on books
Image Credit: Filtrovany_Fotographer, Pixabay

divider cat faces oct 2024

Final Thoughts

We hope we’ve given you science junkies plenty to think about! We certainly had fun compiling a list of creative ideas you can use. If you love some of the names on this list but can’t decide, remember to think about how you will name your kitty. We have complete confidence that you will pick the best scientific name of all, and it will fit your cat like a glove, hopefully like the one they’ll be wearing for midnight experiments.

See also:


Featured Image Credit: FotoYakov, Shutterstock

Want content like this delivered to you?

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

News, insights, expert advice, and everything cat

* By submitting, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy & Cookies Policy.


How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Catster for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Join the conversation

Leave a Reply

You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.


Talk With A Vet Online

Peace of mind,
anywhere, anytime

Affordable vet advice

My Cat Ate a Hair Tie! Here’s What to Do (Vet Answer)

Any cat parent will know that their feline friends can be mischievous and love to play. Although cats are often more sensible than...

Are Savannah Cats Legal in California? Vet Approved Facts & Care Tips

If you want to add a unique, high-energy pet to your California home, the Savannah cat might be what you’re looking for. However,...

11 Health Benefits of Cat Grass: Vet-Reviewed Facts & Tips

Cat grass is a popular addition to many cat households, offering a variety of health benefits for our feline friends. In this article,...

How Long Do British Shorthair Cats Live? Average Lifespan Data & Facts

The British Shorthair cat is well known for its sweet personality, large appearance, and lengthy lifespan of 9–15 years. Providing them with veterinary...

More related

How to Give Your Cat Medication: Dr. Karyn’s Tips (with Video)

Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and meet my five hilarious cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and...

How Much Does a Cat DNA Test Cost? Complete Price Guide

DNA testing has proven to be a highly beneficial technological advancement and is now available for our pets. DNA testing for pets can...

The Perils of Working From Home with a Demanding Cat

As I’m sure many of you know, one of the very few positives to come from the COVID-19 lockdowns is a greater appreciation...

7 DIY Cat Kicker Toys You Can Make Today

There’s nothing quite as adorable as a kitty hugging and rapidly bunny kicking their favorite toy. Kicker toys are more than just a...

Keep reading

Epsom Salt Bath for Fleas on Cats: Vet-Reviewed Effectiveness, Safety & Alternatives

A flea infestation can make your cat miserable and put them at risk of diseases and internal parasites. Some cat owners prefer to avoid using pesticides and chemical methods to treat fleas in favor of homemade or natural remedies. One...

Sea salt epsom in wood plate

Can Cats Eat Nutella? Vet-Reviewed Health Risks & Safe Alternatives

The world loves Nutella, whether it’s served on bread or eaten right out of the jar. It’s soft, creamy, tasty, and wonderfully portioned with 30% chocolate and 70% hazelnut. It’s so popular that there is even a World Nutella Day,...

Can Cats Eat Nutella

Is Your Cat Your Bathroom Buddy? 7 Vet-Reviewed Reasons Why Cats Sit At Your Feet

If you’re a cat owner, you know how much your feline loves to join you in the bathroom. Your cat often interrupts what feels like a private and quiet time, leaving you with the question, “Why does my cat sit...

light grey cat with rubber ducky bath bathroom shampoo

What to Do When a Cat Bites You: Vet-Reviewed Steps to Take & Risks

It may be hard to believe that your beloved kitty would ever bite you, but cat bites and scratches happen more often than you might think. Approximately 66,000 hospital emergency visits occur every year due to cat bites. If you’ve...

The cat bites the woman's hand

Why Does My Cat Sleep Between My Legs? 5 Reasons for This Behavior

We’re never going to understand our cats and their quirky behavior! If your cat loves to snuggle up for a nap between your legs, you might be shaking your head as to why, especially since you can’t easily change position!...

cute red cat sleeping on the human's legs

Is Bamboo Toxic to Cats? Vet-Verified Facts, Risks & FAQ

True bamboo is a subfamily called Bambusoideae. This is considered a safe plant to keep or grow around pets, including cats and dogs. However, several other plants and flowers contain the word bamboo but are not bamboo at all. Some,...

Catster_Is Bamboo Toxic to Cats

Is Cooked Chicken Good for Cats with Hyperthyroidism? Vet-Approved Benefits & Tips

Hyperthyroidism can be a heavy diagnosis to get your head around. Once you learn about an overactive thyroid, you realize that certain changes may need to take place with what your cat eats. A vet will likely give you recommendations...

boiled chicken in a pot broth close-up

My Cat Suddenly Doesn’t Want to Be Touched – 5 Vet-Approved Reasons

If your usually loveable cat suddenly doesn’t want to be touched, you probably have reason to be concerned. It isn’t normal for cats to suddenly not like affection. Typically, there is an underlying reason, though not all of these reasons...

cream domestic cat close up photo