59 Great Chinese Cat Names and Their Meanings

Written by Kristen Holder
Updated: October 31, 2023
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In this article, we’ll go over 59 great Chinese cat names and their meanings. All of these names are commonly used in China! They aren’t randomly translated words, and they’re a name a Chinese owner wouldn’t be embarrassed to use.

The word for cat in Chinese is māo (猫), and the sound a cat makes is miāo (喵). What other words are associated with cats? If you’re a Chinese language enthusiast who wants a good Chinese name for your cat, you’ve come to the right place.

8 Great Double Syllabic Chinese Cat Names and Their Meanings

Repeating double-syllabic names like huā huā, which means flower flower, are used for pets in China.

Repeating double-syllabic names, like huā huā which means flower flower, are used for pets in China.

©blueeyeddesigns08/iStock via Getty Images

A quarter of Chinese cat owners make sure to use two repeating syllables in their cat’s name. They do this to double how cute they are, to show how much they care, and because good things come in twos. Some great double-syllabic cat names used in China are:

1. Dāng dāng (当当): Ding Dong

2. Dīng dīng (叮叮): Jingle Jingle

3. Gé gé (格格): Princess

4. Huā huā (花花): Flower Flower

5. Qí qí (琪琪): Jade Jade

6. Qiàn qiàn (倩倩): Handsome Handsome

7. Qiú qiu (球球): Ball Ball

8. Yáng yáng (洋洋): Foreign Foreign (Used for Exotic Breeds)

Chinese PinyinEnglish MeaningCharacters
1Dāng dāngDing Dong当当
2Dīng dīngJingle Jingle叮叮
3Gé géPrincess格格
4Huā huāFlower Flower花花
5Qí qíJade Jade琪琪
6Qiàn qiànHandsome Handsome倩倩
7Qiú qiuBall Ball球球
8Yáng yángForeign Foreign (Used for Exotic Breeds)洋洋

16 Chinese Cat Names Meaning Food Items

Using words for food, like tǔ dòu meaning potato, is very common in China.

Using words for food, like tǔ dòu meaning potato, is very common in China.

©Ahanov Michael/Shutterstock.com

Over 40 percent of Chinese feline owners name their little buddies after food items. This means that choosing an edible as a cat name in Chinese is not only normal but preferred. Here are some great food names for your new kitty:

1. Bái cài (白菜): Bok Choy

2. Bāo zi (包子): Stuffed Steamed Bun

3. Bān jǐ (班戟): Pancake

4. Dàn huáng (蛋黄): Yolk

5. Dòu dou (豆豆): Jelly Bean

6. Guǒ guǒ (果果): Apple Fruit

7. Huā juǎn (花卷): Flower Bun

8. Kě lè (可乐): Cola

9. Má tuán (麻团): Sesame Ball

10. Mán tou (馒头): Steamed Bun

11. Nián gāo (年糕): New Year Cake

12. Shǔ piàn (薯片): Potato Chips

13. Tāng yuán (汤圆): Round Dumpling

14. Tǔ dòu (土豆): Potato

15. Xiā jiǎo (蝦餃): Shrimp Dumpling

16. Yù tou (芋頭): Taro

Chinese PinyinEnglish MeaningCharacters
1Bái càiBok Choy白菜
2Bāo ziStuffed Steamed Bun包子
3Bān jǐPancake班戟
4Dàn huángYolk蛋黄
5Dòu douJelly Bean豆豆
6Guǒ guǒApple Fruit果果
7Huā juǎnFlower Bun花卷
8Kě lèCola可乐
9Má tuánSesame Ball麻团
10Mán touSteamed Bun馒头
11Nián gāoNew Year Cake年糕
12Shǔ piànPotato Chips薯片
13Tāng yuánRound Dumpling汤圆
14Tǔ dòuPotato土豆
15Xiā jiǎoShrimp Dumpling蝦餃
16Yù touTaro芋頭

8 Common Chinese Cat Names by Color or Appearance

Names like máo mao, meaning fluffy fluffy, are common in China.

Names like máo mao, meaning fluffy fluffy, are common in China.

©Serita Vossen/Shutterstock.com

Cat owners in most languages often name their cats after their appearance or coloring. In China, the character meaning little (小) is often put in front of the cat’s color to create a name. Some great cat names based on appearance include:

1. Bān bān (斑斑): Covered in Spots

2. Jú zi (橘子): Orange

3. Máo mao (毛毛): Fluffy Fluffy

4. Xiǎo bái (小白): Little White

5. Xiǎo hēi (小黑): Little Black

6. Xiǎo huī (小灰): Little Grey

7. Xiǎo pàng (小胖): Little Fatty

8. Yuán yuán (圆圆): Chubby Chubby

Chinese PinyinEnglish MeaningCharacters
1Bān bānCovered in Spots斑斑
2Jú ziOrange橘子
3Máo maoFluffy Fluffy毛毛
4Xiǎo báiLittle White小白
5Xiǎo hēiLittle Black小黑
6Xiǎo huīLittle Grey小灰
7Xiǎo pàngLittle Fatty小胖
8Yuán yuánChubby Chubby圆圆

9 Cat Names Inspired By Other Animals in Chinese

Naming cats after other animals, like tù tù for a bunny rabbit, is common in China.

Naming cats after other animals, like tù tù for a bunny rabbit, is common in China.

©JudyN/iStock via Getty Images

Sometimes, our cats remind us of other animals. Other times, we like to name them after exactly what they are. Here are some common cat names in Chinese inspired by animals:

1. Bào zi (豹子): Leopard

2. Hǔ hǔ (虎虎): Tiger Tiger

3. Māo mī (猫咪): Cat

4. Mī mī (咪咪): Kitty Kitty

5. Niú niú (牛牛): Stubborn Ox

6. Qiū bǐ (丘比): Cupid

7. Tù tù (兔兔): Bunny Rabbit

8. Xiǎo hǔ (小虎): Little Tiger

9. Xióng xióng (熊熊): Bear Bear

Chinese PinyinEnglish MeaningCharacters
1Bào ziLeopard豹子
2Hǔ hǔTiger Tiger虎虎
3Māo mīCat猫咪
4Mī mīKitty Kitty咪咪
5Niú niúStubborn Ox牛牛
6Qiū bǐCupid丘比
7Tù tùBunny Rabbit兔兔
8Xiǎo hǔLittle Tiger小虎
9Xióng xióngBear Bear熊熊

8 Behavioral Names in Chinese

Yáng yáng, which means sunny sunny, is a great Chinese language cat name.

Yáng yáng, which means sunny sunny, is a great Chinese language cat name.

©iStock.com/Smartha_Martha

It’s common to want to name our feline friends after traits we attribute to cats. Here are some behavioral names for cats in Chinese:

1. Guāi guai (乖乖): Good Good

2. Lè lè: (乐乐): Happy Happy

3. Nào nào (闹闹): Noisy and Naughty

4. Pí pí (皮皮): Strong and Naughty

5. Shǎ guā (傻瓜): Dummy

6. Tiào tiao (跳跳): Jump Jump

7. Yáng yáng (阳阳): Sunny Sunny

8. Zhuàng zhuàng (壮壮): Strong Strong

Chinese PinyinEnglish MeaningCharacters
1Guāi guaiGood Good乖乖
2Lè lèHappy Happy乐乐
3Nào nàoNoisy and Naughty闹闹
4Pí píStrong and Naughty皮皮
5Shǎ guāDummy傻瓜
6Tiào tiaoJump Jump跳跳
7Yáng yángSunny Sunny阳阳
8Zhuàng zhuàngStrong Strong壮壮

4 Chinese Names for Good Things in Life

The name yuán bǎo, after imperial or ceremonial money, is a common cat name choice in China.

The name yuán bǎo, after imperial or ceremonial money, is a common cat name choice in China.

©stasB/Shutterstock.com

Pet owners sometimes like to name their animals after things they hope to have a lot of in their lives. Below are some great names for those who want a constant reminder of the things they’re trying to attract into their daily existence:

1. Cái Yuán Gǔn Gǔn (财源滚滚): Raking in Extra Cash

2. Lái fú (来福): Blessing

3. Ruì ruì (瑞瑞): Lucky Lucky

4. Yuán bǎo (元宝): Imperial Chinese Gold and Silver Currency

Chinese PinyinEnglish MeaningCharacters
1Cái Yuán Gǔn GǔnRaking in Extra Cash财源滚滚
2Lái fúBlessing来福
3Ruì ruìLucky Lucky瑞瑞
4Yuán bǎoImperial Chinese Gold and Silver Currency元宝

6 Chinese Names for Cats That Are Family

Cats are named after family roles to show how important they are in China.

Cats are named after family roles to show how important they are in China.

©Jack Frog/Shutterstock.com

Most cat owners see their cats as family. If you’re one of those people, there are a few common Chinese cat names that show the cat is an important member of the household:

1. Bèi bèi (贝贝): Baby Baby

2. Di di (弟弟): Little Brother

3. Gē ge (哥哥): Big Brother

4. Jiě jiě (姐姐): Big Sister

5. Mèi mei (妹妹): Little Sister

6. Miāo zhǔ xí (喵主席): Chairman Meow

Chinese PinyinEnglish MeaningCharacters
1Bèi bèiBaby Baby贝贝
2Di diLittle Brother弟弟
3Gē geBig Brother哥哥
4Jiě jiěBig Sister姐姐
5Mèi meiLittle Sister妹妹
6Miāo zhǔ xíChairman Meow喵主席

The photo featured at the top of this post is © asadykov/iStock via Getty Images


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About the Author

Kristen Holder is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering topics related to history, travel, pets, and obscure scientific issues. Kristen has been writing professionally for 3 years, and she holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of California, Riverside, which she obtained in 2009. After living in California, Washington, and Arizona, she is now a permanent resident of Iowa. Kristen loves to dote on her 3 cats, and she spends her free time coming up with adventures that allow her to explore her new home.

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