130+ Perfectly-Fitting Bengal Cat Names

If you’ve just adopted a Bengal cat, chances are you’re looking for an awesome name! Your new kitty means the world to you, so, picking the right name also means a lot. As a bona fide crazy cat lady, I get it! If you’re looking for the perfect Bengal cat name, you’ve come to the right place.

I’ve scoured the internet to compile this list of more than 130 Bengal cat names for your new feline friend. I know you’re eager to find that one name that stands out among all the others. However, taking on a new pet is a huge responsibility! So, let’s take a look at some general information about this beloved purebred cat breed first.

A Bit About the Bengal Cat

Bengal cats tend to top any list of the most popular cat breeds. They’re the leopard cat everyone is talking about! Created in the 1970s by crossing domestic cats with captive Asian leopard cats, the Bengal quickly became famous due to its wild looks and loving personality. Dr. Willard Centerwall and Jean Mill both contributed extensively to the development of the breed. Once word got out, others began breeding the hybrid cats, as well. Now, they’re found all over the world and even partake in cat shows! The International Cat Association (TICA) accepted Bengal cats for championship in 1991. The Cat Fancier’s Association (CFA) became one of the last breed registries to accept Bengals in 2016.

While you might already be dreaming about what to name your Bengal cat, stop for a moment. The exciting opportunity to own such a wild-looking cat is very appealing, but researching before buying remains extremely important. Bengal cats sometimes end up in shelters because owners did not prepare for such an active cat. Common problems reported include too much energy, destructive behavior, and litter box avoidance. Preparing yourself and your home for a Bengal cat long before you get one will make life easier for you and the cat. Learn what to expect as your Bengal progresses from kitten to adult, potential health concerns, and costs involved for both adoption and upkeep. Take the time to make sure you’re both a great fit for one another!

What’s in a Name?

We all know that names are pretty significant. For we humans, a name is part of what makes you, you! Great Bengal cat names come from the heart. You may want to name them something that describes their history, personality, or looks. Perhaps you want to choose an uncommon name. Pick a name that makes you smile when you say it out loud. If your Bengal cat has already come home, try calling a few names out to them. Whatever your fancy, I’ve got the perfect name for your Bengal cat below!

Registered Names vs. Call Names

Keep in mind that since Bengals are purebred cats, you’ll likely have the opportunity to register your Bengal cat with a cat registry like TICA or CFA. These registries place very specific rules about naming cats. For instance, most registries require the name of the breeder’s cattery to come first in all registered names. If the cattery is ABCCats, any cat from there would have this as a prefix. If the cat becomes a part of another cattery for breeding, that cattery name can be added as a suffix. For example, the cat from the first cattery is purchased as a breeder for XYZCats, so that cat would have a name like ABCCats Sophie of XYZCats. Suffixes are not required, but most breeders choose to add them to mark the cat as theirs in pedigrees and other publications. Suffixes are not needed for pet cats.

Generally, all the letters and spaces count toward the allowed character count for the name. For TICA-registered cats, this limit is 35 characters. The registered name for our example cat is 25 characters, leaving 10 characters remaining. The cat’s registered name could be ABCCats Sophie Bluebell of XYZCats (33 characters) but not ABCCats Sophias Bluebella of XYZCats (36 characters). Most registries do not allow any special characters like apostrophes (Sophia’s) or umlauts (ö).

Why Does the Registered Name Matter?

Technically, your Bengal cat’s registered name only matters if it matters to you. However, many people have a lot of fun coming up with matching registered and call names. A call name is what you call the cat to it and other people most of the time.

An example of this type of matching is my own Bengal cat with the registered name Nemera Bon Que Dior. Nemera is the cattery name and there is no suffix because the cat was kept with the original cattery. Bon Que Dior is French, meaning “good as gold.” Her call name is Citrine. Citrine is the name of a semi-precious gemstone said to bring good luck and money to those who keep it close. Therefore, since citrine is a stone that is said to bring you good fortune, it’s as good as gold. Isn’t that neat?

Keeping a list of potential registered names alongside your list of call names is a great idea to help you find the best name for your Bengal cat!

10 Registered and Call Name Combination Suggestions

We just learned about registered versus call names. Matching your Bengal cat’s registered name to their call name is an opportunity to be super creative and have some fun. So, we’ve included some awesome possible combos to help jump-start your brain!

1. Bow N Arrow – Bowen
2. Magic Dust – Pixie
3. Midnight Snack – Cereal
4. Stormy Night – Storm
5. Brand New Day – Dawn
6. Pixel Perfect – Ideal
7. Cookies N Cream – Oreo
8. Once Upon A Time – Story
9. Better Late Than Never – Time
10. Worth Tha Wait – Worthy

You may have noticed that some of these names are written a little funny, such as the last one that uses “tha” instead of “the.” That’s because many registrations bar the use of words like “the,” “and,” “or,” and “of” in their rules. The only time “of” can be used is when it is part of the prefix (of XYZCats). When you go to register your Bengal cat, pay close attention to the rules listed for names!

15 Names for Spotted Bengal Cats

Bengals come in three patterns: spotted, marbled, and charcoal. Spotted is the most popular and abundant. Bengals also come in many colors. Most people like brown spotted, followed by snow. All of these names have to do with spots, dots, and rosettes (the name for the two-toned spots of leopards and, of course, Bengal cats).

1. Jasper (spotted treasure)
2. Astraea (starry night)
3. Polka (polka dots)
4. Dice
5. Cheetah
6. Ladybug
7. Rosette
8. Cookie
9. Dot, Dots, Dottie
10. Drops
11. Spot, Spots, Spotty
12. Freckles
13. Confetti
14. Pixel
15. Sprinkles

15 Marble Bengal Names

A marble Bengal’s pattern swirls across the body like the colors on a glass marble. Khara is a name that means “acid rain.” It might seem weird at first, but think about it! If a spotted Bengal’s pattern got melted (as acid rain melts other things), it would become a marble Bengal, would it not? That said, each of these names reminds me of things that flow in nature, art, or life.

1. Khara (acid rain)
2. River
3. Rain
4. Maple
5. Paint
6. Marmari (heavy rain)
7. Ocean
8. Tide
9. Alwyn (a Welsh river)
10. Swirls
11. Cosmo
12. Stormy
13. Paisley
14. Camo
15. Jupiter

15 Dark Names for Charcoal Bengals

Charcoal Bengals have coloration is much darker than their non-charcoal counterparts. Any color can be combined with charcoal. Each of these names plays to the darker coloration of the charcoal Bengal cat.

1. Zorro
2. Ciara
3. Melani
4. Ebony
5. Darcy (dark-haired)
6. Delaney (black)
7. Amaya (dark)
8. Blake (black or dark)
9. Coal
10. Secret
11. Nyx
12. Ash
13. Lucifer
14. Licorice
15. Jet

30 Snow Bengal Name Choices

Snow Bengals look more like snow leopards with their stark white backgrounds and varying degrees of pattern contrast. Each of these Bengal cat names represents a snowy, winter feel!

1. Snow (Snowstorm, Snowflake, Snowfall, Snowball, Snowbelle, or any snow name)
2. Blizzard
3. Cane (like a candy cane or cane sugar)
4. Sugar
5. Pearl
6. Aspen
7. Luna
8. Cloud
9. Flurry
10. Frost
11. Glacier
12. Ice (Icy, Iceberg)
13. Kodiak
14. Alaska
15. Avalanche
16. Polar
17. Porcelain
18. Star
19. Swan
20. Tundra
21. Winter
22. Yeti
23. Marshmallow
24. Vanilla
25. Casper
26. Ghost
27. Hedwig
28. Tapioca
29. Coconut
30. Cotton

15 Names of Gods and Goddesses for Your Bengal Cat

Bengals are muscular, athletic, and stunning cats. The gods and goddesses of many cultures have been depicted as powerful and stunning beings. Choosing one of these names recognizes both the strength and beauty of your Bengal cat. These are just a few, but you can choose the name of any god or goddess of any culture you wish!

1. Zeus (king of the gods)
2. Hera (queen of the gods)
3. Poseidon (god of the ocean)
4. Mercury (god of war)
5. Juno (goddess of love)
6. Tyr (god of justice and honor)
7. Thor (god of lightning)
8. Aphrodite (goddess of beauty)
9. Athena (goddess of wisdom)
10. Artemis (goddess of the hunt)
11. Demeter (goddess of the harvest/hunt)
12. Bia (goddess of force)
13. Aurora (goddess of the dawn)
14. Vulcan (god of fire)
15. Panthoibi (goddess of courage)

Is Your Bengal Feisty? Here Are 20 Name Options

Some Bengal personalities show their wild roots. They may just be extremely playful or they might be a little grumpy. Perhaps they’re just a little crazy or have a ton of energy. Each of these Bengal cat names calls them out for their feisty, fierce, or boisterous personality!

1. Feisty
2. Tequila
3. Flame
4. Aiden (little fire)
5. Loki (the mischievous God)
6. Rebel
7. Bellatrix (from Harry Potter)
8. Cersei (from Game of Thrones)
9. Katniss (from The Hunger Games)
10. Kylo (from Star Wars)
11. Vader (from Star Wars)
12. Voldemort (from Harry Potter)
13. Hades (god of hell)
14. Medusa (one of the three sea demons in mythology)
15. Lilith (queen of hell)
16. Aella (whirlwind)
17. Rogue
18. Katana
19. Slone (warrior)
20. Jinx

10 Unique Bengal Cat Names

Maybe none of the names we’ve picked so far call to you. You might be looking for something unique to name your Bengal. Each of these names has a special meaning!

1. Kapuni is a Hawaiian name that means favorite.
2. Haylen comes from America and means unique and special, unlike any other.
3. Treat refers to a special snack or gift.
4. Unica has Latin origins, meaning unique.
5. Diamond. Like the special and precious gemstones, each Bengal looks different.
6. Arecelia is a Spanish name meaning treasure.
7. Bao comes from the Vietnamese language and also means treasure.
8. Kura, a Japanese name, means treasure house.
9. Makalo, from Africa, means wonder or surprise.
10. Nomatha, which also comes from Africa, means big surprise.

Final Thoughts and a Bit More About Bengal Cats

No matter what you name your Bengal cat, ensure to research the breed before purchasing or adopting. Bengal cats live anywhere from 10-20 years. So, it’s a long commitment to make to both a pet and a name. Common diseases include pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK def), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). Bengals are also prone to dental disease, which means costly dental cleanings may be required up to twice a year.

While Bengals are generally high-energy and very exciting pets, they can become too much for their owners to handle. They’re often very vocal and needy. Bengals tend to have a hard time adjusting to a new home after bonding with their owners. That means that you need to be prepared to keep them their whole lives, even if their behavior bothers you.

Pick a great name for your Bengal cat, but make sure you’re ready for all that comes with owning one!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Cressida studio/Shutterstock.com