When you first adopt a cat, one of the first things you must do is decide on a name. Sometimes, this is rather straightforward, especially if you already have a name picked out. However, for many, this step can be surprisingly challenging. Figuring out just one name for your new cat that you haven’t known very long is difficult as there are so many different names to choose from.
Even if you narrow the name down to only those that start with “W,” you still have hundreds of options to choose from. We’ve outlined some of the most popular cat names that start with W based on trends and online voting. Plus, we compiled some other lists as well, allowing you to peruse many options and hopefully find a name that works for you!
The 10 Most Popular W Cat Names
1. White Claw
Food names are all the rage, but what about booze-related names? White Claw is a popular gluten-free hard seltzer often found at BBQs, parties, and other gatherings. If you find yourself always reaching for a White Claw (they have non-alcoholic ones as well!), this name might suit your cat perfectly. It has seen a 93% increase in popularity among cat owners.
2. Whisky
Not a fan of hard seltzer but like the idea of a booze-related name? Whiskey could be a great choice! This name invokes an old-fashioned and sophisticated image, which is good if your cat is an old soul. Whiskey saw a 77% increase in popularity this year.
3. Wednesday
Television shows inspire a lot of pet names, so it is not surprising that Wednesday is trending up 55% this year. If you have a cat that is creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky, consider the popular cat name Wednesday.
4. Walker
Another television show that is on everyone’s lips is “Yellowstone”, so why let the world know you like the show by naming your cat after one of the characters? The name Walker has seen a 12% uptick in popularity!
5. William
Does your feline have an air of royalty? Many cat owners felt this way; this is why William saw a 12% increase in trending W names.
6. Waldo
Waldo has the most votes on cats.com’s survey of most loved W names, with 190 votes. Some people might know the name from the well-loved children’s book Where’s Waldo? So naming your cat after this character is a great way to fondly remember childhood literature.
7. Wendy
Wendy, inspired by Wendy Darling from Peter Pan, is second in the cats.com survey with 189 votes. While it is a slightly old-fashioned name, Wendy clearly attracts many cat owners.
8. Wanda
Calling all Marvel fans! Wanda is the third most-liked name on the survey, with 182 votes. The Marvel Universe has definitely influenced pet owners’ naming decisions. While names like Thor, Thanos, and Rogue are popular, Wanda, inspired by Wanda Maximoff, a.k.a. Scarlet Witch, from Marvel comics, might be more fitting for certain cats.
9. Whiskers
While television shows and celebrities can help people choose a cat name, sometimes people want something more traditional. With 176 votes, Whiskers is a quintessential cat name that works for both males and females.
10. Wen
The name Wen got a total of 176 votes, tying it with Wanda. Wen is of Chinese origin and means “cultured” and “literate”. It is the perfect name for your cat if you are in the academic field or simply have a love for learning.
Female Cat Names That Start With “W”
There are many female cat names that start with “W.” Here are some of our favorite options. Some are unique, while others are more traditional.
- Waffles
- Walnut
- Watermelon
- Waverly
- Whisper
- Wicker
- Wilhelmina
- Willow
- Wilma
- Winky
- Winnie
- Winona
- Winter
- Wisteria
- Wren
Male Names That Start With W
These names are more masculine, so they may work better for male cats. Some of these names are also on the list above, as they are unisex. These names vary in style and character, so you’re bound to find a suitable name for your male cat among these options.
- Waffles
- Waldo
- Watson
- Wellington
- Wendell
- Wesley
- Whisker
- Wicket
- Widget
- Willow
- Wilson
- Winchester
- Winston
- Wolfgang
- Woody
Cute Cat Names that Start With W
Here are some names that are more on the “cute” side. Most of these names are pretty unique, so you probably won’t hear them elsewhere.
- Waffleheart
- Waggletail
- Weepy
- Whifflepuff
- Whiffy
- Whimsical
- Whimsifur
- Whiskerbee
- Whiskerette
- Whiskerino
- Whistle
- Wigglesnout
- Wiggletuft
- Wigglywhisk
- Wigglywhisker
- Winkletail
- Wispurr
- Wobblekins
- Wobblepaws
- Woozle
Nature-Based Cat Names That Start With W
There are a surprisingly high number of nature-based cat names that start with W. You can draw inspiration from these names, but a great way to find nature-based names is to go outside and look around.
- Walnut
- Waterfall
- Waterlily
- Weeping Willow
- Wheatley
- Whinny
- Whisper
- Wilder
- Wilderbeast
- Wildflower
- Willow
- Windy
- Wintergreen
- Wisteria
- Wolfie
- Wolfwood
- Wombat
- Woodland
- Woodstock
- Wren
Book, TV Show, and Movie-Inspired Cat Names
There are also tons of W names you can find on TV shows and movies. If you’re a fan of any of these movies, then you may want to select one of these names:
- Wallace (inspired by Wallace and Gromit)
- Walter (inspired by Walter White from Breaking Bad)
- Watson (inspired by Dr. John Watson from Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmesseries)
- Wayne (inspired by Bruce Wayne, a.k.a. Batman)
- Wazowski (inspired by Mike Wazowski from Monsters, Inc.)
- Weasley (inspired by the Weasley family from Harry Potter)
- Westley (inspired by Westley from The Princess Bride)
- White Fang (inspired by the novel White Fangby Jack London)
- Wilbur (inspired by Wilbur, the pig from Charlotte’s Webby E.B. White)
- Willow (inspired by Willow Rosenberg from Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
- Wilson (inspired by the character in Cast Away)
- Winky (inspired by the house-elf Winky from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potterseries)
- Winnie (inspired by Winnie-the-Poohfrom A.A. Milne’s stories)
- Wookiee (inspired by Chewbacca from Star Wars)
- Worf (inspired by Lieutenant Worf from Star Trek)
Other Great Cat Names That Start With W
Below, you’ll find some very unique cat names that start with W. These aren’t common, so you probably won’t see any other cats with these names:
- Waffleheart
- Waggletail
- Weepy
- Whiffy
- Whimsical
- Whimsifur
- Whiskerbee
- Whiskerette
- Whiskerino
- Whistle
- Wigglesnout
- Wiggletuft
- Wigglywhisk
- Wigglywhisker
- Winkletail
- Wispurr
- Wobblekins
- Wobblepaws
- Womble
- Woozle
How to Name Your Cat
Naming your feline may feel overwhelming (surprisingly, given how you’re just picking out a name). We recommend picking a name that you like and one that fits your cat’s personality. If you’ve only just met your cat, this can be challenging. You may want to spend some time observing your feline before considering a name.
You can also choose your cat’s name based on physical characteristics. For instance, if your cat has pretty distinctive markings, you could choose a name based on them. Names based on eye color are also popular. TV shows, books, and movies can also be wonderful sources of inspiration. People often name their cats after popular characters.
Preferably, you should keep your cat’s name relatively simple. You want your cat to be able to recognize it easily. A one- or two-syllable name often works best for this reason. You should also avoid names that sound like common commands or your other pet’s names.
Once you’ve decided on a few names, try each one out. It takes a week or more for a cat to learn their name, so you won’t confuse them by testing a name out for a day or so. Sometimes, names sound great on our heads, but they don’t work so well in practice.
Conclusion
We hope that one of these names stood out to you as a great option for your feline—or at least inspired you to think of a name of your own. Feel free to pick a few names to try. As we’ve said, you won’t confuse your cat by giving a few names a try before you select a name that works best.
Either way, these names should provide plenty of inspiration from which you can draw.
Featured Image Credit: TarasBeletskiy, Shutterstock
