I haven't seen one of these in a while...

December 3, 2009 12:46 PM

We need a name for a kitten, before he's not a kitten anymore. We adopted a little (for now) Maine Coon kitten and so far we haven't managed to keep a name stuck to him. Pictures! Details below.

He is a very high-energy kitty. He loves water: he'll hop up onto the side of the tub and lick at the faucet after we've showered, and he loves it if we splash a bit of water on the floor in the kitchen doing dishes. He's going to be a big kitty--he's growing by a pound every two weeks, and if he does have significant Maine Coon blood in him, he'll keep growing slowly for a few years.

I want to call him Sylvester McMonkey McBean, but Ms. Tybstar doesn't like that. Something short and two-syllable would be perfect. Previous animal names have included: Speedy, Sorsha, and Minerva. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

posted by tybstar to pets & animals (82 answers total)

Gandalf (the Grey).
posted by bearwife at 12:49 PM on December 3, 2009

I think all cats should be named Falkor, but I think everything should be named Falkor.

He likes water, so maybe Ahab or Ishmael?
posted by Think_Long at 12:50 PM on December 3, 2009

Rufus? Tycho? Nicodemus? Falkor is also awesome.
posted by vilthuril at 12:50 PM on December 3, 2009

The hair growing out of the ears made me think of Waldorf, the Muppet. [The one on the left.]
posted by Joe Beese at 12:50 PM on December 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

He looks like a Mr. Willoughby to me.
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:51 PM on December 3, 2009

Sir Isaac Neutered. Zack for short.
posted by metacollin at 12:51 PM on December 3, 2009

Thales. Obviously.
posted by lhude sing cuccu at 12:52 PM on December 3, 2009

How about just Monkey? (taken from your McMonkey, obviously.) He's adorable, btw! Awww...
posted by cgg at 12:52 PM on December 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

Tickle.
posted by halogen at 12:52 PM on December 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

What if you name her after a famous ship, giant beast, or celestial body? Those are always fun. Also, landmarks or countries. Any inside jokes or things about how you got her that come to mind? We had a cat named Stowie, short for 'Stowaway' because she snuck into a friend's car and rode to a new new home the night we got her.
posted by iamkimiam at 12:52 PM on December 3, 2009

Several years ago, I helped find a permanent home for an abandoned Maine Coon who was originally named Tiger. The lady who took him in thought he should be renamed, and she picked Achilles. I thought that was pretty great.
posted by Coatlicue at 12:55 PM on December 3, 2009

I tend to fall back on literature. He's not dark furred but perhaps 'Bagheera' or 'Shere Khan'. That being said, I've found that cats tend to name themselves eventually. Maybe just have some patience. Or maybe call him Patience hehe.
posted by elendil71 at 12:55 PM on December 3, 2009

Water theme: Nemo, Triton, Davy Jones.
posted by ericb at 12:55 PM on December 3, 2009

What a cutie! He should be named something rogue-ish. Um, maybe Rogue? Rufio? Scoundrel? Rhett Butler?

Or Pants.
posted by runningwithscissors at 12:55 PM on December 3, 2009

He looks like a Simon to me
posted by doorsfan at 12:57 PM on December 3, 2009

More: Atlas. Bruno. Bruiser. Cap'n.
posted by runningwithscissors at 12:57 PM on December 3, 2009

He is very fuzzy..

Hairball
Furball
Puddle
Splash
Flood (I like this one)
BigPaw (He has big paws now, I bet they'll be even bigger)
posted by royalsong at 12:58 PM on December 3, 2009

He could be formally named Sylvester McMonkey McBean and you could just call him Sly Bean. Everybody's happy.
posted by JaredSeth at 12:59 PM on December 3, 2009

I suggest these names, based on the cat's appearance:

Olive
Spooky
Dr. Robot (not really based on appearance)
Sparks
Brush
Squirrel
posted by dervish at 1:00 PM on December 3, 2009

Feldspar
posted by marxchivist at 1:04 PM on December 3, 2009

Cute kitteh! I love how old-man-like his eyebrow whispers are. I would name him Statler... or Waldorf!

Seconding JaredSeth's suggestion of a long a short name. I very much like last names for cats, but I don't use them all the time.
posted by Kurichina at 1:05 PM on December 3, 2009

We had a cat who was at least part Maine coon, and we named him Sherpa, because he liked to climb to high places (of course all cats do).

Otherwise, Shakespeare had some good names for cats, Hotspur, Falstaff, Iago, Caliban, Sir Toby Belch, Orsino, Shylock, Pistol, Bardolph ... and many others
posted by wabbittwax at 1:05 PM on December 3, 2009

I think he looks like a Felix.
posted by hellomina at 1:05 PM on December 3, 2009

I have a cat that is likely part Maine coon & I kind of wish I'd named him Fluff Bunnington. Although it's kind of an emasculating name, I guess.
posted by oh really at 1:07 PM on December 3, 2009

I like Monkeybean. Stand your ground.
posted by rokusan at 1:08 PM on December 3, 2009

Rocket! Also, he looks and sounds like another kitty I used to know named Medeski, but I guess that's a bit long. And it only works if you like the band.
posted by juliplease at 1:09 PM on December 3, 2009

One more thing...

When we were trying to come up with names for our kids, we joked a lot about using the name Vlad, because you could append descriptors like Vlad the Inhaler, Vlad the stinky, Vlad the Uruly, Vlad the disruptor, Vlad - destroyer of couches ... you get the idea. could work for a cat.
posted by wabbittwax at 1:11 PM on December 3, 2009

Moby
posted by sickinthehead at 1:16 PM on December 3, 2009

I looked at the pictures and thought "Owlet"
posted by sarahj at 1:18 PM on December 3, 2009

Jason.
posted by something something at 1:19 PM on December 3, 2009

Batman.

A friend of mine suggested that name for his cat years ago, and I've honestly been laughing about it ever since. I'm not entirely sure why I enjoy the idea so much, but I giggle every time I think about it. Every cat should be Batman.

Actually, thinking about it now, superhero names for cats in general have the same effect. He likes water, maybe Aquaman?

Yeah, I like a cat named Aquaman.
posted by The Man from Lardfork at 1:20 PM on December 3, 2009 [2 favorites]

For some reason, when I first saw him my thought was "Scruffy" (the janitor). Since he likes water, "Mizu" (Japanese for water) might be a cute name.
posted by Cogito at 1:20 PM on December 3, 2009

Roscoe came to mind immediately upon looking at him
posted by RingerChopChop at 1:21 PM on December 3, 2009

Sir William, Third Duke of Whisker. 'Will' for short.
posted by cooker girl at 1:24 PM on December 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

On seeing him, I thought 'Gizmo'.

Names from mythology are fun - ours are Castor and Pollux (the Gemini twins), although we commonly call them 'cat-pants'.
posted by bookdragoness at 1:24 PM on December 3, 2009

That cat is going to be big - look at those paws! Something that either emphasizes his size, or the opposite (like "Tiny").
posted by radioamy at 1:32 PM on December 3, 2009

We're currently fostering a kitten named Emmett. Yeah, after one of the Cullens from Twilight. His sister is Alice. We didn't name them, but hey, they're good names!

Here's a whole database of foster kittens with names: IAR of Durham, NC.
posted by amtho at 1:33 PM on December 3, 2009

Bubastis.

Or Lynx.
posted by widdershins at 1:37 PM on December 3, 2009

Welcome to the wonderful world of Maine Coons! They're fabulous pets. Look for a signature meow (my kids call it a "battle squeak"), and a tendency to want to "burrow" under covers, etc. Your little guy is a cutie patootie.

Since he likes water, I'd go with Kraken!
posted by misha at 1:41 PM on December 3, 2009

Or, you know, you could do double-duty with your Monkey idea and the water theme, and name the kitten Jack, after the monkey in Pirates of the Caribbean.
posted by misha at 1:42 PM on December 3, 2009

That cat is going to be big - look at those paws!

radioamy, Maine Coons have what are known as "snowshoe" paws. Nice, big feet for walking on snow, just as the thick tail gives warmth in the snow.
posted by misha at 1:46 PM on December 3, 2009

We have a very fluffy cat, too. His name is Peter, but we call him Mr. Fluff-n-Stuff or Mr. Fluffypants. If that's too cutesy, you could explore the Seussian theme a little more. Hot-Shot? Sunny Jim? Hoos-Foos? Zanzibar Buck-Buck McFate? Oliver Boliver Butt? That story alone has 22 possibilities. (Why, yes, I do have young children. How did you guess?!)
posted by SamanthaK at 1:47 PM on December 3, 2009

He looks like a Sylvester =)
posted by anniecat at 1:49 PM on December 3, 2009

At first glance I thought Rocky, after seeing his paws I thought Boots/Bootsie.
posted by torquemaniac at 1:51 PM on December 3, 2009

Steve
posted by Optimus Chyme at 1:51 PM on December 3, 2009 [2 favorites]

I say stick to your guns too (although I do like people names for cats and I like the name Simon). The cat will probably end up with a totally different everyday name anyway. Our Maine Coon (tiny random street kitten, we had no idea), was named Clover, but now goes by Clo-Monster, Clo-Beast, or just Beast. She's also 15lbs at 18 months old, and has destroyed half our possessions, so be warned!
posted by crabintheocean at 1:57 PM on December 3, 2009

Looks like a Hemingway to me for some reason.
posted by Deathalicious at 1:59 PM on December 3, 2009

He looks like a "Crash" to me... Perhaps Johnny Crash.
However, I would probably end up calling him Socks or Toes (or Mr FuzzBottoms).
posted by crenquis at 2:00 PM on December 3, 2009

Hey ... how about Krilli?
posted by krilli at 2:03 PM on December 3, 2009

Scraps. Or Leviathan (could be shortened to "Levi" for everyday use, although that Alaskan dude may have ruined that one).
posted by JoanArkham at 2:07 PM on December 3, 2009

The fuzziness makes him look sort of frayed and wild. Like if he was a person he'd be some shoeless hillbilly.

With that in mind I suggest Zeke, Junior or Stuntman Colt Calhoun.
posted by Nyarlathotep at 2:14 PM on December 3, 2009

Loki!
posted by Verdandi at 2:26 PM on December 3, 2009

Thanks everyone, great suggestions...we'll dig through them and I'll update the thread when we decide on something!
posted by tybstar at 2:31 PM on December 3, 2009

Figaro!
posted by TravellingCari at 2:33 PM on December 3, 2009

Snowshoe
Yeti
The Abominable Snow Kitty
Bigfoot
Michael (Phelps)
Jacques Cousteau
Manatee
Platypus
Flipper
posted by BoscosMom at 2:45 PM on December 3, 2009

If you use Flipper he would have a theme song as well. You could sing it when you introduce him.
posted by BoscosMom at 2:47 PM on December 3, 2009

Now I have this vision in my head of you holding him under his arms and gently swinging him side to side as you sing his theme song. Ok, I'm going now.
posted by BoscosMom at 2:50 PM on December 3, 2009

Oooh, I love Maine Coons! Our current one is named plain old Toby, because it fits.
However, past kitties have been named after towns in Maine. Rumford, Ellsworth, Winslow... get out your map and have a go.
posted by pentagoet at 2:50 PM on December 3, 2009

Well, since we are sharing Maine Coon stories, my big fat ginger 'Coon is named Cheddar, and his little ginger tabby mix brother is Colby.
posted by misha at 3:06 PM on December 3, 2009

I saw him and thought "Hugo," even before reading the more inside about preferring short and two-syllable.
posted by amro at 3:44 PM on December 3, 2009

I'm a big fan of giving innocuous people names to pets. It just cracks me up to think, "Gosh, I've got to get home in time to feed Kenneth." or "Damn, Johnathan tracked litter all over the kitchen again."
posted by kidsleepy at 4:18 PM on December 3, 2009

Doctor Emmet Brown. Or 'Doc' for short...
posted by pilibeen at 4:18 PM on December 3, 2009

Don't get hung up on a name now... you have a great one already, use it.... the better half can use another name..and more names will come.. all of our kats have at least 4 names, depending on behavior, mood, etc.....

The names will evolve... you do not name a kat, you learn a kat's name.
posted by HuronBob at 4:23 PM on December 3, 2009

cattaraugus or cattastrophe
posted by hortense at 5:27 PM on December 3, 2009

Jean Claws Van-Damme
posted by cazoo at 5:37 PM on December 3, 2009

We briefly had a maine coone kitten named Waffles. It was a great name for a great cat (she just didn't get along with our existing kitty). Have fun!
posted by ThaBombShelterSmith at 6:00 PM on December 3, 2009

Captain Bly.
Captain Stubing.
Bill Dance.

Or perhaps, Dagon. (Alternately.)
posted by grabbingsand at 6:38 PM on December 3, 2009

Pisces

or, for those beautiful eyes: Topaz

He's adorable, BTW!
posted by ourroute at 7:30 PM on December 3, 2009

Well, since we're all here, if a Maine Coon kitten got in a tussle with a Van Kedisi kitten, who would win?
posted by ovvl at 7:35 PM on December 3, 2009

I'm a fan of a cat or dog having several names. After all, humans typically have three, sometimes four. My dog has two or three names and a couple of nicknames. Sometimes I think I call her by her nicknames more often than by her real name. An old friend's dog has five or six names. I like the names in your post and so many of the suggested ones here, I'd just give him several of your faves. Cute kitty too.
posted by VC Drake at 7:51 PM on December 3, 2009

Banger (pronounced Bangor)
posted by birdsquared at 8:53 PM on December 3, 2009

Grandpa!

He is a little, adorable old man with little, adorable old man eyebrows.

Plus, you get to say funny things like:

"OHNO. Grandpa tore up the couch again."
"GRANDPA, NO! DON'T BITE ME!"
"No, honey, we have to go home— you know we can't leave Grandpa locked up for that long."
"I think Grandpa's gotta go to the vet."
"Grandpa brought home ANOTHER dead bird last night. Dropped it at my feet and everything."
"Can you stop by and pick up a bag of litter for Grandpa?"
posted by functionequalsform at 8:56 PM on December 3, 2009 [5 favorites]

Fish
posted by fieldtrip at 9:24 PM on December 3, 2009

Butters McFlufster.
posted by fiercekitten at 12:00 AM on December 4, 2009

that cats name should be Monty
posted by naplesyellow at 12:24 AM on December 4, 2009

If he were mine, I'd probably name him Wiscasset, which sounds very cool, and can yield some fun nicknames.

Or possibly a Viking name, like Askold or Ragnar.
posted by taz at 2:08 AM on December 4, 2009

I have already decided that If I ever get a male Maine Coon that I will name him Merlin. Maine Coons look like wizards to me.
posted by futz at 5:57 AM on December 4, 2009

This is kind of silly, but your Flickr account says "Kitten with no name (Set). I actually think that Set should be his name. Impressive Egyptian god and all that.

Alternatively, since he's a Maine Coon, I thought maybe his name should have something to do with Maine. My first thought was Moose. Then I googled for things/people that Maine is famous for, and came upon Lincoln's vice-president, who was from Maine--Hannibal Hamlin. Hannibal would be a great name.
posted by dlugoczaj at 11:55 AM on December 4, 2009

Oh, one more idea, tying into the water-loving. Sounds like he's going to be a diver, so maybe his name should be Spitz, a la Mark Spitz. I think that's a funny name for a cat anyway.
posted by dlugoczaj at 11:58 AM on December 4, 2009

I've always thought a great name for a pet would be "Frolic".

Also, for the water-lover: Scuba.
posted by specialnobodie at 12:13 PM on December 4, 2009

Well, thanks for all of your suggestions. We decided not to use any of them, but the right name finally came to us after watching a TV show yesterday, and thinking about this image.

His name is Dexter.
posted by tybstar at 5:16 PM on December 8, 2009

Yay! Absolutely an appropriate name for a Maine Coon; mine has a lizard graveyard full of trophy body parts on the screened porch to attest to its validity.
posted by misha at 5:47 PM on December 8, 2009