Name my cat filter!
November 14, 2012 2:28 PM Subscribe
It's time for.... Name. That. Cat! That's right folks, I have a recent adoptee for you to help name. Give it your best shot!
Here she is, and again!
She's a 4 year old, was given up by her family because their daughter developed allergies. She'd never been in a shelter before, and was so terrified that they took her out of the cage and gave her the bathroom to roam in. She was a total sweetheart once you closed the door and she chilled out a bit.
And she is an absolute sweetheart! Well-behaved, demure, elegant, and excited by the laser pointer. But... she remains nameless!
I want a pretty name, more real-name than cutesy-pet-name sounding. Things that would make a name a good candidate:
*related to Geology.
*literary reference.
*sci-fi reference.
*not something that is black.
*not retarded. (No, I am not going to name my cat "Blackie.")
And... Go!
Here she is, and again!
She's a 4 year old, was given up by her family because their daughter developed allergies. She'd never been in a shelter before, and was so terrified that they took her out of the cage and gave her the bathroom to roam in. She was a total sweetheart once you closed the door and she chilled out a bit.
And she is an absolute sweetheart! Well-behaved, demure, elegant, and excited by the laser pointer. But... she remains nameless!
I want a pretty name, more real-name than cutesy-pet-name sounding. Things that would make a name a good candidate:
*related to Geology.
*literary reference.
*sci-fi reference.
*not something that is black.
*not retarded. (No, I am not going to name my cat "Blackie.")
And... Go!
That is one pretty kitty. My black kitty's name is Malcolm, his brother's name is Frey.
Freya
Aurora (I know that's astronomy not Geology)
Caroline
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 2:33 PM on November 14, 2012
Freya
Aurora (I know that's astronomy not Geology)
Caroline
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 2:33 PM on November 14, 2012
Best answer: Saw her, saw the first bullet, and then I was all like WHY WOULDN'T YOU NAME HER OBSIDIAN OBVIOUSLY and then I got to the 4th bullet.
So here are my less awesome answers:
* Mordor, because she is mordorable, and I have volcanos on the brain
* Carbs, for Carbon (but that's black too)
* Moya, Aeryn, Chiana (farscape)
* Troi, Deanna, or Counsellor (TNG, hair colour)
* Boomer (BSG, hair colour)
Actually Boomer is perfect. Sci-fi character, reference to dynamite, cute, etc.
posted by sparklemotion at 2:34 PM on November 14, 2012
So here are my less awesome answers:
* Mordor, because she is mordorable, and I have volcanos on the brain
* Carbs, for Carbon (but that's black too)
* Moya, Aeryn, Chiana (farscape)
* Troi, Deanna, or Counsellor (TNG, hair colour)
* Boomer (BSG, hair colour)
Actually Boomer is perfect. Sci-fi character, reference to dynamite, cute, etc.
posted by sparklemotion at 2:34 PM on November 14, 2012
What about a variation of the name she was called by her previous owners?
If not, how about Obsidian?
What a beautiful cat!
posted by Snazzy67 at 2:34 PM on November 14, 2012
If not, how about Obsidian?
What a beautiful cat!
posted by Snazzy67 at 2:34 PM on November 14, 2012
Lots of good geology names. Ignoring the obvious Obsidian:
Mica(h)
Galena
Jasper
Opal
Beryl
posted by phunniemee at 2:34 PM on November 14, 2012
Mica(h)
Galena
Jasper
Opal
Beryl
posted by phunniemee at 2:34 PM on November 14, 2012
That's a gneiss cat you've got there!
posted by rtha at 2:37 PM on November 14, 2012 [13 favorites]
posted by rtha at 2:37 PM on November 14, 2012 [13 favorites]
Best answer: She looks like a Cassiopeia to me; I don't know why. So pretty, though, and such a long tail!
That's a gneiss cat you've got there!
FLAGGED!
posted by infinitywaltz at 2:38 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
That's a gneiss cat you've got there!
FLAGGED!
posted by infinitywaltz at 2:38 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Alice Wilson: first female geologist in Canada. I, for one, would pet a cat named Alice Wilson.
posted by Beardman at 2:39 PM on November 14, 2012 [9 favorites]
posted by Beardman at 2:39 PM on November 14, 2012 [9 favorites]
Ok, this fails in the "not black" criterion, but "sea coal" is geological and [Mary] "Seacole" is a famous black woman from history who was also rather awesome.
posted by MuffinMan at 2:40 PM on November 14, 2012
posted by MuffinMan at 2:40 PM on November 14, 2012
Neptune is a fine name for a kitty.
posted by Midnight Skulker at 2:41 PM on November 14, 2012
posted by Midnight Skulker at 2:41 PM on November 14, 2012
Ethel Shakespear was an English geologist, and she's got your literary reference down cold.
posted by Beardman at 2:41 PM on November 14, 2012
posted by Beardman at 2:41 PM on November 14, 2012
I'm putting in another vote for Galena. A geologist friend of mine had a cat named Galena and it was perfect for her. (She was gray, but galena runs a black/silver color gamut.)
posted by dlugoczaj at 2:42 PM on November 14, 2012
posted by dlugoczaj at 2:42 PM on November 14, 2012
Awww she looks like my kitty minus the white chest blotch. So I have to suggest Diamond (my kitty's name and because I think black diamonds are neat) or Marcasite (since the stone tends to be set with black onxy).
posted by bluesapphires at 2:44 PM on November 14, 2012
posted by bluesapphires at 2:44 PM on November 14, 2012
Best answer: I have that very cat. These are some names she doesn't have, but nearly did:
Jasper
Nikita
Natasha
Morticia
Freya
Daphne
Portia
Tabitha
Samantha
Misha
Giselle
Zelda
posted by Corvid at 2:44 PM on November 14, 2012
Jasper
Nikita
Natasha
Morticia
Freya
Daphne
Portia
Tabitha
Samantha
Misha
Giselle
Zelda
posted by Corvid at 2:44 PM on November 14, 2012
Lava
posted by Dansaman at 2:45 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Dansaman at 2:45 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Genus (because she is a wonderful black cat ... kind of the basis of which all other cats are built upon :) )
posted by effigy at 2:52 PM on November 14, 2012
posted by effigy at 2:52 PM on November 14, 2012
She's a 4 year old, was given up by her family because their daughter developed allergies.
Dander!
posted by ignignokt at 2:52 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Dander!
posted by ignignokt at 2:52 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Cleospar
(this dates from the days when a friend was studying geology and we started talking about how we wanted rocks named after ourselves)
posted by sciencegeek at 2:58 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
(this dates from the days when a friend was studying geology and we started talking about how we wanted rocks named after ourselves)
posted by sciencegeek at 2:58 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
She looks like a Cleolinda, Cassandra, Galena, or Nefertiti to me.
Also, I really object to your use of retarded. Names cannot be retarded and it's more than a little gross of you to use that pejorative in such a capacity.
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 3:07 PM on November 14, 2012 [7 favorites]
Also, I really object to your use of retarded. Names cannot be retarded and it's more than a little gross of you to use that pejorative in such a capacity.
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 3:07 PM on November 14, 2012 [7 favorites]
I kinda like Raven, but that's more an ornithology reference. How about Caldera?
posted by strelitzia at 3:15 PM on November 14, 2012
posted by strelitzia at 3:15 PM on November 14, 2012
She looks like an Esme to me. Which doesn't meet any of your criteria, but still! Esme.
posted by apricot at 3:18 PM on November 14, 2012
posted by apricot at 3:18 PM on November 14, 2012
Best answer: Onyx
Melanie
Hecate (which I personally think sounds so pretty to say, though is too negatively associated to give to a human child...pity...)
Love the idea of The Raven, and taking it one degree removed:
Ember
Lenore
Pallas
Pluto
Velvet Violet
Nepenthe (LOVE THIS.)
Aidenn
Congrats on your new friend!!
posted by keasby at 3:34 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Melanie
Hecate (which I personally think sounds so pretty to say, though is too negatively associated to give to a human child...pity...)
Love the idea of The Raven, and taking it one degree removed:
Ember
Lenore
Pallas
Pluto
Velvet Violet
Nepenthe (LOVE THIS.)
Aidenn
Congrats on your new friend!!
posted by keasby at 3:34 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Ishka (DS9)
Starbuck (BSG)
Zoe (Firefly)
apricot: She looks like an Esme to me. Which doesn't meet any of your criteria, but still! Esme.
Esme! Seconding. Also, it IS a literary reference. Salinger's short story For Esme-- with Love and Squalor.
posted by rhythm and booze at 3:45 PM on November 14, 2012
Starbuck (BSG)
Zoe (Firefly)
apricot: She looks like an Esme to me. Which doesn't meet any of your criteria, but still! Esme.
Esme! Seconding. Also, it IS a literary reference. Salinger's short story For Esme-- with Love and Squalor.
posted by rhythm and booze at 3:45 PM on November 14, 2012
Willow (Buffy)
Penny (Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-Long blog)
I also like River, but without the Tam.
posted by dean_deen at 3:50 PM on November 14, 2012
Penny (Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-Long blog)
I also like River, but without the Tam.
posted by dean_deen at 3:50 PM on November 14, 2012
Best answer: geode
have a friend that named their cat this based on the vibrance of her eyes. geology related. maybe even applicable because the cat is dark on the outside and bright on the inside.. color peeking out of the eyes.
i have an all black cat i rescued too! yay black cats!
posted by c at 4:06 PM on November 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
have a friend that named their cat this based on the vibrance of her eyes. geology related. maybe even applicable because the cat is dark on the outside and bright on the inside.. color peeking out of the eyes.
i have an all black cat i rescued too! yay black cats!
posted by c at 4:06 PM on November 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
Shale.
posted by scratch at 4:25 PM on November 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by scratch at 4:25 PM on November 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
Eclipse
Because she is literally a queen (and metaphorically) and you're naming her right after the total eclipse in NW Queensland, and because the way their pupils get huge remind me of an eclipse-- and because it's a pun on the Middle English 'yclept', meaning 'named'.
But you can also get all that more euphoniously, and an allusion to witchery and a bonus moon of Saturn (as well as an orchid in a genus all its own) from:
Calypso.
posted by jamjam at 4:38 PM on November 14, 2012
Because she is literally a queen (and metaphorically) and you're naming her right after the total eclipse in NW Queensland, and because the way their pupils get huge remind me of an eclipse-- and because it's a pun on the Middle English 'yclept', meaning 'named'.
But you can also get all that more euphoniously, and an allusion to witchery and a bonus moon of Saturn (as well as an orchid in a genus all its own) from:
Calypso.
posted by jamjam at 4:38 PM on November 14, 2012
Geology related and you get your Sci-fi reference - name her Frack!
posted by azpenguin at 4:42 PM on November 14, 2012
posted by azpenguin at 4:42 PM on November 14, 2012
Hecate. And for some reason Diamond also popped into my head, and I see from the list I'm not the only one.
What about Rhea. It has a (tenuous) geological connection because it derives from the Greek for "ground."
posted by fingersandtoes at 4:59 PM on November 14, 2012
What about Rhea. It has a (tenuous) geological connection because it derives from the Greek for "ground."
posted by fingersandtoes at 4:59 PM on November 14, 2012
How about Egyptian goddesses?
Keket
Bast
Or (from fantasy, not sci-fi): Sabriel
posted by tuesdayschild at 4:59 PM on November 14, 2012
Keket
Bast
Or (from fantasy, not sci-fi): Sabriel
posted by tuesdayschild at 4:59 PM on November 14, 2012
Or Gigi?
posted by fingersandtoes at 5:00 PM on November 14, 2012
posted by fingersandtoes at 5:00 PM on November 14, 2012
Genesis. Gen for short.
posted by one4themoment at 5:34 PM on November 14, 2012
posted by one4themoment at 5:34 PM on November 14, 2012
Best answer: She looks like a Phoebe to me.
posted by sarcasticah at 5:45 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by sarcasticah at 5:45 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
I know you said you wanted things that sound like real names, but I can't look at that cat in that doorway while thinking "scifi" and not want her to be named Glitch after the cat in The Matrix.
posted by contraption at 5:49 PM on November 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by contraption at 5:49 PM on November 14, 2012 [2 favorites]
Nimbus!
posted by just_ducky at 5:51 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by just_ducky at 5:51 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Jessamyn
posted by Sal and Richard at 5:59 PM on November 14, 2012
posted by Sal and Richard at 5:59 PM on November 14, 2012
Fiona or Marguerite.
posted by matildaben at 6:01 PM on November 14, 2012
posted by matildaben at 6:01 PM on November 14, 2012
Argillite or Greywacke maybe? (some varieties of both are black, but that's pretty specialized knowledge).
posted by gudrun at 6:27 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by gudrun at 6:27 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Oh, Greywacke is a great cat name! Seconding that.
posted by rtha at 6:30 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by rtha at 6:30 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Wow, a lot of great suggestions.
I'm thinking "Pyroxene" is a possibility -- nickname would be Roxie. Haven't settled on anything though.
And if anyone's curious -- her previous name was "Uno." I just... don't get it.
posted by DoubleLune at 6:46 PM on November 14, 2012
I'm thinking "Pyroxene" is a possibility -- nickname would be Roxie. Haven't settled on anything though.
And if anyone's curious -- her previous name was "Uno." I just... don't get it.
posted by DoubleLune at 6:46 PM on November 14, 2012
Response by poster: Also considering Phoebe. It connects to my name (see if you can figure out DoubleLune now) and is pretty...
posted by DoubleLune at 7:07 PM on November 14, 2012
posted by DoubleLune at 7:07 PM on November 14, 2012
Uno=One, so maybe like the Ace? She's so solidly black she looks like velour or velvet.
How about Penumbra?
posted by halfbuckaroo at 7:09 PM on November 14, 2012
How about Penumbra?
posted by halfbuckaroo at 7:09 PM on November 14, 2012
I'd go with Beryl. But people might think you named your cat Barrel. My own black cat is named Margo, feel free to steal that if you like.
posted by Deodand at 8:15 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Deodand at 8:15 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Cinnabar!
(Full disclosure, I just used this to name a warrior kittycat in a video game.)
posted by Mizu at 10:09 PM on November 14, 2012
(Full disclosure, I just used this to name a warrior kittycat in a video game.)
posted by Mizu at 10:09 PM on November 14, 2012
The R.O.U. Awesome Cat
Close, but that cat is obviously Diziet Sma (known as 'Dizzy' to all her friends). Pyroxene is tough to beat, though.
posted by N-stoff at 10:41 PM on November 14, 2012
Close, but that cat is obviously Diziet Sma (known as 'Dizzy' to all her friends). Pyroxene is tough to beat, though.
posted by N-stoff at 10:41 PM on November 14, 2012
Shaft.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:55 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by JohnnyGunn at 10:55 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Maximus Thor!
Lord, she looks just like mine in that first shot, but most all black cats look alike. I also named her for the nickname. That's probably what you will be yelling in public in the middle of the night when you can't see her. Also, people like x's. So another vote for Pyroxene.
posted by provoliminal at 11:26 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Lord, she looks just like mine in that first shot, but most all black cats look alike. I also named her for the nickname. That's probably what you will be yelling in public in the middle of the night when you can't see her. Also, people like x's. So another vote for Pyroxene.
posted by provoliminal at 11:26 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
Toffee.
(It's short for Mephistopheles, you see.)
posted by katrielalex at 2:07 AM on November 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
(It's short for Mephistopheles, you see.)
posted by katrielalex at 2:07 AM on November 15, 2012 [1 favorite]
Agnes
posted by FergieBelle at 5:55 AM on November 15, 2012
posted by FergieBelle at 5:55 AM on November 15, 2012
Gizmo.
posted by brundlefly at 7:02 AM on November 15, 2012
posted by brundlefly at 7:02 AM on November 15, 2012
You could name him Stoney or Stoner. Or Rock. Or Box-of-Rocks.
posted by mermily at 7:41 AM on November 15, 2012
posted by mermily at 7:41 AM on November 15, 2012
Jasper.
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:14 AM on November 15, 2012
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:14 AM on November 15, 2012
Response by poster: I'm going with Roxie (Pyroxene) -- bonus nickname, Pyro.
Thanks for the inspiration -- I wouldn't have thought of it without all the suggestions!
posted by DoubleLune at 3:44 PM on November 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
Thanks for the inspiration -- I wouldn't have thought of it without all the suggestions!
posted by DoubleLune at 3:44 PM on November 15, 2012 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by jabes at 2:33 PM on November 14, 2012 [1 favorite]