Tortoiseshell cats were named for their distinctive coloring, which reminded people of the pattern on – wait for it – tortoise shells. The tortoiseshell cat's coat is usually a combination of black and red, but there are variations that include brown, gray, cream, and orange.
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(Only one in 3,000 tortoiseshells are male, so these are mostly female/unisex names, but we've got a few just for the boys.)
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Gender-neutral names based on tortoiseshell colors
- Agate (Aggie for short)
- Amber
- Andromeda
- Autumn
- Brindle
- Brocade
- Bubbles
- Camouflage (Cam for short)
- Cookie
- Checkers
- Confetti (Connie for short)
- Dapple
- Ditsy
- Dot
- Freckles
- Gingham
- Helen (Helen Frankenthaler, painter)
- Jaguar
- Jasper
- Kaleidoscope (Kallie for short)
- Ladybug
- Leopard
- Lynx
- Macchiato
- Marbles
- Matisse
- Merle
- Mocha
- Motley
- Muddy
- Mystery
- Nebula
- Opal
- Oriole
- Paisley
- Patches
- Pebbles
- Pinto
- Pixel
- Polka
- Polly (short for Polychrome)
- Puzzle
- Rainbow
- Rorschach
- Salsa
- Sketch
- Smudge
- Snicker
- Speckle
- Sprinkle
- Splash
- Splotch
- Spot
- Stipple
- Streak
- Sunset
- Swirl
- Tiger
- Tortie
- Twix
- Tourmaline
Names based on tortoiseshell colors for male cats
- Damien (Damien Hirst, painter)
- Frank (Helen Frankenthaler, painter)
- Henri (Henri Matisse, painter)
- Jackson (Jackson Pollock, painter)
- Mars
- Monarch
- Picasso
- Piebald
Lucky names for tortoiseshell cats
Tortoiseshells are associated with good luck in some cultures (especially the males, since they're so unusual). It's also said that tortoiseshells bring money, have psychic abilities, and can see into the future. Here are some names based on fortune, luck, and foresight.
- Cassandra
- Chance
- Clover
- Dione
- Felicity
- Gypsy
- Jinx
- Kahina
- Karma
- Kiaria
- Kismet
- Lakshmi
- Lucky
- Magic
- Mystery
- Oracle
- Penny
- Prosper
- Quigley (Joan Quigley, psychic)
- Rarity
- Sachiko
- Sarava
- Serendipity
- Sharmin
- Sybill
- Tashi
- Trixie
- Ventura
- Yoshi
Lucky names for male tortoiseshell cats
- Criswell (The Amazing Criswell, psychic)
- Edwin
- Felix
- Madoc
- Merlin
- Nostradamus
- Onni
- Otto
- Uri (Uri Geller, psychic)
Feisty names for tortoiseshell cats
Let's not forget about the so-called "tortitude." Tortoiseshells have a reputation for being especially feisty. Here are some names to reflect your cat's sassy spirit.
- Anita
- Annalise
- Brienne
- Buffy
- Cayenne
- Cinnamon
- Cordelia
- Curry
- Dean
- Diva
- Elle
- Feist
- Fox
- Furiosa
- Ginger
- Hermione
- Hunter/Huntress
- Katniss
- Korra
- Nayera
- Paprika
- Pepper
- Piper
- Rebel
- Red
- Regina
- Rizzo
- Rogue
- Queen
- Sassy
- Spice
- Willow
- Xena
Do you need more inspiration for your new pet’s name?
Pets are like our children. We love them, care for them, and we get to dress them up in adorable outfits so it's extra important that we take time to find the perfect pet name that reflects their personality and potential. Because settling on a name for your new pet can be hard and emotionally wrenching (oh the indecision!), we've gathered nine pet-naming techniques to find the perfect fit, as well as assembled a handful of our most beloved lists of pet names below!