Choosing tortoiseshell cat names is fun and easy if you allow your pet's distinctive coloring to inspire your name choice. These beautiful kitties have a pattern of black, brown, tan, and sometimes white, giving them a unique appearance that is deserving of the perfect name. Because most tortoiseshell cats are female, there are more girl cat names on this list. However, you'll find some male names for that rare tortoiseshell boy cat too.
Tortoiseshell Cat Names Inspired by Nature
Although this unique coat pattern is rare in cats, you'll see similarities in nature. From precious gems and stones to the landscape around you, let the beauty of the natural world help inspire a tortie cat name.
- Agate - a semi-precious gem with a beautiful pattern
- Amber - a brown and orange gem formed from tree resin
- Appaloosa - a speckled breed of horse
- Aurora - a name that means "dawn," perfect for a tortie with lots of red in her coat
- Autumn - a name inspired by fall leaves
- Cheetah - perfect for a little cat that looks like a big cat
- Dapple - light that is made up of sun and shadow
- Ember - a name that refers to the red, grey, black, and brown of burning coals
- Fall - the season of dappled light and leaves
- Jaguar - another big cat-inspired name
- Leopard - a much larger spotted cat
- Marble - a natural stone with a mottled appearance
- Nebula - a space cloud
- October - the month of colored leaves
- Sunset - perfect for a tortie with streaks of orange or red
- Sunstone - a gem with a sparkling brown and orange color
Great Names for Cats With Tortitude
Many tortoiseshell cat owners describe a certain cat attitude or "tortitude" in their feline friends. From mythological goddess cat names to spicy or fiery things, the following are some great names for tortoiseshell cats with a little extra spunk:
- Artemis (goddess of the hunt)
- Badger
- Banshee
- Cayenne
- Diva
- Evanescence
- Fireball
- Gorgon
- Grenade
- Hurricane
- Medusa
- Minx
- Moxie
- Rebel
- Rogue
- Screech
- Sheba
- Stiletto
- Storm
- Tempest
- Twister
- Vixen
- Zelda
- Zipper
Lucky Tortoiseshell Cat Names
Some tortie cat owners believe these cats are a sign of luck. If you want to name your cat something lucky, try one of these options:
- Chance - random good fortune
- Clover - a name inspired by a four-leaf clover
- Dalia - after a Lithuanian goddess of luck
- Destiny - perfect for a cat you were fated to meet
- Faustina - a name that means "good luck"
- Felicity - a name meaning "happiness and good fortune"
- Iris - the Greek goddess of the rainbow and also good luck
- Jade - a precious gem that's said to bring wisdom and good luck
- Kiaria - a Japanese name for fortune
- Lakshmi - a Hindu name for fortune
- Moira - a Greek name for destiny
- Serendipity - a word for a happy accident
- Yuki - a Japanese name for luck
Spotted and Patterned Tortie Cat Names
From fabrics to prints, there are lots of spotted or patterned things that can inspire the perfect tortie cat name. Try one of these for your special feline friend:
- Batik
- Birdseye
- Boho
- Brocade
- Camo
- Confetti
- Dottie
- Freckles
- Herringbone
- Honeycomb
- Gingham
- Glitter
- Kaleidoscope
- Lacey
- Paisley
- Pebbles
- Pixel
- Polka Dot
- Sparkle
- Watercolor
Names for Very Dark Colored Torties
There's a lot of variation in the coloring and tone of tortoiseshell fur. Some torties have lots of black in their coloring, and these names could be perfect for them:
- Cinder
- Ebony
- Licorice
- Mahogany
- Mocha
- Midnight
- Pepper
- Raven
- Smoke
Names for Orange or Red Torties
For cats with lots of orange or red in their coats, you can pick a tortoiseshell name that refers to their coloration. Consider one of these fun names for orange cats:
- Blaze
- Cheddar
- Coral
- Dawn
- Goldie
- Henna
- Lava
- Marigold
- Monarch
- Nugget
- Sienna
- Sunflower
- Terracotta
Sweet Names for Tortoiseshell Cats
Does your tortie have a sweet disposition? Give her a name inspired by her color and her her temperament:
- Apricot
- Brandy
- Butterscotch
- Candy
- Caramel
- Cherry
- Cinnamon
- Clementine
- Cocopuff
- Ginger
- Gingersnap
- Honey
- Marmelade
- Nutmeg
- Papaya
- Peaches
- Raisin
- Spice
- Toffee
Male Tortoiseshell Cat Names
Male tortoiseshell cats are rare, so they deserve their own section of names. If you have a boy tortie, one of these may be the perfect moniker:
- Advay - a name that means unique
- Chandrapol - a rare and unique jewel
- Felix - a name that means happy and lucky
- Jasper - a speckled stone
- Maverick - perfect for a cat with toritude
- Motley - a name that references a mottled or speckled coat
- Nacho - perfect for an orange tortoiseshell cat
Let Your Cat's Color Pattern Inspire You
Tortoiseshell cat names are fun to consider, whether you have a boy cat or a female feline. If you want more unisex cat names for this rare cat color pattern, look around you. There are many speckled things in nature than can inspire your choice.
