This list has 60 male cat names that start with M, running from “Max” to “Mufasa Jr.” You’ll find classic picks, food names, movie and TV characters, and names from many cultures. Use it to name a new kitten, rename a rescue, or find a fitting name for a cat with a big personality.
Male cat names are the names we give to tomcats, and many of them come from people, places, stories, or a cat’s looks. Some are famous, like “Morris,” the orange cat who starred in cat food ads for decades.
Below you’ll find the table with the name, origin, pronunciation, meaning, and description for each one.
Name: The cat name itself, listed alphabetically so you can scan quickly and spot the ones you like without scrolling through the whole list.
Origin: The language or culture the name comes from, which helps you pick a name with a background you like or one that matches your own heritage.
Pronunciation: A simple phonetic guide, with capital letters marking the stressed syllable, so you can say each name correctly and call your cat with confidence.
Meaning: What the name originally meant, whether that is a word, a title, or a person, so you can choose a name with a story behind it.
Description: A short note on the name’s style and the kind of cat it suits, helping you match a name to your cat’s looks and personality.
Male cat names
| Name | Origin | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max | Latin | MAX | Greatest |
| Milo | Germanic/Latin | MY-loh | Soldier or merciful |
| Mac | Scottish Gaelic | MAK | Son of |
| Murphy | Irish | MUR-fee | Sea warrior |
| Mittens | English | MIT-enz | Small gloves |
| Merlin | Welsh | MUR-lin | Sea fortress |
| Maverick | American English | MAV-er-ik | Independent one |
| Mojo | African American English | MOH-joh | Magic charm |
| Mickey | Irish/Hebrew | MIK-ee | Who is like God |
| Mufasa | Swahili | moo-FAH-sah | King |
| Moose | Algonquian | MOOS | Twig eater |
| Marley | English | MAR-lee | Pleasant seaside meadow |
| Mochi | Japanese | MOH-chee | Rice cake |
| Mango | Tamil/Portuguese | MANG-goh | Tropical fruit |
| Muffin | English | MUF-in | Small baked cake |
| Midnight | English | MID-nyt | Middle of the night |
| Mr. Whiskers | English | MIS-ter WIS-kerz | Gentleman with whiskers |
| Mister Bigglesworth | English | MIS-ter BIG-ulz-wurth | Bigglesworth, a fictional surname |
| Morris | Latin | MOR-iss | Dark-skinned or Moorish |
| Mortimer | Old French | MOR-tih-mer | Still water |
| Morty | Old French | MOR-tee | Still water |
| Monty | Latin/French | MON-tee | Mountain |
| Montgomery | Norman French | mont-GUM-er-ee | Mountain of the powerful man |
| Mars | Latin | MARZ | God of war |
| Merlot | French | mer-LOH | Little blackbird, a red wine |
| Mocha | Arabic/Yemeni | MOH-kuh | A coffee port city |
| Marshmallow | English | MARSH-mel-oh | Soft sweet candy |
| Mustache | French/Italian | MUS-tash | Hair above the lip |
| Mulligan | Irish | MUL-ih-gun | Descendant of the bald one |
| Mick | Irish | MIK | Who is like God |
| Mugsy | English | MUG-zee | Face, in slang |
| Meatball | Italian-American | MEET-bawl | Ball of ground meat |
| Mischief | English | MIS-chif | Playful trouble |
| Magnus | Latin | MAG-nus | Great |
| Marlowe | Old English | MAR-loh | Driftwood or remnant of a lake |
| Matteo | Italian | mah-TAY-oh | Gift of God |
| Marco | Italian/Latin | MAR-koh | Warlike or dedicated to Mars |
| Mason | Old French | MAY-sun | Stone worker |
| Maxwell | Scottish | MAKS-wel | Mack’s stream |
| Mikey | Hebrew | MY-kee | Who is like God |
| Mickey Mouse | American English | MIK-ee MOWS | Cartoon mouse |
| Mowgli | Hindi | MOW-glee | Frog, from Kipling’s Jungle Book |
| Moon | English | MOON | Earth’s satellite |
| Mystic | Greek | MIS-tik | Secret or hidden |
| Moby | Hebrew/English | MOH-bee | Inspired by Moby Dick |
| Mallow | English | MAL-oh | Flowering plant |
| Maple | English | MAY-pul | Maple tree |
| Mouse | English | MOWS | Small rodent |
| Misty | English | MIS-tee | Foggy or hazy |
| Mulder | Dutch | MUL-der | Miller |
| Mando | Spanish/Italian | MAN-doh | Short for Armando or Mandalorian |
| Marvin | Old English | MAR-vin | Famous friend |
| Micah | Hebrew | MY-kuh | Who is like God |
| Michelangelo | Italian | my-kul-AN-juh-loh | Archangel Michael |
| Mozart | German | MOHT-sart | Named for composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart |
| Mulan | Chinese | MOO-lahn | Magnolia |
| Mr. Darcy | English/French | MIS-ter DAR-see | From Pride and Prejudice |
| Mr. Bean | English | MIS-ter BEEN | A comedic character |
| Mr. Biscuit | English | MIS-ter BIS-kit | Twice-baked bread |
| Mufasa Jr. | Swahili/English | moo-FAH-sah JOON-yer | Junior king |
Descriptions
Max
A short, punchy classic that suits confident, bold cats. It has been one of the most popular male cat names for decades.
Milo
A friendly, playful name made famous by the film Milo and Otis. It fits curious, mischievous cats.
Mac
A cozy, easygoing name that works well for laid-back cats. It is also a common short form of names like Mackenzie.
Murphy
A warm Irish surname-turned-name that suits sturdy, good-natured cats. It is often given to black or tuxedo cats.
Mittens
A classic name for cats with white paws. It is playful, cute, and instantly recognizable.
Merlin
Named after the legendary wizard of Arthurian tales. It is a great choice for a mysterious or clever cat.
Maverick
A name for a cat that does things its own way. It became widely known through Top Gun.
Mojo
A fun, charismatic name for a cat with plenty of personality. It suggests luck and a magnetic presence.
Mickey
A friendly, cheerful name with a long history as a pet name. It suits small, energetic cats.
Mufasa
Taken from The Lion King. It is a regal pick for a large, majestic cat.
Moose
A funny name for a big, heavy cat. It fits gentle giants like Maine Coons.
Marley
A relaxed name inspired by reggae legend Bob Marley. It suits mellow, sunbathing cats.
Mochi
Named after the soft, round Japanese treat. It is ideal for a squishy, white or cream-colored cat.
Mango
A sweet, bright name for an orange cat. It is popular for ginger tabbies.
Muffin
A cute food name for a plump, cuddly cat. It works especially well for tan or golden cats.
Midnight
A classic name for solid black cats. It is simple, sleek, and mysterious.
Mr. Whiskers
A playful, formal-sounding name for a distinguished cat. It never goes out of style.
Mister Bigglesworth
The hairless cat from the Austin Powers films. It is a humorous choice for a Sphynx.
Morris
Inspired by Morris the Cat, the orange mascot of cat food ads. It suits finicky, famous-looking ginger cats.
Mortimer
A dignified, old-fashioned name for a calm cat. It is often shortened to Morty.
Morty
A short, funny version of Mortimer. It is also known from the cartoon Rick and Morty.
Monty
A charming, jaunty name for a dapper cat. It is a short form of Montgomery.
Montgomery
A grand, stately name for a large or aristocratic cat. Monty works as a nickname.
Mars
Named after the Roman god and the red planet. It fits a feisty or rust-colored cat.
Merlot
A rich, smooth name for a deep red or brown cat. It sounds classy and warm.
Mocha
A coffee-inspired name for brown and cream cats. It is cozy and widely loved.
Marshmallow
A sweet name for a fluffy white cat. It suits gentle, cuddly personalities.
Mustache
A fun name for a cat with a dark marking over the mouth. It adds instant humor.
Mulligan
A lighthearted name that also means a second chance in golf. It fits a rescue cat.
Mick
A tough but friendly name, often linked to Mick Jagger. It suits a scrappy alley cat.
Mugsy
A tough-guy name drawn from old gangster movies. It fits a cat with a rugged, charming face.
Meatball
A cheerful name for a round, chubby cat. It is guaranteed to get a laugh.
Mischief
A name for a cat who gets into everything. It fits curious kittens perfectly.
Magnus
A strong, noble name often used in Scandinavia. It suits large, impressive cats.
Marlowe
A literary name linked to the playwright Christopher Marlowe. It suits a thoughtful, stylish cat.
Matteo
A smooth Italian name for a charming, affectionate cat. It sounds warm and friendly.
Marco
A classic name that suits an adventurous, exploring cat. It is often paired with Polo as a joke.
Mason
A solid, dependable name for a sturdy cat. It is popular for both people and pets.
Maxwell
A refined variation on Max. It suits a smart, well-groomed cat.
Mikey
A friendly, casual nickname form of Michael. It suits an outgoing cat.
Mickey Mouse
A humorous name for a cat that loves chasing toys. It is a playful irony for a mouser.
Mowgli
Named after the boy raised by wolves. It suits a wild, adventurous cat.
Moon
A calm, soft name for silver or white cats. It fits a cat that is most active at night.
Mystic
A mysterious name for a cat with enigmatic eyes. It suits Siamese and blue cats.
Moby
A name for a large white cat. It pairs well with a big, round personality.
Mallow
A short, soft name for a gentle cat. It is a cute nickname for Marshmallow.
Maple
A sweet nature name for a reddish or caramel cat. It suits a cozy cat with warm fur.
Mouse
An ironic name for a small cat. It is funny for a cat that is quiet and shy.
Misty
A soft name for a gray or blue cat. It is also used for female cats but suits any gray tom.
Mulder
Inspired by Fox Mulder from The X-Files. It is a fun pick for a curious, truth-seeking cat.
Mando
A short nickname inspired by The Mandalorian. It suits a tough, loyal cat.
Marvin
A quirky name for a cat with a gloomy or dramatic personality. It recalls the depressed robot from Hitchhiker’s Guide.
Micah
A gentle, biblical name for a kind cat. It has a soft, warm sound.
Michelangelo
Named after the Renaissance artist and the Ninja Turtle. It suits an artistic, bold cat.
Mozart
A musical name for a cat with a loud, melodic meow. It suits a refined, talkative cat.
Mulan
Taken from the Disney heroine. It is a bold name for a brave, fearless cat.
Mr. Darcy
A proud, brooding name for an aloof but secretly sweet cat. It is a favorite among book lovers.
Mr. Bean
A silly name for a cat that is endlessly funny. It suits clumsy, goofy cats.
Mr. Biscuit
A cute, food-inspired name for a gentle, cookie-colored cat. It is playful and old-fashioned.
Mufasa Jr.
A cute spin on a royal name. It suits a young cat with a regal attitude.