Alright, so I finally did it. I brought home a Maine Coon kitten. Absolutely magnificent little (well, not so little) creature. The moment the carrier door opened and this fluffball stumbled out, I was smitten. But then, the big question hit me, like it always does: what on earth do I name this majestic beast?
You’d think it’d be easy, right? Cute cat, pick a cute name. Nope. Not with a Maine Coon. These guys are special. They’ve got that wild look, those tufted ears, that massive bushy tail. They’re like miniature lynxes you can cuddle. So, a generic “Fluffy” or “Patches” just wasn’t going to cut it. I knew I had to put some real thought into this.
My First Brain Dumps
First off, I just observed the little tyke for a few days. Watched how he moved, his budding personality. Was he a regal overlord in training, or more of a goofy, clumsy giant? I scribbled down some initial thoughts based purely on looks. “Bear” came to mind, obviously. “Moose” too, because, well, Maine! I even thought of “Sasquatch” for a laugh, but decided that might be a bit much, even for a Maine Coon.
I found myself looking at his paws – they were already huge! And that ruff around his neck, like a tiny lion. So, “Leo” or “Simba” made the early list. But then I thought, maybe too common? I wanted something that felt a bit more unique to him.
Down the Rabbit Hole of Research
So, I did what any modern pet parent does: I hit the internet. I wasn’t just looking for lists of “top cat names.” Nah, I was digging into the breed itself. Their history, their supposed origins. Some folks say they’re descendants of Viking cats, which got me thinking about Norse names. Thor? Loki? Ragnar? Those sounded pretty epic, fitting for a cat that’s gonna be a gentle giant.
I also thought about their “gentle giant” reputation. Names that sounded strong but also kind. I considered names like:
- Winston (sounded distinguished)
- Oliver (classic, friendly)
- Jasper (felt a bit earthy and cool)
- Finn (short, sweet, but with a bit of an old soul vibe)
I spent a good few evenings just scrolling, reading forums, seeing what other Maine Coon owners had picked. Some names were incredibly creative, others were simple and classic. It was a real mix, and honestly, it kind of made things harder for a bit because the options seemed endless!
The “Trying Them On for Size” Phase
After a while, I had a decent shortlist. Maybe ten or fifteen names I kept coming back to. This is where the real test began. I started saying them out loud. Calling them across the room. “Hey, [Name], dinner!” or “C’mon, [Name], let’s play!”
It’s funny how a name can look great on paper but sound totally wrong when you actually say it. Some just felt clunky. Others didn’t seem to match the little guy’s energy. He’d just look at me with that classic Maine Coon “are you talking to me?” expression. I needed something that rolled off the tongue, something that felt natural to call out a dozen times a day.
And The Winner Is…
I kept coming back to one particular name. It wasn’t the most outlandish, nor the most common. It just… felt right. For me, and for him. I decided on Barnaby. It sounded friendly, a little bit old-fashioned, and substantial enough for a big cat. Plus, “Barney” for short felt playful.
I tried it out for a full day. “Barnaby, want some scritches?” “Good boy, Barnaby!” And he actually seemed to respond to it a bit more, or maybe I was just projecting. But it stuck. It felt like his name. It had a good solid sound to it, and I could already picture myself calling “Barnaby!” when he’s fully grown and lounging like a king on the sofa.
So yeah, that was my journey. A bit of observation, a dash of research, a lot of saying names out loud, and finally, that gut feeling. It took a little while, but finding the right name for a cat this special is totally worth the effort. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Barnaby is demanding some attention!
