Most Popular Cat Names by U.S. State (2026 Data)
Cat names aren’t uniform across America — they shift by region, climate, and local culture. Based on TrustedHousesitters’ analysis of 280,000 pet profiles (covering all 50 states + D.C.), here’s what cat owners are actually naming their kitties in 2026, state by state.
Luna dominates — but not everywhere
Luna is the #1 cat name in the majority of U.S. states, including California, Texas, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, and dozens more. It’s the modern classic that simply won’t quit — Rover data shows top names like Luna grow less than 5% year over year, meaning they’re stable favorites, not fads.
But several states break from the Luna consensus in delightful ways.
The states that go their own way
- Hawaii — Loki, Mango, Pumpkin (tropical and food-forward)
- Montana — Smokey, Bandit, Emmy (rugged and outdoorsy)
- Nebraska — Bacon, Buzz, Carmen (decidedly quirky)
- Idaho — Kitty, Lucy, Pearl (old-school and simple)
- Minnesota — Gus, Oscar, Coco (vintage and cozy)
- Louisiana — George, Pepper, Rosie (classic Southern)
- Kentucky — Jack, Lottie, Minnie (vintage revival)
- Mississippi — Molly, Duke, Bandit (traditional)
Stacker’s 2026 report confirms the pattern: “While the most popular names are present in nearly every state, some states have unique names that are more prevalent.” Regional culture — food, climate, local traditions — clearly leaks into naming.
The Luna states (a long list)
These states all put Luna at #1: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wyoming — and more.
A few states put Luna second or third but still rank it highly: Alaska (Lily, Loki, Charlie), Connecticut (Frankie, Luna, Charlie), Illinois (Lucy, Luna, Charlie).
Breed shapes the state data too
Chewy’s 2026 breed-level data adds nuance: Maine Coons are most often named Luna or Leo, Bengals lean Leo, Persians lean Bella, and the Bombay breed (jet-black) most often gets Salem — tying back to the witchcraft folklore we covered in our black cat names guide.
What this means for naming your cat
If you want a name that fits your region, lean into local culture. But the data’s real lesson is that the names people love most — Luna, Milo, Oliver, Bella, Leo — work in every state, every breed, and every era. They’re the closest thing cat naming has to universal classics.
Find your own cat’s name with our cat name generator, or browse cat names by meaning.