Black

Black is a straightforward Old English color name and surname, from blaec meaning 'dark' or 'black.' As a pet name it is the most direct possible description of an animal's coat color — simple, honest, and surprisingly dignified when used with conviction.

Black is a bold naming choice precisely because it refuses to be clever about it. There is a certain confidence in naming a black cat or dog simply Black — it is direct, memorable, and somehow sounds more distinguished than it has any right to. It works particularly well for all-black animals who have a naturally striking, aristocratic quality: black cats, black Labrador Retrievers, black German Shepherds. The name has a sleek, minimalist cool to it that suits owners who appreciate restraint. Black is what you name a pet when you realize no metaphor could do justice to that coat.