Cotton

Cotton comes from the Old English and Middle English referring to the soft, white fiber from the cotton plant, itself from Arabic qutn. As a pet name it evokes softness, whiteness, and a certain gentle, fluffy quality. It's one of those texture names that works beautifully because the connection between the word and the pet is so immediate and visual.

Cotton is a perfect name for white, fluffy pets — and there are a lot of them. White Samoyeds, white cats, white rabbits, white Bichons — if the animal looks like a cotton ball given a heartbeat, the name fits. It's gender-neutral and completely charming, with a softness in the sound that matches the softness it describes. Cotton is also a name that works across every age — from a tiny fluffy puppy to a dignified, older white-muzzled dog. The name grows with the pet.