Kitty

Kitty is a Greek-rooted diminutive of Katherine or Catherine, meaning 'pure' — from the Greek Aikaterine. As a pet name it has evolved well beyond its human name origins: Kitty has become so synonymous with cats in English-speaking cultures that it functions almost as a generic term for a female cat, carrying warmth and familiarity in every syllable.

Kitty is perhaps the most classically 'cat' name in existence, which is either a reason to use it or a reason to choose something else entirely — depending entirely on your personality. Used unironically, it is an expression of pure affection: warm, soft, and completely sincere. Used knowingly, it has a retro charm that many cat owners appreciate in a post-everything naming culture. Either way, any cat named Kitty will be greeted with instant warmth by every person they meet, because the name activates something deeply conditioned and entirely positive in the human brain.