Do your new cat’s stripes remind you of a tiger? Or perhaps your kitten has the purrsonality of a big cat? We’ve rounded up tiger names for cats — names from movies, literature and video games–as well as tiger names from around the world. Will you pounce on one of these names for your new cat?
Names Related to Concept of Stripes
- Band
- Barcode
- Belt
- Dash
- Flash
- Line
- Mark
- Pattern
- Rift
- Ribbon
- Sash
- Slash
- Streak
- Strand
- Strata
- Stripy
- Thread
- Tiger
- Vein
- Zebra
Cat Names Inspired by the Characteristics of the Tiger
Remember, names that evoke the essence of a tiger don’t necessarily have to be literal. They can be based on the imagery, characteristics, habitats, or emotions you might associate with tigers.
- Ambush
- Blaze
- Bold
- Brave
- Feral
- Fierce
- Growl
- Hunter
- Jungle
- Majesty
- Mystic
- Noble
- Pounce
- Prowl
- Roar
- Savage
- Shadow
- Sleek
- Snarl
- Stealth
- Streak
- Stripe
- Swift
- Thunder
- Untamed
- Verve
- Wild
Famous Tigers from Literature
Hobbes – From the comic strip “Calvin and Hobbes” by Bill Watterson. Hobbes is a witty and philosophical tiger who serves as Calvin’s imaginative and loyal companion.
Rajah – From Disney’s Aladdin. Rajah is a fierce and fiercely loyal tiger who is Princess Jasmine’s faithful and protective companion.
Raja – From the novel Life of Pi by Yann Martel. Raja is a majestic and regal Bengal tiger who shares a remarkable and transformative journey with the protagonist, Pi.
Richard Parker – Also from Life of Pi. Richard Parker (whose name was supposed to be Thirsty) is a formidable and enigmatic Bengal tiger who becomes Pi’s unlikely companion and an embodiment of survival instinct.
Shere Khan – From Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. Shere Khan is a cunning and fearsome Bengal tiger who serves as the main antagonist in the story, showcasing a cunning and ruthless nature.
Tawny Stripe – From T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats (basis for the musical “Cats”). Tawny Stripe is a playful and mischievous tiger character who brings charm and energy to the feline ensemble.
Tigger – From A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh. Tigger is an exuberant and bouncy tiger who embodies joy and enthusiasm, bringing laughter and fun to the Hundred Acre Wood.
Tyger – Inspired by the poem “The Tyger” by William Blake. The Tyger is a powerful and awe-inspiring symbol of beauty and ferocity, representing the duality of nature.
Tyger Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night;
What immortal hand or eye,
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
William Blake, “The Tyger”
Tigers in Cartoons and Animated Shows
Daniel Tiger – From the animated series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. Daniel Tiger is a friendly and curious young tiger who learns important life lessons through imaginative adventures.
Diego – From the animated series Go, Diego, Go! Diego is a brave and resourceful tiger who embarks on animal rescue missions in the wild.
Rajah – From Disney’s Aladdin franchise. Rajah is Princess Jasmine’s loyal pet tiger known for his protective nature and playful interactions with the characters.
Shere Khan – From Disney’s The Jungle Book, Shere Khan is a cunning and fearsome Bengal tiger who serves as the main antagonist of the story.
Tawky Tawny – From Captain Marvel comic books, Tawky, as you might guess, was able to talk. A fun name for a cat who likes to converse!
Tigger – From various Winnie-the-Pooh adaptations. Tigger is an exuberant and bouncy tiger known for his boundless energy and love for bouncing on his tail.
Tony the Tiger – The iconic mascot of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes cereal. Tony is known for his catchphrase “They’re Grrreat!” and is a symbol of energy and enthusiasm.
Tyke – From the animated series Tom and Jerry. Tyke is a small tiger cub and the son of Spike, the bulldog. He is known for his cute and innocent nature.
Names that Mean Tiger
Ayyar (Turkish origin) – Meaning “brave as a tiger”
Bahadur (Hindi origin) – Meaning “brave as a tiger”
Devesh (Sanskrit origin) – Meaning “lord of the tigers”
Durjaya (Sanskrit origin) – Meaning “unconquerable as a tiger”
Harta (Indian origin) – Meaning “tiger”
Hartley (English origin) – Derived from the Old English word “heorot” meaning “hart” (a male deer) or “tiger”
Ihtiras (Turkish origin) – Meaning “passionate as a tiger”
Lang (Chinese origin) – Meaning “tiger”
Tyger (English origin) – Derived from the word “tiger”
Names that Mean Stripes
Belinda (English origin) – Derived from the Germanic elements “bili” meaning “bright” and “linta” meaning “serpent” or “snake with bright stripes.”
Dalia (Lithuanian origin) – Meaning “striped” or “wearing stripes.” Definitely an easy choice among tiger cat names!
Kosta (Greek origin) – Derived from the Greek word “kósta” meaning “rib” or “stripe.
Liang (Chinese origin) – Meaning “bright” or “clear,” often associated with the concept of stripes or patterns.
Pinstripe (English origin) – A term used to describe a pattern of thin stripes, often used in fashion or design.
Rayas (Spanish origin) – Meaning “stripes,” often used to describe clothing or patterns.
Riga (Latvian origin) – Meaning “stripe,” often used to describe a city or place with striped motifs.
Stratos (Greek origin) – Derived from the Greek word “stratos” meaning “army,” which can be associated with the idea of a formation of soldiers standing in rows or stripes.
Tira (Hebrew origin) – Meaning “stripe” or “ribbon.”
Zebrina (Latin origin) – Derived from the word “zebra,” referring to the black and white striped animal.
Tigers in Video Games
Blanka – From the Street Fighter series. Blanka is a fierce fighter known for his electrifying attacks and beast-like movements.
Bowser Jr. – From the Super Mario series. Bowser Jr., son of Bowser, occasionally transforms into a tiger-like form in some Mario games.
King Boo – From the Mario series. King Boo sometimes takes the form of a white tiger in certain Mario spin-off games.
Riptor – From the Killer Instinct series. Riptor is a genetically-engineered hybrid of a tiger and a velociraptor, combining speed and ferocity in combat.
Sabrewulf – From the Killer Instinct series. Sabrewulf is a character afflicted with a lycanthropic curse, transforming into a half-man, half-tiger creature during battles.
Shere Khan – From Disney’s The Jungle Book video game adaptations. Shere Khan is a formidable enemy and boss character inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s tiger character.
Tai Lung – From the video game adaptation of the film Kung Fu Panda. Tai Lung serves as a boss character, showcasing his martial arts skills and cunning.
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger – From the Ty the Tasmanian Tiger series. Ty is the protagonist, armed with his boomerangs, who embarks on adventures to save his homeland from various threats.
Names of Real Famous Tigers
Amar – A famous tiger at the Philadelphia Zoo in the United States. Amar was known for his majestic appearance and his role in conservation efforts to protect and preserve the endangered Amur tiger species.
Bajrami – A beloved Siberian tiger at the Belgrade Zoo in Serbia, he captured the hearts of visitors with his striking presence and playful demeanor.
Khunti – Khunti was a famous Royal Bengal tiger at Alipore Zoological Gardens in Kolkata, India. Known for his regal demeanor, Khunti was a prominent attraction at the zoo for many years.
Mohan – A white Bengal tiger at the National Zoological Park in New Delhi, India. As one of the few white tigers in captivity, Mohan became an iconic symbol of beauty and rarity.
Nika – Nika, a well-known Amur tiger at the Budapest Zoo in Hungary, gained recognition for being the oldest living Amur tiger in captivity, living to the impressive age of 25.
Panjo – Panjo was a popular tiger at the Berlin Zoological Garden in Germany. He was known for his vibrant coat and energetic disposition, captivating visitors with his lively antics.
Tatiana – Tatiana was a Siberian tiger at the San Francisco Zoo in the United States. Unfortunately, she gained notoriety for a tragic incident in 2007 when she escaped her enclosure.
Zhorik – This male Amur tiger at the Moscow Zoo in Russia became a symbol of successful conservation efforts and was involved in breeding programs to help protect the endangered Amur tiger population.
Zoya – Zoya was a famous white tigress at the Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic. She was beloved by visitors and renowned for her striking appearance and graceful movements.
Names Related to Tigers
Indira – Meaning “beauty” or “splendid” in Sanskrit, symbolizing the majestic and awe-inspiring nature of tigers.
Panthera – The genus name for tigers, highlighting their classification as part of the Panthera genus, which includes large wild cats.
Rajan – Meaning “king” or “royal” in Hindi, reflecting the regal and dominant presence of tigers in the animal kingdom.
Shakti – Derived from the Sanskrit word for “power” or “energy,” representing the strength and prowess of tigers as top predators.
Sundari – Meaning “beautiful” in Sanskrit, signifying the allure and captivating beauty of tigers.
Tora – Derived from the Japanese word for “tiger,” symbolizing the connection between tigers and the rich cultural heritage of Japan.
Zara – Meaning “princess” or “radiance” in Arabic, evoking the grace and elegance associated with tigers.
Famous People Named Tiger
Eldrick “Tiger” Woods – A professional golfer widely regarded as one of the greatest in the history of the sport. He earned his nickname “Tiger” from his father, inspired by a South Vietnamese soldier who was a friend of his father during the Vietnam War.
Tiger Lily Hutchence – The daughter of musician Michael Hutchence, lead vocalist of the band INXS, and British television presenter Paula Yates.
Tiger Shroff – An Indian actor known for his work in Bollywood films, recognized for his athletic and dance skills.
Tiger Tyagarajan – The CEO of Genpact, a global professional services firm specializing in digital transformation and business process outsourcing.
Tiger Williams – A former professional ice hockey player known for his aggressive playing style during his career in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Subspecies of Tigers
Do any of these subspecies of tigers–or their scientific name — spark an idea for a cat name?
Amur or Siberia (Amur Tiger, Panthera tigris altaica) – Also known as the Siberian tiger, it is the largest subspecies of tiger, known for its thick fur and ability to withstand cold temperatures.
Bali (Bali Tiger, Panthera tigris balica) – An extinct subspecies of tiger that was native to the Indonesian island of Bali, with its last confirmed sighting in the 1930s.
Bengal (Bengal Tiger, Panthera tigris tigris) – Found primarily in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, the Bengal tiger is the most numerous and recognizable subspecies, known for its striking coat and powerful build.
Caspia (Caspian Tiger, Panthera tigris virgata) – An extinct subspecies once inhabiting regions around the Caspian Sea, known for its robust size and habitat adaptation.
Indo (Indo-Chinese Tiger, Panthera tigris corbetti) – Found in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar, it is recognized for its unique pattern and relatively small size compared to other subspecies.
Java (Javan Tiger, Panthera tigris sondaica) – An extinct subspecies that once inhabited the Indonesian island of Java, it disappeared in the mid-20th century due to habitat loss and hunting.
Malay (Malayan Tiger, Panthera tigris jacksoni) – Native to the Malay Peninsula and parts of southern Thailand, this subspecies is known for its dark, close-set stripes and preference for dense forests.
China (South China Tiger, Panthera tigris amoyensis) – One of the most critically endangered tiger subspecies, it is native to southern China, recognized for its narrower skull and unique coat pattern.
Suma (Sumatran Tiger, Panthera tigris sumatrae) – Found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, it is the smallest tiger subspecies and is critically endangered, facing threats such as habitat loss and poaching.
More Cat Names You Might Like!
Cheetah Names for Your Fast Cat!
Lion Cat Names: Roaring Inspiration for Your New Kitten’s Name
Pin it to remember
- Cat Adoption: FAQ You Might Have - June 28, 2024
- Protecting Birds with Birdsbesafe Cat Collars - April 24, 2024
- Are Eclipses Dangerous to Cats? - March 4, 2024