The trend of giving “old lady” names to cats is a growing one, part of a larger trend of opting for human names for their fur babies. Old lady cat names often evoke a sense of grace, wisdom and charm, attributes that we all known describe our cats, whether kittens or dignified old ladies we’ve adopted into our hearts and homes.
Old Lady Names Based on Early Film Stars
Naming your cat after a movie star from the golden age of Hollywood or the silent film era can add a touch of glamour and nostalgia to your pet’s persona.
- Audrey (Hepburn) – A leading lady known for her grace and sophistication.
- Ava (Gardner) – A glamorous and prominent actress during the golden age of Hollywood.
- Bette (Davis) – Known for her striking performances in a wide variety of film genres.
- Carole (Lombard) – A well-known comedic actress of the 1930s.
- Clara (Bow) – The iconic silent movie star known as the “It” girl.
- Deborah (Kerr) – A versatile actress with a string of impressive roles in classics.
- Dorothy (Dandridge) – A groundbreaking African-American actress.
- Elizabeth (Taylor) – One of the most popular stars of the studio era, who started her career as a child actress.
- Ginger (Rogers) – A talented dancer and actress, best known for her musical films with Fred Astaire.
- Greta (Garbo) – A Swedish actress known for her melancholic, somber persona, and her roles in silent and early sound films.
- Greer (Garson) – Noted for her roles in films during the 1940s.
- Hedy (Lamarr) – An actress known not only for her beauty but also for her pioneering work in technology.
- Ingrid (Bergman) – A Swedish actress known for her roles in classics like “Casablanca”.
- Jean (Harlow) – A leading sex symbol of the 1930s.
- Joan (Crawford) – An iconic actress who had a career spanning several decades.
- Judy (Garland) – An actress and singer known for her role as Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz”.
- Katharine (Hepburn) – A leading lady in Hollywood for more than 60 years.
- Lauren (Bacall) – Known for her distinctive voice and sultry looks.
- Lillian (Gish) – A prominent actress during the silent film era.
- Louise (Brooks) – A silent film actress recognized for her bob haircut and performances in films like “Pandora’s Box”.
- Lucille (Ball) – Although more known for her television roles, she also had a successful movie career.
- Mae (West) – A vivacious actress known for her witty and provocative roles.
- Marlene (Dietrich) – A German-American actress known for her sultry, glamorous roles.
- Mary (Pickford) – One of the most popular actresses during the silent film era.
- Maureen (O’Hara) – An Irish-American actress known for her natural red hair; an apt name for a ginger cat.
- Myrna (Loy) – A versatile actress who often played the girl-next-door or the perfect wife.
- Norma (Shearer) – A leading lady in the 1920s and 1930s, known for her roles in films like The Divorcee.
- Olivia (de Havilland) – A distinguished actress with a career spanning several decades.
- Rita (Hayworth) – A glamorous actress and dancer of the 1940s.
- Rosalind (Russell) – A versatile actress known for her roles in comedies, dramas, and mystery films.
- Theda (Bara) – A silent film star known for her exotic, vampish roles.
- Vera (Ellen) – A British actress known for her musical and dancing roles.
- Vivien (Leigh) – Known for her iconic roles in Gone with the Wind and A Streetcar Named Desire.
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Old Lady Nicknames
Many old-fashioned female names had well-established nicknames, short monikers purrfect for a cat!
- Annie (for Anne, Annabelle)
- Barb (for Barbara)
- Bea (for Beatrice)
- Betty (for Elizabeth)
- Biddy (for Bridget)
- Connie (for Constance)
- Dee (for Dolores, Deirdre)
- Dolly (for Dorothy)
- Dot (for Dorothy)
- Evie (for Evelyn)
- Fran (for Frances)
- Ginny (for Virginia)
- Hattie (for Harriet)
- Jeanie (for Jean, Jeanette)
- Judy (for Judith)
- Kathy (for Kathleen)
- Kit (for Katherine, Kathleen)
- Libby (for Elizabeth)
- Liz (for Elizabeth)
- Maggie (for Margaret)
- Millie (for Mildred, Millicent)
- Mimi (for Miriam, Mary)
- Nell (for Eleanor, Helen)
- Patsy (for Patricia)
- Peggy (for Margaret)
- Polly (for Mary, Pauline)
- Rita (for Margarita)
- Rosie (for Rose, Rosemary)
- Ruthie (for Ruth)
- Sally (for Sarah)
- Sue (for Susan, Susannah)
- Tillie (for Matilda)
- Vicki (for Victoria)
Mid-Century Women’s Names from the 1950s
The 1950s and the broader mid-century period conjure images of a golden era marked by a fascinating interplay between tradition and modernity. These names evoke a time of elegance, innovation, and newfound optimism. They reflect a unique blend of the conventional and the stylish, reminiscent of an era graced by poised fashion, groundbreaking music, and iconic developments like space exploration.
- Barbara
- Beverly
- Bonnie
- Carol
- Carolyn
- Cheryl
- Christine
- Cynthia
- Deborah
- Diane
- Donna
- Doris
- Elaine
- Janice
- Jean
- Joan
- Judy
- Karen
- Kathleen
- Linda
- Lois
- Lorraine
- Marcia
- Marilyn
- Marjorie
- Nancy
- Norma
- Patricia
- Phyllis
- Sandra
- Sharon
- Shirley
- Susan
- Theresa
- Wanda
Girl’s Names from the 1920s
These old-lady names were quite popular in the 1920s, a time marked by jazz music, flapper culture and significant societal changes, and they carry the vintage charm of that era.
- Bernice
- Beryl
- Dolores
- Edna
- Eileen
- Elsie
- Estella
- Ethel
- Fern
- Geneva
- Gertrude
- Gwendolyn
- Hazel
- Inez
- Irma
- June
- Laverne
- Leona
- Lila
- Lillian
- Lucille
- Madeline
- Marion
- Maxine
- Myrtle
- Nadine
- Naomi
- Nellie
- Opal
- Pauline
- Ruby
- Stella
- Thelma
- Velma
- Vera
- Viola
- Wilma
Women’s Names Popular in the 1800s
Want to go even further back in time? Whether you have been inspired by historical dramas like 1883 or you just love vintage cat names, these old-lady names have a sense of timeless grace. The 1800s were a period steeped in tradition and classicism, and the names from this era often carry an air of aristocracy and nobility. They evoke images of grand Victorian homes, lush gardens and classical literature.
- Abigail
- Ada
- Agatha
- Agnes
- Alberta
- Alice
- Amelia
- Annabelle
- Beatrice
- Bertha
- Bessie
- Blanche
- Caroline
- Catherine
- Cecilia
- Charlotte
- Clara
- Constance
- Cornelia
- Delilah
- Dorothy
- Edith
- Eleanor
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- Eliza
- Elizabeth
- Ella
- Ellen
- Emily
- Emma
- Estelle
- Esther
- Ethel
- Eugenia
- Eunice
- Evelyn
- Fanny
- Florence
- Frances
- Gertrude
- Grace
- Harriet
- Helen
- Henrietta
- Hester
- Ida
- Isabella
- Jane
- Josephine
- Julia
- Lillian
- Lottie
- Louisa
- Lucinda
- Lydia
- Mabel
- Margaret
- Marian
- Martha
- Mary
- Matilda
- Maude
- Mercy
- Mildred
- Minnie
- Nancy
- Nellie
- Olive
- Ophelia
- Pearl
- Prudence
- Rebecca
- Rosalind
- Rose
- Ruth
- Sarah
- Serena
- Susannah
- Sylvia
- Tabitha
- Theodora
- Ursula
- Victoria
- Virginia
- Winifred
Names inspired by different eras, be it the refined elegance of the 1800s, the vibrant 1920s, or the golden mid-century period, mix charm and tradition. Embracing these vintage names not only adds a touch of class but also celebrates the rich tapestry of history. An old lady cat name can be a conversation starter and a loving nod to the women who once bore these names with grace and poise.
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