Cat names

:See also: Names used in the Warriors series.
In the Warriors books, the naming of cats follows a certain pattern. Every cat has a name to be identified by, and they call each other by their given names at birth. It is up to the mother to decide the names of the kits. In a Clan, the name of a new kit is given with the suffix -kit at the end. In Twoleg territory, cats giving birth do not name their own kit; most of the time a Twoleg does it for them.Such as Purdy However, in some cases, a cat may name their own kits and get away from the Twolegs. 
==Clan Names==
The names of Clan cats are constructed from two words (for example Bramble+Claw or Squirrel+Flight). Both of these words pertain to things or notions known to the Clan cats, and usually describe the appearance and/or the personality of the cat. These can be of the following:
*Colors and Patterns: White,Such as Whitewing Golden,Such as Goldenflower Dark,Such as Darkstripe Spotted,Such as Spottedleaf Dapple(d),Such as Dappletail MottleSuch as Mottlepaw
*Attributes: Brave,Such as Braveheart Sharp,Such as Sharpclaw Sweet,Such as Sweetpaw WildSuch as Wildfur
*Body Parts: Claw,Such as Clawface Heart,Such as Brightheart Foot,Such as Ashfoot Tail,Such as Sunnytail Fur,Such as Lilyfur Eye,Such as One-eye Fang,Such as Yellowfang Tooth/TeethSuch as Stonetooth and Bigteeth
*Plants and Animals: Birch,Such as Birchfall Holly,Such as Hollyleaf Hawk,Such as Hawkfrost Tiger,Such as Tigerstar FlowerSuch as Flowerstar
*Nature: Cloud,Such as Cloudtail Sand,Such as Sandstorm Stream,Such as Silverstream Stone,Such as Stonefur Moon,Such as Moonflower SunSuch as Sunstar
*Phenomena: Fire,Such as Firestar Mist,Such as Mistkit Storm,Such as Featherstorm Thunder,Such as Thunderstar LightningSuch as Lightning Tail
*Times: Dawn,Such as Poppydawn Dusk,Such as Appledusk Morning,Such as Morningstar NightSuch as Nightstar 
*Action: Pounce,Such as Pouncetail Running,Such as Runningwind Leap,Such as Rabbitleap Step,Such as Heavystep JumpSuch as Jumpfoot
Names are short, containing generally two or three syllables.
===First Part of the Name===
:The first part (prefix) is usually given by the kit's parents upon its birth. The names can be of the following:
*Pertaining to the kit's appearance (Squirrel- for fluffy tail, Blossom- for patches that look like fallen petals, Bumble- for stripes similar to a bumblebee's)
*In honor of another cat or ancestor (Leaf- in honor of Leafstar and possibly Spottedleaf, Tiger- in honor of Tigerstar, Cinder- in honor of Cinderpelt)
*Some event pertaining to the birth or life of the kit (Storm- for being born in a storm)
*Other, seemingly unrelated to either (Toad-,Such as Toadstep Petal-Such as Petalfur)
===Second Part of the Name===
:Kits, apprentices and leaders have -kit, -paw and -star respectively as the second part (suffix) of their names by tradition.
*Examples: Whitekit, Whitepaw, Whitestar
:The suffix of warrior and medicine cat names are assigned by the Clan leader (or medicine cat, respectively), though they (or in some cases one of their relatives) can request a specific name for themselves, if they wish.As Crowpaw did, asking Tallstar in Dawn to name him Crowfeather, in honor of Feathertail
*Examples: Redtail, Redwillow, Redscar
===Reserved Words===
:The following notions are generally not used in Clan names:
*-star, -kit and -paw are reserved as leader, kit, and apprentice suffixes (e.g. Firestar, Cherrykit, Molepaw). However, the Tribe uses these words for their names.Such as Star That Shines On Water
* Moon- was originally conceived as a name reserved for places sacred to the Clans where leaders and medicine cats communed with StarClan (i.e., the Moonstone and the Moonpool). However, this idea was later discarded, and to date four cats have used Moon- or -moon as names without special connotations: Moonflower, Moonpaw, Ambermoon, and Harveymoon.
* Thunder-, River-, Shadow-, Wind-, and Sky- were thought to be reserved names due to the names of the Clans and their founders. Vicky once confirmed this idea,Revealed on Vicky's Facebook but this idea has since been scrapped due to characters such as Windflight, Skyheart, Skywatcher, and Shadowsight. These names also exist as suffixes, such as Brightsky, Palesky, Nightsky, Graysky, Scorchwind, Runningwind, Sun Shadow, and Arc Shadow.
===Addressing Each Other===
:Clan cats call each other by their full names, even if they are kin.For example, in Twilight and Sunset, Tigerstar, Brambleclaw, and Hawkfrost call each other by name, instead of "Father", "Son", or "Brother." In Outcast, Hollypaw calls Squirrelflight by her name, instead of "Mother" They do not use pet names, shortened names, or titles. There are a few exceptions to this rule, however.Poppydawn calls her daughter Sweetpaw by her prefix, "Sweet", in Bluestar's ProphecyLionblaze calls his brother Jayfeather by his prefix, "Jay", in Night Whispers
:It is considered rude and disrespectful to address a cat by his or her former name (that referred to a lower rank). For example: addressing a warrior by their apprentice name or a leader by their warrior name.
===Name Change===
:If a name does not suit a Clan cat anymore, the Clan leader can decide to change their name via a name changing ceremony. This often happens when a cat receives a significant injury, although it also happens when a warrior retires to the elders' den.Such as One-eye For example, after Sparrowpelt lost part of his tail in a fight with a badger, he was renamed Halftail. The Clan leader can also change a name at the request of another warrior.
==Tribe Names==
:According to tradition, modern Tribe kits are named for the first thing their mother sees or hears when they are born. For example: Brook Where Small Fish Swim or Star That Shines On Water. These are usually shortened in conversations (like Brook or Star).
:The ancient Tribe used the same naming conventions as the Ancients, however. For example: Bright Stream, Silver Frost, and Dewy Leaf.
:Tribe cats' names do not modify through their lives, except for the Healer, whose name is changed into Teller of the Pointed Stones (shortened into Stoneteller) upon appointment.
==Ancient Names==	
:The names of the Ancients who lived by the lake and were the ancestors of the Tribe of Rushing Water were all two word constructions, relating to nature and often describing the cat's appearance as well.Such as Fallen Leaves Examples are Jay's Wing, Dark Whiskers, and Stone Song.
==Loner and Rogue Names==
:Similarly to Clan cats, loners and rogues have names pertaining to things or notions known to them (like Barley or Patch). Loners or rogues living close to Twolegs (or those who used to be kittypets) may assume the names given to them by the Twolegs (like Sasha or Smoky).
:Cats who live in the Twolegplace may have names of Twoleg words, such as Dodge, Raindrop, or Skipper.
:Upon joining a Clan, a loner or rogue may agree to change their name into a Clan name (like Red becoming Russetpaw, Scratch becoming Sharpclaw, or Rusty becoming Firepaw), or not (like Boulder, Millie, or Daisy).
:A loner or rogue may change their own name by their own initiative, like Tiny changing his to Scourge.
==Kittypet Names==
:Kittypets assume the names given to them by the Twolegs (such as Jake or Susan). This hints that they understand Twoleg speech to some degree.For example, Rusty, Princess, Smudge, etc. all referred to themselves and each other by the names given to them by the Twolegs. In Midnight, Purdy says, "Upwalkers called me different names... the Upwalker who had the fire called me Purdy"
:Upon joining a Clan, a kittypet may agree to change their name into a Clan name (Rusty, for example, becoming Firepaw), or not (for example, Millie).
==See also==
*A list of prefixes and suffixes used in the books
*General Clan information
==External links==
* 
==Notes and references==
es:Nombres gatunosfi:Kissan nimetru:Именаfr:Noms (chat)ko:종족 고양이들의 이름uk:Імена котів
Category:Reference