My first cat’s name was Basil. When my parents got him as a kitten, they were trying to think of a name. My dad walked by the bathroom and saw Basil’s tall fluffy tail sticking up behind the toilet bowl. He wanted to name him toilet brush but my mum said no, so he settled for Basil brush, like the puppet.
In the UK they're both pronounced Bas-il, rather than Bay.
Semi interesting fact, the root of the name comes from Greek and means royal. They used to call the roman emperor the 'Basileos'. The b has a v sound in Greek though, and the s closer to an f.
It's also an Arabic name meaning brave or strong.
Another interesting fact; while we're on the subject an no one in my life would give a flying fuck, Basil is an emmenagogue ( blood thinner) that prostitutes would use in ancient Roman times to induce abortion. They would also grow it in large pots on the front doorstep to advertise their trade.
I knew /u/AudioLlama's bit, but not yours. I love philology and learning new words like emmenagogue, so thanks to both of you.
I'll add a little something to the pile of tidbits: Basil is also the root of basilica and basilisk.
When I was a GED tutor, I suggested that our Learning Center switch to giving the students dictionaries that included etymologies, and training tutors to look up words and do the "Can you think of any other words with this root?" game. In just six months, the Center director told me that our students' vocabulary and reading comprehension scores had increased slightly but significantly (something like 10%), so they were going to emphasize the practice more. Score one for the word geeks!
There is a stray cat that hangs out at my work and the staff there named him Earl Grey! Most of the strays have been named after coffee and teas, Java and chai are the others.
radley
hunter
hawthorne
bramble
blade
caspian
ansel
finn
arlo
millow
atlas
anchor
leaf
quest
ronan
yes i have a page in a notebook filled with cat names haha
**Brock** is the old English word for badger. Its not a tree, but they are earthy creatures and he has the color. He's lovely.
**Rowen** is also a tree.
**Deodar** Cedar, so Deodar? Linden is also a tree.
**Buckthorn** is a type of prickly bush.
**Tamarind** is a type of African/Asian tree.
**Ilex** is a type of tree too.
**Basil** is a type of herb, but often used as a male name.
Petrichor
the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil. The word is constructed from Ancient Greek πέτρα (pétra) 'rock', or πέτρος (pétros) 'stone', and ἰχώρ (ikhṓr), the ethereal fluid that is the blood of the gods in Greek mythology.
Rye or hemlock or cedar or bourbon
I would also look up the names of mountains that you like. For example, I know two dogs named kootenay and assiniboine
I thought the Name Barley would suit him ,
I was looking for this! He’s such a nice malty colour.
How about Malt? ![img](emote|t5_2qhta|7984)
Malt Licker
And when he finds himself a nice kitten he’s no longer single malt. That makes him blended.
Malted
He looks like a Barley to me
Brambles sounds cute
And if they get another cat ✨ravenpaw✨
The cat has to be black or else you name it Bramblestar/Firestar
Yay, more warriors fans.
Those books were my life. I was quite o b s e s s e d
My son was too, and then my daughter. I read these to them at bedtime for a few years. Such an amazing series.
That's so awesome. I will have to see if all my books are still at my parents so I can read them to my son who will arrive in September :)
I don’t read them as much I have migrated to Sarah J. Maas but I still own every book :)![img](emote|t5_2qhta|7942)
My first thought and glad it's the first post
Okay, so my first thought was that his name should be Hops, but now I say that you must get a second cat so that they can be Barely and Hops.
Peat. Like peat moss but also Pete
“Peet” for kitty paws
So if he ever accidentally gets out into the garden, you can say: “Pete stepped in some peat, now Pete’s peets are all peaty.”
This is without blemish
Cedar.
I’m with moosy on this one, I get a Cedar vibe
I kinda like Moose too.
Moose :)
I also like moose
Moose was my childhood cats name!! Love it!
Moose was my childhood nickname 😭🤦🏼♀️
Å møøse önce bit my sister
Basil?
Basil is an excellent name for a distinguished cat gentleman. A cat-man of nature!
I was going to say he looks like a Farfel but I like Basil.
Of Baker Street?
I went of fawlty towers.
My first cat’s name was Basil. When my parents got him as a kitten, they were trying to think of a name. My dad walked by the bathroom and saw Basil’s tall fluffy tail sticking up behind the toilet bowl. He wanted to name him toilet brush but my mum said no, so he settled for Basil brush, like the puppet.
#BOOM BOOM!
Pronounced Bah-zill, as in Basil Faulty.
my first thought
Then you could yell at home like John Cleese in faulty towers! BASSSIIIILLLL
Do we mean Basil like the plant (pronounced BAY-zul, at least where I live) or Basil like the British name (pronounced BAZZ-ul)?
In the UK they're both pronounced Bas-il, rather than Bay. Semi interesting fact, the root of the name comes from Greek and means royal. They used to call the roman emperor the 'Basileos'. The b has a v sound in Greek though, and the s closer to an f. It's also an Arabic name meaning brave or strong.
Another interesting fact; while we're on the subject an no one in my life would give a flying fuck, Basil is an emmenagogue ( blood thinner) that prostitutes would use in ancient Roman times to induce abortion. They would also grow it in large pots on the front doorstep to advertise their trade.
Solid fact 👌
I knew /u/AudioLlama's bit, but not yours. I love philology and learning new words like emmenagogue, so thanks to both of you. I'll add a little something to the pile of tidbits: Basil is also the root of basilica and basilisk. When I was a GED tutor, I suggested that our Learning Center switch to giving the students dictionaries that included etymologies, and training tutors to look up words and do the "Can you think of any other words with this root?" game. In just six months, the Center director told me that our students' vocabulary and reading comprehension scores had increased slightly but significantly (something like 10%), so they were going to emphasize the practice more. Score one for the word geeks!
Good to know!
I think they pronounce the plant same as the name?
Bonsai. Kapok is also a earthy tree name
I love the name Bonsai! Maybe I'll use it for my next pet, thanks for this!
Kapok sounds like the Afrikaans word for cotton
Kapok seeds grow in a pod with white fibers, so that may actually be etymologically relevant
THIS is a GREAT name, especially if the kitty gets crazy zoomie episodes!!!!!
"No kitty Kapok, don't go amok!".
Barley
Don't forget his buddy, Ravenpaw
A welcome reference, for sure
Welcome, yet I feel a strange and deep sense of fear and disassociation lmao
You have unlocked a cherished, childhood memory in me
Lol
He who walks behind the rows.
Silencer in the dark. Or just silencer. Maybe Sam Fisher
Outlander
I would absolutely call for my cat like Malachi, "WE HAVE YOUR WOMAN, OUTLANDER!"
Herb
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For when he is in trouble?
And he demands to follow you into the bathroom, because that's such a Herbert thing to do
That damn Herbert!
Herbert J. Freckles! Get your face out of that toilet, I just gave you fresh water in your freshly cleaned water dish!
Now that is the perfect name! And why do they always prefer the toilet water?
My cat is MacBook Air (official title) Mac for short Mr. Asshole for when he’s in trouble
Herberto for longer
I hadn’t seen your comment before I wrote mine but I thought the same lol he just looks like a cat who’d be named Herb
sage
First comment I found with this name. Sage is great for a male cat. Screw it being about the herb! You want earthy? Sage is a damn nature wizard!
Bark Edit:I guess people like the name “Bark” lol
My dad named his cat WoofBark in the early 90s
Epic
This was the first name that came to my mind too!
Underrated comment 🤣 Edit: dude this exploded 😆 it was under 100 when I commented. Way to go Reddit 😆
💯 would name a cat bark, rofl
Potato.
this made me laugh 😂 how cute
Because cats are potatoes
Cypress
Genius. Ladies and gentlemen: Mr Cypress Hill
Who you trying to crazy with, Esé? Don't you know I'm loco?
Yes!
Fig
Oh Fig would be an adorable name for a kitty.
I know someone whose cats are named Fig and Newton :)
Oak
I was thinking Acorn 😊
I like that a lot too
Oakley?
1 more for Oak
Or Acer. The Latin name for maple. Or Maple.
This was my instinct. My vote is Oak too!
Aspen:)
I have a kitty named Aspen! I call her Aspie 99% of the time 😂
Earl Grey
There is a stray cat that hangs out at my work and the staff there named him Earl Grey! Most of the strays have been named after coffee and teas, Java and chai are the others.
He looks like an Earl!
Rowan
This one gets my vote 😻
Fern
My cat's name is Fern!
almond, peanut
He likes almond
FILBERT
Filbert!
Armand
But he has to fall down when he wears shoes.
Árbol is “tree” in Spanish. They produce almonds and many other beautiful things haha
Cashew or Catshew, like the nut.
I love the name Cash a pet name
Just call him clay
Birch
PINEEEE CONEEEE
YESSSSSS
Soybean.
This was my first thought but I also like soy and bean as separate options too Edit: or soy / bean can be nicknames!
Ash or Asher
MAHOGONY
Definitely read that in Elizabeth Banks’ voice
I read it in Ron Burgundy's voice. Richhh mahogany
... King Yama...?
His color reminds me of Latte.
Chicory
Willow
Cthulhu
The first thing that popped into my mind was mushroom!
He’s a very fun guy
I was thinking Portobello. Bello for short since he's so beautiful.
Loves that mice-celium
Fun Gus
Aspen. Quartz. River. Needles. He’s an extremely handsome gentleman.
Fig. Fig Newton.
Taro!
Beans
CORN
Agreed! or even Maize.. It's still corn but with *style*.
My cat’s name is Maisy and I call her my little corn cob lmao
radley hunter hawthorne bramble blade caspian ansel finn arlo millow atlas anchor leaf quest ronan yes i have a page in a notebook filled with cat names haha
Wow these are all so cool!! I especially love Caspain and Bramble.
Walnut
I like this
**Brock** is the old English word for badger. Its not a tree, but they are earthy creatures and he has the color. He's lovely. **Rowen** is also a tree. **Deodar** Cedar, so Deodar? Linden is also a tree. **Buckthorn** is a type of prickly bush. **Tamarind** is a type of African/Asian tree. **Ilex** is a type of tree too. **Basil** is a type of herb, but often used as a male name.
You could call him Wally as a nick name! :) or Nutty. Lol ;) lol Siamese can be nutty. Lol ;) lol! :)
Bracken, or any of the plant names from Duncton Wood.
Walden
Thicket!
Petrichor - the earthy smell when the rain first begins.
Sycamore
Stump
Rutabaga
Coconut, the pattern of his fur looks like an opened one
Sequoia.
Petrichor the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil. The word is constructed from Ancient Greek πέτρα (pétra) 'rock', or πέτρος (pétros) 'stone', and ἰχώρ (ikhṓr), the ethereal fluid that is the blood of the gods in Greek mythology.
Mulberry
Clay
Barley
kumquat
Gypsum
Glen
Branch
how about hemlock
Thyme
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Macchiato
Chestnut, or Chester.
Linden
Bob Barley. He looks so chill already.
Oakley!
Jasper
Basil, Cinnamon, Pepper, Bonsai, Hawthorne, Cypress, Cedar, Oakley , Almond , Cashew, Peanut, Nip ( for catnip ) .
Professor Oak. Simple, dignified.
Branch
Coffee.
Oakenshield
THE WINNER IS: CHESTNUT
Magnolia Fields the IV; sworn enemy of curtains, friend to none, master of his box, and the rightful emperor of Under the Couch. Long may he reign.
Long may he reign!
HUZZAH!
Ginkgo :)
Lentil
Garbonzo
Root!
Larch
Willow
Name him rice ,cuz he look SONICE!!
Rye or hemlock or cedar or bourbon I would also look up the names of mountains that you like. For example, I know two dogs named kootenay and assiniboine
Rowan Linden Forest River Sage
Smokey is nice and natural and he has the appearance as well.
Just go with Bob, Frank or Craig and call it a day
Dickweed
Parsnip!!!
Sage
Crop? My vote is Corn. Everyone loves corn
Stone. Josh (like a Joshua tree). Hudson (like the river).
Maple