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In the Warriors books, the naming of cats follows a certain pattern. Every cat has a name to be identified by. They call each other by their given names at birth. It is up to the mother to decide the names of the kits.[1] In a Clan, the name of a new kit is given with the suffix -kit at the end.[2] In Twoleg territory, cats giving birth do not name their own kit. Most of the time a Twoleg does it for them.[3] However, in some cases, a cat may name her own kits and get away from the Twolegs.[4]

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.[5] These can be of the following:

Names are short, containing generally two or three syllables.

First Part of the Name

The first part (prefix) is given by the kit's parents upon its birth.[37] The names can be of the following:

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)[38] though they (or in some cases one of their parents) can request a specific name for themselves, if they wish.[39]

Reserved Words

The following notions are generally not used in Clan names (although some have been occasionally):

  • -star, -kit and -paw are reserved as leader, kit, and apprentice suffixes (e.g. Firestar, Cherrykit, Molepaw) However, Tribe names use these words for their names.[40]
  • Spirit-, as this represents a sacred notion
  • Shadow-, Thunder-, River-, Wind-, and Sky- in honor of the Clan founders[41] who first had the names
    • However, Sky- is used as a prefix and suffix with no regard to the tradition since most cats do not know about SkyClan[42]
  • "Moon-" is not a reserved name. Bluestar's mother was named Moonflower.

Addressing Each Other

Clan Cats call each other by their full names, even if they are kin.[43] They do not use pet names, shortened names or titles. There are two exceptions to this rule.[44][45]

It is considered rude and disrespectful to address a cat by his or her former name (that referred to a lower rank), for example, to address a warrior by their apprentice name[46] 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[47] 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 elder's den.[48] For example, after Sparrowpelt had 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.[49]

Tribe Names

According to tradition, Tribe kits are named for the first thing their mother sees when they are born.[50] For example: Brook Where Small Fish Swim or Star That Shines On Water. These are usually shortened in conversations (like Brook or Star).[51]

Tribe cats' names do not modify through their lives, except for the Healer, whose name is changed into Teller of the Pointed Stones (Stoneteller) upon appointment.[52]

Ancient Names

The names of The Ancients who lived by the lake and were the ancestors of the Tribe of Rushing Water are all two word constructions, relating to nature and often describing the cat's appearance as well.[53] Examples are Jay's Wing, Dark Whiskers, or 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 Hawk becoming Hawkpaw or Scratch becoming Sharpclaw),[54] or not (like Boulder or Millie).[55]

A loner or rogue may change their own name by their own initiative, like Tiny changing his to Scourge.[56]

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.[57]

Upon joining a Clan, a kittypet may agree to change their name into a Clan name (Rusty, for example, becoming Firepaw),[58] or not (for example, Millie)[55].

References and Citations

  1. Revealed in Outcast, page 129
  2. Revealed in Twilight, page 146
  3. Such as Purdy
  4. Revealed in Twilight, page 145
  5. Revealed in Into the Wild, page 52
  6. Such as Whitewing
  7. Such as Goldenflower
  8. Such as Darkstripe
  9. Such as Spottedleaf
  10. Such as Braveheart
  11. Such as Sharpclaw
  12. Such as Sweetpaw
  13. Such as Wildfur
  14. Such as Clawface
  15. Such as Brightheart
  16. Such as Ashfoot
  17. Such as Sunnytail
  18. Such as Lilyfur
  19. Such as Birchfall
  20. Such as Hollyleaf
  21. Such as Hawkfrost
  22. Such as Tigerstar
  23. Such as Flowerstar
  24. Such as Cloudtail
  25. Such as Sandstorm
  26. Such as Silverstream
  27. Such as Stonefur
  28. Such as Moonflower
  29. Such as Firestar
  30. Such as Mistkit (TC)
  31. Such as Nightstar
  32. Such as Featherstorm
  33. Such as Pouncetail
  34. Such as Runningnose
  35. Such as Rabbitleap
  36. Such as Swiftbreeze
  37. Revealed in Sunset, page 27
  38. Revealed in Into the Wild, page 301
  39. As Crowpaw did, asking Tallstar in Dawn to name him Crowfeather, in honor of Feathertail
  40. Such as Star That Shines On Water
  41. Such as Shadow
  42. Such as Brightsky and Skyheart
  43. For example, in Twilight and Sunset, Tigerstar, Brambleclaw, and Hawkfrost call each other by name, instead of "Father", "Son", "Brother." In Outcast, Hollypaw calls Squirrelflight by her name, instead of "Mother"
  44. Poppydawn calling her daughter, Sweetpaw, by her prefix, Sweet. Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 269
  45. When Lionblaze called his brother, Jayfeather, "Jay" in Night Whispers
  46. Revealed in Forest of Secrets, page 154
  47. Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 129
  48. Such as One-eye
  49. Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 108
  50. Revealed in Cats of the Clans, page 82
  51. Revealed in Moonrise, page 94
  52. Revealed in Sign of the Moon, page 295
  53. Such as Fallen Leaves
  54. Revealed in Firestar's Quest, page 332
  55. 55.0 55.1 Revealed in Dark River, page 86
  56. Revealed in The Rise of Scourge, Page 50
  57. For example, Rusty, Princess, Smudge etc all refer to themselves and to 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"
  58. Revealed in Into the Wild, page 37

See Also

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