Familiar Names: 100 Magical Companion Ideas for Fantasy

A familiar's name should be as characterful as the magical companion who carries it — clever, charming, and a little uncanny, the kind of name whispered to a black cat on a candlelit windowsill. A familiar is a witch's or wizard's bonded animal companion: the wise black cat, the watchful raven, the solemn owl, the warty toad, the loyal spirit-creature that shares its master's magic. A familiar's name needs that magical-companion quality — sometimes whimsical and cute, sometimes ancient and arcane, sometimes a little grumpy and characterful, the kind of name that suits a creature far cleverer than any ordinary pet. Where a pet's name is simple, a familiar's name has personality — and often a hint of the magic the creature shares.

The charm of familiar names is how much character they carry. Salem sounds like a classic witchy black cat; Quoth sounds like a wise old raven; Mortimer sounds like a grumpy familiar with opinions. The right familiar name gives your magical companion a personality all its own — a clever, characterful sidekick to the witch or wizard it serves.

Below are 100 familiar names — magical and characterful — sorted by creature, plus tips for naming any familiar. Whether you're naming a witch's cat, a wizard's raven, or a quirky spirit-companion, there's a magical name here. Tips at the end.

Cat familiar names

Classic, clever, and a little aloof — these suit the witch's black cat and feline familiars of all kinds:

Salem, Shadow, and Onyx are perfect black-cat familiar names — classic, witchy, and a little aloof, just like the cat itself. Salem (after the famous witch-town) is the quintessential witch's cat name, while Mortimer suits a grumpy, opinionated old tom who clearly thinks he's the one in charge (he probably is).

Raven, crow & bird familiar names

Wise, watchful, and a little ominous — these suit ravens, crows, owls, and other bird familiars:

Quoth, Corvus, and Edgar make wonderful raven familiar names — wise, watchful, and a touch ominous. Quoth and Edgar nod to Poe's famous raven ("Quoth the Raven"), perfect for a brooding, intelligent bird, while Athena and Strix suit a solemn, wise owl familiar (Athena's owl is the classic symbol of wisdom).

Toad, snake & critter familiar names

For toads, snakes, rats, hares, and the smaller, quirkier familiars — names cute, characterful, or a little gross:

Toads: Wartimer, Newt, Hopsworth, Toadwick, Croak, Bumble, Pudding, Sir Hops.

Snakes & Reptiles: Slither, Basil, Asp, Viper, Sssabel, Noodle, Cleo, Fang.

Rats, Hares & Critters: Whiskers, Nibbles, Templeton, Thistle, Bramble, Hazel, Scrumpy, Button, Pip, Mudge.

Wartimer, Basil, and Templeton are delightfully characterful critter-familiar names — a grumpy old toad, a wise snake, a clever rat. Wartimer (a warty, grumbling toad) and Sir Hops lean comic and endearing, while Basil suits a wise, dignified serpent familiar coiled around a wizard's staff.

Spirit & arcane familiar names

For magical spirit-familiars, imps, and arcane companions of pure magic — names with an otherworldly, mystical edge:

Ember (fire-imp), Wisp, Sprite, Mote, Glimmer, Nyx, Umbra, Specter, Familiars like Grimm, Mystic, Vesper, Cinder, Shade, Pyre, Lumen, Echo, Hex, Zephyr, Quill, Arcanus.

Ember, Wisp, and Umbra suit magical spirit-familiars — a tiny fire-imp, a floating will-o'-wisp, a shadow-creature of pure magic. Wisp and Glimmer lean light and ethereal (a glowing spirit-companion), while Umbra and Shade suit a darker, shadowy familiar bonded to a more sinister spellcaster.

How to name your familiar

Personality, magic, and the creature's character:

• Match the creature. Cats get sleek, witchy names (Salem, Shadow, Onyx); ravens get wise, dark ones (Quoth, Corvus, Edgar); toads get warty, comic ones (Wartimer, Croak); spirits get ethereal ones (Wisp, Ember).
• Give it personality. A familiar is far cleverer than a pet — a grumpy name (Mortimer), a mischievous one (Jinx), or a dignified one (Basil) gives the creature a character all its own.
• Lean witchy or arcane. Salem, Hex, Onyx, Corvus, and Nox carry that magical, slightly uncanny quality that suits a spellcaster's bonded companion.
• Play with contrast. A fearsome witch with a sweetly-named familiar (Pumpkin, Newt), or a gentle witch with a grumpy one (Mortimer), makes a charming, memorable pair.
• Hint at the magic. A fire-imp named Ember, a shadow-cat named Umbra, a wise owl named Athena — let the name nod to the magic or wisdom the familiar shares.

A great familiar name should be as characterful as the magical companion who carries it — clever, charming, and a little uncanny, suiting a creature far cleverer than any ordinary pet. Match it to the creature, give it real personality, lean witchy or arcane, and let it hint at the magic the familiar shares, and your familiar will feel like a true magical sidekick — a beloved, opinionated companion to the witch or wizard it serves.

A familiar is a sidekick with opinions

The reason familiars are such beloved fantasy companions — and why their names matter — is that a familiar isn't a pet; it's a magical partner with a personality. Bonded to a witch or wizard by magic, a familiar shares its master's senses or power, often possesses uncanny intelligence (sometimes the ability to speak), and frequently has opinions of its own — usually delivered with more sass than its master would like. This is what makes naming a familiar so fun: the name should capture not just the creature but its character. A wise, brooding raven named Quoth; a grumpy, superior cat named Mortimer who clearly runs the household; a sweet, anxious toad named Newt; a mischievous spirit named Jinx — the name is the first hint of the familiar's personality and the dynamic it shares with its master.

This makes familiars wonderful for storytelling. A familiar gives a lone spellcaster a companion to talk to — a built-in voice for banter, advice, warnings, and comic relief. The relationship reveals character: a kind witch with a beloved familiar, a sinister sorcerer with a creepy one, a young mage learning from a wise old familiar who's seen generations of wizards come and go. Familiars can serve plot roles too — scouting unseen, sensing danger, carrying messages, channeling magic, or even being the secret key to a spell. And the classic creatures each bring flavor: the cat (clever, aloof, witchy), the raven (wise, watchful, ominous), the owl (solemn, learned), the toad (humble, comic), and the spirit-imp (magical, mischievous). There's even drama in the bond — a familiar in danger, a familiar's loyalty tested, or the grief of losing one. So treat the familiar name as the doorway to a character: match it to the creature and give it a personality with real opinions, and your familiar will become a beloved, scene-stealing companion rather than a magical accessory.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are good familiar names?

Great familiar names include Salem, Shadow, and Onyx (cats), Quoth, Corvus, and Edgar (ravens), Athena and Strix (owls), Wartimer and Basil (toads/snakes), and Wisp and Ember (spirits). Match the name to the creature, give it real personality, and lean witchy or arcane for a spellcaster's magical companion.

What are good witch's cat familiar names?

Witch's cat names include Salem, Shadow, Onyx, Midnight, Hex, and Mortimer — classic, sleek, witchy names. Salem (after the famous witch-town) is the quintessential witch's cat name, while Mortimer suits a grumpy, opinionated old tom who clearly thinks he's in charge of the household.

What are good raven or owl familiar names?

Raven familiar names include Quoth, Corvus, Edgar, and Poe — wise, watchful, ominous names (Quoth and Edgar nod to Poe's famous raven). Owl familiar names include Athena, Strix, and Hootie — solemn, wise names; Athena's owl is the classic symbol of wisdom, perfect for a learned wizard's companion.

How do I name a magical familiar?

Match the name to the creature (sleek for cats, wise for ravens, comic for toads, ethereal for spirits), give it a strong personality (grumpy Mortimer, mischievous Jinx, dignified Basil), and lean witchy or arcane (Salem, Hex, Nox). Play with contrast — a fearsome witch with a sweet familiar — and hint at the magic the creature shares.

What animals make good fantasy familiars?

Classic familiars include the cat (clever, aloof, witchy), the raven or crow (wise, watchful, ominous), the owl (solemn, learned), the toad (humble, comic), and the snake (cunning). Smaller critters (rats, hares) and magical spirit-imps (a fire-imp, a will-o'-wisp, a shadow-creature) also make characterful familiars, each bringing its own flavor and personality.

What's the difference between a familiar and a pet name?

A familiar is a magical companion bonded to a witch or wizard — far cleverer than a pet, often able to speak, with a personality and opinions of its own. So familiar names lean characterful and uncanny (Quoth, Mortimer, Hex), capturing the creature's personality and a hint of shared magic, rather than the simple names given to ordinary pets. A familiar is a partner, not a possession.

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Go name your familiar

Witchy Salem, wise Quoth, grumpy Mortimer, or a magical spirit-imp like Ember — there's a characterful, magical name here for your familiar, clever and uncanny and far cleverer than any ordinary pet, a beloved sidekick to the witch or wizard it serves.

👉 Open the free Fantasy Name Builder to name one by creature — cat, raven, or owl, in a click, no signup. ⚔️

Which one had the most personality? That's your familiar. Now give it the best lines.