Cornish Rex Cat Names, Names for Cornish Rex
The Cornish Rex has no guard hairs. The coarse outer layer most cats wear is simply missing from the breed, which is why the remaining down coat lies in tight marcel waves down the back and curls right out to the whiskers and eyebrows. The texture is closer to crushed velvet than fur.
The entire breed traces to a single kitten named Kallibunker, born 21 July 1950 on a farm at Bodmin Moor, Cornwall. His owner, Nina Ennismore, was advised by geneticist A.C. Jude to breed Kallibunker back to his tortoiseshell mother Serena — that mating produced enough curly offspring to confirm the trait was heritable. A Life magazine feature in 1956 carried the news worldwide, and a pregnant queen named Lamorna Cove arrived in California in 1957 to start the North American line. CFA granted Championship status in 1964; GCCF followed with immediate Championship recognition in 1967.
Naming a Cornish Rex tends to pull from three honest directions. Founding-cat names — Kallibunker, Serena, Poldhu, Lamorna — sit well on a breed that owes its existence to one farm cat. Cornish geography (Bodmin, Tintagel, Truro, Penzance, Mousehole) anchors the Celtic west-country origin, and the Arthurian thread runs through Tintagel for owners who want a more literary handle. The breed's greyhound-like silhouette — long legs, arched back, tucked belly — also rewards lean-sounding names like Whippet, Saluki, or Arrow.
For the other rex-family lineages, see our Devon Rex cat names — the recessive-gene cousin from the next county over — and our Selkirk Rex cat names, the only rex breed with dominant curls.
Name Ideas from This Breed Collection
An introductory selection from this editorial collection, ordered by catalog ID. This is not a popularity ranking. Browse the alphabetical list below for all 84 options.
Meanings, origins and pronunciations appear only for records with checked sources. Blank fields have not been verified. Gender and collection labels are browsing choices.
| Name | Meaning | Gender | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anna | Female | ||
| Arabella | Female | ||
| Ashton | Male | ||
| Augie | Female | ||
| Barclay | Male | ||
| Bert | Male | ||
| Bertha | Female | ||
| Bishop | Male | ||
| Blanche | Female | ||
| Cain | Male | ||
| Charlotte | Female | ||
| Church | Unisex | ||
| Clara | Female | ||
| Colin | Male | ||
| Constantine | Male | ||
| Cornelius | Male | ||
| Courtney | Female | ||
| Daphne | Female | ||
| Dennis | Male | ||
| Denzel | Male | ||
| Desmond | Male | ||
| Dolly | Female | ||
| Edith | Female | ||
| Edwina | Female | ||
| Eliot | Male | ||
| Emily | Female | ||
| Emma | Connected with a Germanic element meaning whole or great | Female | Germanic-derived name |
| Erica | Female | ||
| Ernest | Male | ||
| Ethel | Female | ||
| Fern | Female | ||
| Fleetwood | Male | ||
| Frances | Female | ||
| Frannie | Female | ||
| Gilbert | Male | ||
| Gilda | Female | ||
| Hadley | Female | ||
| Hardy | Male | ||
| Homer | Male | ||
| Hughes | Male | ||
| Humphrey | Male | ||
| Jory | Male | ||
| Joseph | Male | ||
| Joyce | Female | ||
| Kendall | Female | ||
| Kilby | Unisex | ||
| King | Male | ||
| Lindsay | Female | ||
| Lucas | Male | ||
| Lucy | English form of Lucia | Female | English form of a Latin-derived name |
84 names found. Page 1 of 2.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a Cornish Rex coat different from other curly cats?
The Cornish Rex has no guard hairs at all — the coarse top layer most cats grow is simply absent. What remains is only the down undercoat, which lies in a marcel wave down the back. The Devon Rex has all three coat layers but in stunted form; the Selkirk Rex has all three layers in curly form. So 'curly cat' actually covers three different genetic situations.
Where exactly did the Cornish Rex come from?
A farm at Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, England. The first curly kitten, Kallibunker, was born 21 July 1950 to a tortoiseshell barn cat named Serena, owned by Nina Ennismore. Geneticist A.C. Jude advised breeding Kallibunker back to his mother — that mating confirmed the trait was heritable. A Life magazine article in 1956 brought the breed international attention.
When was the breed officially recognised?
CFA accepted the breed for registration in 1962 and granted Championship status in 1964. The GCCF in the UK granted full recognition with immediate Championship status in 1967 — unusually fast, because the genetic origin was already well-documented at home in Cornwall.
Are Cornish Rex cats good with dogs and children?
Generally yes. CFA and TICA both note the breed is highly social and dog-tolerant — they will retrieve toys, follow people room to room, and remain playful into old age. The breed is sometimes called 'Velcro kitties' by owners. Cornish Rex do not handle being left alone for long periods and prefer households where someone is usually home.
What names suit the breed's looks and personality?
Three groups land well. Founding-cat names — Kallibunker, Serena, Poldhu, Lamorna — honour the breed's documented start. Cornish geography (Bodmin, Tintagel, Truro, Mousehole, Marazion) anchors the place. And the breed's lean greyhound silhouette suits names like Arrow, Whippet, Sleek, or Saluki, which match the body line rather than the curly coat.
How big do Cornish Rex actually get?
Smaller than they look in photos. Females typically weigh 5–7 pounds and males 8–10 pounds (per TICA and GCCF). The long legs and tall posture make them appear larger, but the breed is fine-boned. Many Cornish Rex live 16 years and more — twenty-year lifespans are not unusual.