Nebelung Cat Names, Names For Nebelung Kittens
Cora Cobb's black domestic shorthair Elsa had a litter in 1984. One of the kittens was a blue longhaired male who looked like a Russian Blue with extra coat. Cobb named him Siegfried, and the next year a sister litter produced a matching blue longhaired female she named Brunhilde — both named for siblings from Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung. Those two cats founded the breed.
The name 'Nebelung' is layered. *Nebel* is German for fog or mist, which describes the silver tipping that floats over the coat in any light. Nibelung is also the title of the medieval German epic Wagner's operas adapt — so the breed name simultaneously describes the cat (foggy coat) and references the literary heritage of the founding cats' names. Cora Cobb's cattery was called Nebelheim ('fog-home'), continuing the same theme.
The Nebelung is essentially the longhaired form of the Russian Blue. Same coat colour, same silver-tipped quality, same one-or-two-person bonding temperament. The Russian Blue is the official outcross breed for Nebelung programs, so the genetics overlap heavily. TICA granted Championship in 1997. CFA does not separately recognise the breed — Nebelungs are sometimes registered under the Russian Blue umbrella in CFA contexts.
Naming pulls in three honest directions. Founding-cat references (Siegfried, Brunhilde, Elsa) honour the documented start. Wagner Ring cycle and Norse mythology (Wotan, Loki, Freyja, Valkyrie, Sieglinde, Hagen) match the breed name's literary layer. And fog-and-mist names — Nebel, Mist, Smoke, Dusk, Cloud — align with the *Nebel* root and the coat itself. Owners drawn to the colour rather than the breed history can browse our Blue cat names and Gray cat names — the wider silver-blue tradition the Nebelung sits inside.
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 155 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aina | Female | ||
| Alex | Male | ||
| Apple | Female | ||
| April | The month April | Female | English month name |
| Aqua | Female | ||
| Ash | The ash tree, fire residue, or a short form of Ashley | Male | English |
| Ashes | Female | ||
| Aster | Female | ||
| August | Male | ||
| Aurora | Dawn | Female | Latin |
| Autumn | Female | ||
| Azalea | Female | ||
| Azul | Unisex | ||
| Azure | Female | ||
| Basil | Male | ||
| Berry | Male | ||
| Birdie | Female | ||
| Bleu | Female | ||
| Blossom | Female | ||
| Blue | Male | ||
| Blue Bell | Unisex | ||
| Blueberry | Unisex | ||
| Briar | Female | ||
| Bud | Male | ||
| Celeste | Female | ||
| Cherry | Female | ||
| Chloe | Green shoot; new plant growth | Female | Greek |
| Cinnamon | Female | ||
| Cisco | Male | ||
| Clover | Female | ||
| Cobalt | Male | ||
| Crystal | Female | ||
| Daffodil | Female | ||
| Dahlia | Female | ||
| Daisy | The daisy flower | Female | English |
| Dale | Male | ||
| Dandelion | Unisex | ||
| Denim | Male | ||
| Dusty | Unisex | ||
| Earth | Unisex | ||
| Ebony | Female | ||
| Echo | Male | ||
| Ember | Female | ||
| Esmeralda | Female | ||
| Fauna | Female | ||
| Fern | Female | ||
| Fleur | Female | ||
| Flora | Female | ||
| Fluffy | Unisex | ||
| Forest | Male |
155 names found. Page 1 of 4.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Nebelung and a Russian Blue?
Coat length only. Same blue colour, same silver tipping, same body type, same one-or-two-person bonding temperament. The Russian Blue is the official outcross breed for Nebelung programs, which means the two breeds share most genetics. The Nebelung's coat is medium-length and silky with a fuller plumed tail; the Russian Blue's is short and dense. CFA registers Nebelungs as Russian Blue Longhair in some contexts, while TICA gives the Nebelung its own breed standard.
Why is the breed called 'Nebelung'?
Two layers. *Nebel* is German for fog or mist — describing the silver tipping that gives the coat its misty quality in any light. Nibelung is also the title of the medieval German epic that Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung opera cycle is based on, and the founding cats Siegfried and Brunhilde are named for sibling characters from those operas. Cora Cobb's cattery was called Nebelheim ('fog-home'), continuing the theme deliberately.
When was the Nebelung officially recognised?
TICA granted Championship status in 1997, ten years after Cora Cobb applied for New Breed status with help from geneticist Dr Solveig Pflueger in 1987. CFA does not separately recognise the Nebelung as a breed — Nebelungs are sometimes registered under the Russian Blue Longhair classification in CFA contexts. This is the main registry asymmetry the breed lives with.
What colour does a Nebelung come in?
Blue, exclusively. The coat is medium-length, silky, and lies somewhat close to the body. The defining feature is the silver tipping — guard hairs are tipped in lighter silver, which creates the foggy/misty effect that gave the breed its name. Eye colour ranges from yellowish-green to full green. There is no other accepted colour in the breed standard.
Are Nebelungs good with strangers and children?
Less so than many breeds. TICA describes the Nebelung as 'devoted to their owners and family members' but notes the breed 'can be shy with strangers and young children.' This one-or-two-person bonding pattern is the defining temperament feature. They prefer family company over visitors and may hide when guests arrive. They suit households where the human routine is stable and noise levels moderate.
What names suit a Nebelung?
Three directions. Founding-cat references that honour the documented start: Siegfried, Brunhilde, Elsa, Cora. Wagner Ring cycle and Norse mythology to match the breed-name's literary layer: Wotan, Loki, Freyja, Valkyrie, Sieglinde, Hagen, Alberich. And fog-and-mist names that match the *Nebel* root: Nebel, Mist, Smoke, Dusk, Cloud, Hazel. For Russian heritage that ties to the Russian Blue lineage: Anya, Misha, Sasha, Sergei.