When people think about side projects, “cat names” probably doesn’t sound like a serious product idea.


But that was exactly why I liked it.


There are millions of pet owners online, and naming a cat is one of those small but surprisingly emotional decisions. The problem is that most cat name websites feel the same: giant keyword-stuffed lists, endless scrolling, repeated ideas, and very little help when someone is actually trying to choose.


So I built Cat Names — a lightweight website designed to make naming a cat feel calmer, simpler, and more enjoyable.


The problem I wanted to solve


Most “cat names” sites are built purely for search traffic.


That makes sense from an SEO perspective, but the experience is often poor for real users. You search for “girl cat names” or “black cat names,” land on a page with hundreds of names, and quickly get overwhelmed. Instead of helping you decide, the page gives you even more options to sort through.


Naming a cat is a decision process, not just a content consumption task.


People usually want to:

  • browse names by mood or >

  • filter by gender, color, or vibe

  • save a few favorites

  • compare them for a while

  • finally choose one that feels right


That’s the experience I wanted to build.


What I made


The site is called Cat Names:

https://catnames.best


The core product is intentionally simple.


Users can:

  • explore a curated cat name library

  • filter by gender, >

  • save names to a shortlist

  • make a final pick without creating an account

  • browse a gallery of real cats and their names


I also added practical content for new cat owners, like essentials and product recommendations, so the site can be useful after the naming moment too.


Why I didn’t use AI for the core naming tool


A lot of people assume every naming product should use an LLM.


I decided not to.


For the MVP, the core picker uses a structured name catalog, filtering logic, weighted randomness, and refresh deduplication. That approach turned out to be a better fit for this kind of product.


Why?


Because users don’t actually need a model to invent wild new names from scratch. They mostly want a fast, pleasant way to discover good names, narrow them down, and keep moving.


This non-LLM approach made the product:

  • faster

  • cheaper to run

  • easier to control

  • more consistent in quality

  • better for building long-term name statistics


It also supports one feature I care about a lot: tracking how many real cats on the site are actually given a particular name.


That kind of structured data becomes much more useful when your core catalog is stable.


Building for SEO without making the site feel like SEO


This project sits at an interesting intersection between product design and search traffic.


Yes, the website targets search terms like:

  • cat names

  • girl cat names

  • boy cat names

  • black cat names

  • cute cat names

  • funny cat names

  • orange cat names

  • unique cat names


But I didn’t want the site to feel like it only existed for ranking.


So the product structure became:

  • a homepage centered around the actual naming tool

  • category pages for major naming intents

  • a shortlist flow that helps decision-making

  • a gallery to add warmth and authenticity

  • a few helpful post-naming pages for new cat owners


The goal is simple: get traffic through search, but keep the experience human.


The design direction


I wanted the site to feel cozy, soft, and a little playful.


Pet websites can easily become either too childish or too cluttered. I wanted something that felt approachable without becoming noisy. So the design uses warm colors, rounded UI, simple cards, and a gentle overall tone.


The product is intentionally lightweight:

  • no login wall

  • no subscription

  • no heavy community features

  • no complicated setup


Just open the site and start picking names.


What I’m testing now


At this stage, I’m most interested in a few questions:

  1. Does the homepage explain the value quickly enough?

  2. Do users actually use the shortlist before making a final choice?

  3. Will people upload their cats to the gallery?

  4. Can a product-first experience outperform generic list->


I’m also curious whether this model can grow into a broader pet naming ecosystem over time.


What I’ve learned from shipping it


A few takeaways from building this project:


1. Tiny problems can still make good products.

You don’t always need a giant, painful problem. Sometimes a small, emotional, high-intent moment is enough.


2. Not every product needs AI in the core flow.

Sometimes structured data and thoughtful UX beat generative novelty.


3. SEO pages work better when they’re tied to a real product interaction.

The most interesting part isn’t the keyword — it’s what the user can actually do after landing.


4. Lightweight products are easier to launch.

Skipping accounts, subscriptions, and unnecessary complexity made the MVP much easier to ship.


Final thoughts


Cat Names is still early, but I’m happy with where it landed.


It started from a very simple observation: naming a cat should feel fun, not overwhelming.


If you’d like to take a look, the site is here:

https://catnames.best


And if you’ve built something in the space between SEO and product design, I’d genuinely love to hear how you think about balancing traffic, utility, and user experience.