Pyewacket. It's not a real word in any language. It was spoken by an accused witch in 1640s England as the name of her cat — and it has been the gold standard of familiar naming ever since. Why? Because it sounds like exactly what a familiar name should be: a little bit magical, a little bit ridiculous, and somehow more real than any sensible name could be. It sits in the space between the cosmic and the domestic, which is exactly where familiars live.
A familiar is not just a pet. And it's not just a spirit. It's the creature that sits on a witch's shoulder and whispers secrets, the owl that carries a wizard's letters, the cat that watches from the windowsill of a cottage that's bigger on the inside. Naming a familiar means finding a name that honors both sides: the magical entity and the beloved companion.
The Duality of Familiar Naming
Every familiar name lives on a spectrum between two poles:
- The Cosmic: The familiar as magical entity — spirit, demon, fey in animal form. Names from this end sound arcane, ancient, and powerful: Hecate, Morrigan, Azrael, Styx
- The Domestic: The familiar as beloved companion — a small creature that sleeps on your spellbook and steals food from your plate. Names from this end sound warm, personal, and sometimes absurd: Pudding, Socks, Mr. Whiskers, Noodle
The best familiar names hit the sweet spot in between. "Salem" (the cat from Sabrina) is both a reference to the Salem witch trials (cosmic) and a perfectly normal cat name (domestic). "Hedwig" (Harry's owl) is a medieval saint's name (cosmic) that also sounds like something a British schoolboy would name a pet (domestic). "Pyewacket" is pure magical nonsense that somehow sounds like it could be a real cat's name.
By Creature Type
The Witch's Cat
The most iconic familiar — and the one with the richest naming tradition. Cat familiar names fall into clear categories: the mysteriously dignified (Salem, Grimalkin, Hecate, Shadow), the ironically mundane (Mr. Whiskers, Socks, Pudding), and the delightfully weird (Pyewacket, Grizzell, Vinegar Tom). The best witch's cat names carry a knowing quality — as if the cat is in on the joke of being named.
The Scholar's Owl
Owl familiars get the most academic names of any familiar type. Archimedes (The Sword in the Stone), Hedwig (Harry Potter), Bubo (Clash of the Titans) — owl names tend toward the scholarly, the classical, and the slightly stuffy. An owl familiar's name should sound like it belongs on a library card.
The Dark Raven
Ravens are the literary familiars — Poe's "Nevermore," Odin's Huginn (thought) and Muninn (memory). Raven familiar names tend toward the serious, the prophetic, and the slightly ominous. A raven named "Quoth" or "Vesper" or "Grimshaw" immediately evokes a different magical tradition than a cat named "Pudding."
The Tiny Dragon
Pseudodragons and drakes get names that play with the gap between their small size and their draconic heritage. A pseudodragon named "Deathwing" is funny. One named "Ember" is perfect — it's a small fire, a dragon in miniature, and it sounds like a pet name. The comedy of a tiny creature with a grand draconic name is one of D&D's small joys.
For related naming, see our witch name generator, cat name generator, pet name generator, or dragon name generator. For the casters who bond with familiars, try our wizard name generator or D&D name generator.
Common Questions
What is a familiar in fantasy and mythology?
A familiar is a magical animal companion bonded to a witch, wizard, or sorcerer. In European folklore, familiars were believed to be spirits (often demons) in animal form that served witches — they appear extensively in English witch trial records from the 1500s-1600s. In modern fantasy, familiars range from D&D's Find Familiar spell (a spirit that takes animal form) to Harry Potter's pets (owls, cats, toads, and rats) to the black cats of traditional witchcraft. The common thread is a magical bond between caster and creature that goes beyond ordinary pet ownership.
What was Pyewacket?
Pyewacket is the most famous familiar name from historical witch trials. It comes from the 1645-1647 trials conducted by Matthew Hopkins, the self-appointed "Witchfinder General" of England. An accused witch named Elizabeth Clarke allegedly named her familiar spirits, and the list included Pyewacket along with others like Vinegar Tom, Grizzell Greedigut, and Sack-and-Sugar. Hopkins himself noted that these names "no mortal could invent." The name Pyewacket has since appeared in the 1958 film Bell, Book and Candle and has become the quintessential familiar name.
What animals can be familiars in D&D?
In D&D 5th Edition, the Find Familiar spell allows a wizard to summon a spirit that takes the form of: bat, cat, crab, frog (toad), hawk, lizard, octopus, owl, poisonous snake, fish (quipper), rat, raven, sea horse, spider, or weasel. Pact of the Chain warlocks can additionally choose an imp, pseudodragon, quasit, or sprite. The familiar is not actually an animal but a spirit (celestial, fey, or fiend) that takes animal form, which is why it can be dismissed and re-summoned. This spirit nature gives players creative freedom in naming.
Should a familiar name be serious or silly?
Both — and often at the same time. The tradition of familiar naming embraces the full spectrum from the dignified (Salem, Hecate, Archimedes) to the absurd (Pyewacket, Vinegar Tom, Pudding). The "right" tone depends on your setting and character: a Gothic necromancer's raven probably has a serious name, while a cheerful hedge witch's toad might be named Biscuit. Many players find the most memorable familiars have names that are slightly incongruous — a terrifying spider named "Buttons" or a wise owl named "Professor Fluffbottom."
