Zootooers rescued us from my weeks-long creative block that had prevented this poor cat from getting the right name, the name she deserved. Some 2,993 generous and creative people offered up 3,411 naming possibilities during the one-week contest.

I’d thought when all this started that it would be pretty simple to sort through whatever popped up and quickly settle on three possibilities. I wasn’t prepared for the riches that would be presented. There was an extraordinary number of great ideas—some Rocky Mountain-inspired names to match our location, some different-language possibilities that match her looks or circumstances, some European names since I said she seems a little old-fashioned and a bit British, and some fantastic wordplays.

So I narrowed the field to 40, perched her on my desk (this, as you might imagine, did not go smoothly) and tried out each one on her.

Some were great, but not for her. Eventually, and this took a very long time, I got it down to a half-dozen, and then, with more struggle, to three.
Forthwith … the top ones:

Grisabella. Get it? Grey (in French) and pretty. It’s from zootooer Backporch77. She actually spelled it with a “z” but I’m taking poetic license. The continental ring matches this feline’s personality, and I love the wordplay.

Tallulah Grace. Tally for short. Zootooer Dorth put forth this graceful, old-fashioned name that fits her look and spirit and also announces her very independent edge.

Kalika. It’s “rosebud” in Greek, noted zootooer Nekata, who offered it, and that’s fitting because she’s so delicate. It also means “eternal” and “pilgrim” in various other languages, also appropriate. The nickname “Kali” has a great ring to it, and it means protectress and beautiful, depending on the language.

We’ll take another week or so with these three to see which one sticks.

I’m grateful to you all for your suggestions. There’s just no telling how long this wonderful cat would have had to live with the wrong name without your help.