The Naming Ceremony
A new rank, a new name: -kit, -paw, a warrior's name and, for a leader, -star.
In Warriors a Clan cat's name has two parts, and naming ceremonies mark the points at which the second part changes. The prefix usually stays the same for life, while the suffix follows the cat's rank: a kit's name ends in -kit, an apprentice's in -paw, and a full warrior or medicine cat receives a final name chosen by the Clan leader or the medicine cat. A cat who becomes leader is granted the suffix -star. The giving of each new name is part of the ceremony that marks the change of role.
Lore & Background
The books show the ceremonies at every rank. When the house cat Rusty joins ThunderClan, Bluestar gives him the apprentice name Firepaw; after he brings back Frostfur's stolen kits she names him Fireheart and makes his friend Graypaw the warrior Graystripe, and the two keep the traditional silent vigil that follows. Firestar promotes his daughter Squirrelpaw to Squirrelflight at a Clan meeting by the lake, and Jaypaw receives his full medicine-cat name, Jayfeather, after he helps find the catmint that ends an outbreak of greencough.
A leader's name comes with the nine lives given by StarClan: Fireheart becomes Firestar at the Moonstone, Onewhisker becomes Onestar at the Moonpool, and Leafdapple of SkyClan becomes Leafstar on the Sky Rock. Names can also be taken away or changed. A leader who commits a crime or retires may go back to the warrior name, as Brokenstar does when he is known again as Brokentail. A cat's name can also be changed in a special ceremony, and Bluestar, believing the mauled apprentice Brightpaw will die, gives her the warrior name Lostface.
Outside the Clans the custom differs, and a cat of the Tribe of Rushing Water keeps the same name for life unless it becomes Stoneteller.
More in The Warrior Code & History
Elsewhere in Warrior Cats
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