NC Zoo asks animal lovers to vote for 'purr-fect' names for sand cat triplets

The North Carolina Zoo is asking animal lovers to select three “purr-fect” names they'd like for the newborn sand cat kitten triplets.

The triplets were born on May 11. They include two females and one male.

Voters can pick among a list of names chosen by zookeepers.

Voting lasts through Wednesday, July 5, at 4 p.m. on the Zoo's website. The winning names will be announced on Friday, July 7.

Female name candidates (top two names given to the female kittens)

• Cleo (Cleopatra): Iconic Queen of Egypt, Greek name meaning “glory of the father”
• Amira (“Uh-MEER-uh"): Arabic name meaning “princess”
• Cyra ("SEER-uh”): Persian name meaning “sun” or “throne”
• Safiya (“Suh-FEE-yuh): Arabic name meaning “pure” or “friend”
• Noora: (“NOO-Rah”): Arabic variation/spelling for name meaning “light” or “the divine light”

Male

• Konshu (“CON-shoe”): ancient Egyptian god of the moon): Also, god of youth and healing
• Jabari (“Jah-BAH-ree”): Arabic, brave/fearless): Swahili origin meaning “valiant, the brave one, fearless”
• Horus (“HOR-uhs”): ancient Egyptian god of the sky): Represents qualities such as power and strength
• Osiris (“Ow-SIGH-ris”): Ancient Egyptian god of the afterlife): Name derived from the word for “The Mighty One”
• Ra (“Rah”): (ancient Egyptian god of the sun): King of all deities of ancient Egypt