diff --git a/internal/cmd/spawn.go b/internal/cmd/spawn.go
index ca472b6c..dced47d4 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/spawn.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/spawn.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"math/rand"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
@@ -20,6 +21,13 @@ import (
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/workspace"
 )
 
+// polecatNames are Mad Max: Fury Road themed names for auto-generated polecats.
+var polecatNames = []string{
+	"Nux", "Toast", "Capable", "Cheedo", "Dag", "Rictus", "Slit", "Morsov",
+	"Ace", "Coma", "Valkyrie", "Keeper", "Vuvalini", "Organic", "Immortan",
+	"Corpus", "Doof", "Scabrous", "Splendid", "Fragile",
+}
+
 // Spawn command flags
 var (
 	spawnIssue   string
@@ -103,9 +111,16 @@ func runSpawn(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	if polecatName == "" {
 		polecatName, err = selectIdlePolecat(polecatMgr, r)
 		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("auto-select polecat: %w", err)
+			// If --create is set, generate a new polecat name instead of failing
+			if spawnCreate {
+				polecatName = generatePolecatName(polecatMgr)
+				fmt.Printf("Generated polecat name: %s\n", polecatName)
+			} else {
+				return fmt.Errorf("auto-select polecat: %w", err)
+			}
+		} else {
+			fmt.Printf("Auto-selected polecat: %s\n", polecatName)
 		}
-		fmt.Printf("Auto-selected polecat: %s\n", polecatName)
 	}
 
 	// Check/create polecat
@@ -204,6 +219,38 @@ func parseSpawnAddress(addr string) (rigName, polecatName string, err error) {
 	return addr, "", nil
 }
 
+// generatePolecatName generates a unique polecat name that doesn't conflict with existing ones.
+func generatePolecatName(mgr *polecat.Manager) string {
+	existing, _ := mgr.List()
+	existingNames := make(map[string]bool)
+	for _, p := range existing {
+		existingNames[p.Name] = true
+	}
+
+	// Try to find an unused name from the list
+	// Shuffle to avoid always picking the same name
+	shuffled := make([]string, len(polecatNames))
+	copy(shuffled, polecatNames)
+	rand.Shuffle(len(shuffled), func(i, j int) {
+		shuffled[i], shuffled[j] = shuffled[j], shuffled[i]
+	})
+
+	for _, name := range shuffled {
+		if !existingNames[name] {
+			return name
+		}
+	}
+
+	// All names taken, generate one with a number suffix
+	base := shuffled[0]
+	for i := 2; ; i++ {
+		name := fmt.Sprintf("%s%d", base, i)
+		if !existingNames[name] {
+			return name
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 // selectIdlePolecat finds an idle polecat in the rig.
 func selectIdlePolecat(mgr *polecat.Manager, r *rig.Rig) (string, error) {
 	polecats, err := mgr.List()