Whether you’ve recently adopted a Japanese dog breed or just love how these names sound, you’ll find the perfect name on this ultimate list of top Japanese dog names.
Giving your pooch a Japanese name is also an easy way to ensure that their name is unique. After all, you aren’t going to find very many similarly-named canines while walking around the neighborhood!
Japanese dog names are also very suitable for Japanese dog breeds. The most popular Japanese breeds in the western world include the Shiba Inu and the Akita Inu, though other breeds also exist.
However, finding the perfect Japanese name can be somewhat difficult, especially if you aren’t familiar with many Japanese words. To help you find the perfect name for your pooch, we’ve compiled this massive list of the most popular Japanese dog names out there as well as their meanings.
Popular Japanese Dog Names
Here are some of the most popular dog names in Japan currently, according to Sora News. Some of these names are Japanese words, while others are knock-offs of English words. No matter where they came from, these names are a great option if you’re trying to take some inspiration from Japan:
- Choco: “chocolate”
- Cookie
- Crea: short for “create”
- Hana: “flower”
- Koko
- Koro: a word meaning something similar to “roly-poly”
- Kotaro: “small boy”
- Kurumi: “walnut”
- Leo: “Lion”
- Leon: “Lion”
- Lucky
- Maron: “chestnut”
- Mocha
- Momo: “peach”
- Nana: “seven”
- Runa: “luna”
- Sakura: a type of tree
- Taro: “eldest boy” or just “boy”
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Japanese Dog Names Male
Looking for a Japanese name for your male dog? Then this is the list for you. We’ve gathered dozens of male names into this list so you can find the perfect option for your canine:
- Akihiko: “bright prince”
- Akihiro: “glory”
- Akio: “glorious hero”
- Akira: “bright” or “clear”
- Dai: “big”, “great”, “vast”
- Daiki: “great tree” or “great glory”
- Daisuke: “great helper”
- Eiji: “eternity”
- Fumio: “literary child”
- Goro: “fifth son” or “little boy”
- Hachiro: “eighth son”
- Hajime: “beginning”
- Haru: “spring” and “sunlight”
- Haruo: “spring man”
- Hideaki: “shining”
- Hideki: “splendid opportunity”
- Ichiro: “first son”
- Isamu: “courage”
- Jiro: “second son”
- Jirou: alternate spelling of Jiro
- Jun: “obedient”
- Juro: “tenth son”
- Kaede: “maple”
- Katashi: “firmness”
- Katsu: “victory”
- Katsumi: “self-controlled”
- Katsuo: “victorious child”
- Kei: “blessed”, “respect”, or “square”
- Keiji: “respectful son”
- Ken’ichi: “health first” or, more modernly, “study first”
- Koji: “light child”
- Ko: “happiness”
- Makoto: “sincere”
- Mamoru: “protector”
- Manabu: “learn”
- Masa: unisex name with many meanings, like “correct”, “splendid”, “flourishing”, “genuine”, and “military”
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Japanese Dog Names Female
There are countless options for girl names in Japan. Here are some of our favorites:
- Ai: “love” and “indigo”
- Akia: “love song”
- Aiko: “love child”
- Aki: “autumn” and “bright”
- Amaya: “night rain”
- Aoi: “blue”
- Arisu: Japanese version of “Alice”, meaning “noble”
- Asuka: “fragrance of tomorrow”
- Avaron: “island of apples”
- Ayako: “color-child”
- Azumi: “safe home”
- Chiasa: “one thousand mornings”
- Chie: “wisdom”
- Chika: “scattered flowers”
- Chiyoko: “child of a thousand generations”
- Emi: “beautiful picture”
- Eri: “blessed prize”
- Etsuko: “joyful child”
- Fugi: “wisteria”
- Hana: “flower”
- Izanami: “female who invites”
- Izumi: “fountain”
- Kaede: “maple”
- Kame: “tortoise”
- Kazumi: “harmonious beauty”
- Kiku: “chrysanthemum”, a type of flower
- Ko: “light” and “peace”
- Mari: “rebelliousness”
- Mi: “beauty”
- Mika: “beautiful fragrance”
- Naoko: “docile child”
- Reiko: “lovely child”
- Ren: “water lily”
- Sachiko: “happy child”
- Sayuri: “lily”
- Setsuko: “temperate child”
- Shig: “luxuriant”
- Shika: “deer”
- Shiori: “poem”
- Tamiko: “child of the people”
- Teruko: “shining child”
- Tomoko: “wise child”
- Ume: “plum blossom”
- Umeko: ”plum blossom child”
- Yasu: “assertive child”
- Yasuko: “peaceful child”
- Yori: “servant to the public”
- Yuki: “happiness”, “good fortune”, or “snow”
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Cute and Kawaii Dog Names
Whether you have an adorable, smaller dog or are just looking for something on the cuter side, there are many different names available. From traditional Japanese names to those that are more modern, here are some of the best kawaii names for pets out there:
- Aimi: “love beauty”
- Akane: “red”
- Aki: unisex name meaning “autumn”, “bright”, or “sparkle”
- Akiko: “bright child”
- Amaterasu: name of the Japanese sun goddess meaning “shining over heaven”
- Aoi: “blue”
- Arata: “fresh”
- Aya: “colorful”
- Fumiko: “child of treasured beauty”
- Gorou: “fifth son”
- Iwao: “stone man”
- Kazuki: “one shine” or “hope”
- Kenji: “healthy son”
- Kenshin: “truth”
- Kenta: “healthy”
- Kou: “happiness”, “light”, or “peace”
- Kuro: “ninth son”
- Kyo: “apricot”, “capital”, or “village”
- Nao: “docile”
- Naoki: “docile tree”
- Raiden: name of the Japanese god of thunder
- Ryo: “brightness”, “reality”, “refreshing”, or “distant”
- Satoru: name with lots of different meanings, including “daybreak”, “enlightening”, “knowledgeable”, “wise”, and others.
- Sho: “to fly”
- Sora: “sky”
- Yori: “servant of the public”
- Yuji: “brave second son”
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Anime Dog Names
Anime is popular all around the world, including in Japan and in western countries like the United States. Many names used in anime shows are also very suitable for canines. If you love to watch anime, consider naming your pooch after your favorite show. For some inspiration, check out these anime-themed names:
- Akamaru: a very talented dog from Naruto
- Apo: Hibito’s pet pug on Space Brothers
- Armageddon: the very lovable pooch from Hayate no Gotoku! Cuties
- Blake Hayate: Riza’s very obedient dog from Full Metal Alchemist
- Ein: a dog character from Cowboy Bebop
- Heen: the errand dog from Howl’s Moving Castle
- Koromaru: a Shiba Inu from Persona 3 the Movie
- Maru: a dog character from Kimi ni Todoke
- Pakkun: a dog from Naruto
- Potato: a fluffy, stray dog from the show Air
- Sadaharu: a very cat-like dog from Gintama
- Shiro: Momotaru’s cute dog on the show Hoozuki no Reitetsu
- Tadakichi: the Great Pyrenees from Azumanga Daioh
- Tetsuya: the mascot for the Seirin Team on Kuroko no Basket
- Tobimaru: a Shiba Inu from Mukou Hadan
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Akita Names
This dog breed comes from Japan, and therefore most dog owners find Japanese names very fitting for this breed. While you can name your new Akita whatever you like, here are some names that might be particularly suitable given the Akita’s fierce and loyal nature:
- Atsushi: “industrious”
- Hikaru: “radiance”
- Hiro: “abundant”, “tolerant”, and “generous”
- Hiroki: “abundant strength”
- Hisoka: “reserved”
- Hitomi: literally “pupil”, typically given to girls with pretty eyes
- Hoshi: “star”
- Junichi: “obedient one”
- Junko: “obedient child”
- Katsumi: “victorious beauty”
- Katsuro: “victorious”
- Ken: “healthy and strong”
- Kei: many meanings, like “respectful”, “obedient”, “lucky”, “spring”, and “sunny”
- Kohaku: “amber”
- Mashiko: “just prince”
- Masaru: “victorious”
- Minoru: “truth”
- Nori: “rule” or “law”
- Ryota: “stout”
- Ryuu: “dragon spirit”
- Satoshi: “wise”
- Shin: name with lots of meanings, such as “gentleman”, “humble”, “heart”, and “true”
- Tadao: “loyal”
- Takeo: “warrior”
- Takeshi: “fierce”
- Tsu: “defender”
- Tsutomu: “worker”
- Tsuyoshi: “brave”
- Yasuo: “healthy man”
- Yoshio: “soldier”
- Yoshiro: “good boy”
- Yuchi: “brave son”
- Yukio: “happy hero”
- Yuu: “superior”
- Yuudai: “great hero”
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Pokemon Dog Names
Pokemon is by far one of the most popular Japanese game series of all time, especially in the United States. Many Pokemon names can be very fitting for the right pooch. Try some of these on for size:
- Abra
- Alakazam
- Arbok
- Arcanine
- Beedrill
- Bellsprout
- Blastoise
- Blaziken
- Bulbasaur
- Butterfree
- Caterpie
- Charizard
- Charmander
- Diglett
- Dragonite
- Eevee
- Fearow
- Gardevoir
- Gengar
- Gloom
- Golbat
- Goldluck
- Growlithe
- Ivysaur
- Jigglypuff
- Kakuna
- Lucario
- Machoke
- Machop
- Mankey
- Meowth
- Metapod
- Ninetales
- Oddish
- Persian
- Pidgeotto
- Pidgey
- Poliwag
- Raichu
- Rattata
- Sandshrew
- Sandslash
- Spearow
- Squirtle
- Tentacool
- Tentacruel
- Umbreon
- Venonat
- Venusaur
- Vileplume
- Vulpix
- Wartortle
- Weedle
- Zubat
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Shiba Inu Names
Shiba Inu are smaller Japanese dogs that were originally bred to be hunters. Their smaller, good-natured personality makes them a very popular Japanese breed. Here were some of our favorite names for the Shiba Inu:
- Akira: “bright” and “clear”
- Asami: “morning beauty”
- Ayaka: “the color of flowers”
- Ayame: “iris”
- Ayumi: “stroll”
- Chiharu: “one thousand springs”
- Chinatsu: “one thousand summers”
- Cho: “butterfly”
- Eiko: “long-lived”
- Emiko: “smiling child”
- Heru: “clear up” or “sunlight”
- Haruki: “springtime tree”
- Haruko: “spring child”
- Harumi: “spring beauty”
- Hotaru: “firefly/lightning bug”
- Kameyo: “tortoise”
- Kayo: “beautiful generation”
- Kazue: “branch”
- Kimi: “honorable”
- Kin: “golden”
- Kotone: “harp sound”
- Madoka: “flower”
- Mai: “dance”
- Manami: “affectionate”
- Mana: “affection”
- Masa: “just”
- Mayumi: “true”
- Megumi: “blessing”
- Minori: “truth”
- Miwa: “harmony” and “beauty”
- Mizuki: “beautiful moon”
- Moe: “budding”
- Momo: “peach”
- Moriko: “forest child”
- Natsumi: “summer beauty”
- Nobuko: “faithful”
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Now It’s Your Turn to Pick a Name!
The goal of this list was to provide you with plenty of naming inspiration for your pooch – and we hope it did just that!
Adopting a new dog is very exciting. Naming your dog is obviously a very important part of that adoption process. However, don’t feel the need to rush ahead with a decision. And remember, you can always try a few different names on for size before settling with one for your newest furry friend.
While you can name your canine whatever you wish, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Firstly, make sure everyone in your household can pronounce the name you choose. This might take some trial and error, especially if you have children!
Secondly, avoid names that sound like training cues. This will cause obvious confusion.
Thirdly, make sure your dog’s name doesn’t sound like another pet’s name. Similar sounding names can make things confusing very quickly.
Besides those three pointers, choosing a name is completely a matter of personal preference! We hope this list helped you find a name that you can fall in love with!
