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Japanese Dog Names – 100+ Awesome Names & Definitions

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Japanese dog names are beautiful, unique and meaningful – an excellent choice for your dog.

You can rest assured that no other pup at the dog park will have the same name!

Japanese Dog Names - Shiba Inu

The majority of dog breeds originating in Japan have pointy ears and turned-up tails and can range in size from small to extra large.

Popular breeds include the Shiba Inu, Akita Inu, Kai Inu, Hokkaido Inu, Kishu Inu and Shikoku Inu. (“Inu” means dog in Japanese, which could also make a great dog name.)

To help you in your search, we’ve compiled an extensive list of popular Japanese dog names and their meanings. Just remember to make sure people in your family can easily pronounce the name, otherwise you might confuse your pup.

Male Japanese Dog Names

Common in the region, these male monikers provide excellent inspiration for Japanese dog names.

  • Aki –  bright / autumn
  • Haru –  spring
  • Haruki –  shining sun
  • Takahiro –  of great value, nobility
  • Haruto –  sun flying
  • Kaoru –  fragrance
  • Katashi –  firm
  • Taiki –  great radiance, shine
  • Takashi –  prosperous, noble
  • Hideki –  excellent timber trees
  • Hiroaki –  wide, spacious light
  • Hiroki –  vast timber trees
  • Kaede –  maple
  • Itsuki –  timber trees
  • Kaito –  ocean flying
  • Naoki –  honest timber tree
  • Riku –  land
  • Hinata –  sunflower / facing towards the sun
  • Sora –  sky
  • Masaki –  great timber tree
  • Rikuto –  person of land
  • Youta –  great sunlight
  • Akio –  bright man
  • Akira –  bright / clear
  • Atsushi –  industrious director
  • Daiki –  great glory / great nobility
  • Daisuke –  great help
  • Hayate –  smooth
  • Hideo –  excellent man
  • Hiro –  generous
  • Hiroshi –  generous
  • Hitoshi –  motivated person
  • Kenshin –  modest truthful
  • Kenta –  large strong, healthy
  • Kiyoshi –  purity
  • Kyo –  cooperation
  • Ryo –  refreshing, cool
  • Hikaru –  light, radiance
  • Ryota –  great refreshment
  • Toshiaki –  advantageous light
  • Toshio –  genius leader, hero
  • Ryoichi –  good first son
  • Tsuyoshi –  strong
  • Katsu –  victory
  • Masashi –  righteous aspiration
  • Masato –  righteous person
  • Tamotsu –  protector, keeper
  • Taro –  large son
  • Masaaki –  pleasing brightness
  • Makoto –  sincere
  • Masa –  just / true
  • Masayoshi –  righteous, honorable
  • Masayuki –  righteous blessing
  • Osamu –  disciplined, studious
  • Arata –  new, fresh
  • Ayumu –  walk dream, vision
  • Dai –  great, large
  • Mitsuo –  shining hero
  • Mitsuru –  satisfy, full
  • Nao –  honest
  • Noboru –  ascend, rise
  • Nori –  to rule
  • Norio –  lawful man
  • Ren –  lotus / love
  • Yoshi –  lucky / righteous
  • Yoshio –  joyful life
  • Yoshiro –  righteous son
  • Eiji –  eternity order
  • Fumio –  literature, scholarly hero
  • Hibiki –  sound, echo
  • Kenichi –  strong, healthy first son
  • Yori –  trust
  • Hiroyuki –  great journey
  • Ichiro –  first son
  • Isamu –  brave, courageous
  • Jiro –  second son
  • Yoshito –  ceremonial, correct person
  • Yuichi –  heroic first son
  • Yukio –  blessed hero
  • Junichi –  obedient first son
  • Kenji –  strong, healthy second son
  • Kichiro –  lucky son
  • Kouta –  great peace
  • Masumi –  true clarity
  • Kunio –  country man
  • Hiraku –  open, expand
  • Madoka –  circle, round
  • Masaru –  victory
  • Shinji –  true second son
  • Michi –  pathway
  • Michio –  man on a journey
  • Rokuro –  sixth son
  • Satoshi –  wise, fast learner
  • Shinobu –  endurance
  • Shiro –  fourth son
  • Sho –  to fly
  • Yamato –  great harmony
  • Yasu –  peace
  • Shouta – big flying
  • Tadao – loyal, faithful man
  • Susumo – to advance, proceed
  • Tadashi –  loyal, faithful
  • Taichi – large first son
  • Takayuki – noble journey
  • Yuji – heroic second son
  • Hotaka – tall grain
  • Yuki – happiness / snow
  • Takeo – warrior hero
  • Takumi – artisan
  • Akihiro – great brightness
  • Toshi – wise
  • Yasushi – peaceful
Shiba Inu Puppies - Japanese Dog Names

Female Japanese Dog Names

These female names are popular in the country and make beautiful Japanese dog names.

  • Akira –  bright / clear
  • Kiko –  chronical child
  • Kimi –  noble
  • Chieko –  child of intelligence, wisdom
  • Chika –  scatter flowers
  • Chiyo –  one thousand generations
  • Yuina –  bind together
  • Yuka –  gentle flower
  • Chiyoko –  child of a thousand generations
  • Tomiko –  child of wealth, fortune
  • Tomomi –  beautiful friend
  • Ceiko –  child of splendor
  • Emi –  beautiful blessing
  • Emiko –  beautiful blessing child
  • Eri –  blessed prize
  • Hanako –  flower child
  • Haru –  spring
  • Akemi –  bright beautiful
  • Akiko –  bright child
  • Haruko –  spring child
  • Haruna –  spring vegetables
  • Hideko –  child of excellence
  • Aiko –  child of love
  • Airi –  love jasmine
  • Hikari –  light, radiance
  • Hina –  sun vegetables
  • Hiro –  generous
  • Hiroko –  generous child
  • Hiromi –  generous beauty
  • Hisako –  child of long life
  • Mana –  love
  • Manami –  loving beautiful
  • Masa –  just / true
  • Hitomi –  pupil of the eye
  • Hoshiko –  star child
  • Mao –  dance cherry blossom
  • Mariko –  true village child
  • Hotaru –  firefly
  • Izumi –  spring, fountain
  • Kamiko –  superior child
  • Katsumi –  victorious beauty
  • Kazuko –  child of harmony
  • Kazumi –  harmonious beauty
  • Keiko –  blessed child / respectful child
  • Miwa –  beautiful hamony, peace
  • Miyako –  beautiful night child
  • Miyu –  beautiful gentle
  • Kimiko –  empress child
  • Kiyomi –  pure beauty
  • Kumiko –  long-time beautiful child
  • Kyo –  cooperation
  • Yoshiko – child of goodness
  • Yua – binding love
  • Etsuko –  child of joy
  • Fumiko –  child of abundant beauty
  • Hana –  flower
  • Kyoko –  respectful child
  • Madoka –  circle, round
  • Mai –  dance
  • Maiko –  child of dance
  • Maki –  true hope
  • Makoto –  sincere
  • Mami –  true beauty
  • Masumi –  true clarity
  • Mayumi –  true gentle beauty
  • Honoka –  harmony flower
  • Hoshi –  star
  • Mi –  beautiful
  • Michi –  pathway
  • Michiko –  beautiful wise child
  • Midori –  green
  • Mieko –  beautiful blessing child
  • Miho –  protected, guaranteed beauty
  • Yuri –  lily
  • Yuriko –  lily child
  • Yuuna – gentle
  • Miku –  beautiful sky
  • Minako –  beautiful child
  • Shizuko –  quiet child
  • Sora –  sky
  • Sumiko –  child of clarity
  • Minori –  truth
  • Mio –  beautiful cherry blossom
  • Misaki –  beautiful blossom
  • Mitsuko –  child of light
  • Mitsuru –  satisfy, full
  • Miyuki –  beautiful blessing
  • Momoka –  peach tree flower
  • Moriko –  child of the forest
  • Nana –  seven
  • Nanami –  seven seas
  • Tamiko –  child of many beauties
  • Teruko –  shining child
  • Nao –  honest
  • Naoko –  honest child
  • Yumi –  reason beautiful
  • Yumiko –  reason beautiful child
  • Rina –  jasmine
  • Rio –  village cherry blossom
  • Mika –  beautiful fragrance
  • Miki –  beautiful princess
  • Naomi –  honest beautiful
  • Natsuki –  summer hope
  • Natsumi –  beautiful summer
  • Nobuko –  faithful, trustworthy child
  • Noriko –  lawful child
  • Shinju –  pearl
  • Shiori –  poem
  • Yoshie –  beautiful stream
  • Yui –  bind clothing
  • Ren –  lotus / love
  • Rika –  true fragrance
  • Riko –  child of truth
  • Rin –  dignified
  • Ryoko –  refreshing child
  • Sachiko –  joyful, happy child
  • Yasuko –  child of peace
  • Yoko –  child of sunlight
  • Yoshi –  lucky / righteous
  • Saki –  blossom of hope
  • Sakura –  cherry blossom
  • Satoko –  wise child
  • Satomi –  beautiful and wise
  • Shigeko –  growing child
  • Shika –  deer
  • Asuka –  tomorrow perfume, fragrance
  • Ayame –  iris
  • Ayano –  my color
  • Shizuka –  quiet summer
  • Suzu –  bell
  • Yukari –  beautiful pear tree
  • Yuki –  happiness / snow
  • Suzume –  sparrow
  • Takako –  noble child
  • Yukiko –  child of snow / child of happiness
  • Yuko –  gentle child
  • Takara –  treasure
  • Asami –  morning beauty
  • Toshiko –  clever child
  • Umeko –  plum child
  • Wakana –  harmonious music
  • Yasu –  peace

Japanese Dog Names Inspired by Geography

For more Japanese dog names, let’s turn to popular areas in the country. 

  • Tokyo – the capital and most populous city of Japan
  • Osaka – one of the country’s largest cities.
  • Kobe – the sixth-largest city in Japan, near Osaka.
  • Kyoto – a city located in cental Japan.
  • Kawasaki a populous city located between Tokyo and Yokohama.
  • Fuji – another city in central Japan, not too far way from Tokyo.
  • Fushimi – a shrine in Kyoto.
  • Ashi – as in Lake Ashi, a scenic body of water.
  • Oki – like Okinawa, a chain of more than a hundred small islands in the southwest of mainland Japan
  • Sapporo – Japan’s fifth largest city
  • Yoko – Yokohama is located just south of the country’s capital Tokyo

Cities, counties and landmarks make fun dog names. Here are more ideas.

Japanese Dog Names Based on Popular Food & Drinks

Another great way to find cool Japanese dog names is to look at popular dishes and drinks. 

  • Sushi – Did you know that sushi, a type of food preparation combining rice and ingredients like raw seafood and vegetables – originated in Japan?
  • Sake – a Japanese rice wine.
  • Soba – the Japanese name for buckwheat. It’s often used for noodles.
  • Ramen – a Japanese soup dish.
  • Tempura – a Japanese dish of seafood or vegetables that have been battered and deep fried.
  • Udon – a type of thick wheat flour noodle of Japanese cuisine.
  • Sashimi – a Japanese delicacy consisting of very fresh raw meat or fish sliced into thin pieces.
  • Manju – a popular Japanese confection made from boiled beans and sugar.
  • Ryokucha – a Japanese green tea.

Check out other popular foods and beverages in Japan for more inspiration.

Dog Names from Japanese Anime

If you’re into anime these Anime dog names might be the perfect name for your pup. These are some of our favorite dogs & dog characters from the world of Anime.

  • Akamaru – Kiba’s dog from Naruto
  • Alexander – from Fullmetal Alchemist
  • Apo – Hibito’s pug from Uchuu Kyoudai (Space Brothers)
  • Armageddon – from Hayate no Gotoku! Cuties
  • Bee – from Dragon Ball Z
  • Black Hayate – Riza’s dog from Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood
  • Blue – from Wolf’s Rain
  • Ein – Data dog from Cowboy Bebop
  • Den Rockbell – from Fullmetal Alchemist
  • Gin – Akita Inu from Ginga Nagareboshi Gin
  • Guts – pug from Kill la Kill
  • Heen – Errand dog of Madam Sulliman from Howl’s Moving Castle
  • Iggy – Boston Terrier from JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
  • Kazuhito Harumi – Dachshund from Inu to Hasami wa Tsukaiyou (Dog & Scissors)
  • Koromaru – Albino Shiba Inu from Persona 3 the Movie 1: Spring of Birth
  • Maru – Stray dog from Kimi ni Todoke
  • Menchi – Excel’s dog from Heppoko Jikken Animation Excel Saga
  • Pakkun – Ninja dog from Naruto
  • Pluto – from Black Butler
  • Potato – Fluffy stray puppy from Air
  • Sadaharu – Yorozuya’s dog from Gintama
  • Shiro – Momotaru’s dog from Hoozuki no Reitetsu
  • Tadakichi-san – White Great Pyrenees from Azumanga Daioh
  • Tetsuya #2 – Tetsuya’s pet dog & mascot of the Seirin Team from Kuroko no Basket
  • Tobimaru – Shiba Inu from Stranger: Mukou Hada (Sword of the Stranger)
  • Wanta – from Effen Lied

Also, check out our complete list of anime dog names and our Pokemon dog names.

Japanese dog names are a beautiful choice for your pup. If you have a Japanese breed, you should definitely consider one of these options. And even if your dog doesn’t have Japanese origins, you should still check these out.

We also have other international dog names to try on for size or try out a dog name search!

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33 Comments

  1. Amira

    Thanks u helped me name name my dog Takashi

  2. I Like Dogs

    I’m gonna name my dog either Sushi, or Mio

  3. Nikki

    Im naming my dog Roast

  4. George Lopez

    Nice! I’m naming my Pitbull pup: Makoto

  5. barronandrewj

    We were shocked to learn that the name we picked for our baby girl Shiba Inu wasn’t on the list. We called here Kitsune (KIT-soo-nay) Meaning Fox. We called her Kit for short (which works really well because a baby fox is a Kit), or Kit Kat when she was being silly.

  6. Joanne

    My dogs name isn’t on the list, and I don’t know of any other pet named this, but I named her Kabuki, Buki for short. She passed away over a year ago and it’s time for me to get another dog, but can’t think of another odd, pretty name.

    • Lydia

      Asko,asmo,leo,aero,ace,Charo,crimson,Diego, Drexel,Hadley,Harley,kyser,Milo,Ronin, roudly,sparx,tasso,canis,gray,Ethan,tysen,Cisco, jasper,Jett,Jax,bailey,tyro,Plato,kemo hope this helps

  7. Eva

    My little Shiba now 15 is named Seiko, for the Japanese watch, because she is, of course, a Japanese watch dog! Incidentally our cats are Spik and Span because we got them to clean up a mouse problem. Neither they nor us know which name goes with which cat so we just shortened it to Spikken and they both come.

  8. Miho

    Thanks for this. I named her Yuki (happiness) coz she’s my happiness.☺ she make me happy.😊

  9. Kathleen Schultz

    My dog is named Sora

  10. Corey Okuda

    my akita’s name is Kinako because of her color

  11. vb

    call it yvonne of the yukon

  12. Mar

    My Japanse Chins where called Momo meaning peach and Geisha

  13. lilxsm

    My dogs name are Yoshi and Yuri

  14. Kit

    It’s a bit on the nose but I’m considering naming by dog Kuro based on his coloring.

  15. KenG

    Kuma (bear) is also a great dog name. I always thought that’d be a perfect and somewhat ironic name for a French bulldog. :)

  16. Maica baybay

    My dog name is KENTA he is chow

  17. Michelle

    Can anyone tell me that why Native Japanese breed dogs such as Akitainu has “号” after their individual names?

  18. Albert

    My dog`s name is Joker. That`s all.

  19. Haku

    I named my dog “Dai” because of his size!

  20. Elliott

    If I have a Boy dog, then I´ll name him Satoshi. But if it´s a girl I´ll name it Yoshi. I´m a BIG Pokemon and Nintendo fan.

  21. Kris

    What is storm in Japanese

  22. Collette

    It depends on the meaning you want storm to have. If you want “heavy rain,” it would be Oobuki, but if you want it along the lines of “tempest/difficulty or windstorm” it would be Arashi. You can always look through a Japanese/English dictionary as well to get the perfect meaning.

  23. jab822007

    I have a dog named ‘Bear’ If I get a girl cat that’s brown I’ll name it ‘Rabie’ you might be asking why? Well so I can call it Ray ray, BB, or even Rabie Baby!! so cute right!?

  24. Rose

    Thank you .. my do name now is ICHIKO 😊

  25. Blair Stafford

    I will name my male Kamikaze, Named after the first Akita to come to the United States .

  26. jaspertheredpoodle

    My red poodle is named Jasper. His full name is Jasper Aida Neutrino.
    Jasper for his red colour (like the mineral red jasper)
    Aida like the opera (I like to say he was born during a production of “Aida” at the Arena di Verona though of course I don’t know for sure, Verdi’s “Aida” was the one on the day he was born)
    Neutrino for a group of Standard Model particles (he’s very energetic like a Neutrino)
    I’m a big fan of Studio Ghibli. One of my stories soon to be on Goodreads has a group of dogs and a girl who has a way with animals. The girl is going to be Lise after a little known scientist, Lise Meitner, and her name will probably have some connections to the story. One of the dogs a Maltipoo is Nausicaa for a Ghibli movie because she was found in a cardboard box with various ephemeralia including an old DVD of the film “Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.” I’m not sure, she could also be Chihiro or Kaguya depending. Y’all don’t try looking for this, my username is Callie Berns and I’m still not sure if I’ll upload this one, it’s still in planning.
    My best story is called “Raising the Star Dog.” The heroine, an 11yo gifted girl, gets her name from opera (her name is Aida). The dog is a red poodle called Tosca, again for opera. I haven’t really used Japanese dog names. I do have a fascination with Japanese culture and language and this list will inspire me!

  27. Resh

    My first dog name tucky and my second dog name was sunday because we brought her the day of Sunday.

  28. Ramona

    My dog is called Hiro

  29. Chris

    Named my new Akita puppy Chika thanks to your site

  30. Elaine Fairchilde

    Yoko doesn’t mean “child of sunlight” it means child and the rest of the meaning depends on the kanji the name is written with. This layer of meaning is lost in Roman letters though. The most famous Yoko, Yoko Ono for example, her name is written with kanji that means ocean child. I plan on naming my female Japanese Spitz dog Yoko.

  31. hanako kun

    naming my dog hanako this really helped TwT

  32. Bob C

    Thank you, I am naming my dog Potato Hoe Tatoe!

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