Japanese Dog Names – 100+ Awesome Names & Meanings

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!

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 your family can easily pronounce the name; otherwise, you might confuse your pup.

You may want to use one of these ideas because you love Japanese culture, have a Japanese dog breed, or have a Japanese heritage yourself. Popular breeds include:

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

Male Japanese Dog Names

Standard in the region, these monikers provide excellent inspiration for male Japanese dog names with meanings.

• 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 toward the sun
• Sora –  sky
• Masaki –  great timber tree
• Rikuto – a 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 – satisfied, full
• Nao –  honest
• Noboru –  ascend, rise
• Nori –  to rule
• Norio –  lawful man
• Ren – lotus/love
• Yoshi – lucky/righteous
• Yoshio – a joyful life
• Yoshiro –  righteous son
• Eiji –  eternity order
• Fumio –  literature, scholarly hero
• Hibiki –  sound, echo
• Kenichi –  strong, healthy first son
• Yori –  trust
• Hiroyuki – a 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 –  countryman
• Hiraku –  open, expand
• Madoka –  circle, round
• Masaru –  victory
• Shinji –  true second son
• Michi –  pathway
• Michio –  man on a journey
• Rokuro –  sixth son
• Satoshi –  wise, a fast learner
• Shinobu –  endurance
• Shiro –  fourth son
• Sho –  to fly
• Yamato –  great harmony
• Yasu –  peace
• Shouta – big flying
• Tadao – a loyal, faithful man
• Susumo – to advance, proceed
• Tadashi –  loyal, faithful
• Taichi – large first son
• Takayuki – a noble journey
• Yuji – heroic second son
• Hotaka – tall grain
• Yuki – happiness/snow
• Takeo – warrior hero
• Takumi – artisan
• Akihiro – great brightness
• Toshi – wise
• Yasushi – peaceful

Female Japanese Dog Names

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

• Akira – bright/clear
• Kiko –  chronicle 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 – a beautiful friend
• Ceiko –  child of splendor
• Emi – a 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 – a 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
• Amaya – night rain

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 central Japan.
• Kawasaki – a populous city located between Tokyo and Yokohama.
• Fuji – another city in central Japan, not too far away 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
• Hokkaido – Japan’s northernmost island, known for its natural beauty and wildlife
• Nikko – Home to the ancient Toshogu Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site
• Asakusa – A popular Tokyo neighborhood known for its historic Sensoji Temple
• Nara – Japan’s ancient capital featuring traditional architecture and free-roaming deer
• Hakone – A mountainous region famous for its hot springs and views of Mount Fuji
• Kamakura – Coastal city with historic temples, shrines, and the renowned Great Buddha

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 drinks and Japanese food names. 

• 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 and noodle 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 seafood 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.
• Miso – A traditional Japanese seasoning made from fermented soybeans
• Ume – Short for “Umeboshi,” Japanese pickled plums often used in rice balls
• Matcha – A finely ground green tea powder used in tea ceremonies and beverages
• Mochi – A sweet, sticky rice cake often eaten during Japanese festivals
• Wasabi – A spicy green condiment used as a side dish for sushi and sashimi
• Nori – Edible seaweed sheets used in sushi rolls and other Japanese dishes
• Shinjuku – A bustling Tokyo district is known for its shopping, nightlife, and entertainment
• Kobe – A port city famed for its scenic harbor area and its eponymous, high-quality beef
• Tohoku – A region in the northeastern part of Japan’s main island, popular for its rural landscapes and traditional culture
• Nagano – A landlocked prefecture known for its stunning mountains, including the Japanese Alps and popular skiing destinations
• Shikoku – The smallest of Japan’s four main islands, celebrated for its enchanting beauty and tranquil atmosphere
• Manju – a Japanese sweet treat made from beans and boiled sugar
• Oden – a winter hot pot dish
• Amazake – a sweet fermented rice drink
• Onigiri – Portable rice balls with different fillings

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

Names Inspired by Japanese Culture and Art

These Japanese dog names are inspired by elements of Japanese culture, art, and martial arts, reflecting various traditions and practices in Japan.

• Kabuki – A traditional Japanese theater form known for its elaborate costumes and stylized drama
• Hokusai – A famous Japanese artist renowned for his woodblock print series “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji”
• Haiku – A popular form of Japanese poetry consisting of three lines with a 5-7-5 syllable pattern
• Origami – The intricate art of Japanese paper folding
• Zen – A Japanese school of Buddhism emphasizing meditation and mindfulness
• Kendo – A modern Japanese martial art involving sword-fencing using bamboo swords
• Sumo – A famous ancient Japanese sport involving wrestlers trying to force their opponent out of the ring or to touch the ground
• Geisha – Highly skilled entertainers well-versed in traditional Japanese arts, such as music, dance, and tea ceremonies
• Aikido – A martial art that focuses on using an opponent’s energy to execute defensive techniques
• Ikebana – The Japanese art of flower arrangement, emphasizing harmony and balance

Dog Names from Japanese Anime

If you’re into Japanese animation and Japanese comics, these 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 character 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 anime dog names and Pokemon dog names.

Japanese dog names are a beautiful choice for your pup. You should consider one of these options if you have a Japanese breed. 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, like our Chinese dog names, or try out a dog name search!

Jessi Larson

Jessi is a marketing strategist for Fortune 50 companies who loves to research and write about all things dog. She is the proud mom to Toby, a giant Labrador Retriever who thinks he’s a lapdog. He inspires her to be a better pet parent and to share advice with other dog owners.