Japanese Dog Names – 100+ Awesome Names & Definitions

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!

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

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!

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.