175 Cute Japanese Dog Names for Your Pup (With Meanings)

Updated October 14, 2021
women hugging a cute dog

If you're Japanese, have a Japanese breed of dog, or just love Japanese culture, these names for dogs are for you. These Japanese dog names cover a variety of meanings, from animals and flowers to personal qualities and nature.

Cool Male Japanese Dog Names

These Japanese dog names would definitely sound cool with a Japanese breed like an Akita or any type of dog that has a spitz-type appearance.

happy shiba inu dog

Name | Meaning | Pronunciation

  • Akio | bold hero; bright man | AA-Kiy-ow
  • Chiko | thousand | CHEE-ko
  • Dai | large | D-AHiy
  • Daiki | big; shining | D-AHiy-kiy
  • Haruki | spring child | HA-ruw-kiy
  • Hiro | widespread | HIY-row
  • Hisashi | consistency | HIY-saa-shiy
  • Ichiro | first-born child | iy-CHIY-row
  • Izumi | spring | IY-zuw-miy
  • Jiro | second son | JH-IYrow
  • Juro | best wishes; a long life | JHUHrow
  • Kaemon | joyful; right-handed | KAY-mahn
  • Kano | manly strength or power | KAA-now
  • Katsumi | win over the sea | KAA-TSuw-miy
  • Kazue | a blessing | Kaa-zuw-EH
  • Keiji | joyous | KEY-JH-iy
  • Ken | healthy and strong | KeHN
  • Kenji | second-born son who is intelligent and strong | KeHN-JH-iy
  • Kenjiro | second-born son who has great insight | KeHN-JH-iy-row
  • Kentaro | big boy; sharp | KehN-Taa-row
  • Kiyoshi | pure; bright | Kiy-YOW-SHiy
  • Koji | little one | KOW-JH-iy
  • Kosuke | rising sun | KOW-suw-keh
  • Makoto| truth; genuine | MAA-kow-tow
  • Manzo | third-born son who has the strength of a thousand | MAE-NZow
  • Naoki | tree of truth | NAA-ow-kiy
  • Natsuo | birth of summer | NAETsuw-ow
  • Raidon | gold of thunder | REY-DAHN
  • Reik | law | RAYK
  • Roka | the white crest of a wave | row-KUH
  • Seeichi | sincere one | SEY-iy-CH-iy
  • Seiji | lawful; one who manages the state | SEY-JH-iy
  • Suzu | long-lived crane | SUW-zuw
  • Tadashi | loyal and faithful | TAA-D-ah-SHiy
  • Taro | big boy; first-born son | TAA-row
  • Tetsu | philosophy; iron | T-TSuw
  • Tomo | intelligence and wisdom | TOW-mow
  • Yamato | Old Japan | YAA-maa-tuw
  • Yoshi | quiet| YOW-SHiy
  • Yukio | happy boy | YUW-Kiy-ow
  • Yuval | lily child | Yuw-vaa-L

Cute Female Japanese Dog Names

The Japanese names for female dogs have lovely meanings and would do well for a petite Japanese Chin or a dog of any breed or gender.

Japanese Akita inu dog

Name | Meaning | Pronunciation

  • Ahma | black rain | aa-MAA
  • Aiko | love and affection | AY-Kow
  • Akari | bright white jasmine | AA-Kaa-Riy
  • Akemi | bright and beautiful | AA-Key-Miy
  • Amaya | night rain | aa-MAA-Yaa
  • Aoi | hollyhock; blue | AA-ow-iy
  • Atsuko | honest child | AA-TSuw-Kow
  • Aya | colorful | AA-Yaa
  • Ayame | iris flower | AA-Yaa-Meh
  • Bashira | joyful; beautiful smile | BAE-SHi-rah
  • Chinatsu | thousand summers | CH-IY-Naa-TSuw
  • Chiyo | thousand generations | CH-IY-Yow
  • Chō | butterfly | CHOW
  • Chōko | butterfly child | CHOWKow
  • Emi | beautiful smile| EHM-iy
  • Eriko | child; cove/inlet | EH-R-iy-Kow
  • Etsuko | joyous child | EH-TSuw-Kow
  • Fumiko | intellectual or wise | FUW-Miy-Kow
  • Fuyuko | winter child | FUW-Yuw-Kow
  • Hana | flower | HHAA-Naa
  • Hanae | flower picture | HHaa-Naa-EY
  • Hanako | flower child | HHAA-Naa-Kow
  • Haruko | spring child | HHAA-Ruw-Kow
  • Hayami | a rare beauty | HHAA-YAA-Miy
  • Himari | ball of light; home of light | HHiy-Maa-Riy
  • Hiroko | generous or tolerant child | HHIY-Row-Kow
  • Hitomi | pupil in one's eye | HHiy-Tuw-Miy
  • Hoshi | star | HHOW-SHiy
  • Hoshiko | star | HHAA-SHIYKow
  • Ichika | summer | ih-SHIY-Kaa
  • Kairi | ocean village | KAA-iy-Riy
  • Kameko | child of the tortoise | KAA-Meh-Kow
  • Kami | divine aura | KAA-Miy
  • Kiko | honorable | KIY-Kow
  • Koko | stork | Kow-Kow
  • Mana | affection | MAAN-aa
  • Mariko | true; straight | MAA-Riy-Kow
  • Michie | gateway; dropping a flower gracefully | Miy-CH-iy-EH
  • Midori | green | MIY-Dow-Riy
  • Mieko | a blessed and beautiful child | MIY-eh-Kow
  • Miki | stem of a flower | MIY-Kiy
  • Miya | beauty | MIY-Yaa
  • Nara | oak | NAA-Raa
  • Niko | benevolence | NIY-Kow
  • Risa | growing flowers at home | RIY-Saa
  • Sara | music; happiness | SAA-Raa
  • Suzu | bell | SUW-Zuw
  • Tamika | people | Taa-MIY-Kaa

Cute Japanese Dog Names for Boy and Girl Puppies

These Japanese names are gender neutral and can be adorable choices for any new puppy.

japanese breed Kai dog

Name | Meaning | Pronunciation

  • Aki | bright; autumn | AA-Kiy
  • Akira | bright and clear | AA-Kiy-Raa
  • Asuka | tomorrow; fragrance | AA-Suw-Kaa
  • Chihiro | a thousand searches | CH-iy-HHiy-Row
  • Hachi | eight; bee; flowerpot | HHAA-CH-iy
  • Haru | spring; clear weather | HHAA-Ruw
  • Hibiki | echo; sound | HHIY-Kiy-Kiy
  • Hikari | light | HHIY-Kaa-Riy
  • Jun | obedient; pure | JHuw-N
  • Kaede | maple tree | KAA-eh-Deh
  • Kaoru | fragrance | KAA-owRuw
  • Kin | gold | KIHN
  • Kohaku | amber | KOha-Koo
  • Maki | true | MAA-Kiy
  • Masumi | true clarity | MAA-Suw-Miy
  • Michi | path | MIY-CH-iy
  • Nao | honest | NAA-ow
  • Ren | lotus; love | Reh-N
  • Rin | severe; cold; dignified | Riy-N
  • Shiki | the four seasons | SHIY-Kiy
  • Shinobu | endurance | SHIY-NowBuw
  • Shion | aster | SHiy-UHN
  • Shun | talented person | SHuw-N
  • Sora | sky | SOW-Raa
  • Takara | jewel; treasure | TAA-Kaa-Raa
  • Tsubasa | wing | TSUW-Baa-Saa

Japanese Anime Female Dog Names

Anime and manga are popular forms of Japanese culture known throughout the world. If you're a fan, you can choose names based on prominent female characters.

Japanese Chin Looking Away

Name | Source | Meaning | Pronunciation

  • Akame | Akame ga Kill | red eye | aa-KAA-Meh
  • Akeno | Highschool DxD | bright shining field | AA-Keh-Now
  • Asa | Asadora! | morning | EY-Sah
  • Asuna | Sword Art Online | tomorrow; apple tree | AHSuw-naa
  • Erza | Fairy Tail | Japanese form of Elsa | ER-Zah
  • Esdeath | Akame ga Kill |play on the phrase "'S' desu" which translates to "I am a sadist" | Eh-S-Deh-TH
  • Haru | Beastars | sunshine | HHAA-Ruw
  • Hinata | Naruto | sunny place; sunflower | HHIY-Naa-Taa
  • Homura | Naruto | blaze; flame | HHOw-Muh-Rah
  • Inori | Guilty Crown | prayer | uh-NAW-ree
  • Katara | Avatar: The Last Airbender | water droplet | Kuh-TAA-ruh
  • Kushina | Naruto Shippūden | nine goods | Kuh-SHEE-Nuh
  • Mikasa | Attack on Titan | three bamboo hats | Mi-Kaa-suh
  • Motokov | Ghost in the Shell | child | MOW-Tow-Kow
  • Nezuko | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | ancestral shrine | Neh-zuw-Koh
  • Nobara | Jujutsu Kaisen | wild rose | Now-BAA-Ra
  • Rias | Highschool DxD | jasmine | REE-uhs
  • Riza | Full Metal Alchemist | crystal | RIY-Zaa
  • Rokume | Beastars | "six eyes" | Row-KHU-meh
  • Rukia | Bleach | rue flower | Roo-KEE-uh
  • Ryuko | Kill la Kill | dragon | RYUW-Kow
  • Saeko | Highschool of the Dead | serene child | SAA-eh-Kow
  • Sakura | Naruto | cherry blossom | SAA-Kuw-Raa
  • Sinon | Sword Art Online 2 | Aster flower | Siy-NOWn
  • Temari | Naruto, Naruto Shippūden | hand of heaven or sky | TAE-Maa-Riy
  • Touka | Tokyo Ghoul | perfume | TOW-Kaa
  • Tsunade | Naruto, Naruto Shippūden | mooring rope | TSU-NaH-Deh
  • Usagi | Sailor Moon | rabbit | YUW-Sa-JHiy
  • Yoruichi | Bleach | night one | Yo-Roo-E-Chiy

Japanese Anime Male Dog Names

These Japanese names come from well-known manga and anime and would be fun for a Japanese breed like a Shiba Inu or any type of dog that needs a bold name.

Boring dog laying down

Name | Source | Meaning | Pronunciation

  • Aizen | Bleach | indigo | AIY-Zn
  • Alucard | Hellsing | "Dracula" spelled backward | AA_Luh-kaard
  • Gintoki | Gintama | silver | JUHN-Tow-Kiy
  • Goku | Dragonball Z | aware of emptiness | GOW-Koo
  • Guts | Berserk | spirit | GUH-Ts
  • Hei | Darker than Black | black; dark | HH-ey
  • Ichigo | Bleach | understanding; protect | IY-CH-iy-Gow
  • Itachi | Naruto Shippūden | weasel | IY-Tuh-CH-iy
  • Itadori | Jujutsu Kaisen | medicinal herb | IY-Taa-DAOER-iy
  • Izuku | My Hero Academia | very long time | IY-zuw-Koo
  • Kenpachi | Bleach | Sword Eight | Kehn-PAA-CH-iy
  • Legoshi | Beastars | after Bela Lugosi | Leh-GOW-Shiy
  • Levi | Attack on Titan | united | LIY-Vay
  • Kai | Beyblade | shell; open | KAY
  • Kakashi | Naruto Shippūden | scarecrow | KAA-Kaa-SHiy
  • Kaworu | Neon Genesis Evangelion | fragrance | KAA-ow-Ruw
  • Kazuto | Sword Art Online | peaceful one | KAA-Zuw-Tow
  • Kiritsugu | Fate/Zero | an heir who cuts | KIH-RihT-SHuw-JHuw
  • Light | Death Note | moon | Riy-To (Japanese) Liy-T (English)
  • Madara | Naruto Shippūden | spots; mottled | Maa-Da-Raa
  • Mamoru | Sailor Moon | defend; protect | MAA-MaoR-uw
  • Masamichi | Jujutsu Kaisen | superior | MAA-Saa-Miy-CH-iy
  • Natsu | Fairy Tail | summer | NAET-Suw
  • Rintarou | Steins;Gate | big son | RiyN-Ta-Row
  • Roronoa | One Piece | Japanese version of l'Olonnais | Row-RowNo-Aa
  • Sesshomaru | Inuyasha | the desecration of the circle of life | Seh-Sshoh-Mah-ROO
  • Shigekuni | Bleach | luxuriant | SHih-GEY-Kuh-Ni
  • Shoto | My Hero Academia | burning and freezing | SHOW-Tow
  • Tanjiro | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba | high-valued second son | TAA-NJH-iy-Row
  • Tatsuya | The Irregular at Magic High School | dragon; accomplished | TAA-TSuw-Yaa
  • Vegeta | Dragonball Z | short for "vegetable" | Vuh-JEE-Tuh

Choosing a Japanese Name for Your Dog

Japanese culture is full of potential names for your dog. Consider the meanings behind the names or go with a name from your favorite manga for your new puppy. Whether you own a Japanese breed or an All-American mixed breed, these names go well with any kind of dog.

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175 Cute Japanese Dog Names for Your Pup (With Meanings)