table of contents
- Inappropriate Japanese dog names
- Female dog names
- Female Japanese dog names from A - M
- Female Japanese dog names from N - Y
- Male dog names
- Japanese male dog names from A - M
- Japanese male dog names from N - Y
- Gender Neutral Japanese Dog Names
- frequently asked Questions
Dog owners know how tedious it can be to find the right name. If you are looking for a particularly sonorous name, Japanese culture offers many fine examples. We looked around at Japanese dog names for you.
In a nutshell
- Some names are inappropriate
- Meaning should be clear
- Pay attention to easy pronunciation
- Also gender-neutral names
Inappropriate Japanese dog names
Japan has always had a unique culture with special traditions. In order not to be disrespectful to them, there are some names you should not choose for your dog. They are simply unsuitable:
- Mikado (Imperial title in Japan)
- Samurai (warrior; rather used in the west)
- Hara-kiri (ritual suicide)
- Nagasaki (negative event)
- Fukushima (negative event)
You should also refrain from using religious names and designations. Also, be sure to know the meaning of the name. Otherwise, encounters with native speakers could be quite uncomfortable. Also, remember that the name should be easy to pronounce.
Female dog names
But there are many other names that you can give your darling. Japan has many names, especially for female dogs. Most female first names end in -ka (“fragrance”), -ko (“girl”), -mi (“beauty”), -yo, -na or -e. As in other languages, these Dog names by character, appearance or preference can be assigned.
Female Japanese dog names from A - M
- Ai (love; Affection)
- Aiko (child of love)
- Aimi (love)
- Akemi (bright and beautiful)
- Akeno (in the morning; brightly shining field)
- Akiko (autumn child)
- Akina (spring flower)
- Akira (radiant; bright; the enlightened one)
- Amaya (rainy night)
- Ami (Asian Beauty)
- Anda (meet on the field)
- Aneko (older sister)
- Aoi (mallow)
- Arisu (jap. Form of Alice)
- Asuka (the scent of the morning)
- Aya (woven silk)
- Ayaka (colorful flower)
- Ayame (Iris)
- Ayano (color)
- Ayumi (she goes her own way)
- Bara (rose)
- Chika (wisdom)
- Chikako (child of wisdom)
- Chinatsu (1000 summer)
- Chiyo (forever; a thousand worlds)
- Chiyoko (child of eternity)
- Cho (butterfly)
- Emi (blessed with beauty)
- Etsuko (adorable child)
- Gina (silver)
- Hana (flower; Blossom)
- Hanako (flower child)
- Haruka (far away)
- Haruko (spring child)
- Hikari (light)
- Himeko (little princess)
- Hina (sunny vegetation)
- Hinata (sun kissed; Place of sun)
- Hiroko (generous child)
- Hisa (long)
- Hitomi (doubly beautiful; Eye)
- Hoshi (star)
- Hoshiko (star child)
- Hotaru (firefly)
- Izumi (fountain; Fountain)
- Junko (pure child)
- Kaeda (maple)
- Kaede (maple leaf)
- Kameko (child of the turtle)
- Kana (beautiful)
- Kasumi (fog; damp haze)
- Katana (sword; Blade)
- Katsumi (self-control)
- Kaya (gives a resting place)
- Kazuko (Child of Peace)
- Kazumi (harmony and beauty)
- Kei (delight; Adoration)
- Keiko (happy child)
- Kiku (chrysanthemum; Child of the tree)
- Kimi (the Incomparable)
- Kimiko (noble child)
- Kin (golden)
- Kioko (happy child)
- Day care center (north)
- Kiyo (clean)
- Kiyoko (clean child)
- Kohaku (amber)
- Kohana (small flower)
- Koto (harp)
- Kotone (sound of a harp)
- Kumi (braid)
- Kumiko (forever beautiful child)
- Kuri (chestnut)
- Kurumi (walnut)
- Kyoko (mirror)
- Leiko (arrogant)
- Machiko (child of fortune)
- Madoka (round beauty; round good)
- Maeko (honorable child)
- Maemi (smile of loyalty)
- May (brightness; Dance)
- Mommy (true beauty)
- Manami (beautiful love)
- Mariko (child of good faith)
- Matsuko (child of the pine tree)
- Mayu (real reason)
- Mayumi (true bow)
- Megumi (blessing)
- Michie (path)
- Michiko (beautiful, wise child)
- Midori (green)
- Mieko (light)
- Miho (head of a wave)
- Mina (south)
- Minako (beautiful child)
- Misaki (beautiful flower; beautiful flower)
- Mitsuko (child of light)
- Miu (beautiful feather)
- Miwa (beautiful peace)
- Miya (three arrows)
- Miyako (beautiful March child)
- Miyu (gentle beauty)
- Mizuki (beautiful moon)
- Moe (bud; Shoot)
- Momo (peach)
- Momoko (peach child)
- Moriko (forest child)
Female Japanese dog names from N - Y
- Nami (wave)
- Nana (seven; Apple)
- Nanami (seven seas)
- Naomi (about everything; Beauty)
- Naoki (upright tree; Resistance)
- Nariko (gentle child)
- Natsuki (summer hope)
- Natsuko (summer child)
- Natsumi (beautiful summer)
- Noriko (child of the ceremony; Law; Order)
- Oki (middle of the ocean)
- Otsuyu (morning dew)
- Ran (orchid)
- Reina (sound of jewels)
- Reindeer (lotus)
- Rin (cold)
- Rina (family home)
- Sachi (Blessing Child)
- Sachiko (cold)
- Saika (colorful flower)
- Saki (cape; Headland)
- Sakura (cherry blossom)
- Sango (coral)
- Satsuki (5th Month)
- Satu (sugar)
- Sayuri (little lily)
- Setsuko (child of the feast)
- Shika (deer)
- Shina (good; Virtue)
- Shinju (pearl)
- Shino (bamboo trunk)
- Shizuka (calm)
- Shizuko (calm child)
- Sora (heaven)
- Suki (mistress; popular)
- Sumi (educated; clear)
- Sumiko (Eternal Child)
- Suzume (Sparrow)
- Taka (large; honorable)
- Takako (exalted child)
- Takara (sweetheart)
- Takehiko (brave, wise child)
- Takuya (to be a pioneer)
- Tamae (bell; Ball)
- Tami (do good to the people)
- Tamika (people)
- Tamiko (child of plenty)
- Taree (sloping branch)
- Taura (many lakes; many rivers)
- Taya (field in the valley)
- Teiko (righteous child)
- Tomiko (child of wealth)
- Tomoko (child of wisdom)
- Tomomi (beautiful friend)
- Toshi (reflection)
- Toya (entrance to the valley)
- Tsukiko (child of the moon)
- Tsuyu (morning dew)
- Ume (plum blossom)
- Umeko (child of the plum blossom)
- Yasu (calm)
- Yoko (sun child)
- Yoshiko (good child; free child)
- Youko (sun child)
- Yukiko (Snow Child)
- Yuka (reason for good smell)
- Yuko (graceful child)
- Yumi (beautiful friend; Beauty)
- Yumiko (Child of Beauty)
- Yuri (lily)
- Yuriko (child of the lily)
- Yuuka (excellent flavor)
Male dog names
Male first names usually end in -ro ("son"), -ta ("big"), -shi, -ya, or -o, like Hachiko, the most famous dog in Japan. However, the Japanese language has many more beautiful male dog names to offer:
Japanese male dog names from A - M
- Aiko (child of love)
- Akeno (morning)
- Akio (shining boy)
- Akira (cleverness; Brightness)
- Arata (new; Freshness)
- Bandai (forever)
- Benjiro (enjoy the peace)
- Botan (peony)
- Dai (great; Generation)
- Daichi (great first son)
- Daiki (great shine; big glow)
- Daisuke (great help)
- Danno (field collection)
- Goro (5th Son)
- Hachiko (8. Son)
- Hakubi (the best example)
- Hideaki (superb and bright)
- Hikaru (light)
- Hiro (generously; tolerant)
- Hiroshi (magnanimous)
- Hoshi (star)
- Ichiro (1st Son)
- Isamu (bravery; Courage)
- Jiro (2nd Son)
- Joben (enjoy the purity)
- Jomei (shine)
- Jun (fast horse)
- Juro (longevity; best wishes)
- Kado (gateway)
- Kaemon (Joyful)
- Kane (join together; Money)
- Kano (force; Capability)
- Katashi (persistence)
- Katsu (victory)
- Katsuo (victorious child)
- Katsuro (victorious son)
- Kazuki (shining; the shining one; beneficial peace)
- Kazuo (lovely son)
- Keiji (rules with discretion)
- Keitaro (blessed)
- Ken (strong; healthy)
- Ken’ichi (the strong)
- Kenji (strong and powerful)
- Kenjiro (insightful 2nd Son)
- Kenshin (sword and heart)
- Kenta (healthy and stocky)
- Kentaro (big boy)
- Kichiro (happy son)
- Kioshi (calm)
- Kiyoshi (pure)
- Kotarou (little boy)
- Kouhei (calm peace)
- Kuro (black; dark; 9. Son)
- Kyo (large; Approval)
- Kyoshi (calm)
- Makoto (sincerity; Loyalty)
- Manabu (eager to learn)
- Manzo (1000 strong son)
- Maro (myself)
- Mareo (rarely; unusual)
- Masao (righteous person)
- Masaru (victory; Win)
- Mashiro (generous)
- Masuyo (enlarge the world)
- Michio (man with the power of 3000)
- Mikio (three trees together)
- Minoru (fruit; Seeds)
- Montaro (big boy)
- Morio (forest boy)
Japanese male dog names from N - Y
- Nao (straightforward; honest)
- Naoki (honestly; honorable; straight tree)
- Naoto (honorable person)
- Nibori (attaining great importance)
- Nikko (daylight)
- Nobu (extend; delay)
- Nori (rule; Law)
- Osamu (law abiding)
- Rai (trust; Lightning; Thunder)
- Reizo (calmly; groomed; cool)
- Renjiro (clean; upright; honorable)
- Renzo (3rd Son)
- Riku (country)
- Rinji (peaceful forest)
- Roka (white head of a wave)
- Rokuro (6. Son)
- Ryo (refreshing)
- Ryota (nice and chunky)
- Ryuu (dragon)
- Saburo (3rd Son)
- Sachio (born happy)
- Saniiro (admirable; Praise)
- Seiji (fair)
- Sen (hermit)
- Shigeru (flourish magnificently; grow lush)
- Shin (true; Truth)
- Shiro (4th Son)
- Sho (ambitious; brilliant)
- Shoda (flat field)
- Shou (rise; to fly)
- Shun (speed; good horse)
- Susumu (ascent; Progress)
- Tadao (satisfied)
- Tadashi (correct; just)
- Taiki (great shine; big glow)
- Takahiro (valuable and great; big hawk)
- Takashi (respect to parents)
- Takeo (strong like bamboo)
- Takeru (warrior)
- Takeshi (brave; Bumblebee trunk; Warrior; Protector)
- Takumi (the gifted; the skillful one; Carpenter; Handyman)
- Takuya (to be a pioneer)
- Tanjiro (esteemed second son)
- Taro (the firstborn; Big boy)
- Tatsuya (accomplished)
- Teijo (righteous)
- Teiljo (established; regulated)
- Torio (bird's tail)
- Toru (sea)
- Toshi (clever; Smart)
- Toshiro (talented; intelligent)
- Tsubasa (wing)
- Tsuyoshi (strong; robust)
- Udo (ginseng plant)
- Yasu (rest; Peace)
- Yasuo (the peaceable)
- Yori (reliability)
- Yoshio (righteous person)
- Yoshiro (good son; free son)
- Yuki (happy; Snow)
- Yukio (lucky man; gets what he wants)
- Yutaka (lush; plentiful; rich)
- Yuu (outstanding; posh)
- Yuudai (size; Splendor)
- Yuuki (valor; Courage)
- Yuuta (shapely hero)
- Yuuto (outstanding; posh)
Gender Neutral Japanese Dog Names
Some Japanese names are suitable for both genders as well. The meanings are no less beautiful:
- Aki (autumn)
- Chiko (arrow; Deposit)
- Fuyu (winter)
- Haru (spring)
- Kami (noble)
- Kamlyn (noble)
- Kaori (aroma; Perfume)
- Marise (unlimited; endless)
- Maru (round; Circle)
- Miki (tree trunk)
- Naoko (obedient child)
- Natsu (summer)
- Nikki (two trees)
- Rei (generosity; Law; zealous)
- Suzu (bell)
- Yoshi (luck; Quality)
If the right name for you was not there, it is best to take a look around your area. How about, for example, one of your heroes from anime, manga or a Japanese computer game? You can find inspiration anywhere.
frequently asked Questions
In principle, however, you can of course choose any name you like. However, if you don't know the meaning of a word, the name you choose may have a negative meaning. You certainly don't want to unknowingly give your dog a repugnant or insulting name. Therefore, it is better to find out about the meaning beforehand.
Due to the close interweaving, Japanese names go particularly well with Japanese breeds such as Akita Inus, Shiba Inus, Hokkaidos, Kishus, Kais, Japanese Terriers, Shikokus or Tosas.
Yes. The names go particularly well with Japanese breeds, but a dog does not have to have Japanese origins. Just like other foreign language dog names, the names are also suitable for all other breeds.
Yes. Dogs do not respond to the meaning of the name, but rather to the way they are spoken. So if you condition your dog well on the Japanese name, he won't have any problems.
