Cats are one of the most popular pets in Japan, with numerous names for the velvet paws. We introduce you to 300 Japanese cat names, some of which even come from anime films and series.
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In a nutshell
- Japanese cat names often short
- with profound meaning
- Anime names tend to be more complex
Table of Contents
- Japanese cat names
- Female cat names from Japan from A to E
- F to L
- M to T
- U to Z
- Male Japanese Cat Names from A to E
- F to L
- M to T
- U to Z
- 50 cat names from anime movies and series
- frequently asked Questions
Japanese cat names
Exotic cat names – including Japanese ones – are very popular. They are usually very short and consist of a few syllables. Japan is known for its cat-friendliness. Even if in some residential areas the tenants cannot keep pets due to a lack of space. To remedy the situation, so-called "neko kafe" cat cafes were opened. Here the fluffy cuddly tigers can be observed and petted as the mood takes you. If you are looking for a suitable Japanese cat name, you will find many beautiful names in this post. Also anime series and movies can provide inspiration.
Female cat names from Japan from A to E
- Akemi (bright beautiful)
- Akiko (bright child)
- Aiko (Love Child)
- Airi (lovely jasmine)
- Asami (Morning Beauty)
- Asuka (Scent)
- Ayame (Japanese iris species)
- Ayano (color)
- Ceiko (magnificent)
- Chieko (intelligent child, wise)
- Chika (scattering flowers)
- Chiyo (thousand generations)
- Emi (beautiful blessing)
- Emiko (beautiful and blessed child)
- Eri (Blessed Prize)
- Etsuko (Child of Joy)
F to L
- Fumiko (Rich Beauty's Child)
- Hana (flower)
- Hanako (Flower Child)
- Haru (Spring)
- Haruko (Spring Child)
- Haruna (spring vegetables)
- Hideko (Child of Kindness)
- Hikari (Shine)
- Hina (sun vegetables)
- Hisako (long-lived child)
- Hiroko (large child)
- Hiromi (generous beauty)
- Hitomi (pupil)
- Honoka (Harmony Flower)
- Hoshi (Star)
- Hoshiko (Star Child)
- Hotaru (firefly)
- Izanami (main female goddess of Japanese mythology)
- Izumi (source)
- Kamiko (supreme child)
- Katsumi (victorious beauty)
- Kazumi (harmonious beauty)
- Kazuko (Child of Harmony)
- Keiko (respectful child)
- Kiko (hope)
- Kimi (classy)
- Kimiko (Empress's Child)
- Kiyomi (pure beauty)
- Kumiko (Child of Sea and Sky)
- Kyoko (mirror)
M to T
- Madoka (circle, round)
- May (dance)
- Maki (true hope)
- Maiko (dancing child)
- Makoto (sincerely)
- mommy (real beauty)
- Mana (Sea of Love)
- Manami (love, beauty)
- Masa (fair)
- Masumi (clarity)
- Mariko (village child)
- Mayumi (Truth, Spindles (Euonymus))
- wed (adorable)
- Michi (righteous way)
- Michiko (righteous child)
- Mieko (successful)
- miho (protected)
- Mika (lovely scent)
- Miki (pretty princess)
- Miku (Eternity, Heaven)
- Mimi (ray of light)
- Minako (apple tree)
- minor (truth)
- Mio (beautiful cherry blossom)
- Misaki (beautiful flower)
- Mitsuko (Light)
- Mitsuru (satisfied()
- Miwa (harmony, peace)
- Miyako (Night Child)
- Miyu (gentle)
- Miyuki (beautiful blessing)
- Momoka (Peach Blossom)
- Moriko (Forest Child)
- Nana (seven)
- Nanami (seven seas)
- Nao (honest)
- Naoko (obedient child)
- Naomi (honest beauty)
- Natsuki (Rare Summer, Vegetables of the Moon)
- Natsumi (Splendid Summer)
- Nobuko (faithful)
- Noriko (Order)
- Rin (venerable)
- Rina (Jasmine)
- Rio (Tallow Cherry Blossom)
- Rika (true scent)
- Riko (Child of Truth)
- Ryoko (good kid)
- Sachiko (lucky kid)
- Saki (Flowers of Hope)
- Sakura (Cherry Blossoms)
- Satoko (wise)
- Satomi (beautiful and wise)
- Shinju (Pearl)
- Shiori (poem)
- Shigeko (luxury)
- Shika (deer)
- Shizuka (quiet summer)
- Shizuko (quiet kid)
- Sumiko (Child of Virtue)
- Suzu (bell)
- Suzume (sparrow)
- Takako (dutiful)
- Takara (treasure)
- Tamiko (Child of Beauties)
- Teruko (bright child
- Tomomi (friend, wisdom, beauty)
- Tomiko (lucky kid)
- Toshiko (smart kid)
U to Z
- Umeko (Child of Plums)
- Yasu (plentiful)
- Yoko (Child, Crystal)
- Yoshi (successful, happy)
- Yoshie (romantic flow)
- Yoshiko (Child of Kindness)
- Yua (binding love)
- Yuina (connected)
- Yuka (gentle flower)
- Yukari (pretty pear tree)
- Yumi (story, beauty)
- Yumiko (Child of History)
- Yui (Elegant Cloth)
- Yuki (snow, happy)
- Yuko (Child of Gentleness)
- Yuri (lily)
- Yuriko (Lily Child)
- Yuuna (citrus fruit)
A notice: Many Japanese names can be adapted by the word "ko" for "child". For example, "Yuki" becomes "Yukiko" for "happy child" or "Chiyo" becomes "Chiyoko" for a "child of the millennium".
Male Japanese Cat Names from A to E
- Aki (autumn, bright)
- Akihiro (great shine)
- Akio (wise lord)
- Akira (awake)
- Arata (new)
- Atsushi (diligent manager)
- Ayumu (stride, dance, dream)
- chibi (small)
- dai (big)
- Daiki (powerful nobility)
- Daisuke (great help)
- Eiji (Eternal Order)
F to L
- Fumio (literature, teaching scholar)
- hachi (eight)
- Haruki (Shining Sun)
- Haruto (flying toward the sun)
- Hayate (soft, at great speed)
- Hibiki (sound, echo)
- Hideki (excellent timber trees)
- Hideo (excellent gentleman)
- Hikaru (character)
- Hinata (facing the sun, sunflower)
- Hiraku (open, expanding)
- Hiro (generous)
- Hiroaki (long range light)
- Hiroshi (extensive)
- Hiroyoshi (great honor)
- Hiroyuki (great journey)
- Hitoshi (motivated)
- Hotaka (high, grain)
- Ichiro (the first born)
- Isamu (brave)
- Itsuki (crop trees)
- Izanagi (main male god of Japanese mythology)
- Jiro (second born)
- Junichi (the obedient firstborn)
- Kaede (maple)
- Kai (Ocean, Shell)
- Kaito (flying over the ocean)
- Kaoru (Scent)
- Katashi (steadfast)
- Katsu (Victory)
- Kenichi (strong and healthy firstborn)
- Kenji (strong and healthy second born)
- Kenshin (modest)
- Kenta (strong and healthy)
- Kichiro (lucky son)
- Kiyoshi (Purity)
- Kouta (great peace)
- Kunio (man of the country)
- Kyo (Cohesion)
M to T
- Madoka (circle, round)
- Makoto (honest)
- Masa (fair)
- Masaaki (pleasantly light)
- Masaki (large timber tree)
- Masashi (just aim)
- Masaru (Victory)
- Masato (fair person)
- Masayoshi (honorable)
- Masayuki (Just Blessing)
- Masumi (complete clarity)
- Michi (path)
- Michio (man on a journey)
- Mitsuo (Shining Hero)
- Mitsuru (satisfactory)
- Nao (honest)
- Naoki (Honest Timber Tree)
- Noboru (ascend)
- Nori (rule, seaweed)
- Norio (law)
- Osamu (disciplined)
- Ren (lotus flower, love)
- Riku (Earth)
- Rikuto (Earth Person)
- Rokuro (sixth son)
- Ryo (cool, refreshing)
- Ryoichi (clear, friendly)
- Ryota (great refreshment)
- Ryuu (dragon)
- Satoshi (fast learner)
- Shinobu (stamina)
- Shiro (fourth son)
- sho (fly)
- Shouta (fly far)
- Shinji (the true secondborn)
- Sora (Heaven)
- Susanoo (Shinto god of wind and sea)
- Susumo (progress)
- Tadao (faithful man)
- Tadashi (faithful, loyal)
- Taichi (big firstborn)
- Taiki (great brilliance)
- Takahiro (noble)
- Takayuki (Noble Journey)
- Takashi (wealthy)
- Takeo (War Hero)
- Takumi (Artist)
- Tama (turtle, perfect, ball)
- Tamotsu (Keeper)
- Taro (big son)
- Toshi (wise)
- Toshiaki (beneficial light)
- Toshio (brilliant ruler)
- Tsuyoshi (strong, powerful)
U to Z
- Yamato (great harmony)
- Yasu (peace)
- Yasushi (peaceful)
- Youta (Great Sunlight)
- Yoshi (happy, fair)
- Yoshio (joyful life)
- Yoshiro (righteous son)
- Yoshito (honorable sir)
- Yuichi (Heroic First Born)
- Yuji (heroic secondborn)
- Yuuki (Cautious Hope)
- Yukio (blessed hero)
- Yuzuki (citrus tree, joy)
50 cat names from anime movies and series
- Anpu (The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.)
- Artemis (Sailor Moon)
- Arthur (Code Geass)
- Baron (Kingdom of Cats)
- Beerus (Dragonball Z: Battle of the Gods)
- Blair (Soul Eater)
- Carla (Fairy Tail)
- Charmmy (Hello Kitty)
- Cheshire (Pandora Hearts)
- Chi (Little Cat Chi)
- Chito (Flying Witch)
- Chomusuke (Konosuba)
- Diana (Sailor Moon)
- Doraemon (Doraemon)
- Garnet (Jewelpet)
- Happy (Fairy Tail)
- Haru Mikazuki (My Roommate is a Cat)
- Jiji (Kiki's Delivery Service)
- Kamineko (Azumanga Daioh)
- Karupin (The Prince of Tennis)
- Kaya (Ghost Stories)
- Kerberos (Cardcaptor Sakura)
- Kirara (Inuyasha)
- Korin (Dragon Ball Z)
- Kuro (Blue Exorcist)
- Kuroneko-sama (Trigun)
- Luna (Sailor Moon)
- Madara (Pact of Yokai – Natsume's Book of Friends)
- Mao (Darker than Black)
- Maris StellaTokyo Ghoul
- Matatabi (Naruto)
- Meowth (Pokémon)
- Maya (Azumanga Daioh)
- Mimi (The Journey to Agartha)
- Molly (The Ancient Magus Bride)
- Morgana (Persona 5: The Animation)
A notice: The Baron from the Cat Kingdom also appears in the 1995 film Voice of the Heart. There he introduces himself under the longer title "Baron Humbert von Gikkingen".
- Neko Sensei (Princess Tutu)
- Niya Arrietty (The Wondrous World of Borrowers)
- Noramyako (Doraemon)
- Nyanko Big (Tada Never Falls In Love)
- Nyanko-sensei (Pact of Yokai – Natsume's Book Of Friends)
- Potya (Yuri!!! on ICE)
- Puck (Re: Zero – Starting Life in Another World)
- Richie (One Piece)
- Sakamoto (Nichijoum)
- Sango (Jewelpet)
- Shamisen (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)
- Sorata (Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi)
- Tarou (Around a Whisker)
- Torah (Naruto)
frequently asked Questions
Do cats answer their names?
That depends on the cat. The animals remember the name if they have enough contact with their caregiver. Whether the cat intentionally reacts to being named depends on the temperament of the animal, the relationship with the owner and the complexity of the name.
What should be considered when pronouncing Japanese names?
Japanese cat names are inherently pronounced the way they are spelled. You only have to be careful not to stretch the vowels too long when stressing. Luckily, many of the cat names are only one or two syllables, making them easier to pronounce.