150+ Japanese Dog Names With Meanings: Traditional & Unique Ideas

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Female Names With Meanings Male Names With Meanings Japanese Food Names Japanese Pop Culture Names

Whether you’re bringing home a Japanese dog breed or have a cultural interest in Japan, choosing a Japanese name for your dog can celebrate your appreciation of Japan. Choosing a Japanese dog name with meaning behind it will only further your celebration of the country. Finding a place to start when it comes to choosing a Japanese name for your dog can be overwhelming, though, especially if you aren’t a Japanese speaker. Here are dozens of options for Japanese dog names for your pup with their meanings included to help you choose!

Female Japanese Dog Names With Meanings

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Amaya: night rain
Akira: intelligent
Yuki: snow
Yumi: beautiful
Mei: beautiful
Yuri: lily
Asami: morning beauty
Aki: autumn
Sora: sky
Annaisha: a helpful guide
Arisu: noble
Emi: blessing
Jun: obedient
Amai: sweet
Ara Ara: “oh my” or “oh no”
Himari: home of light and love
Bashira: joyful or beautiful smile
Akemi: beauty or bright
Makoto: true, genuine, or pure
Beni: crimson
Akako: red
Akane: brilliant red
Ayame: iris
Emiko: smiling child
Hime: princess
Nahiso: shore
Tsuki: moon
Ichika: one thousand flowers
Yoshiko: good or child
Nyomo: gem or treasure
Yubi: graceful
Haia: nimble/quick
Mikki: flower stem
Haruno: blooming fields
Cho/Chou: butterfly/butterflies
Megumi: blessing
Chan: a term of endearment (female)
Eiji: prosperity, peace, or great
Kirei: pretty
Ai: love
Kuuki: air
Shin: heart
Shinju: pearl
Kazuki: peaceful tree
Akachan: baby
Pinku: pink
Yamato: great harmony
Kaguya: radiant night
Kichona: precious
Fubuki: snowstorm/blizzard
Tatsumaki: tornado
Ki: brightness/radiance
Kiseki: miracle
Miyu: gentle
Itsuki: tree or servant of God
Ikebana: a flower arranging artform
Nami: wave
Nana: seven
Arata: fresh/new
Izumi: spring/fountain
Ikigai: life’s purpose
Chisai tori: little bird
Sakura: cherry blossom
Rina: jasmine
Hideaki: outstanding/excellent or bright
Maru: round
Danuja: a ruler
Haru: sunlight
Hana: flower

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Male Japanese Dog Names With Meanings

Dai: cost/price
Daiki: big/great
Osamu: ruler
Renjiro: virtuous
Benjiro: enjoys peace
Suzumebachi: hornet
Shohei: respect
Nobuyuki: faithful happiness
Nikko: sunshine
Atsushi: industrious
Monterio: big boy
Daitan: daring or bold
Botan: peony
Dai-ichi: first
Akihiki: shining prince
Kumo: cloud
Haru: born in the spring
Haruo: springtime man/male
Kun: a term of endearment (male)
Baka: crazy or foolish
Toshiro: talented or intelligent
Toshio: agile, man, or hero
Fujita: field
Genki: lively one
Hajime: beginning
Nippon: Japan
Uzumaki: spiral
Taiyo: sun
Saske: ninja warrior
Shinobi/Shinobu: ninja
Yuji: courageous or brave second son
Jazu: jazz
Jinsei: lifetime
Kyujitai: lightning bolt
Chibi: little/small
Taki: waterfall
Yoshi: good/alright
Kingyo: goldfish
Daichi: from the earth
Uchuu: cosmos
Hoshi:star
Toshiko: clever
Koro: roly-poly
Kiba: fang
Fuji: wealth, abundance, or status
Kimi: noble
Hoshi: star
Mori: forest
Umi: ocean
Kotaro: small boy
Taro: eldest son
Kenzo: wise one
Rin: dignified
Tadao: loyal
Masumi: clarity

Japanese Dog Names Inspired by Food

Nori: seaweed
Kurumi: walnut
Maron: chestnut
Adzuki: red bean
Matcha: a type of green tea
Momo: peach
Dango: sweet dumpling
Udon: a type of wheat noodle
Soba: a type of buckwheat noodle
Ramen: a noodle soup
Anko: a sweet bean soup
Wakame: sesame seaweed
Sushi: raw fish with rice
Mochi: a sweet rice cake
Yuzu: a type of citrus fruit
Sashimi: raw fish without rice

Japanese Dog Names Inspired by Pop Culture

Kaiju: a type of giant monster
Samurai: a Japanese warrior
Ronin: a masterless Samurai
Ukiyo: a style of Japanese art popular in the 17th through 19th centuries
Pikachu: a Pokémon character
Kyary: the name of a pop star
Maki: a character from the Street Fighter game
Ryu: dragon
Senshi: warrior
Gojira: Godzilla
Kawaii: cute
Sensei: teacher or master
Kakashi: scarecrow
Shinigami: a type of supernatural spirit that leads people toward death
Naruto: whirlpool/maelstrom, a fish cake, or the name of a popular anime show
Raiden/Raijin: the god of thunder and lighting
Amaterasu: the goddess of the sun
Okami: wolf or the name of a legendary Japanese dragon deity

Conclusion

This list of Japanese dog names is certainly not all-inclusive, but there’s a wide variety of name ideas here for just about any taste. If you want to name your dog after food, pop culture, or personality descriptions, there are great Japanese name options for your dog (whether or not it's an Akita). It’s important to keep in mind that the meanings of words in Japanese may vary based on the kanji script used and not the pronunciation of the word, so some of these words have multiple meanings that may not be listed since they aren’t pertinent to naming a dog. Whether you have a Japanese dog breed or not, this is a great list of interesting names! Looking for more?

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