Choosing a Japanese cat name can be challenging because there are so many great options. The Japanese have a huge fascination with cats, so you can find cat name inspiration in history, books and TV, and modern cat naming trends.
Common Japanese Cat Names
The Japanese love their cats so much they actually report annually on the most popular pet cat names. You can browse past popular Japanese cat names for options that aren't so trendy right now. You can also check out the most used cat names in Japan in 2020 if you want to be on-trend.
Popular Male Cat Names in Japan
Male cat names popular in Japan right now are very descriptive.
- Daifuku - rice cake filled with bean jam
- Haru - spring
- Kohaku - amber
- Kotetsu - small iron
- Maron - chestnut
- Reo - lion
- Sora - sky
- Tama - ball
- Ten - dot or heavens
- Tora - tiger
Popular Female Cat Names in Japan
Female cat names that are cool in Japan now tend to be short, cute, and descriptive of cat colors.
- Chibi - tiny
- Fuku - lucky
- Hana - flower
- Hime - princess
- Kinako - roasted soybean flour
- Koko - short for cocoa
- Kuro - black
- Mei - brightness
- Mike - tortoiseshell
- Momo - peach
- Mugi - barley
- Nana - seven or pear
- Rin - bell or cold
- Sakura - cherry blossom
Cute Japanese Female Cat Names
These Japanese girl names have beautiful meanings that work great for feline friends.
- Akane - deep red
- Aki - bright or autumn
- Aya - color or design
- Chika - wisdom and beautiful
- Emi - favor and beautiful
- Haruka - distant
- Hikari - light
- Hoshi - star
- Jun - pure
- Kazue - peace
- Kei - intelligent
- Kyo - cooperate
- Mayu - real superiority
- Nyaa - the sound cats make in Japan
- Saori - sand weaving
- Shun - fast
- Ume - Japanese apricot
- Yu -superiority
Cute Japanese Male Cat Names
These Japanese boy names have masculine meanings for your strong companion.
- Arata - new
- Daichi - great wisdom
- Daiki - great brightness
- Hanzo - half to hide
- Hayate - sudden
- Hiroki - great brightness
- Isamu - brave
- Junpei - pure and peaceful
- Katsu - victory
- Kazuo - one male
- Ken - healthy/strong
- Kenta - strong and big
- Masao - proper hero
- Nao - straight
- Neko - cat
- Nobu - trust
- Ryota - cool and big
- Ryu - dragon
- Shingo - real me
- Taichi - big one
- Yota - big male
- Yudai - manly and great
Names of Famous Japanese Cats
From social media to popular Japanese character franchises, there are tons of famous Japanese cat names you could steal.
- Chokokyatto (Chococat) - black cat with a brown nose from Hello Kitty franchise
- Fukumaru - famous for companionship with an elderly woman
- Harō Kitī (Hello Kitty) - cute white cartoon cat whose real name is Kitī Howaito (Kitty White)
- Maru - circle; known on social media for playing in boxes
- Meicoomon (Meikumon) - orange Maine Coon character from Digimon
- Shironeko - known on social media for being happy and sleepy
- Tailmon (Gatoman) - white cat-like Digimon character
- Tama - famed stationmaster cat
Popular Pokémon Cat-Like Characters
There are dozens of Pokémon that resemble cats. If your cat chose you, give him or her a special Pokémon name to fit this relationship.
- Espeon - lilac cat-like evolution of Eevee
- Glameow - gray cat with white tips
- Litten - black and red cat
- Meowth - cream colored cat
- Mew - pink cat-like mythical Pokémon
- Persian - the elegant, evolved form of Meowth
- Purrloin - purple cat
- Shinx - blue, black, and yellow creature resembling a baby lion or lynx
- Skitty - pink cat with a big head
- Torracat - black and red tiger-like evolution of Litten
Popular Yo Kai Watch Cat Characters
Yo Kai Watch cats have special powers and really cute accessories. Match your cat's personality to one of these feline yo kai.
- Acenyan (Fuyunyan Ēsu) - blue cat
- Blue Moon (Burūmūn) - light blue cat
- Buchinyan - orange/red and white cat
- Dianyan - silver/gray cat
- Goromi - yellow cat
- Jibanyan - orange cat
- Kirene - pink cat
- Master Nyada - calico cat
- Nekomata - black and white cat
- Punifuyu - purle cat
- Robanyan - bluish-gray cat
- Wild Boy (Wairudoboui) - yellow cat
Japanese Anime Cat Names
There are tens of thousands of anime cats from books, movies, and TV shows you can use for your new cat.
- Artemis - from Sailor Moon
- Baron Humbert von Gikkingen - from The Cat Returns
- Catbus - from My Neighbor Totorro
- Chi - from Chi's Sweet Home
- Happy - from Fairy Tail
- Jiji - from Kiki's Delivery Service
- Kamineko - from Azumanga Daioh
- Kirara - from Inuyasha
- Korin - from Dragon Ball Z
- Kuroneko-sama - from Trigun
- Kyu - from Fruits Basket
- Luna - from Sailor Moon
- Mao - from Darker Than Black
- Nyanko-sensei - from Natsume's Book of Friends
- Puar - from Dragon Ball
- Potya (Puma Tiger Scorpion) - from Yuri!!! on Ice
Japanese Mythology Names for Cats
If your cat seems high and mighty, a Japanese mythology name might be fitting.
- Amaterasu Ōmikami - great divinity illuminating heaven; sun goddess
- Izanagi - he who invites; central creation myth god
- Izanami - she who invites; central creation myth goddess
- Kagututi - incarnation of fire; child of Izanagi and Izanami
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Kintarō - child with superhuman strength
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Momotarō - peach boy; boy sent from heaven who defeated ogres and demons
- Ōnamuji - great land master; ruler of the unseen world
- Susanowo - impetuous male; storm god
- Tsukiyomi - moon god
- Yang - heaven
- Yin - earth
Great Names for Japanese Bobtail Cats
The unique look and personality of Japanese bobtail cats provides inspiration for these fun companions.
- Bani - bunny
- Hideyoshi - excellent good luck
- Hifume - one, two, and three
- Karafuru - colorful
- Kenji - healthy/strong two
- Kenzo - healthy/strong three
- Kichi - good luck
- Koji - good luck boss or good luck two
- Koki - good luck hope
- Maneki Neko - beckoning cat; symbol of luck in Japan
- Ryuji - noble two
- Sachie - good luck and favor
- Shoto - short
- Usagi - rabbit
- Yoshi - good luck
Cools Names for Black Cats Inspired by Japan
Look for Japanese words for common things that are black to use for your dark friend.
- Kanzo - licorice
- Karasu - crow
- Komori - bat
- Kosho - pepper
- Miyako - beautiful night child
- Oribu - olive
- Pansa - panther
- Sekitan - coal
- Shi - death
- Yami - dark
- Yoru - night
Wonderful White Cat Names Inspired by Japan
Give your white cat a beautiful, pure name when you choose a Japanese word for something white.
- Airi - love and white jasmine
- Akari - bright and white jasmine
- Gohan - rice
- Kumo - cloud
- Riko - white jasmine and child
- Rina - white jasmine
- Rio - white jasmine and center
- Shio - salt
- Shiro - white
- Yuki - snow
- Yukiko - snow child
Names From Japan for Multi-Colored Cats
You can use the words for colors in Japanese as names for single color cats or combine the color names for multi-colored cats.
- Aka - red
- Ao - blue
- Boronzu-iro - bronze
- Cha-iro - brown
- Gin-iro - silver
- Hai-iro - gray
- Iro - color
- Ki-iro - yellow
- Kin-iro - gold
- Midori - green
- Murasaki - purple
- Niji - rainbow
- Orenji - orange
- Pinku - pink
- Tashokuno - multi-colored
Japanese Names for Cats That Mean Friend or Love
If your cat is your best friend, a loving Japanese name is suitable.
- Ai - love
- Aiko - love and child
- Mai - real love
- Megumi - love
- Noa - love, affection
- Ren - love
- Tomoko - friend and child
- Tomomi - friend and beautiful
- Yua - bind and love
- Yumi - friend and beautiful
Fun Japanese Food Names for Cats
The Japanese like to name their cats after fun and cute foods, and you can too.
- Akafuku
- Amanatto
- Anmitsu
- Dango
- Dorayaki
- Gyuhi
- Higashi
- Kasutera
- Maju
- Miso
- Mitsumame
- Mochi
- Monaka
- Mushi Pan
- Namagashi
- Nerikiri
- Nori
- Ohagi
- Okoshi
- Rakugan
- Ramen
- Sashimi
- Soba
- Sushi
- Taiyaki
- Tempura
- Tofu
- Udon
- Uiro
- Wagashi
- Yakitori
- Yokan
- Zenzai
Cat Names Inspired by Japanese Cities and Towns
If you simply love Japanese culture, you can use town or city names from the country as cat names.
- Akita
- Atsu
- Chiba
- Joetsu
- Kobe
- Kochi
- Kyoto
- Matsue
- Mito
- Nagoya
- Naha
- Nara
- Osaka
- Sapporo
- Sendai
- Tokyo
- Toyama
Idolize Your Cat the Japanese Way
Japanese culture is vast and constantly changing. Explore all things Japan to find the perfect name for your pet cat.
