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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.