Japan is a country that has an incredibly diverse and rich cultural heritage that can inspire you to find names for your pets. There are many reasons why people choose to name their cats after Japanese words. Some people want to honor their heritage by naming their pets after traditional Japanese names, while others may want to give their pet a more sophisticated sounding name.
When you search for cat names, you want to find something that is both unique and sounds great. Luckily for you, here are our Japanese cat names ideas to help steer you in the right direction.
Japanese Male Cat Names with their Meanings
Japanese cat names are unique and special. They have their own meanings, which can be very different from the way we name our cats in the West. Here are some list of Japanese Male Cat Names with their Meanings.
| Cat Names | Meanings |
| Aki | bright / autumn |
| Akihiro | great brightness |
| Akio | bright man |
| Akira | bright / clear |
| Arata | new, fresh |
| Atsushi | industrious director |
| Ayumu | walk dream, vision |
| Dai | great, large |
| Daiki | great glory / great nobility |
| Daisuke | great help |
| Eiji | eternity order |
| Fumio | literature, scholarly hero |
| Haru | spring |
| Haruki | shining sun |
| Haruto | sun flying |
| Hayate | smooth |
| Hibiki | sound, echo |
| Hideki | excellent timber trees |
| Hideo | excellent man |
| Hikaru | light, radiance |
| Hinata | sunflower / facing towards the sun |
| Hiraku | open, expand |
| Hiro | generous |
| Hiroaki | wide, spacious light |
| Hiroki | vast timber trees |
| Hiroshi | generous |
| Hiroyuki | great journey |
| Hitoshi | motivated person |
| Hotaka | tall grain |
| Ichiro | first son |
| Isamu | brave, courageous |
| Itsuki | timber trees |
| Jiro | second son |
| Junichi | obedient first son |
| Kaede | maple |
| Kaito | ocean flying |
| Kaoru | fragrance |
| Katashi | firm |
| Katsu | victory |
| Kenichi | strong, healthy first son |
| Kenji | strong, healthy second son |
| Kenshin | modest truthful |
| Kenta | large strong, healthy |
| Kichiro | lucky son |
| Kiyoshi | purity |
| Kouta | great peace |
| Kunio | country man |
| Kyo | cooperation |
| Madoka | circle, round |
| Makoto | sincere |
| Masa | just / true |
| Masaaki | pleasing brightness |
| Masaki | great timber tree |
| Masaru | victory |
| Masashi | righteous aspiration |
| Masato | righteous person |
| Masayoshi | righteous, honorable |
| Masayuki | righteous blessing |
| Masumi | true clarity |
| Michi | pathway |
| Michio | man on a journey |
| Mitsuo | shining hero |
| Mitsuru | satisfy, full |
| Nao | honest |
| Naoki | honest timber tree |
| Noboru | ascend, rise |
| Nori | to rule |
| Norio | lawful man |
| Osamu | disciplined, studious |
| Ren | lotus / love |
| Riku | land |
| Rikuto | person of land |
| Rokuro | sixth son |
| Ryo | refreshing, cool |
| Ryoichi | good first son |
| Ryota | great refreshment |
| Satoshi | wise, fast learner |
| Shinji | true second son |
| Shinobu | endurance |
| Shiro | fourth son |
| Sho | to fly |
| Shouta | big flying |
| Sora | sky |
| Tadao | loyal, faithful man |
| Tadashi | loyal, faithful |
| Taichi | large first son |
| Taiki | great radiance, shine |
| Takahiro | of great value, nobility |
| Takashi | prosperous, noble |
| Takayuki | noble journey |
| Takeo | warrior hero |
| Takumi | artisan |
| Tamotsu | protector, keeper |
| Taro | large son |
| Toshi | wise |
| Toshiaki | advantageous light |
| Toshio | genius leader, hero |
| Tsuyoshi | strong |
| Yamato | great harmony |
| Yasu | peace |
| Yasushi | peaceful |
| Yoshi | lucky / righteous |
| Yoshio | joyful life |
| Yoshiro | righteous son |
| Yoshito | ceremonial, correct person |
| Youta | great sunlight |
| Yuichi | heroic first son |
| Yuji | heroic second son |
| Yuki | happiness / snow |
| Yukio | blessed hero |
Japanese Female Cat Names with their Meanings
Japanese cat names are often associated with the Japanese culture, as they are mostly derived from Japanese words. Each name is thought to bring good luck, and many owners will choose a name that matches the personality of their cat.
Female cats have different personalities from male cats and some may be more difficult to train. They also require more attention than male cats do, so it is important to choose a name that your kitty will respond well to. We have listed some Japanese Female Cat Names with their Meanings given below:
| Cat Names | Meanings |
| Aiko | child of love |
| Airi | love jasmine |
| Akemi | bright beautiful |
| Akiko | bright child |
| Akira | bright / clear |
| Asami | morning beauty |
| Asuka | tomorrow perfume, fragrance |
| Ayame | iris |
| Ayano | my color |
| Ceiko | child of splendor |
| Chieko | child of intelligence, wisdom |
| Chika | scatter flowers |
| Chiyo | one thousand generations |
| Chiyoko | child of a thousand generations |
| Emi | beautiful blessing |
| Emiko | beautiful blessing child |
| Eri | blessed prize |
| Etsuko | child of joy |
| Fumiko | child of abundant beauty |
| Hana | flower |
| Hanako | flower child |
| Haru | spring |
| Haruko | spring child |
| Haruna | spring vegetables |
| Hideko | child of excellence |
| Hikari | light, radiance |
| Hina | sun vegetables |
| Hiro | generous |
| Hiroko | generous child |
| Hiromi | generous beauty |
| Hisako | child of long life |
| Hitomi | pupil of the eye |
| Honoka | harmony flower |
| Hoshi | star |
| Hoshiko | star child |
| Hotaru | firefly |
| Izumi | spring, fountain |
| Kamiko | superior child |
| Katsumi | victorious beauty |
| Kazuko | child of harmony |
| Kazumi | harmonious beauty |
| Keiko | blessed child / respectful child |
| Kiko | chronical child |
| Kimi | noble |
| Kimiko | empress child |
| Kiyomi | pure beauty |
| Kumiko | long-time beautiful child |
| Kyo | cooperation |
| Kyoko | respectful child |
| Madoka | circle, round |
| Mai | dance |
| Maiko | child of dance |
| Maki | true hope |
| Makoto | sincere |
| Mami | true beauty |
| Mana | love |
| Manami | loving beautiful |
| Mao | dance cherry blossom |
| Mariko | true village child |
| Masa | just / true |
| Masumi | true clarity |
| Mayumi | true gentle beauty |
| Mi | beautiful |
| Michi | pathway |
| Michiko | beautiful wise child |
| Midori | green |
| Mieko | beautiful blessing child |
| Miho | protected, guaranteed beauty |
| Mika | beautiful fragrance |
| Miki | beautiful princess |
| Miku | beautiful sky |
| Minako | beautiful child |
| Minori | truth |
| Mio | beautiful cherry blossom |
| Misaki | beautiful blossom |
| Mitsuko | child of light |
| Mitsuru | satisfy, full |
| Miwa | beautiful hamony, peace |
| Miyako | beautiful night child |
| Miyu | beautiful gentle |
| Miyuki | beautiful blessing |
| Momoka | peach tree flower |
| Moriko | child of the forest |
| Nana | seven |
| Nanami | seven seas |
| Nao | honest |
| Naoko | honest child |
| Naomi | honest beautiful |
| Natsuki | summer hope |
| Natsumi | beautiful summer |
| Nobuko | faithful, trustworthy child |
| Noriko | lawful child |
| Ren | lotus / love |
| Rika | true fragrance |
| Riko | child of truth |
| Rin | dignified |
| Rina | jasmine |
| Rio | village cherry blossom |
| Ryoko | refreshing child |
| Sachiko | joyful, happy child |
| Saki | blossom of hope |
| Sakura | cherry blossom |
| Satoko | wise child |
| Satomi | beautiful and wise |
| Shigeko | growing child |
| Shika | deer |
| Shinju | pearl |
| Shiori | poem |
| Shizuka | quiet summer |
| Shizuko | quiet child |
| Sora | sky |
| Sumiko | child of clarity |
| Suzu | bell |
| Suzume | sparrow |
| Takako | noble child |
| Takara | treasure |
| Tamiko | child of many beauties |
| Teruko | shining child |
| Tomiko | child of wealth, fortune |
| Tomomi | beautiful friend |
| Toshiko | clever child |
| Umeko | plum child |
| Yasu | peace iness / snow |
| Yasuko | child of peace |
| Yoko | child of sunlight |
| Yoshi | lucky / righteous |
| Yoshie | beautiful stream |
| Yoshiko | child of goodness |
| Yua | binding love |
| Yui | bind clothing |
| Yuina | bind together |
| Yuka | gentle flower |
| Yukari | beautiful pear tree |
| Yuki | happy |
| Yukiko | child of snow / child of happiness |
| Yuko | gentle child |
| Yumi | reason beautiful |
| Yumiko | reason beautiful child |
| Yuri | lily |
| Yuriko | lily child |
| Yuuna | gentle |
Anime Cat Names
- Aang
- Artemis
- Arthur
- Asami
- Asuka
- Asuna
- Blair
- Bolin
- Buyo
- Carla
- Chi
- Doraemon
- Gohan
- Goku
- Happy
- Hideki
- Hinata
- Ichigo
- Jibanyan
- Jiji
- Kamineko
- Kanade
- Katara
- Kirara
- Kirito
- Kora
- Korin
- Kuro
- Kuroneko-sama
- Luna
- Madara
- Mako
- Mao
- Meowth
- Milo
- Misa
- Misato
- Molly
- Naruto
- Nekobasu
- Nekotalia
- Nyan
- Orihime
- Potya
- Poyo
- Rei
- Rukia
- Ryuk
- Sakamoto
- Sasuke
- Shinji
- Sokka
- Suguha
- Takamatsu
- Takkun
- Tama
- Toph
- Totoro
- Vegeta
- Yuzuru
Japanese Black Cat Names with their meanings
- Akumi – the dark
- Amaya – night rain
- An – dark
- Anri – dark jasmine
- Hai – ash
- Hatsuki – moon flower
- Hotaru – firefly
- Kage – shadow
- Kaguya – shining night
- Kuroguro – deep black
- Makkuro – pitch black
- Mayonaka – midnight
- Mika – new moon
- Mokutan – charcoal
- Sekitan – coal
- Sumi – black ink
- Susu – soot
- Tsuki – moon
- Tsukiko – moon child
- Yami – darkness
- Yamiyo – dark night
- Yasha – night devil
- Yoru – night
Japanese White Cat Names
- Akari – light
- Akira – bright
- Awai – pale
- Deiji – daisy
- Fuyu – winter
- Fuyuko – winter child
- Gin – silvery
- Iguru – igloo
- Kiri – fog
- Kitsune – white fox
- Kori – ice
- Kumo – cloud
- Mashiro – pure white
- Miruku – milk
- Misuto – mist
- Miyuki – beautiful snow
- Reiki – chill or cold
- Shimo – frost
- Sunoboru – snowball
- Tenshi – angel
- Tsurana – icicle
- Yuki – snow
- Yukiko – snow child
- Yurei – ghost or spirit
- Yuri – lily
- Zoge – ivory
Most Popular Japanese Cat Names with their meanings
Aiko – bright child
Akemi – beautiful
Azuki – sweet red beans
Chibi – tiny
Chiro – bare
Chobi – small
Emi – beautiful blessing
Fuku – lucky
Hana – flower
Haru – spring
Hime – princess
Junko – pure
Kai – ocean
Keiko – adored
Kinako – yellow flour
Koko – cocoa
Kotetsu – small iron
Kuro – black
Kurumi – walnut
Maron – chestnut
Maru – circle
Mei – beautiful
Mikan – mandarin orange
Mike – tortoises
Miki – beautiful princess
Minto – mint
Miruku – milk
Moka – mocha
Momo – peach
Reo – Leo
Rin – bell
Sakura – cherry blossom
Satomi – intelligent
Shiro – white
Sora – sky
Takara – treasure
Tama – ball
Tora – tiger
Toshi – wise
Yoshi – righteous
Yoshiko – child of goodness
Conlusion
When naming a cat, there are a lot of possibilities. You might want to choose a name that sounds cute and exotic at the same time, or you might prefer to pick one with a deep meaning.
You may find that when you look up a cat’s name, there are too many to choose from! However, with some consideration of your cat’s gender/color/patterning and also their personality, it should make the process easier. Ensure you pick a name that sounds good and is easy to say!
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