The Japanese love cats.

And it’s not just Hello Kitty: the white bobcat with a big, red bow and no mouth, who’s worth 4.4 billion dollars. They place Maneki-Neko, "beckoning cat" statues with raised paws that are said to bring good luck and prosperity, in front of their businesses. 

Nearly 10 million cats live in the “Land of the Rising Sun”, compared to 8.9 million dogs, according to a study by the Japan Pet Food Association. Because many apartments in the country forbid pets, there are more than 150 cat cafes. 

Why do cats outnumber children in Japan? They’re "tsundere" – a mash-up of "tsuntsun", thornily standoffish, and "deredere", intensely sweet and affectionate. With round eyes, fluffy coats, and disarming meows, they’re also kawaii.

Whether you’re embracing your Japanese heritage or have adopted a Japanese or Kurilian Bobtail, here are 400+ possible names for your cat. 

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Male Japanese Cat Names

Strong and honorable, these male Japanese cat names pay homage to gods, goodness, and nature: 

A

Aki – Born in autumn 

Akihiro – Great brightness

Akio – Bright boy 

Arata – New

Asahi – Morning sunlight  

Atsushi – Kindness

Ayumu – Dream

B

Banzan – Indestructible mountain 

Bassui – High above average 

Bento – Boxed lunch

Bishamon – Buddist god of war and fortune 

Botan – Peony 

Byakuya – White night

C

Chimon – Wisdom gate 

Chotan – Deep pool 

D

Daijiro – Great second son 

Daichi – Great land

Dai-In – Hidden greatness 

Daiki – Shining 

Daisuke – Great helper

Daku – Dark

Domo – Thank you

Doryo – Generosity 

Dosei – Saturn

E

Ebisu – Shinto god of luck, wealth, and prosperity

Eiji – Eternity 

Endo – Roadside 

Enkai – Deep sea

Eryu – Dragon wisdom 

F

Fuku – Lucky

Fuji – Unsurpassed

Fujin – Shinto wind god 

Fumihiro – Large sentence 

Fumio – Scholarly hero

G

Genkei – Honored 

Giichi – One rule 

Goku – Aware of emptiness 

Goro – Fifth son

H

Hajime – Beginning 

Haru – Flowering springtime

Haruto – Soar to heaven

Haya – Falcon

Hideki – Wonderful opportunity

Hiko – Prince

Hiro – Generous

Hiroaki – Widespread brightness 

Hiroki – Vast timber trees

Hiroshi – Prosperous

Hiroto – Big flight

Hitoshi – Motivated person

Hisa – Long life

Hisoka – Secret 

Homura –  Fire

Honcho – Leader

I

Inoue – Above the well

Ishii – Stone well

Issey – First-born son 

Isamu – Vigorous

Itachi – Weasel 

Ito – String

Iwai – Celebration

Izanagi – First male, the god of creation

J

Jikai – Ocean of compassion 

Jiro – Second son 

Joben – Enjoys cleanliness 

Judo – A martial art form

Junichi – Obedient first son

Juro – Tenth son

K

Kage – Shadow 

Kaito – Between pear trees

Kakashi – Scarecrow 

Kaname  – Vital point 

Kane – Gold

Kangiten  – Buddist god of bliss

Katsu – Victory

Kazan – Fiery volcano

Kichiro – Lucky son

Kitsune – A fox spirit

Kiyoshi – Purity

Kenichi – Strong, healthy first son

Kenshin – Modest 

Kenta – Thick

Kobe – A city in Japan

Koji – Little one 

Kotaro – Plump 

Koto – Japanese harp

Kuebiko – Shinto god of knowledge and agriculture

Kunio – Countryman

Kuro – Black 

Kouta – Great peace

M

Mamoru – Earth 

Manzo – Third-born son 

Masaru – Victory

Matsui – Pine

Michio – Man on a journey

Mitsuo – Shining hero

Mokusei – Jupiter

Mugen – Infinity 

Myojo – Venus

N

Naoki – Tree of truth 

Naruto – Maelstrom

Natsuo – Birth of summer

Nintendo – Leave luck to heaven

Nobu – Faith 

O

Oki –  Blue water  

Osamu – Discipline

R

Raiden – Shinto thunder god 

Reo – Wise gentleman 

Riku – Clever tiger 

Rikuto – Person of land

Ringo – Apple

Rokuro – Sixth son

Ryota – Great refreshment

Ryouichi – Clear one

Ryuunosuke – Noble herald

S

Sake – An alcoholic drink made from rice

Sanji – Praise 

Sanjiro – Admired

Satoshi – Fast learner

Seiji – Lawful

Shiro – White 

Sho – To fly 

Shimizu – Pure water

Sushi – A bite-sized Japanese food

Susumo – Advance 

Suijin – Shinto god of water

T

Tajimamori – Shinto god of sweets

Takeo – Strong as bamboo 

Takumi – Artisan

Taro – Big boy 

Tenjin – Shinto god of scholarship

Tetsu – Iron 

Touma – Mountain top 

Toshiro – Talented

Tousen – Otherworldly 

Tatsuo – Dragon Man 

Tsukikage – Moonbeam

Tsukiya – White moon 

U

Umi – Sea

Unkan – Cloud valley 

Usaku – Moonlit 

Usui – Mortar well 

W

Wataru – Navigation 

Washi – Eagle 

Y

Yami – Darkness 

Yamaha – Mountain Leaf

Yamato – Old Japan 

Yasu – Peace

Yoshi – Silent

Youta – Great sunlight

Yuji – Courageous second son 

Yuma – Calm truth

Yukio – Snow boy 

Yuuto – Gentle person

Z 

Zinan – Second-born son 

Female Japanese Cat Names

Soft and feminine, these Japanese female cat names are related to beauty, love, and flowers. 

A

Ahmya – Black rain 

Ai – Love

Aika – Love song

Aimi – Beloved 

Aiya – Beautiful silk 

Akina – Spring flower 

Akane – Brilliant red 

Amabie - A type of mermaid in Japanese mythology 

Amaterasu  – Shinto sun goddess 

Amaya – Night rain

Aneko – Older sister 

 Ameonna – A female spirit that makes rain

 Anzu  –  Apricot

 Asami – Morning beauty

 Asayo  – Generation of the morning

 Aya – Colorful 

 Ayame – Iris

 Azume – Safe space

B

Bankei – Ten thousand blessings 

Bashira – Joyful

Benten – Buddist goddess of everything that flows 

Bunko – Literary child 

C

Chia – Thousand loves 

Chibi – Tiny

Chie – Wisdom

Chika – Scattered flowers

Chihiro – Thousand questions 

Chinshu – Calm place 

Chiyo – Thousand generations

Chizu – One thousand storks 

Cho – Butterfly

Chorei – Transparent spirituality

D

Dai – Great

E

Eiko – Eternal child

Emi – Blessed with beauty 

Emiko – Smiling child 

Ena – Gift from God 

Eri – Blessed gift

Eshima – True intention 

Etsuko – Child of joy

F

Fumiko – Child of treasured beauty

Fuyuko – Winter child 

G

Gen – Spring 

Gina – Silvery 

Gyo Shin – Heart of dawn 

H

Hana – Flower

Haiku – A form of Japanese poetry 

Hannya – A female demon

Hayami – Rare beauty 

Hekima – Wisdom 

Hina – Good vegetables

Hikari – Radiance

Himari – Ball of light 

Hiromi –Abundant beauty 

Hoshi – Star

Hotaru – Firefly

I

Ichika – One thousand flowers

Ima – Present 

Ino – Wild boar 

Iva – Yew tree 

Iwa – Rock

Izanami –  Shinto goddess of creation and death

Izanami –  Shinto goddess of creation and death

J

Japana – Ambitious 

Jin – Tenderness

Junko – Pure child 

K

Kabuki – Japanese dance/drama

Kaiyo – Forgiveness 

Kannon – Goddess of mercy 

Kaori – Perfume 

Kasumi – Mist 

Keiko – Adored one 

Kichi – Lucky  

Kiko – Hope 

Kimi – Righteous 

Kohana – Small flower

Koko – Stork 

Koto – Beautiful harp 

Kumi – Nine seas

Kura – House of treasure 

Kukurihime - Shinto goddess of meditation and negotiation

Kyoko – Mirror 

L

Leiko – Arrogant 

M

Mai – Brightness

Maiya – Rice valley

Mana – Affection  

Megumi – Blessing 

Midori – Green

Miki – Flower stem 

Minako – Beautiful baby 

Mio – Waterway 

Momo – Peach 

N

Nami – Surf

Nana – Green vegetables 

Nara – Flower from heaven 

Nari – Thunder

Nishi – West 

Noriko – Child of law

Nozomi – Hope

O

Ohara – Small field 

Oki – Ocean centered 

Orino – Worker’s field 

R

Rei – Spirit

Reiko – Thankful child 

Rini – Little bunny 

Risa – Growing flowers at home 

Ruri – Semi-precious stone

Ryoko – Bright child 

Ryuji – Dragon child  

Ryuk – Gift from God 

S

Sachi  – Blessed 

Sai  – Intelligent 

Sachiko – Child of bliss 

Sakura – Cherry blossom

Sango – Coral 

Satome – Beautiful 

Sara – Music

Sato – Sugar 

Sen – Fairy of wood 

Shinju – Pearl

Shion – Aster 

Shiori – Poem

Suki – Beloved 

Sunako – Dark side

Suzu – Bell

Suzume – Sparrow

T

Takara – Treasure

Takashi – Noble 

Taki  – Waterfall 

Tamayo  – Generation jewel 

Taru – Barrel

Tatsu – Dragon 

Tennin – An angelic being in Japanese Buddhism

Tora  – Thunder

Tori  – Bird 

Tsuki – Moon

U

Umiko – Child of the sea 

Umeko – Plum blossom child 

Ukemochi – Shinto goddess of food

Utano – Field of songs 

W

Wakana – Harmony 

Wakumi – Spring of water

Y

Yasuko – Child of peace

Yuka – Friendly blossom

Yukari – Destiny 

Yumi – Archery bow 

Yoko – Positive 

Yori – Public servant 

Yōsei – A fairy

Yuri – Lily 

Yuriko – Lily child

Yoru – Dark

Yuuna – Gentle

Z

Zakuro – Pomegranate

Zen – Peace 

Gender-Neutral Japanese Names for Cats 

Trendy and cool, these unisex cat names not only sound kawaii, they often have positive, upbeat meanings. 

A

Akira – Bright

Aoki – Blue tree

Asa – Morning 

Aoi – Hollyhock flower 

C

Chiaki – A thousand bright lights 

Chiharu – A thousand springtimes 

D

Danuja – Ruler

Doi – Mountain

E

Eri – Blessed prize

H

Hachi – Eight

Harue – Spring bough 

Hatsu – Beginning 

Hibiki – Echo 

Hikaru – Radiance 

Hinata – Sunflower

Hiro – Generous 

Hisoka – Reserved 

I

Ichigo – Strawberry

Iori – Retreat 

Izumi – Fountain

J

Jun – Obedient 

K

Kaede – Maple

Kana – Powerful

Katana – Sword 

Kayo – Beautiful generation 

Kei – Square jewel

Kin – Gold

Kohaku – Amber

Koneko – Japanese word for a kitten (“child cat”)

Kosuke – Rising sun

Kozue – Tree branches 

Kuma – Bear 

Kyou – Capital city 

M

Madoka – Circle

Maemi – Honest child 

Maki – Precious 

Makoto – Sincere 

Maneki-Neko – Japanese Bobtail cat statues in many Japanese restaurants

Masa – Correct

Michi – Pathway 

Minato – Harbor 

Mitsu – Honey 

Mochi – Japanese Rice Cakes 

N

Nagisa – Beach

Nao – Honest

Naoki – Docile tree 

Natsu – Summer

Niko – Two lakes

Nori – Belief 

O

Ohta – Eyes of the almighty God 

R

Reiki – The practice of healing the spirit 

Ren – Lotus

Rin – Companion 

Ryo – Excel

S

Sanyu – Happiness 

Seiko – Force

Setsuna – Split second

Shiki  – The four seasons of the year

Shinobu – Endurance 

Shun – Speed 

Soma – No

Sora – Sky

Subaru – Uniter

Suzuki – Bell of wood 

T

Tamashini – Soul 

Tomi – Rich 

Tomoe – Blessing

Tomomi – Beautiful friend 

Tsubasa – Wings 

Y

Yasu – Calm 

Yuki – Snow

Yuu – Gentle 

Anime-Inspired Cat Names

From aliens that shape-shift into felines to stray, cat-plant hybrids, here are 26 of anime’s most memorable kitties. 

1. Artemis, Diana, and Luna – Sailor Moon
2. Arthur – Code Geass
3. Buyo and Kirara – Inuyasha 
4. Carla and Happy – Fairy Tail
5. Chi – Chi’s Sweet Home
6. Doraemon – Doraemon
7. Chococat and Hello Kitty – The Adventures of Hello Kitty and Friends
8. Jibanyan – YouKai Watch
9. Jiji – Kiki’s Delivery Service 
10. Korin – Dragon Ball Z
11. Kuroneko–sama – Trigun
12. Kyo – Fruit’s Basket
13. Kuro – Blue Exorcist
14. Kamineko – Azumanga Daioh
15. Madara – Natsume's Book Of Friends
16. Mao – Darker than Black
17. Meowth – Pokémon
18. Molly – The Ancient Magus Bride
19. Neko-sensei – Princess Tutu
20. Nyanko Big – Tada Never Falls In Love
21. Potya – Yuri!!! on ICE
22. Poyo – Poyopoyo Kansatsu Nikki
23. Sakamoto – Nichijou
24. Tibbs – Mary and the Witch's Flower
25. Takkun – FLCL
26. Tama – Sazae-San

 

Choosing a name for your cat is more than just a label; it's an expression of your affection and an acknowledgment of their character. Japanese names, rich in meaning and cultural depth, offer a wide range of choices. Whether you're drawn to the elegance of 'Yuriko' or the strength of 'Akio,' each name carries a story waiting to be told.

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