Lots of us have strong cultural links with Japan, with loads of trending topics and hobbies originating there. Not to mention incredible styles and more than a world of history. But coming up with Japanese cat names is a sticking point for many new kitten owners. If you are not familiar with the Japanese language, it can feel a bit confusing to navigate at first. This is because there are three different alphabets used to write in Japanese: katakana, hiragana and kanji. Which alphabet is used, and whether it is syllabic or symbolic, can affect the names meaning. Today I’ll share dozens of inspiring ideas, let you know exactly what they mean and help you to pick the perfect name for your new pet.
Contents
- Celebrity inspiration
- Gorgeous girls’ names
- Beautiful boys’ names
- Japanese names for black cats
- Cool, creative and amusing ideas
Regardless of which alphabet you use, you will notice most Japanese cat names are short. This will work in your favor during training as cats can learn and recognize their names. Picking a short, percussive name that sounds unlike common commands or other family member names (including other pets) will help your new kitty learn his or her name quickly.
Famous Japanese Cats
If there is any doubt left in your mind that the whole country of Japan loves cats, check out Maru. Maru is the official Guinness World Record holder for “most watched animal on YouTube.” Also known as Mugumogu, Maru is a Scottish Fold cat whose YouTube videos have been watched more than 325 million times! Other famous Japanese felines hail from anime series, feline J-pop idol spinoffs, popular product mascots (like the Min Min Daha catgirls) and more.
- Maru – feline YouTube sensation
- Shironeko, aka “basket cat” – another feline YouTube sensation
- Meowth – Pokemon
- Luna – Sailor Moon anime feline
- Artemis – Sailor Moon anime feline
- Diana – Sailor Moon anime feline
- Mugumogu – Maru’s YouTube name
- Doraemon – popular Japanese robotic cat
- Kirara – Inuyasha Japanese anime
- Fusasa – Fiona (HarMEOWny leader)
- Raina (HarMEOWny member)
- Solana (HarMEOWny member)
- Topatopa (HarMEOWny member)
- Aria (HarMEOWny member)
- Yuria – Isabella (NKB48 member)
- Rena or Renacchi – Ariana (NKB48 member)
- Mako or Kojimako – Elena (NKB48 member)
- Rina or Riccan – Rebecca (NKB48 member)
- Haruka or Paruru – Petunia (NKB48 member)
- Jurina – Julia (NKB48 member)
- Kirika – Twitter cat
- Gupitaro – Instagram cat
- Map U Chin – Twitter cat
- Rai – Instagram cat
- Itosan – Instagram cat
- Hakusama – Twitter cat
- Jun – Twitter cat
- Naomiuno – Instagram cat
- Soramoon – Twitter cat
- Maruruna – Instagram cat
Female Japanese Cat Names
Girls’ names are easier to spot if you know about some of the traditional endings used in Japanese culture. For example, names ending in ko, mi, ka, e, na, no and ri are more likely to be female names.
- Emi – beautiful blessing
- Mimi – from Japanese manga “ChocoMimi”
- Ran – orchid
- Fuji – type of flower
- Tenshi – angel
- Ren – love
- Cho – butterfly
- Minako – beautiful child
- Miki – beautiful princess
- Ayaka – colorful flower
- Ara – Japanese manga name
- Ina – Japanese manga name
- Fumiko – abundant beauty
- Ayame – iris flower
- Kimi – noble
Male Japanese Cat Names
Traditionally male Japanese names often end with kazu, dai, shi, ji, ro, ichi, o, kichi, hiko, nobu, or ta.
- Kotarou or Kotaro – dreamer, smart
- Akira – bright boy
- Suzuki – bell tree
- Taro – big son
- Akio – hero
- Kameko – long life
- Akihiko – bright prince
- Michio – journeyman
- Rikuto – down to earth
- Sho – to fly (great for a climbing or jumping cat)
- Tadao – loyal
- Yoshiro – righteous son
- Tamotsu – protector
- Kouta – peace
- Hitoshi – motivated
Japanese Black Cat Names
In many parts of the world, a black cat is considered to be bad luck, but not so in Japan. Not only are black cats considered good luck, but this effect is amplified for single women in search of suitors!
- Choco – chocolate
- Sumi – black calligraphy ink
- Jiji – black cat companion to the witch Kiki in Japanese anime “Kiki’s delivery service”
- Kuroi – black
- Burakku – black
- Kuroba mu – black or blacken
- Kokukoku – black
- Kuron – black or dark-skinned
- Hei zhi – black mark
- Kuro neko – black cat
- Shirokuro – black and white
- Burakkupeppa – black pepper
- Yami – black
- Kage – shadow
- Kurai – dark
Cute Names From Japan
Kawaisa, or Kawaii, is the word describing the modern “culture of cuteness” that is so popular in Japan today. Perhaps the most universally well-known icon of this culture of cuteness is Hello Kitty, a hybrid human/Japanese Bobtail cat with wide eyes and a bow over one ear.
- Ringo – apple
- Ichigo – strawberry
- Mikan – orange
- Yuzu – citrus fruit
- Mochi – sticky rice
- Anko – red bean paste
- Ocha – Japanese tea
- Kawaii – cute
- Yoshiko – good child
- Hanako – flower child
- Mew – Pokemon
- Hoshi – star
- Kyoko – happy
- Haiku – short Japanese poem
- Hotaru – firefly
Funny Names For Cats
Does you cat have you in stitches? One of these funny Japanese cat names might just fit your feline’s laugh-worthy antics!
- Pochi – spot
- Puss (in Boots)
- Pero – Japanese character based on Puss in Boots story
- Nyan Cat – famous Japanese meme
- Nyan Nyan – cat’s meow
- Waru Nyan – bad cat
- Kyapi Nyan – perky cat
- Genki Nyan – energetic cat
- Dame Nyan – not good cat
- Bonito – fish flakes
- Skitty – Pokemon
- Shinx – Pokemon
- Purrloin – Pokemon
- Bento – Japanese box lunch
- Nintendo – leave luck to heaven
Creative and Cool Ideas
- Mi-kay – tri-color cat
- Maneki-Neko – Japanese Bobtail cat statues in many Japanese restaurants
- Koneko – Japanese word for kitten (“child cat”)
- Neko – Japanese word for cat
- Sensei – teacher
- Yamakawa Sutematsu (“Stematz”) – first Japanese woman to graduate from college
- Kounna – lucky
- Osamu – studious
- Kaneda – rich, wealthy
- Kimono – traditional name for a cat with a black marking on its back
- Ryou – cool
- Hotoke – Buddha nature, merciful
- Bishamon – Japanese god of war and happiness
- Haya-ji – whirlwind
- Kami – deity of the natural world
Is Your Kitten Totally Tough?
These strong names evoke some of the qualities of a brave, strong, loyal feline.
- Ryu – dragon
- Katsuo – hero or victory
- Nekomata – supernatural forked cat from Yokai folklore
- Nekomata – similar type of supernatural cat from Yokai folklore
- Kinnikou – muscle (strong)
- Tomoe – Japanese warrior woman
- Takeko – Japanese warrior woman
- Musashi – Japanese samurai
- Kojiro – Japanese samurai
- Kenta – big, strong
- Kashi – oak tree
- Noriko – thunder
- Reiko – courageous
- Honcho – leader
- Isamu – courage
- Judo – fighter
- Daiki – great glory
- Makoto – true
- Mitsuo – shining man
- Sumo – wrestler
- Taiki – large
- Katashi – firm
- Ryuunosuke – noble, herald
- Shinobu – endurance
- Takumi – skilful
- Yuudai – great hero
- Hiraku – support
- Daisuke – big help
- Daiki – great tree
- Haruki – bright like the sun
“Jiji” is Japanese for “grandpa” or “gramps.”