200 Japanese Dog Names Steeped in Tradition and Culture

Maybe you have Japanese heritage you want to celebrate, or you're adopting a Japanese dog breed like an Akita or Shiba Inu. Perhaps Japan is your favorite country to visit, or heck, maybe you're just someone who's really interested in Japanese culture.

Whatever the case may be, if you're looking for a fantastic Japanese name for your 犬 (that's "inu," meaning "dog"), you've come to the right place! These Japanese dog names are steeped in the cultural tradition of the Land of the Rising Sun, from ancient times to the modern day!

Popular Japanese Dog Names

If we're going to talk about Japanese dog names, why don't we start by finding out which dog names are the most popular in Japan right now? Japanese pet insurance company iPet Insurance recently conducted a client survey to determine the top 10 most popular dog names for 2024 - at least, the most popular ones among their canine clients. They are as follows:

• Mugi (Barley)

• Koko

• Moka (aka, "Mocha")

• Latte

• Maron (Chestnut)

• Komugi (Wheat)

• Leo

• Kinako (Soybean Flour)

• Beru (Belle)

• Moko

Among the boy dogs surveyed by iPet Insurance, names like "Sora," (sky), "Maru," (round), "Roy," and "Fuku" (luck) ranked highly as well. For girl dogs, other popular names included "Hana" (flower) and "Momo" (peach).

And if we're talking traditional Japanese dog names, it's pretty hard to go wrong with "Pochi," a classic go-to pup name for generations. Think of it as the Japanese equivalent of "Fido" or "Spot!"

Japanese Girl Dog Names

While many Japanese names tend to be gender-neutral, these names are traditionally feminine, making them a perfect fit for your girl dog! While we'll include some definitions for most of the names here and throughout the list going forward, it's worth noting that a lot of Japanese names can have many different possible meanings - sometimes dozens of them - based on what kanji (traditional Chinese characters) are used to spell them!

Japanese Boy Dog Names

These Japanese boy dog names are masculine, traditional, and unique. You probably won't meet many other pups with these titles on your trips to the dog park!

Cool Japanese Dog Names

Personally, we think there's no going wrong with any of these names, but if you want a Japanese dog name with a bit of a unique edge to it, try the following rad monikers on for size!

Cute Japanese Dog Names

Modern Japan has an entire pop cultural phenomenon centered around the concept of "kawaii," or "cute." You can see "kawaii culture" exemplified everywhere from Japanese modern art and fashion to iconic characters like Hello Kitty, Pikachu, and Rilakkuma. It's no surprise, then, that you can easily find lots of cute Japanese names for your "kawaii" canine!

Related: 300 of the Most Adorable Disney-Inspired Dog Name Ideas for Your Pooch

Japanese Dog Names Inspired by Nature

A profound respect for and appreciation of nature has been an innate part of Japanese cultural tradition for time immemorial. This inherent celebration of the natural world can be seen reflected in all aspects of Japanese culture - including, of course, their nomenclature. Consider a few of these fresh, nature-inspired names for your furry friend!

Unique Japanese Dog Names

Whether you've got a small dog who's mellow and mild, or a big, boisterous baby, these unique Japanese names will help them make a striking first impression wherever they go!

Japanese Dog Names Inspired by Food

From iconic traditional foods like sushi and soba to trendy snacks like Pocky Sticks, Nihon-ryori (Japanese cuisine) is beloved worldwide. Why not dive into Japan's long-standing culinary traditions for some cute dog name inspiration?

Location-Inspired Japanese Dog Names

If you've ever lived in or visited Japan, you might pay homage to a particularly beloved Japanese locale by naming your dog after it! While naming a dog after a Japanese city or town isn't exactly traditional, it can be a fun way to come up with some unique dog names such as:

• Tokyo

• Osaka

• Nara

• Saitama

• Kyoto

• Kamakura

• Shibuya

• Sapporo

• Kobe

• Enoshima

• Nagoya

• Fukuoka

• Aomori

• Chiba

• Ginza

• Yokohama

• Sendai

• Shizuoka

• Narita

• Chitose

Japanese Dog Names Inspired by TV & Movies

From cult classic kaiju flicks to long-running iconic anime series, many of the movies and TV shows we've enjoyed for decades either come from Japan or were inspired by Japanese culture. These are just a few of the countless amazing names inspired by some of the all-time most beloved Japanese movies and TV shows - we're sure you can come up with quite a few more of your own!

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