Japanese Cat Names – Stunning Names for Cats (200+ ideas!)

Beautiful and exotic, Japanese cat names are an excellent choice for your new kitten, especially considering their unique meanings. You don’t have to live in Japan to pick such a name. Japanese names for cats are popular around the globe!

Even so, you won’t have to worry about another person picking the same name – these are one-of-a-kind!

Male Japanese Cat Names

Here’s our list of the best male Japanese cat names with meanings from A to Z. These names are perfect unique ideas for your male cat.

• 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 – a 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 –  countryman
• Kyo –  cooperation
• Madoka –  circle, round
• Makoto –  sincere
• Masa –  just / true
• Masaaki –  pleasing brightness
• Masaki –  great timber tree
• Masashi –  righteous aspiration
• Masaru –  victory
• Masato –  righteous person
• Masayoshi –  righteous, honorable
• Masayuki –  righteous blessing
• Masumi –  true clarity
• Michi –  pathway
• Michio –  man on a journey
• Mitsuo –  shining hero
• Mitsuru – satisfied, 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, a fast learner
• Shinobu –  endurance
• Shiro –  fourth son
• Sho –  to fly
• Shouta –  big flying
• Shinji –  true second son
• Sora –  sky
• Susumo –  to advance, proceed
• Tadao – a loyal, faithful man
• Tadashi –  loyal, faithful
• Taichi –  large first son
• Taiki –  great radiance, shine
• Takahiro –  of great value, nobility
• Takayuki –  noble journey
• Takashi –  prosperous, noble
• 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
• Youta –  great sunlight
• Yoshi – lucky/righteous
• Yoshio – a joyful life
• Yoshiro –  righteous son
• Yoshito –  ceremonial, correct person
• Yuichi –  heroic first son
• Yuji –  heroic second son
• Yuki – happiness/snow
• Yukio –  blessed hero

Female Japanese Cat Names

Now, on to the best female Japanese cat names! We’ve collected a ton of great Japanese names and meanings for your new kitten.

• Akemi –  bright, beautiful
• Akiko –  bright child
• Akira –  bright / clear
• Aiko –  child of love
• Airi –  love jasmine
• 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 – a 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
• Hisako –  child of long life
• Hiro –  generous
• Hiroko –  generous child
• Hiromi –  generous beauty
• Hitomi –  pupil of the eye
• Honoka –  harmony flower
• Hoshi –  star
• Hoshiko –  star child
• Hotaru –  firefly
• Izumi –  spring, fountain
• Kamiko –  superior child
• Katsumi –  victorious beauty
• Kazumi –  harmonious beauty
• Kazuko –  child of harmony
• Keiko –  blessed child / respectful child
• Kiko –  chronicle child
• Kimi –  noble
• Kimiko –  empress child
• Kiyomi –  pure beauty
• Kumiko –  long-time, beautiful child
• Kyo –  cooperation
• Kyoko –  respectful child
• Madoka –  circle, round
• Mai –  dance
• Maki –  true hope
• Maiko –  child of dance
• Makoto –  sincere
• Mami –  true beauty
• Mana –  love
• Manami –  loving beautiful
• Mao –  dance cherry blossom
• Masa –  just / true
• Masumi –  true clarity
• Mariko –  true village child
• Mayumi –  true, gentle beauty
• Mei – sprout
• 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 –  satisfied, full
• Miwa –  beautiful hamony, peace
• Miyako –  beautiful night child
• Miyu –  beautiful, gentle
• Miyuki –  a beautiful blessing
• Momoka / Momo –  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
• Rin –  dignified
• Rina –  jasmine
• Rio –  village cherry blossom
• Rika –  true fragrance
• Riko –  child of truth
• Ryoko –  refreshing child
• Sachiko –  joyful, happy child
• Saki –  blossom of hope
• Sakura –  cherry blossom
• Satoko –  wise child
• Satomi –  beautiful and wise
• Shinju –  pearl
• Shiori –  poem
• Shigeko –  growing child
• Shika –  deer
• 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
• Tomomi –  a beautiful friend
• Tomiko –  child of wealth, fortune
• Toshiko –  clever child
• Umeko –  plum child
• Yasu –  peace / snow
• Yasuko –  child of peace
• Yoko –  child of sunlight
• Yoshi –  lucky / righteous
• Yoshie –  beautiful stream
• Yoshiko –  child of goodness
• Yua –  binding love
• Yuina –  bind together
• Yuka –  gentle flower
• Yukari –  beautiful pear tree
• Yumi –  reason beautiful
• Yumiko –  reason, beautiful child
• Yui –  bind clothing
• Yuki –  happy
• Yukiko –  child of snow, child of happiness
• Yuko –  gentle child
• Yuri –  lily
• Yuriko –  lily child
• Yuuna – gentle

You can also find more female cat names here.

Names from Anime

If you’re into anime, these ideas might be the perfect name for your kitty. These are some of our favorite cats and cat characters from the world of anime.

• Arthur – from Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch
• Blair – shapeshifting cat from Soul Eater
• Buyo – Fat kitty from Inuyasha
• Chi – from Chi’s Sweet Home
• Happy – Magical cat-like beings called Exceed from Fairy Tail
• Carla – Magical cat-like beings called Exceed from Fairy Tail
• Jibanyan – Ghost of a cat from YouKai Watch
• Jiji – from Kiki’s Delivery Service
• Kamineko – Cat with a dangerous bite from Azumanga Daioh
• Kirara – from InuYasha
• Korin – 800-year-old martial arts expert from Dragon Ball Z
• Kuro – Rin Okumura’s partner from Ao no Exorcist (Blue Exorcist)
• Kuroneko-sama – Black cat from Trigun
• Luna – Cats in charge of guiding the Sailor Scouts in their quest to protect the princess in Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
• Artemis – Cats in charge of guiding the Sailor Scouts in their quest to protect the princess in Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
• Madara – Known also as Nyangoro, Nyankichi, Nyanko-sensei, and Ponta – from Natsume’s Book of Friends
• Mao – from Darker than Black
• Meowth – from Pokemon
• Molly – King of Cats from The Ancient Magus Bride
• Nekobasu – Multi-legged cat bus from Tonari no Totoro
• Nekotalia – from Hetalia: World Series
• Poyo – from Poyopoyo Kansatu Nikki
• Potya – Yuri!!! on ICE
• President Aria Pokoteng – from Aria the Animation
• Sakamoto – from Nichijou
• Takkun – from FLCL
• Tama – from Sazae-San

Related: more anime cat names

Japanese Food Names

Here are some unique name ideas for felines inspired by delicious Japanese foods.

• Azuki – Sweet red beans used in desserts
• Ginger – Shoga, used in cuisine and tea
• Kampyo – Dried gourd strips used in soups and stews
• Mabo – Spicy sauce made with chili and fermented beans
• Matcha – Green tea powder used in tea and desserts
• Miso – A fermented soybean paste used in soups and sauces
• Mochi – Soft, chewy rice cakes made of mochigome
• Ramen – Noodles in broth, with regional varieties
• Sakura – Cherry blossoms and a flavor of many foods
• Soba – Thin buckwheat noodles, served hot or cold
• Sushi – Raw fish and rice, a popular Japanese dish
• Takoyaki – Ball-shaped snacks with octopus
• Taiyaki – Fish-shaped cakes with sweet fillings
• Teriyaki – Meat, seafood, or tofu glazed with a sweet soy sauce
• Tempura – Seafood and veggies fried in a light batter
• Ume – Japanese apricot made into plum wine and candy
• Wagyu – A breed of cattle known for rich, marbled beef
• Wasabi – A spicy, green condiment served with sushi
• Yakitori – Skewered grilled chicken
• Yuzu – A citrus fruit used as a flavoring

Japanese Colors

If you want a Japanese name to match your pets’ coloring, here are some excellent options:

• Aka – Red
• Ao – Blue
• Beni – Crimson
• Chairo – Brown
• Kiiro – Yellow
• Kin – Gold
• Kon – Navy blue
• Kuro – Black
• Gin – Silver
• Haiiro – Gray
• Midori – Green
• Murasaki – Purple
• Momo – Peach
• Orenji – Orange
• Shiro – White

Conclusion: Japanese Cat Names

Why should you consider Japanese cat names?

First of all, they are unique, exotic, and beautiful. If you pick one of these names, it’s almost guaranteed that no other cats you know will have the same one.

And for many, it’s a love of all things Japan. This could include living in the country, having family or friends there, or simply admiring its culture and customs.

No matter the reason, Japanese cat names are a great choice if you want a cool, cultured name for your new cat.

Other Cat Name Ideas

If these Japanese cat names don’t quite fit your furbaby, no worries – we’ve got thousands of other ideas you might like.

Try our cat name generator or check out these popular categories:

• Nerdy cat names
• Mythical cat names
• Exotic cat names

We also have a guide to Korean cat names if you want other Asian-inspired ideas.

How to Teach Your Cat Its Name

Jessi Larson

Jessi is a marketing strategist for Fortune 50 companies who loves to research and write about pets. She enjoys finding cool new cat names, researching the best products, learning more about cat breeds and sharing tips with other pet parents.