Japanese Cat Names

Are you a fan of manga, or Japanese culture in general? Look no further than our list of Japanese cat names that will have your kitty channeling their inner samurai or geisha. From cute and quirky to traditional and meaningful, these names are sure to impress.

Quickly see the meaning of each name by tapping the arrow , and then tap the heart to add a name to your saved list.

• Aika

  Means "love song" in Japanese, often used for girls.
• Aki

  Common in Japan, meaning "autumn" or "bright" in Japanese language.
• Akihiro

  A common male name in Japan, often meaning "bright, large, and expansive."
• Akio

  A common male name in Japan, meaning "bright man".
• Arata

  Common male name in Japan, meaning "new" or "fresh".
• Asahi

  Means "morning sun" in Japanese and is a popular beer brand.
• Atsushi

  A common male name originating from Japan.
• Ayumu

  A common Japanese name meaning "walk dream" or "visionary".
• Banzan

  Banzan is a famous Zen Buddhist monk in Japan.
• Bassui

  A renowned Zen Buddhist monk from the 14th century Japan.
• Bento

  A boxed meal often containing rice, fish, and vegetables in Japan.
• Bishamon

  Associated with wealth, fortune, and war in Japanese Buddhism.
• Botan

  Means "peony" in Japanese and is a popular female name.
• Byakuya

  Means "white night" in Japanese, often used in anime and manga.
• Chimon

  Associated with winter in Japanese, often used in names.
• Chotan

  Refers to a small, short or little in Japanese language.
• Dai-in

  Associated with Zen Buddhism, often used for temple names.
• Daichi

  Means "great land" in Japanese, often used for boys' names.
• Daijiro

  A common male name in Japan, often associated with strength and wisdom.
• Daiki

  A common male name in Japan, often meaning "great nobility".
• Daisuke

  A common male name in Japan, often meaning "great help".
• Daku

  Means "bandit" or "robber" in Japanese language.
• Domo

  Means "thank you" in Japanese and often used in formal settings.
• Doryo

  A term in Japanese, often referring to a Buddhist temple's abbot.
• Dosei

  Means "Saturn" in Japanese and is used in astronomy.
• Ebisu

  Associated with Japanese mythology, symbolizing wealth and fishermen's patron.
• Edo

  Former name for Tokyo during the Tokugawa shogunate in Japan.
• Eiji

  A common male name in Japan, often meaning "great second son".
• Endo

  Common surname in Japan, also means "inside" or "within" in Japanese.
• Enkai

  Associated with a Shinto god of agriculture and sake brewing.
• Eryu

  Associated with a Japanese dragon symbolizing wisdom and power.
• Fuji

  A revered mountain in Japan, also a common surname and brand.
• Fujin

  Represents the Shinto god of wind in Japanese mythology.
• Fuku

  Associated with luck in Japanese language and culture.
• Fumihiro

  A common male name in Japan, often associated with historical figures.
• Fumio

  A common male name in Japan, often associated with historical figures.
• Genkei

  Refers to original form or prototype in Japanese language.
• Giichi

  A traditional Japanese male name, often associated with strength and determination.
• Goku

  Derived from "Gojū", meaning "aware of emptiness" in Japanese Buddhism.
• Goro

  A common male name in Japan, often linked to fifth-born sons.
• Haiku

  A traditional form of Japanese poetry with three lines.
• Hajime

  Means "beginning" in Japanese and often used as a male first name.
• Haru

  Means "spring" in Japanese, often used for names.
• Haruto

  A common male name in Japan, often symbolizing spring or clear skies.
• Haya

  Means "fast" in Japanese and is also a common female name.
• Hideki

  A common male name in Japan, often meaning "excellent timber".
• Hikari

  Means "light" in Japanese, often used in anime and songs.
• Hiko

  Means "day child" in Japanese, often used for boys.
• Hiro

  A common male name in Japan, meaning "generous" or "tolerant".
• Hiroaki

  A common male name in Japan, often symbolizing "abundant brightness."
• Hiroki

  A common male name originating from Japan.
• Hiroshi

  A common male first name originating from Japan.
• Hiroto

  A common male name in Japan, often meaning "big, great and flying."
• Hisa

  A common female name in Japan, often meaning "long-lasting".
• Hisoka

  Derived from Japanese, signifies "secret" or "reserved".
• Hitoshi

  A common male name in Japan, often meaning "benevolent, virtuous."
• Homura

  Means "flame" in Japanese, often used in anime and manga.
• Honcho

  Derived from Japanese, meaning leader or boss of a group or organization.
• Inoue

  Common Japanese surname, often associated with historical samurai clans.
• Isamu

  A common male name in Japan, meaning courage or bravery.
• Ishii

  A common surname in Japan, often linked to stone or rock.
• Issey

  A common first name in Japan, often associated with artistic professions.
• Itachi

  Means "weasel" in Japanese, often associated with folklore and superstition.
• Ito

  Common surname in Japan, also refers to a city in Shizuoka Prefecture.
• Iwai

  Associated with celebration, often used as a surname in Japan.
• Izanagi

  A deity from Japanese mythology who fathered many islands and deities.
• Jikai

  Means "ocean of compassion" in Japanese, often used in Buddhism.
• Jiro

  A common male name in Japan, often linked to sushi chefs.
• Joben

  Derived from Japanese, meaning "enjoy life" or "pure heart".
• Judo

  A martial art from Japan, meaning "gentle way" in Japanese.
• Junichi

  A common male name in Japan, often associated with purity and genuineness.
• Juro

  Associated with Japanese language, often used as a male first name.
• Kage

  Means "shadow" in Japanese, often used in ninja-themed media.
• Kaito

  Common male name in Japan, often associated with music and anime characters.
• Kakashi

  Means "scarecrow" in Japanese and is a popular anime character.
• Kaname

  Means "pivotal point" in Japanese, often used in anime characters.
• Kane

  Refers to "money" in Japanese and a common male name.
• Kangiten

  Associated with Japanese Buddhism, symbolizing bliss and harmony.
• Katsu

  A popular dish in Japan, often served as breaded, fried pork cutlet.
• Kazan

  Associated with a volcanic crater and a traditional Japanese kettle.
• Kenichi

  Common male name in Japan, meaning "healthy, strong one".
• Kenshin

  A character in Japanese manga and anime, symbolizing a wandering samurai.
• Kenta

  A common male first name in Japan, meaning "healthy and strong".
• Kenzo

  A popular Japanese brand and a common male first name.
• Kichiro

  A traditional Japanese male name meaning "lucky son."
• Kitsune

  Refers to foxes, often depicted as intelligent beings with magical abilities.
• Kiyoshi

  A common male name in Japan, meaning "pure" or "quiet".
• Kobe

  A city in Japan and a type of high-quality beef.
• Koji

  Associated with a fungus used in sake, soy sauce, and miso production.
• Kotaro

  A common male name in Japan, often meaning "small first son".
• Koto

  A traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument.
• Kouta

  Common male name in Japan, often written with characters meaning "peace" or "harmony".
• Kuebiko

  A Shinto deity of knowledge and agriculture, often depicted as a scarecrow.
• Kunio

  Associated with popular video games and a common male name in Japan.
• Kuro

  Means "black" in Japanese, often used in anime and manga.
• Mamoru

  Means "protect" in Japanese, often used for boys' names.
• Manzo

  Associated with a Japanese surname and means "ten thousand three".
• Masaru

  A common male name in Japan meaning "victory" or "win".
• Matsui

  Common surname in Japan, also means "pine tree" in Japanese.
• Michio

  A common male name in Japan, often meaning "man with strength of three".
• Midori

  Means "green" in Japanese and often used as a female first name.
• Mitsuo

  A common male name in Japan, often meaning "shining man".
• Mokusei

  Means "wooden star" in Japanese, often linked to Buddhism.
• Mugen

  Mugen translates to "infinity" in Japanese language.
• Myojo

  A popular brand for instant noodles and a Japanese language school.
• Nana

  Means "seven" in Japanese and is a common female name.
• Naoki

  A common male first name in Japan.
• Naruto

  Derived from narutomaki, a type of fish cake in Japanese cuisine.
• Natsuo

  A common male name in Japan, often meaning "summer life".
• Nintendo

  Translates from Japanese as "leave luck to heaven".
• Nobu

  Associated with a high-end Japanese restaurant chain and common male name.
• Oki

  Refers to a region in Japan and means "offshore" in Japanese.
• Osamu

  A common male first name in Japan, often associated with intelligence.
• Raiden

  Raiden is a god of thunder and lightning in Japanese mythology.
• Reo

  Associated with a popular male name and a car brand in Japan.
• Riku

  Means "land" in Japanese, often used in anime and games.
• Rikuto

  A common male name in Japan, often written in kanji.
• Ringo

  Means "apple" in Japanese and is a popular cultural symbol.
• Rokuro

  Means "sixth son" in Japanese and often used in traditional folklore.
• Ryota

  Common male name in Japan, often meaning "refreshing, robust" in Japanese.
• Ryouichi

  A common male name in Japan, often meaning "good, first son".
• Ryuunosuke

  A common male name in Japan, often linked to dragons and noble origins.
• Sai

  Associated with a traditional Okinawan weapon and common Japanese name.
• Sake

  A traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice.
• Sanji

  Means "three o'clock" in Japanese, often used in anime.
• Sanjiro

  A traditional Japanese male name often linked to samurai culture.
• Sasa

  Refers to bamboo leaves in Japanese, symbolizing flexibility and resilience.
• Satoshi

  A common male name in Japan, often associated with wisdom.
• Seiji

  A common male name in Japan, meaning "lawful" or "manages affairs rightly".
• Shimizu

  A common Japanese surname, often linked to clear, pure water.
• Shiro

  Means "white" in Japanese, often used in anime and manga.
• Sho

  Associated with Japanese language, often used in boys' names.
• Suijin

  Refers to the Shinto god of water in Japanese mythology.
• Sushi

  Traditional Japanese dish made from vinegared rice and raw seafood.
• Susumo

  A common male name in Japan, meaning "progress" or "advance".
• Tajimamori

  Associated with ancient Japanese mythology, known as the first fruit gatherer.
• Takeo

  A common male name in Japan, often meaning "strong like a warrior."
• Takumi

  A common male name in Japan, meaning skilled or artisan.
• Taro

  Common first name in Japan and a type of root vegetable.
• Tatsuo

  A common male name in Japan, meaning "dragon man".
• Tenjin

  Associated with scholarship, Tenjin is a Shinto deity of education.
• Tetsu

  Means "iron" in Japanese and is a common male name.
• Tori

  Refers to traditional Japanese gate at Shinto shrines.
• Toshiro

  A common male name in Japan, often linked to samurai heritage.
• Touma

  A common male name in Japan, often meaning "winter horse."
• Tousen

  Means "fighting warship" in Japanese, often used in anime/manga.
• Tsukikage

  Means "moon shadow" in Japanese, often used in anime and manga.
• Tsukiya

  Means "moon shop" in Japanese, often used for dining establishments.
• Umi

  Means "ocean" in Japanese, reflecting their maritime culture.
• Unkan

  Associated with a term for a manager or supervisor in Japanese.
• Usaku

  Associated with Japanese language, possibly a personal or place name.
• Usui

  A common surname in Japan, often linked to martial arts.
• Washi

  Traditional Japanese paper known for its strength and flexibility.
• Wataru

  A common male name in Japan, often meaning "cross over" or "navigate".
• Yamaha

  Founded in Japan, represents a globally recognized brand of musical instruments.
• Yamato

  An ancient term for Japan, also a famous battleship.
• Yami

  Means "darkness" in Japanese, often used in anime and manga.
• Yasu

  Commonly used in Japan, meaning "peaceful" or "calm" in Japanese.
• Yoru

  Means "night" in Japanese, often used in anime and manga.
• Yoshi

  A common Japanese name, often meaning "good luck" or "respectful."
• Youta

  A common male name in Japan, often meaning "great sunlight".
• Yuji

  Common male name in Japan, meaning "righteous second son".
• Yukio

  A common male name in Japan, meaning "snow boy" in Japanese.
• Yuma

  A common male name in Japan, often meaning "truthful" or "gentle".
• Yuuto

  A common male name in Japan, often written in kanji.
• Zen

  A school of Buddhism emphasizing meditation and intuition.
• Zinan

  Associated with Japanese language, not directly linked to specific cultural aspects.

Japanese Cat Names currently rank in 10th place out of all MeowNames.com categories.

As of November 2024, japanese cat names are rising in popularity with new cat owners. According to our stats, they are more fashionable than they were at the same time last year.

We've seen quite a bit of variation for this category, which might suggest that its popularity is influenced by seasonal or cultural events.