250+ Japanese cat names

Updated 3 Jan 2025

Konnichi-meow, cat-lovers! If you're on the hunt for Japanese cat names, you’re in the best place. Our pet-naming pros have put together 150+ Japanese names for cats, offering all the ins-purr-ation you need to name your furry friend.

From the legendary maneki-neko (that white, waving kitty who brings good fortune) to the famous Hello Kitty who’s built an empire out of her cute little paws, it's clear that Japan has fallen head over tails for our feline friends. And who can blame them?

But now it’s the slightly difficult part: picking a name! But don’t worry, we’ve broken down our list of Japanese cat names into a variety of cat-egories to help your name-picking adventure. So, please say sayonara to ordinary cat names!

Male Japanese cat names

Say "meow-arigato" to these paws-itively wonderful male Japanese cat names. Okay, enough puns for now. Anyway, on this list, we're sure you’ll find the purr-fect moniker for your male moggy. 

1. Hiroshi (Generous)
2. Taro (First-born son)
3. Kenji (Second son)
4. Daiki (Great nobility)
5. Akio (Bright man)
6. Haruto (Flying sun)
7. Kenta (Healthy and strong)
8. Masaru (Victory)
9. Satoshi (Clear-thinking)
10. Yasushi (Peaceful)
11. Yori (Trust)
12. Jiro (Second son)
13. Ichiro (First son)
14. Ren (Lotus)
15. Ryu (Dragon)
16. Daisuke (Great help)
17. Hideo (Excellent man)
18. Tetsuya (Philosopher in the night)
19. Yuki (Snow)
20. Sho (Flying)
21. Hideki (Excellence, precious)
22. Nori (Ritual)
23. Kazuki (Harmony)
24. Kyo (Cooperation)
25. Shin (True)

Related articles: Top cat names in the US

Female Japanese cat names

Got a fabulous female feline? Well, these female Japanese cat names are just what you need. From Sakura to Yoko, these names are ideal for any size, color or breed…

1. Sakura (Cherry blossom)
2. Yuki (Happiness)
3. Akiko (Bright child)
4. Haruka (Far away)
5. Kaori (Fragrance)
6. Misaki (Beautiful blossom)
7. Nozomi (Hope)
8. Reiko (Beautiful child)
9. Sayuri (Small lily)
10. Yumi (Reason, beautiful)
11. Kiko (Hope)
12. Emi (Beautiful smile)
13. Hana (Flower)
14. Ayumi (Sweet fish)
15. Izumi (Fountain, spring)
16. Momoko (Peach tree)
17. Chika (Scattered flowers)
18. Aiko (Little loved one)
19. Miki (Beautiful princess)
20. Yoko (Positive)
21. Asa (Morning)
22. Kana (Powerful)
23. Miho (Protected, guaranteed beauty)
24. Suki (Beloved)
25. Tami (People)

Related articles:Top British cat names

Kawaii Japanese cat names

Got yourself a cute kitty? Okay, that’s a dumb question – they’re all adorable. But that doesn’t mean you can’t give your feline friend a kawaii cat name, does it? Oh, it translates to “endearing and cute” (aww)...

1. Kuma (Bear)
2. Mochi (Rice cake)
3. Yume (Dream)
4. Hoshi (Star)
5. Tama (Jewel)
6. Pochi (Spot)
7. Maron (Chestnut)
8. Koro (Roly-poly)
9. Fuku (Lucky)
10. Chibi (Small)
11. Neko (Cat)
12. Ponzu (Citrus sauce)
13. Yuzu (Citrus fruit)
14. Mikan (Mandarin orange)
15. Sora (Sky)
16. Ume (Plum)
17. Rin (Dignified)
18. Riku (Land)
19. Kiku (Chrysanthemum)
20. Momo (Peach)
21. Kuri (Chestnut)
22. Choco (Chocolate)
23. Natsu (Summer)
24. Shiro (White)
25. Yuki (Snow)

Related articles:130 cute cat names

Unique Japanese cat names

Want Japanese cat names as unique as your feline friend? As always, you’re in the purr-fect place…

1. Tsunami (Harbor wave)
2. Bonsai (Tree in a pot)
3. Zen (Meditation)
4. Kabuki (Dance drama)
5. Manga (Comic book)
6. Kimono (Traditional dress)
7. Kinoko (Mushroom)
8. Fushimi (Hidden beauty)
9. Yojimbo (Bodyguard)
10. Shogun (Military commander)
11. Sake (Rice wine)
12. Sumo (Wrestler)
13. Origami (Paper folding art)
14. Haiku (Poetry form)
15. Sudoku (Number puzzle)
16. Katana (Samurai sword)
17. Ninja (Covert agent)
18. Ronin (Masterless samurai)
19. Judo (Martial art)
20. Geisha (Art performer)
21. Samisen (Three-stringed instrument)
22. Kendo (Sword martial art)
23. Tamagotchi (Virtual pet)
24. Sumi (Ink)
25. Ikebana (Art of flower arrangement)
26. Haori (Jacket)

Related articles:Unique cat names

Japanese black cat names

Now, it’s time to go to the "dark side" of cuteness with these black Japanese cat names, offering ideas that are as cool as sashimi rolls…

1. Kuro (Black)
2. Yami (Darkness)
3. Kuroneko (Black cat)
4. Kage (Shadow)
5. Mayonaka (Midnight)
6. Sumi (Ink)
7. Yoru (Night)
8. Kurai (Dark)
9. Ankokudo (Darkness)
10. Kuroi (Black color)
11. Kurogane (Black metal)
12. Kurozome (Black dye)
13. Shikkoku (Jet black)
14. Kuroboshi (Black star)
15. Kurokawa (Black river)
16. Makkuro (Pitch black)
17. Kurocha (Black tea)
18. Kuroyama (Black mountain)
19. Kuromame (Black bean)
20. Kuroki (Black tree)
21. Kurofune (Black ship)
22. Kuroaka (Black red)
23. Kuroshio (Black currant)
24. Kurokiri (Black fog)

Related articles:Popular black cat names

Japanese names for white cats

Ready to embrace the "purr-ity" and elegance of white cats? Lucky you. From Shiro to Yuki, these Japanese cat names will make your heart melt like freshly fallen snow.

1. Shiro (White)
2. Yuki (Snow)
3. Haku (White)
4. Shironeko (White cat)
5. Yukiguni (Snow country)
6. Hakuba (White horse)
7. Hakuchou (Swan)
8. Yukiji (Snow road)
9. Shirohana (White flower)
10. Shiroi (White color)
11. Shiroume (White plum)
12. Shirokuma (Polar bear)
13. Hakucho (White bird)
14. Yukinoshita (Under the snow)
15. Shirozake (White sake)
16. Hakugin (Silver)
17. Shiroito (White thread)
18. Hakuryuu (White dragon)
19. Shirotsuki (White moon)
20. Yukimushi (Snow insect)
21. Shirokami (White hair)
22. Yukihana (Snow flower)
23. Shirojiro (White and black)
24. Shiroaka (White red)
25. Hakuto (White peach)

Related articles:Anime cat names

Japanese food-inspired cat names

Hungry for more Japanese cat names? Of paws you are. Get ready to savor these deliciously cat names that are sure to get your belly rumbling. From Miso to Ramen, these names will have you coming back for second cuddles…

1. Sushi (Rice dish)
2. Miso (Soybean paste)
3. Wasabi (Japanese horseradish)
4. Udon (Noodle dish)
5. Tempura (Deep-fried dish)
6. Dango (Dumpling)
7. Ramen (Noodle soup)
8. Mochi (Sweet rice cake)
9. Matcha (Powdered green tea)
10. Nori (Seaweed)
11. Unagi (Freshwater eel)
12. Sashimi (Sliced raw fish)
13. Tofu (Bean curd)
14. Yakitori (Grilled chicken skewer)
15. Bento (Box meal)
16. Katsu (Breaded and fried meat)
17. Soba (Buckwheat noodles)
18. Sake (Rice wine)

Related articles:300+ food cat names

Japanese cat names inspired by Japanese flowers

There are a variety of flowers that are important in Japan, so take a look below at a few to inspire your Japanese cat name.

1. Sakura (Cherry Blossom)

2. Ume (Plum Blossom)

3. Kiku (Chrysanthemum)

4. Tsubaki (Camellia)

5. Fuji (Wisteria)

6. Ajisai (Hydrangea)

7. Himawari (Sunflower)

8. Botan (Peony)

9. Shobu (Iris)

10. Momiji (Japanese Maple)

11. Shibazakura (Moss Phlox)

12. Kosumosu (Cosmos)

13. Kinmokusei (Fragrant Olive)

14. Nadeshiko (Dianthus)

15. Yamabuki (Japanese Kerria)

16. Kaede (Maple Leaves)

17. Asagao (Morning Glory)

18. Tachibana (Japanese Citrus Flower)

19. Suisen (Narcissus)

20. Higanbana (Red Spider Lily)

Japanese cat names inspired by anime

It’s no secret that anime plays a huge role in Japanese culture, so get some inspiration for naming your feline with the anime names below.

1. Luna 
2. Kuro
3. Cheshire 
4. Jiji 
5. Kirara
6. Nyanko
7. Happy 
8. Blair 
9. Tora 
10. Totoro 
11. Mochi 
12. Yuki
13. Hikari 
14. Neko
15. Sora
16. Meowth 
17. Poyo 
18. Shiro
19. Mimi 
20. Koneko 
21. Akira
22. Hime 
23. Mew 
24. Tamaki 
25. Sesshou

Japanese cat names inspired by places in Japan

Travelled Japan before or always dreamt of going? Pick somewhere you’ve got great memories (or plan to make them!) for your Japanese cat name, and take a look below at a list of Japanese destinations for some inspiration.

1. Hokkaido
2. Sapporo
3. Hakodate
4. Asahikawa
5. Tohoku 
6. Sendai
7. Aomori
8. Akita
9. Morioka
10. Fukushima
11. Tokyo
12. Yokohama
13. Kawasaki
14. Saitama
15. Chiba
16. Kamakura
17. Chubu
18. Nagoya
19. Kanazawa
20. Niigata 
21. Toyama
22. Nagano
23. Kansai
24. Osaka
25. Kyoto
26. Kobe
27. Nara
28. Wakayama 
29. Chugoku 
30. Okayama
31. Tottori
32. Shimane
33. Shikoku
34. Matsuyama
35. Takamatsu
36. Kochi
37. Tokushima
38. Kyushu 
39. Fukuoka
40. Kumamoto
41. Oita
42. Kagoshima
43. Okinawa
44. Naha
45. Ishigaki
46. Miyakojima

Japanese cat names inspired by Japanese concepts

Want a Japanese cat name with a philosophical or deeper meaning? Take a look below for a few ideas.

1. Ikigai (a person’s purpose in life)
2. Wabi-Sabi (the beauty of impermanence and imperfection)
3. Shibumi (effortless elegance and simplicity)
4. Yūgen (a mysterious sense of beauty)
5. Kintsugi (the art of repairing broken pottery with gold)
6. Zen (a school of Buddhism which emphasises meditation)
7. Omoiyari (empathy and compassion)
8. Gaman (endurance, patience, and self-control)
9. Kaizen (continuous improvement and personal development)
10. Giri (duty and obligation)

Japanese cat names - tips

Ari-cat-o! We’ve now finished our paw-some collection of Japanese cat names. By now, we hope your imagination is going wild with cool name ideas for your new kitty. But don't stress if you're still stuck, because we've got some extra tips for you...

Before 100% settling on a name, take a moment to think about your feline friend’s unique traits. Do they have the playful and energetic spirit of a Matsuri festival? Then consider Japanese cat names like Haru or Yuk.

Or maybe your new furry friend is all about being graceful and chill, just like a Japanese garden? In that case, why not go for names like Sakura or Zen? Let your kitty’s charm and quirks guide you to the purr-fect name.

Oh, and one more thing – make sure the name rolls off your tongue easily. After all, you'll be calling it out with excitement during playtime, in your Instagram videos, and sharing it with other cat lovers (including, of course, your future house sitters!).