400+ Japanese Dog Names
- Takashi
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"noble; prosperous; venerable"Description:
Common Japanese name associated with contemporary artist Takashi Murakami.
- Konan
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"small south"Description:
As a feminine name, Konan has Japanese origins. It is the name of a villainous character in the Naruto franchise.
- Kae
Description:
Kae is a concise, gender-neutral name that has been more commonly used for girls in Western contexts. It has multiple origins: it can be a short form of Katherine or names beginning with K; in Japanese, it means "support" or "blessing"; and in Hawaiian, it relates to "the essence" or "the core." This brief, one-syllable name carries a striking minimalist quality that appeals to modern naming preferences for simplicity. Despite its brevity, Kae's cross-cultural connections give it depth and versatility. The name has maintained a consistent but uncommon presence in naming records, making it distinctive without being completely unfamiliar.
- Yume
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"dream; abundance of sprouts"
- Ami
Origin:
Japanese, Sanskrit, or variation of AmyMeaning:
"second beauty; second ocean; second truth; nectar; beloved"Description:
A multicultural unisex choice that peaked for girls at the same time as Amy. Ami is also the French word for "friend."
- Ema
Origin:
Spanish, Portuguese, Slovene, Croatian, Bosnian, Czech, Slovak, and Lithuanian variation of Emma, GermanMeaning:
"universal"Description:
Common form of Emma found in the Baltic and Slavic states.
- Sachi
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"child of joy"Description:
Sachi, often short for Sachiko, was given to 25 girls in the US in a recent year. While it is technically Japanese, this short form has an unidentifiably international feel and might be a relative of the stylish Sacha.
- Emiko
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"smiling child; beautiful child"Description:
A fresh and pretty Japanese name which would be an unusual route to the popular Emmy/Emi nickname. In Japanese, this name can be formed from a variety of different kanji combinations with different meanings, but "laughing child" and "beautiful child" are two appealing possibilities.
- Ryo
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"fact, reality, understand; distant; defy"Description:
A simple, importable Japanese name that is used for both males and females and carries a multitude of meanings depending on which character is used to denote it. While most westerners pronounced it rye-oh, its real pronunciation is closer to ree-uh. A similar male name, Ryu, means "dragon."
- Nino
Origin:
GeorgianMeaning:
"of Nineveh"Description:
Georgian feminine form of Ninos, which may come from the name of the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh. Saint Nino introduced Christianity to Georgia in the 4th century.
- Reia
Description:
Reia is a feminine name with multiple possible origins, giving it rich cross-cultural significance. In Japanese, Reia (麗愛) can mean 'lovely love' or 'beautiful affection,' depending on the kanji characters used. It also resembles Rhea from Greek mythology, who was a Titaness and mother of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. Additionally, Reia could be considered a variant of Raya, which has Hebrew and Arabic roots meaning 'friend' or 'companion.' This multicultural name remains relatively uncommon in Western countries but has seen modest increased usage in recent decades as parents seek distinctive names with international appeal. Its brevity and melodic quality make it accessible across language barriers, while its various meaningful associations offer depth beyond its simple, beautiful sound.
- Isamu
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"brave or gallant"Description:
This charming Japanese name, with two meanings every little boy would love to have, was briefly in the Canadian Top 100 in the early 20th Century. There are many famous bearers of the name, such as architect Isamu Noguchi and physicist Isamu Akasaki.
- Chiyo
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"thousand generations"Description:
The childhood name of the heroine of Memoirs of a Geisha is pretty and accessible. Chiyiko is a pet form.
- Shingo
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"genuine; careful"Description:
Common Japanese name most notably connected to Shigeo Shingō, Japanese industrial engineer and expert on the Toyota Production System.
- Tenya
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"sky and heavens"Description:
Class representative in the popular anime series My Hero Academia.
- Momoko
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"peach child"Description:
Momoko is a Japanese name meaning "peach child." It's also the name of a character in the popular Sailor Moon manga series.
- Nikka
Description:
Nikka is a feminine name with diverse cultural roots. It may function as a diminutive of Nicole or Nicola (Greek for 'victory of the people'), a variant of the Finnish name Nika, or have connections to Japanese origins where it might reference the Nikka whisky brand or represent a phonetic spelling of a Japanese name. The double 'k' gives this short name a distinctive look and crisp sound. Nikka has a modern, multicultural feel that works well internationally. While not particularly common in Western countries, its brevity and phonetic simplicity make it accessible across languages and cultures. The name carries a contemporary energy and strength, potentially appealing to parents seeking something short but substantive, with potential ties to either European or Asian naming traditions.
- Raiden
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"thunder and lightning"Description:
Raiden is a powerful choice for a baby girl. The Japanese god of thunder’s name is traditionally pronounced RYE-den, but most children named Raiden in the US pronounce it to rhyme with familiar choices Aiden, Jayden, and Hayden.
- Seiji
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"lawful and just"Description:
Popular Japanese name exemplified by the distinguished conductor Seiji Ozawa.
- Harumi
Origin:
JapaneseMeaning:
"beautiful spring; clear weather"Description:
Sweet and springy Japanese name.