400+ Japanese Dog Names

Akari is a gender-neutral Japanese name used fairly evenly between the sexes in the US.

A lovely Japanese alternative to Tamara.

This handsome Japanese name has dozens of possible meanings, depending on the kanji characters used.

Aire is a poetic spelling of the word "air", once widely used in Middle English. Today, it's a brand new baby name, introduced to wider audiences when Kylie Jenner revealed it as the new name of her son (the baby previously known as Wolf). Aire is an exciting new choice in nature names and unisex names — one that is decidedly less materialistic than the homophone name Heir.

The surname of the 44th US President has been been adopted as a first, for girls as well as boys, by admiring parents around the world. And the O beginning even makes it fashionable. Though Barack Obama's name derives from the Luo people of Kenya, Obama is also a Japanese place name and a surname that means "little beach."

Japanese-born fashion designer Issey Miyake, known for his techno-clothes, could provide baby naming inspiration.

Electrifying Japanese name.

Tsunami is a Japanese word, derived from the elements tsu meaning "harbor," and nami, "wave." It was first used as a name in 2004 and 2005, then left the charts and reemerged in 2020. At the very least, it makes an interesting way to get to the nickname Sue or Susie (or would that be Tsu/Tsusi?)

Mako is a name used for both genders in Japan, most notably for the granddaughter of the emperor who chose to leave the Royal Family to marry a commoner. It's a simple name that translates easily to English-speaking cultures, though many will try to pronounce the first syllable with a long a. Mako also means "shark" in Maori, and is the name of two shark species.

Momoko is a Japanese name meaning "peach child." It's also the name of a character in the popular Sailor Moon manga series.

Japanese mountaineer Junko Tabei was the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, and the first to reach the summits of the tallest peaks on all seven continents.

Sachiko was one of the first Japanese names familiar to Americans when it was used in the 1950s by actress Shirley Maclaine for her daughter, called the adorable short form Sachi. While Sachiko does not rank on the US Social Security baby names list, Sachi was given to 25 girls in the most recent year counted.

Actor Wilmer Valderrama and Amanda Pacheco adapted this Japanese surname for their daughter Nakano Oceana, born in 2021. The couple was inspired by female samurai Nakano Takeko (Nakano being her surname), who led a group of women warriors that fought on the front lines against samurai rules.

Common name among Japanese men that can be written with a variety of kanji, giving it different meanings.

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.

Masa is a feminine name with multicultural origins and meanings. In Japanese, Masa (政) can mean 'righteous government' or 'becoming' depending on the kanji characters used. In Arabic, Masa (مسا) means 'evening' or 'twilight,' evoking a peaceful time of day. The name also appears in Swahili and some Eastern European languages with various meanings. This short, melodic name travels well across cultures due to its simple pronunciation and spelling. Masa has remained relatively uncommon in Western countries but has seen some usage in multicultural communities. Its brevity and softness give it a gentle quality, while its cross-cultural presence makes it accessible worldwide. For parents seeking a simple yet meaningful international name, Masa offers versatility and subtle beauty.

Michi can be a playful yet charming Japanese name or a friendly German diminutive of Michaela (or Michael), pronounced similarly to Mickey. Either way, it is a unisex option with broad appeal.

Yuta Okkotsu is a major character in the anime series Jujutsu Kaisen. The kanji used in the Japanese manga give his name the meaning "grief," in reference to the loss of his dear childhood friend, Rika. In practice, men who bear this name use the kanji meaning "gentle."

One Japanese name that feels Western, though not quite American.

Naoko is a common Japanese name with an admirable meaning, which, depending on how it's written, can translate to obedient, straight, honest, or green child. Naoko can also be spelled Nahoko.