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400+ Japanese Dog Names

  1. Meri

    • Origin:

      Finnish; Maori "sea; Mary"

    • Meaning:

      "sea; Mary"

    • Description:

      Upbeat name that cheers you as soon as you hear it. One famous bearer is Maori feminist Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia.
  2. Issa

    • Description:

      Issa is a masculine name with multicultural origins. In Arabic culture, it is the name for Jesus (prophet Isa in Islam) and means 'God is salvation.' It also appears in Slavic languages as a diminutive of names like Isidor. In Japanese, Issa can be a given name meaning 'one tea' or was famously the pen name of the poet Kobayashi Issa. The name's brevity and melodic quality have contributed to its growing international appeal. Issa has gained popularity in recent decades, especially in Muslim communities and among parents seeking short, meaningful names with cross-cultural significance. Its simplicity makes it easy to pronounce across different languages, adding to its global accessibility while maintaining cultural richness.

  3. Tamari

    • Origin:

      Georgian variation of Tamar, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "date palm tree"

    • Description:

      Tamar is a feminine Hebrew name, but this variation is used on girls and boys in the US. Tamari is also the name of a Japanese condiment similar to soy sauce.
  4. Taiga

    • Origin:

      English word name; Japanese

    • Description:

      Taiga has two origins. As a word name derived from Turkic languages via Russian, it refers to the snow forest of the Arctic regions, making it an evocative nature name.

  5. Tora

    • Origin:

      Norse

    • Meaning:

      "thunder"

    • Description:

      Tora is the female version of Tor or Thor, the name of the Norse god of thunder. Actress Jeanne Tripplehorn chose it for her daughter.
  6. Hanzo

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Description:

      Heard most frequently in 18th century Japan, Hanzo is a rarity in modern culture. Hattori Hanzo was a legendary samurai of the Sengoku Era. A modern day namesake might be Hanzo Shimada, from the video game Overwatch. Hanzo is one of many unique baby names from Asia and from the gaming world.
  7. Sakura

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "cherry blossom"

    • Description:

      Lovely Japanese name that would certainly be appreciated in Europe and the U.S. It was rarely used in Japan until the 1990s, and draws its current popularity from the fact that it is deeply connected to Japanese traditional culture without sounding frumpy and old-fashioned.
  8. Noe

    • Origin:

      Greek, Latin, and Georgian variation of Noah, Hebrew

    • Meaning:

      "rest, repose"

    • Description:

      Spelled Noë, this name is common among baby girls in the Netherlands. The umlaut clarifies the two-syllable pronunciation, at least to Europeans, and the spelling variation may help sidestep gender confusion.
  9. Toni

    • Origin:

      Latin

    • Meaning:

      "from Antium"

    • Description:

      In the 1940s, Toni began to surpass its progenitor, Antonia, but it peaked in 1960 and has since dropped back below the US Top 1000.
  10. Kyoka

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "mirror; fragrant flower"

    • Description:

      Kyōka Izumi was a 19th-century surrealist author. He was a man, but a female character in the anime series Bungo Stray Dogs was named after him in full.
  11. Mirai

    • Origin:

      Japanese or Shona

    • Meaning:

      "future or wait"

    • Description:

      A modern Japanese name meaning "future", borne by figure skater Mirai Nagasu. The name is technically unisex, but more often given to girls. Mirai is also a Shona female given name, meaning "wait".
  12. Rori

    • Description:

      Rori is a feminine name with Gaelic origins, though it can occasionally be used for boys as well. Traditionally, it's a feminine variation of Rory, which means 'red king' in Gaelic. The name has a bright, lively quality with its short, upbeat sound. Rori maintains connections to Celtic heritage while having a contemporary feel that works well across cultural boundaries. The name has gained modest popularity in English-speaking countries since the late 20th century, particularly appealing to parents seeking short, spunky names for girls that avoid overly frilly associations. Its simplicity makes it easy to pronounce and spell while remaining distinctive. The name combines traditional roots with a modern sensibility, offering a balance of heritage and contemporary style.
  13. Kimi

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "righteous; beautiful hope; valuable and beautiful"

    • Description:

      This simple, bright Japanese name is used on both boys and girls and has numerous meanings. It can be interpreted as meaning "righteous" and "prince", or a combination of mi meaning "beautiful" and ki meaning "hope", "seasons" and "valuable".
  14. Miya

    • Origin:

      Variation of Mia or Maya; Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "palace, shrine, temple"

    • Description:

      Is it pronounced MEE-ah or MY-ah? Only the bearer knows for sure, which is one of the central problems with this hybrid name.
  15. Natsu

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "born in the summer"

    • Description:

      Used for summer-born babies in Japan.
  16. Kubo

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "sunken ground"

    • Description:

      The lead character of the Oscar-nominated 2016 film "Kubo and the Two Strings" lives in Edo-period Japan, but his name is more often heard as a surname in Japan. Still, fans of the animated movie may want to consider it.
  17. Kei

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "blessing, excellent, respect, wise, jewel"

    • Description:

      Unisex Japanese name used more often for girls these days. Potential successor to Kai.
  18. Akiko

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "bright child"

    • Description:

      This popular Japanese name has many various meanings (bright, clear, autumn), depending on the combination of kanji used to spell it. The final element is the character ko, meaning "child", which features in many Japanese feminine names. Akiko is one of the best unique names for autumn babies.
  19. Nami

    • Origin:

      Japanese

    • Meaning:

      "ocean wave"

    • Description:

      An aquatic Japanese choice that would work well cross-culturally. American parents are starting to pick up on this short and sweet international choice, with over 100 baby girls receiving this name per year.
      /br> Fans of One Piece may recognize this name as the Straw Hat Pirates' navigator. In the US, NAMI is the acronym for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
  20. Maiya

    • Description:

      Maiya is a feminine name with multiple cultural origins. In Sanskrit, it relates to 'illusion' or 'magic,' while in Hebrew it can mean 'wished-for child.' It's also found in Japanese culture where it might be connected to the word for 'dance.' The name has gained modest popularity in recent decades as parents seek distinctive yet approachable alternatives to more common names like Maya or Maia. Maiya offers a fresh twist on these similar names while maintaining an easy pronunciation. Its cross-cultural presence gives it versatility and broad appeal. The name has a gentle, flowing quality with its soft consonants and vowel sounds, contributing to its increasingly favorable reception.