In Japan, cats are seen as bearers of good luck, so it’s no wonder there are more pet cats than dogs in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Although some of the names Japanese folks give to their cats might seem strange to foreigners, such as Fuwafuwa, they are definitely melodic and with a deeper meaning that is well worth further exploration.
Cat names popular in Japan
Start your search for the purrfect name for your cat by looking at some of the most popular Japanese cat names:
- A “meow” is a Nyan in Japan;
- and Fuwafuwa is, you’ve guessed it: “fluffy.”
Other common names are:
- Haruki
- Yoshi (the loveable Mario Bros. character’s name actually means “good luck”)
- Momo
- Kenzo
- Yuki
- Yumma
- Tadeo
- Fuku
- Sota (for plump felines)
- Taro
- Adzuki (meaning “red bean,” perfect for a Norwegian forest cat).
Popular Japanese cat names for males
If you own a tomcat, then any of the following Japanese names will suit it well:
- Kimi, meaning “noble”
- Akio, meaning “hero”
- and Senshi, the “warrior”.
An “even-tempered” feline can bear the name Hitoshi (not to be confused with Hiroshi – “generous”), a brave kitten should be named Taeko, while a multitalented cat is Toshiro.
The name symbolism doesn’t stop there, as:
- Tatsuki means “honor”
- Kento “happiness”
- Katoro “small boy” (perfect for smaller breeds)
- Tadaaki “faithful light”
- Ryuu “dragon” (for a cat with a red fur coat)
- Shohei “respect”
- and Ichiro “first son” which is the ideal name for a male cat you have been waiting to get for years.
Start your search for the purrfect name for your cat by looking at some of the most popular Japanese cat names.
Popular Japanese cat names for females
The Japanese language has appropriate names both for elegant lady cats, as well as feisty females. You might already know that Nakano means “warrior,” but did you know that Hana is a “flower” in Japanese?
- Akari should be the name for a feline that is the “light” of your life
- Danuja is the name for the “ruler” of your heart
Other names worth considering are:
- Eiji
- Sara (In Japanese, it means “vivid blossom”)
- Mio
- Yua
- Kiyo
- Makoto
- Himari
- Bashira
- Riki
- Haia
- Yamato (“great harmony”).
Japanese cat names that come naturally
The Japanese garden is all about expressing religion and philosophy through landscaping. The bond the Japanese people share with nature can be expressed through cat names as well.
- Kawa is a “river” in Japanese
- Hoshi is a “star”
- Taiyou is the “Sun”
- Tsuki is the “Moon” (a great alternative to already-tacky Luna in the West).
Few people haven’t heard of Sakura, “cherry blossoms” but there are also:
- Mori (meaning a “forest”)
- Uchuu
- Haru
- Amaya
- Rina
- Hotaru
- Aito
- Kuuki
- Rini (“little bunny” ideal for white kittens)
- Sora
- Daichi
- Shino
- Nami
- Taki.
One of the most melodic names borrowed from nature is definitely Cho, meaning “butterfly.” The plural is even more poetic: Chou.
Adorable Japanese cat names
Out of millions of words in the English language, none sums up how tiny and adorable pussycats can be. In Japanese, the word Kawaii means precisely that but there are other cute words you can use as inspiration for naming your cat.
For instance:
- Fuji is literally a “unique” name
- Mei means “sprout”
- Chisai Tori is a “little bird”
- Kirei (“a sweet one”)
- Shuga (yes, it means “sugar”)
- Chiisai and Chibi are well-suited for a Singapura, meaning “small (child).”
The Scottish Fold with its round face is the ideal candidate for the name Maru. “Sweet pea flower” sounds just as amicable in Japanese as it does in English: Suitopi.
Chīsana, “pocket-size,” is also a suitable name for smaller species but the cute naming ideas don’t stop there:
- Kei
- Koro
- Doki Doki
- Chika (“scattered flowers”)
- Kichōna
- Akachan (for your “baby” kitten).
The bond the Japanese people share with nature can be expressed through cat names as well.
Japanese names for white cats
- Snowball is a common cat name in the West but the Japanese have a Yukidama
- Yuki alone, meaning “snow”, is a good name for a cat, as well as
- Yukigafuru (“covered by snow”)
- Kumo is a “cloud”
- Shiroi stands for the color white
- Shinju is a “pearl.”
White foods and animals can also serve as inspiration: Can you guess what Mashumaro means (Hint: “marshmallow”)?
- Raisupati is a “rice patty”
- Hakahu is a “white crane”
- “cotton ball” has a nice ring to it: Wata no Kyū.
- Oh yeah, did we mention Tofu?
Japanese names for black cats
The symbolism of the color black and black cats is not much different in Japan than in the rest of the world. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t light things up by naming your black cat Kage (“shadow”) or Ninjutsu (“ninja’s art”).
In fact, the Japanese language is brimming with melodic and likable names for black cats:
- Suterusu is “stealthy”
- Kuro Neko simply means a “black cat”
- Yami is “dark”
- Makkuro is “inky”
- and Sumōkī can be translated as “smoky.”
A neat alternative for the English name Raven is Karasu (although Poe is still Poe). Kuromai, meaning “black rice” is a popular name for black cats in Japan, as well as Mayonaka (“midnight”).
Odd Japanese cat names
If you are looking for a Japanese name that isn’t that common, then consider Nen, meaning “profound hope.” Kanaye is a “zealous one” and Toshiko is an “alert and valued child.”
The list of strange allusions goes on with:
- Kaori, a “fragrant and beautiful girl”
- Setsuko, a “temperate child”
- Shiori, a “guide”, a name suitable for a therapy cat.
If you are looking for a Japanese name that isn’t that common, then consider Nen, meaning “profound hope.”
Naming your cat after a Japanese celebrity
Folks who are “big in Japan” can serve as inspiration, as they all have Japanese names. For instance:
- Mocomichi is a killer name for a car, after the famous model and actor of Filipino descent
- Rola is also a model
- as well as Nozomi, who is a singer as well
- Naomi is an international name
- Toma is a TV and film actor
- Takashi is a famous filmmaker
- Haruna, a pop icon now turned to Instagram
- movie actress Masami Nagasawa.
The lilt of Japanese sounds strange to foreigners outside of Asia, which is a huge plus when choosing Japanese cat names. Not only will it be easy to shout Yuki or Kei but the name you decide on in the end will convey a deeper meaning, thus describing the special bond you share with your four-legged feline friend.
