150 Cute Japanese Cat Names With Meanings

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Japanese names have an exotic beauty to them that makes them great for cats, whether yours is a Japanese breed or not. Here are 101 of the best Japanese cat names for you to pick from.

Male Names

Daisuke- Means a great help.

  • Eiji (えいじ / 英) – Means eternal order.
  • Hideo (ひでお / 英男) – Means excellent person.
  • Fumio (ふみお / 文男) – Heroic literary character.
  • Daiki (だいき / 大輝) – This noble name means royalty.
  • Ayumu (あゆむ / 歩む) – Means a dream or a vision.
  • Daisuke ((だいすけ / 大輔) – Means a great help.
  • Ichiro (いちろう / 一郎) – Means firstborn son.
  • Jiro (じろう / 次郎) – This strong name means the second son.
  • Kyo (きょう / 京) – This common Japanese name means cooperation.
  • Masaru (まさる / 勝) – Means a righteous being.
  • Michi (みち / 道) – Means the pathway to something.
  • Noboru (のぼる / 昇) – This honorable name means to rise to something greater.
  • Ren (れん / 蓮) – Means love or lotus flower.
  • Ryo (りょう / 涼) – This common names means refreshing or cool.
  • Satoshi (さとし / 智) – Refers to a wise creature.

Takeo- Means a strong warrior.

  • Sora (そら / 空) – This fun name means the sky.
  • Tadashi (ただし / 忠) – Means loyal and true.
  • Ryota (りょうた / 涼太) – Means refreshing.
  • Takeo (たけお / 武男) – Means a strong warrior.
  • Yukio (ゆきお / 幸男) – Is a hero that is blessed.
  • Yoshio (よしお / 義男) – Fairly common name that means joyful life.
  • Youta (ようた / 陽太) – Means sunshine.
  • Tadeo (タデオ) – Means faithful and loyal.
  • Riku (りく / 陸) – Is a strong name that means of the earth or the land.
  • Osamu (おさむ / 修) – Means disciplined or obedient, which isn’t a name you want to use for just any cat.
  • Naoki (なおき / 直樹) – Means strong like a tree but honest as well.
  • Mitsuru (みつる / 光る) – Means full or satisfying.
  • Masa (まさ / 正) – Simply means to be true.
  • Takumi (たき / 滝) – Is a word meaning artist or artisan.
  • Taki (しのぶ / 忍) – Means shining with radiance and glory.

Shou- Is for a treasured cat, as it means prize.

  • Shinobu (しのぶ / 忍) – Is a name given to someone who endures or stands fast.
  • Masashi (まさし / 正志) – This name means aspiring to righteousness and goodness.
  • Kouta (こうた / 幸太) – Should be reserved for quiet cats, ands it means peace.
  • Kyoshi (きょし / 教師) – A name that means purity and may work well for white cats.
  • Kenta (けんた / 健太) – Can be used for tough, strong cats, as it means healthily strong.
  • Kaoru (かおる / 薫) – The name means sweet smelling fragrance.
  • Kenshin (けんしん / 健心) – Means both modest and truthful.
  • Norio (のりお / 紀男) – Means a creature that is lawful, being obedient to the law of the land.
  • Masaaki (まさあき / 正明) – Means a creature or thing that is pleasing in its brightness.
  • Hotaka (ほたか / 穂高) – Is a fine name that means tall like the grain.
  • Hinata (ひなた / 日向) – Is a great name for cats with lightly-colored faces, as it is means looking toward the sun.
  • Dai (だい / 大) – Is a suitable name for larger cats, as it means large or great.
  • Arata (あらた / 新) – Is great for cats that are a breath of fresh air and a great source of joy, as it means new and refreshing.
  • Shou (しょう / 昇) – Is for a treasured cat, as it means prize.
  • Yuu (ゆう / 悠) – Is a fine name meaning brave and gentle.
  • Yuudai (ゆうだい / 悠大) – Is a name meaning great hero.
  • Haruka (はるか /春花) – Is good for cats that are always daydreaming, as it means distant.
  • Isamu (いさむ / 勇) – Means brave and bold.
  • Shin (しん / 真) – Means true or genuine.
  • Naomi (なおみ / 直美) – Is a name that means one’s true self.

Female Names

Mao- A blossom, particularly a cherry blossom.

  • Emi (えみ / 恵美) – Means a beautiful blessing.
  • Fumiko (ふみこ / 文子) – A very beautiful child.
  • Chika (ちか / 千夏) – Means flowers that have been scattered.
  • Asuka (あすか / 明日香) – Means fragrance or beautiful perfume.
  • Hisako (ひさこ / 久子) – Means a child that is a blessing for a long life.
  • Hiroko (ひろこ / 広子) – A child that is generous, and a variation of that is Hiro.
  • Izumi (いずみ / 泉) – Is a common name that means fountain or spring.
  • Kimi (きみ / キミ) – Means a noble creature, as many cats are.
  • Kyoko (きょうこ / 京子) – Means a creature that is respectful, as few cats are.
  • Mai (まい / 舞) – Describes a dance.
  • Mao (まお / 真央) – A blossom, particularly a cherry blossom.
  • Minori (みのり / 実り) – Means a truthful creature.
  • Morikio (もりきお / 森紀男) – Is great for cats that love to be outdoors, as it means a child of the forest.
  • Miyu (みゆ / 美優) – Means gentle and beautiful.
  • Hoshi (ほし / 星) – This commonly used name means star.

Kae- This name means blessing.

  • Ceiko (清子) – Means a creature that is splendid.
  • Airi (あいり / 愛莉) – Is the name of the love jasmine flower.
  • Chiyoko (ちよこ / 千代子) – Is a child of long line of family.
  • Kimiko (きみこ / 君子) – Refers to a noble child, such as an empress’ daughter.
  • Mana (まな / 真菜) – Simply means love.
  • Miki (みき / 美希) – Is a lovely princess.
  • Noriko (のりこ / 範子) – This name means a lawful or obedient creature.
  • Rin (りん / 凛) – Is a name meaning dignified.
  • Suzume (すずめ / 雀) – Is good for sleek, fast cats, because it means sparrow.
  • Yasu (やす / 安) – Is good for white cats, as it means snow.
  • Yua (ゆあ / 優愛) – Is a beautiful name that means strong, lasting love.
  • Tomiko (とみこ / 富子) – Means a child of wealth.
  • Umeko (うめこ / 梅子) – Means a wonderful child.
  • Kae (かえ / 佳恵) – This name means blessing.
  • Katana (かたな / 刀) – This dangerous name means sword.

Yuki- This lovely name means happiness.

  • Miyaba (みやば / 宮場) – Is a name meaning elegance.
  • Tomomi (ともみ / 智美) – This beautiful names means friend.
  • Maemi (まえみ / 真恵美)– Means a sincere smile.
  • Shina (しな / 志菜) – Is a name that means virtuous.
  • Noa (のあ / 乃亜) – This simple name means both love and hope.
  • Akemi (あけみ / 明美) – This sweet name means a beautiful sunrise.
  • Kaida (カイダ / 海田) – For a more dangerous name, try this one, which means little dragon.
  • Kyrinnia (輝友) – This unique name means shining friend.
  • Yuka (ゆか / 優花) – It means a delicate flower.
  • Chie (ちえ / 知恵) – Perfect for the wise-looking cat, as it means wisdom.
  • Tamiko (たみこ / 知美子) – Means a beautiful creature.
  • Yoshie (よしえ / 吉恵) – Means a lovely stream.
  • Yuki (ゆき / 雪) – This lovely name means happiness.
  • Momoka (ももか / 桃花) – You could name your cat after the peach tree flowers.
  • Mio (みお / 美桜) – Or you could go with the beautiful cherry blossoms instead.
  • Mami (まみ / 真実) – This name means sincere loveliness.
  • Keiko (恵子 / けいこ) – This is a common name meaning blessed or respected.
  • Honaka (ほのか / 穂乃果) – Is the name of a Japanese flower.
  • Hikari (光 / ひかり) – This name means radiance or light.
  • Emiko (恵美子 / えみこ) – This name means blessed creature.
  • Ayame (あやめ / 菖蒲) – Is the name of the iris in Japanese.

Japanese Names for Black Cats

  • Kuro (くろ / 黒) – Meaning “black,” a simple and classic name.
  • Yami (やみ / 闇) – Meaning “darkness,” perfect for a mysterious black cat.
  • Sumi (すみ / 墨) – Meaning “ink,” inspired by the deep black color of ink.
  • Kage (かげ / 影) – Meaning “shadow,” ideal for a stealthy black cat.
  • Tsuki (つき / 月) – Meaning “moon,” a name reflecting the night.
  • Kuroi (くろい / 黒い) – Meaning “black one,” emphasizing the cat’s color.
  • Hoshi (ほし / 星) – Meaning “star,” for a cat that shines in the night.
  • Raven (レイヴン) – Inspired by the black bird, with the Japanese pronunciation “Reivun.”
  • Mikazuki (みかづき / 三日月) – Meaning “crescent moon,” for a nocturnal and graceful vibe.
  • Anko (あんこ) – Meaning “sweet red bean paste,” often black in appearance, a cute and unique name.

Japanese Names for Orange Cats

  • Mikan (みかん) – Meaning “mandarin orange,” a cute name reflecting the cat’s color.
  • Taiyō (たいよう / 太陽) – Meaning “sun,” for a warm and radiant orange hue.
  • Akari (あかり / 明り) – Meaning “light” or “brightness,” for a vibrant personality.
  • Hinode (ひので / 日の出) – Meaning “sunrise,” symbolizing the soft orange glow of dawn.
  • Kabocha (かぼちゃ) – Meaning “pumpkin,” perfect for a playful and orange-colored cat.
  • Chōji (ちょうじ / 丁子) – Meaning “clove,” inspired by the spice’s warm orange-brown tone.
  • Yuzu (ゆず) – Meaning “yuzu citrus,” a cheerful and fruity name for an orange cat.
  • Momiji (もみじ / 紅葉) – Meaning “maple leaf,” reflecting the vibrant orange-red colors of autumn.
  • Tōgarashi (とうがらし / 唐辛子) – Meaning “chili pepper,” for a spicy or energetic orange cat.
  • Aka (あか / 赤) – Meaning “red,” often used to describe warm, reddish-orange tones.

Cool Japanese Names for Cats

  • Ryu (りゅう / 竜) – Meaning “dragon,” a strong and mystical name.
  • Hoshi (ほし / 星) – Meaning “star,” for a cat with a sparkling or celestial personality.
  • Kaze (かぜ / 風) – Meaning “wind,” for a swift and graceful cat.
  • Tora (とら / 虎) – Meaning “tiger,” perfect for a bold or striped feline.
  • Kitsune (きつね / 狐) – Meaning “fox,” symbolizing cunning and charm.
  • Shiro (しろ / 白) – Meaning “white,” but it’s also a classic, minimalist name suitable for any color.
  • Sora (そら / 空) – Meaning “sky,” for a cat with a calm or free-spirited nature.
  • Yoru (よる / 夜) – Meaning “night,” ideal for a sleek or mysterious cat.
  • Zen (ぜん / 禅) – Reflecting tranquility and mindfulness, for a serene and chill cat.
  • Kuroi (くろい / 黒い) – Meaning “black one,” a stylish name for a dark-furred cat.

Hopefully, one of these piques your interest and is just what you are looking for to name your cat.

About Leslie Roberts

Leslie Roberts is an experienced business process analyst who has worked in the computer software industry. She has also written features for Cats.com.