300+ Japanese Cat Names (With Meanings)

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    Author
  • Cats are hugely popular in Japan and are thought to bring good luck. One of the most well-known cat figures is the maneki neko or beckoning cat, closely followed by Hello Kitty who was created in 1975 by Yuko Shimizu.

    A

    • Adzuki (red beans)
    • Aiko (little love)
    • Airi (love jasmine)
    • Aitko (ocean)
    • Aito (sea or ocean)
    • Aka (red)
    • Akachan (baby)
    • Akaganeiro (copper)
    • Akane (brilliant red)
    • Akari (light)
    • Akemi (beautiful dawn)
    • Aki (bright/autumn)
    • Akihiro (great brightness)
    • Akiko (bright child)
    • Akio (bright/clear)
    • Akira (bright/clear)
    • Akemi (bright beautiful)
    • Akiko (bright child)
    • Aiko (love jasmine/little love)
    • Akio (glorious man)
    • Akira (bright/clear)
    • Amaya (night rain)
    • Anpu (anime character)
    • Ao (blue)
    • Arata (new/fresh)
    • Artemis (anime character)
    • Arthur (anime character)
    • Asami (morning beauty)
    • Asuka (fragrance)
    • Atsushi (industrious director)
    • Ayame (iris)
    • Ayano (my colour)
    • Ayumu – (dream)
    • Azuki (sweet red beans)

    B

    • Bakeneko (supernatural cat)
    • Banzan (indestructible mountain)
    • Baro (anime character)
    • Bashira (joyful)
    • Bassui (high above average)
    • Benjiro (enjoys peace)
    • Bento (boxed lunch)
    • Blair (anime character)
    • Botan (peony)
    • Byakuya (white night)

    C

    • Ceiko (child of splendour)
    • Chairo (brown)
    • Chibi (tiny)
    • Chieko (intelligent child)
    • Chīsana (pocket-size)
    • Chiisai (small)
    • Chika (scattered flowers)
    • Chimon (gate of reason)
    • Chisai tori (little bird)
    • Chīsana (pocket-size)
    • Chiyo (thousand generation)
    • Chiyoko (child of a thousand generations)
    • Cho or Chou (butterfly or butterflies)
    • Chobi (small)
    • Chomusuke (anime character)
    • Chotto (small)

    D

    • Dai (great/large)
    • Daichi (from the earth)
    • Daijiro (important)
    • Daiki (glorious man)
    • Daisuke (great help)
    • Daku (dark)
    • Danuja (a ruler)
    • Dashi (broth)
    • Diana (anime character)
    • Doki doki (excited)
    • Domo (thank you)
    • Dosei (Saturn)

    E

    • Ebisu (one of the seven gods of luck)
    • Eiji (cheerful)
    • Eko (echo)
    • Emi (beautiful blessing)
    • Emiko (beautiful blessing child)
    • Eri (blessed prize)
    • Etsuko (child of joy)

    F

    • Fuchi (deep pool)
    • Fuji (unique)
    • Fuku (lucky)
    • Fumio (literature)
    • Fumiko (child of abundant beauty)
    • Fuwafuwa (fluffy)

    G

    • Giniro (silver)

    H

    • Hai (ashes)
    • Haia (nimble)
    • Haiiro (grey)
    • Hakahu (white crane)
    • Hana (flower)
    • Hanako (flower child)
    • Happy (anime character)
    • Haru (spring/sunlight)
    • Haruki (shining sun)
    • Haruko (spring child/shining sun)
    • Haruna (spring vegetable)
    • Haruto (sun flying)
    • Hayate (smooth)
    • Hibiki (sound, echo)
    • Hideki (excellent timber trees)
    • Hideko (child of excellence)
    • Hikari (light, radiance)
    • Hikaru (open, expand)
    • Himari (light and love)
    • Hime (princess)
    • Hina (sun vegetables)
    • Hiro (generous)
    • Hiroko (generous child)
    • Hiromi (generous beauty)
    • Hiroshi (generous)
    • Hirouki (great journey)
    • Hisako (child of long life)
    • Hitomi (pupil of the eye)
    • Hitoshi (even-tempered)
    • Honoka (harmony flower)
    • Hotaka (tall grain)
    • Hoshi (star)
    • Hoshiko (star child)
    • Hotaru (firefly)

    I

    • Ichiro (first son)
    • Ichika (gift)
    • Isamu (brave, courageous)
    • Itsuki (timber trees)
    • Izumi (spring, fountain)

    J

    • Jiji (anime character)
    • Jiro (second son)
    • Junichi (obedient first son)

    K

    • Kaede (maple)
    • Kai (seashell)
    • Kage (shadow)
    • Kaiko (silkworm)
    • Kaito (ocean flying)
    • Kamiko (superior child)
    • Kanaye (zealous one)
    • Kanta (tolerant)
    • Kaori (fragrant beautiful girl)
    • Kaoru (fragrance)
    • Karasu (raven)
    • Kasha (supernatural corpse eating cat)
    • Karupin (anime character)
    • Katashi (firm)
    • Katoro (small boy)
    • Katsu (victory)
    • Katsumi (victorious beauty)
    • Kaya (anime character)
    • Kawa (river)
    • Kazan (volcano)
    • Kazumi (harmonious beauty)
    • Kazuko (child of harmony)
    • Kei (style)
    • Keiko (blessed/respectful child)
    • Kenichi (strong, healthy first son)
    • Kenji (strong, healthy second son)
    • Kenshin (modest truthful)
    • Kenta (large strong, healthy)
    • Kento (happiness)
    • Kenzo (wise one)
    • Kichiro (lucky son)
    • Kichōna (precious)
    • Kiki (hope)
    • Kiko (chronicle child)
    • Kimi (noble)
    • Kimiko (empress child)
    • Kirara (anime character)
    • Kirei (pretty)
    • Kiiro (yellow)
    • Kiniro (gold)
    • Kisho (one who knows his own mind)
    • Kiti (kitty)
    • Kiyoshi (purity)
    • Kiyo (pure)
    • Kiyomi (pure beauty)
    • Koko (here)
    • Koneko (kitten)
    • Korin (anime character)
    • Koro (roly-poly)
    • Kotetsu (small iron)
    • Kumiko (long–time beautiful child)
    • Kumo (cloud)
    • Kuro (black)
    • Kuromai (black rice)
    • Kuro neko (black cat)
    • Kurumi (walnut)
    • Kuuki (air)
    • Kyo (cooperation)
    • Kyoho (dark grapes)
    • Kyoko (respectful child)

     

     

     

     

    L

    • Luna (anime character)

    M

    • Madara (anime character)
    • Madoka (circle, round)
    • Mai (dance)
    • Maki (true hope)
    • Maiko (child of dance)
    • Makkuro (inky)
    • Makoto (true/sincere)
    • Mami (true beauty)
    • Mana (love)
    • Manami (loving beautiful)
    • Maneki neko (lucky cat)
    • Mao (dance cherry blossom)
    • Mariko (true village child)
    • Maron (chestnut)
    • Maru (circle/round)
    • Masaaki (pleasing brightness)
    • Masa (just/true)
    • Masashi (righteous aspiration)
    • Masaki (great timber tree)
    • Masanori (model of justice)
    • Masaru (victory)
    • Masato (righteous, honourable)
    • Mashumaro (marshmallow)
    • Masumi (true clarity)
    • Matcha (tea)
    • Maya (anime character)
    • Mayonaka (midnight)
    • Mayumi (true gentle beauty)
    • Meowth (anime character)
    • Mi (beautiful)
    • Michi (pathway)
    • Michiko (beautiful wise child)
    • Michio (man on a journey)
    • Midori (green)
    • Mieko (beautiful blessing child)
    • Miami (smiling with truth)
    • Miho (protected, guaranteed beauty)
    • Mika (beautiful fragrance)
    • Miki (beautiful princess)
    • Mikan (mandarin orange)
    • Mike (tortoiseshell)
    • Miku (beautiful sky)
    • Minako (beautiful child)
    • Minori (truth)
    • Minto (mint)
    • Miruku (milk)
    • Mio (beautiful)
    • Mirin (rice wine)
    • Miruku (milk)
    • Misaki (beautiful blossom)
    • Miso (seasoning)
    • Mitsuko (child of light)
    • Mitsuru (satisfy, full)
    • Miwa (beautiful hamony, peace)
    • Miyako (beautiful night child)
    • Miyu (beautiful gentle)
    • Mizuki (beautiful moon)
    • Mochi (rice cake)
    • Moka (mocha)
    • Momo (peach)
    • Momoka (peach tree flower)
    • Moriko (child of the forest)
    • Mori (forest)
    • Moro (overgrown/thick)

    N

    • Nakano (warrior)
    • Nami (wave)
    • Nana (seven)
    • Nanami (seven seas)
    • Nao (honest)
    • Naoko (honest child)
    • Naomi (honest beautiful)
    • Natsuki (summer hope)
    • Natsumi (beautiful summer)
    • Nekobasu (anime character)
    • Nekomata (twin-tailed supernatural cat)
    • Neko sensei (anime character)
    • Nekotalia (anime character)
    • Nen (deep hope)
    • Nobuko (faithful, trustworthy child)
    • Noriko (lawful child)
    • Nyan (meow)
    • Nyoko (gem/treasure)

    O

    • Oden (fish cake)
    • Ohisama or Taiyou (sun)
    • Okkoto (head of the boar tribe)
    • Ojo (princess)
    • Orenjiiro (orange)

    P

    • Pāru (pearl)
    • Puck (anime character)

    R

    • Raisupati (rice patty)
    • Rakki (lucky)
    • Ren (lotus/love)
    • Rika (true fragrance)
    • Riki (strength)
    • Riko (child of truth)
    • Rin (dignified/graceful)
    • Rina (jasmine)
    • Rini (little bunny)
    • Rio (village cherry blossom)
    • Ryoko (refreshing child)
    • Ryuu (dragon)

    S

    • Sachiko (joyful, happy child)
    • Sakamoto (anime character)
    • Saki (blossom of hope)
    • Sakura (cherry blossoms)
    • Sara (vivid blossom)
    • Sashimi (raw fish)
    • Satoko (wise child)
    • Satomi (beautiful and wise)
    • Satsuki (month of May)
    • Senshi (warrior)
    • Setsuko (temperate child)
    • Shamisen (anime character)
    • Shigeko (growing child)
    • Shinju (pearl)
    • Shino (bamboo stalk)
    • Shiori (poem)
    • Shika (deer)
    • Shirasagi (white egret)
    • Shiro (white)
    • Shiroi or shiroi neko (white or white cat)
    • Shizuka (quiet summer)
    • Shizuko (quiet child)
    • Shohei (respect)
    • Shoyu (soy sauce)
    • Shuga (sugar)
    • Soba (noodles)
    • Sora (sky)
    • Sorarta (anime character)
    • Sota (big or thick)
    • Suitopi (sweet pea flower)
    • Sumiko (child of clarity)
    • Sumōkī (smoky)
    • Suzu (bell)
    • Suzume (sparrow)

    T

    • Tadaaki (faithful light)
    • Tadeo (loyal)
    • Taeko (brave)
    • Takako (noble child)
    • Takara (treasure)
    • Taki (waterfall)
    • Tama (pearl or marble)
    • Tamako (precious stone)
    • Tamiko (child of many beauties)
    • Taro (eldest son or boy)
    • Tatsuki (honour)
    • Tatsuo (dragon)
    • Teruko (shining child)
    • Tofu (block of condensed soy milk)
    • Tomiko (child of wealth/fortune)
    • Tora (tiger)
    • Toshiro (talented)
    • Toshiko (clever child)
    • Tsuki (moon)

    U

    • Uchuu (the cosmos)
    • Ume no hana (plum blossom)
    • Umiko (plum child)

    W

    • Wata no kyū (cotton ball)

    Y

    • Yamato (great harmony)
    • Yami (dark)
    • Yasu (peace/snow)
    • Yasuko (peaceful child)
    • Yoko (child of sunlight)
    • Yonaka (midnight)
    • Yoshi (good or good luck)
    • Yoshie (beautiful stream)
    • Yoshiko (child of goodness)
    • Yua (binding love and affection)
    • Yui (bind clothing)
    • Yuina (bind together)
    • Yuka (gentle flower)
    • Yukari (beautiful pear tree)
    • Yuki (good fortune/snow/happy)
    • Yukigafuru (snowy)
    • Yukiko (child of snow/child of happiness)
    • Yuko (gentle child)
    • Yumi (reason beautiful)
    • Yumiko (reason beautiful child)
    • Yuri (lily)
    • Yuriko (lily chi)
    • Yuuma (leisurely)
    • Yuuna (gentle)

     

    Feature image: Kochergin, Shutterstock

    Author

    • Julia Wilson, 'Cat World' Founder

      Julia Wilson is the founder of Cat-World, and has researched and written over 1,000 articles about cats. She is a cat expert with over 20 years of experience writing about a wide range of cat topics, with a special interest in cat health, welfare and preventative care. Julia lives in Sydney with her family, four cats and two dogs. Full author bio