79 Japanese Dog Names Male & Female With Meanings

Dogs have been familiar to the Japanese since ancient times. Hachikō is possibly Japan’s most well-known dog while the Shiba-Inu accounts for 80 percent of all the Japanese dog breeds kept in Japan.

I have already written about Japanese cat names and Japanese girl names, so I have also hand-picked 79 Japanese dog names (male and female) with meanings included.

Japanese Male Dog Names

Genki

Genki has a meaning that I like: ”source energy.”

Akio

Akio can be used for a male dog and means ”bright man.”

Makoto

Truth and sincerity.

Banko

In Japanese Banko means ”one who cultivates rice fields.”

Noboru

I like the Japanese name Noboru for a male dog. It is translated as ”to climb” or ”to ascend.”

Chibi

In Japanese slang, Chibi means short or small. I recommend the name Chibi for a Pomeranian, Chihuahua, Toy Poodle, Bichon Frisé, Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier, and Shih Tzu.

Sho

Sho means to soar or fly (翔).

Kiba

”Fang”.

Osamu

The meaning of Osamu is ruler.

Daisuke

Daisuke is derived from dai (big) and suke (help).

Riku

Continent or land.

Eiji

Eiji is a common male Japanese name, and it symbolises prosperity and peace. Japanese actor Eiji Akaso bears this name and is known for playing Ryuga Banjou in Kamen Rider Build.

Daichi

”Great earth” or ”wide land.”

Kuma

Kuma is the Japanese word for bear and is pronounced as KOO-mah. I recommend it for a heavy-coated dog that is built more like a small bear.

Sora

”Sky.”

Kai

Kai is meaning ”sea” (海) and ”shell” (貝).

Raiden

It is connected with Raiden who is the god of thunder and lightning in Japanese mythology.

Fumio

Wealth, abundance, history, or writing. Japanese sculptor Fumio Asakura was appointed to the Imperial Fine Arts Academy in 1919.

Facts about Japanese dogs

Many Japanese dog breeds originate from the island nation.

These six breeds, Hokkaido, Shikoku, Shiba, Kishu, Kai, and Akita, are unique to Japan. Most of these Nihon-ken are descended from hounds for hunting.

Shiba Inu is the most popular dog breed in Japan. Shibas have been used for hunting both small and large game.

Shikoku is the cousin of the Shiba Inu.

Haru

It means sunny, sunlight, sun, or springtime.

Satoshi

In Japanese Satoshi is symbolizing ”quick-witted” or ”wise.” Satoshi Nakamoto is the anonymous creator of Bitcoin. He never revealed anything personal. Even today Nakamoto’s true identity is unknown. In 2008 Nakamoto released the Bitcoin whitepaper and now has in his wallet at least 1.1 million Bitcoin.

Shiro

Shiro means gentleman.

Isamu

”Brave, merit, courage, or courageous.” Isamu Chō was a Japanese general who graduated from the Imperial Japanese Army Academy in 1913.

Kaze

Kaze is the word for wind (風).
READ MORE: 44 Good Dog Names For A Golden Retriever

Zen

Zen comes from the Middle Chinese word ”chan” which is from Sanskrit dhyāna, meaning meditation. Zen Buddhism is the 4th largest Buddhist sect in Japan. Zazen is a form of meditation that practically anyone can learn.

Jiro

Jiro means “second son” in Japanese. It also means reign.

Yoshi

Yoshi is interpreted as good luck or righteousness in Japanese

Kaito

Ocean or sea.

Taiki

Tai means ”large” and ki is meaning radiance.

Natsu

Natsu is translated as summer.

Ryuu

Imperial or dragon.

Taro

Taro symbolises (depending on the used kanji) watchtower, melodious, abundance, or heroic. Variations include Tarou and Taro.

Yuji

Yu means abundance and ji is symbolizing ”peace.”

Maru

Maru is the word for round or circle. Marutaro was a Shiba Inu from Tokyo who died in 2024 at 16.

Kohaku

”Amber.”

Gin

Gin means silver (銀). Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin is the 1980s manga by Yoshihiro Takahashi about a silver-brindle Akita pup.

Mugi

Mugi comes from the word for ”barley” or ”wheat.”

Kinako

Kinako is roasted soybean flour. The 2010 Japanese film Kinako is about a real Labrador whcih is training to become a police dog.

Mochi

”Japanese rice cake made of mochigome.”

Yamato

Yamato means ”great harmony” (大和).

Akira

”Bright” or ”clear.” You may know it from the 1988 anime film Akira.

Tora

Tora is the word for tiger and fits a dog with an attitude.

Ken

”Healthy and strong” or ”sword.”

Ryoma

Samurai Sakamoto Ryoma was assassinated in Kyoto in 1867. It is made of ryo (that means ”dragon”) and ma (”horse”).

Sakura

Sakura is the cherry blossom which is Japan’s unofficial national flower.

Rin

”Dignified” or ”cold-clear” and is unisex.

Sasuke

”Help”. Sarutobi Sasuke is a ninja who appears in kōdan narrative art.

Reon

”Leon (”lion”) and is a loanword good for confident dogs.

Female Names

Fumi

”Beauty” or ”lotus.”

Kabosu

Kabosu is a green citrus from Oita. It is also the real name of the Shiba Inu behind the Doge meme and the Dogecoin logo. She lived with her owner Atsuko Sato until 2024.

Koto

Koto is a traditional Japanese stringed instrument. Koto is roughly 180 centimetres in length.

Aiko

Aiko has its origins in the Japanese language, where it means ”child of love.”

Emiko

Beautiful blessed child.

How to choose a good Japanese name for your dog

Add a different element to your pooch’s pedigree.

Give your dog an authentic Japanese name with some of the above popular names. Use your imagination, and when you land on the right name.

Consider the feelings that the moniker can evoke.

Note: I recommend to avoid changing the name weeks or months later.

Ami

The common kanji reading is 亜 (Asia) plus 美 (beauty), as such Ami is meaning “Asia, beauty”.

Koharu

Koharu literally means “Indian summer” or “small spring.” Japanese singer Koharu Kusumi became a host of “Boat Race Live” in 2015.

Asahi

Meaning rising sun or morning sun, Asahi has Japanese origins.

Nori

Doctrine or belief.

Chiyo

”Thousand generations.”

Kiko

Kiko (depending on the used kanji) means noble child, precious child, child of happiness, or joyful child.

Hana

Hana is translated as flower from Japanese. It also means bliss in Arabic, hope in Kurdish, and grace in Hebrew. Japanese actress Hana Sugisaki re-debuted with Ken-On in April 2011.

Himari

Himari is another name with a meaning that I love, ”sunshine flower.”

Nana

Nana means “seven” in Japanese while in the UK it means grandmother.

Hoshi

Hoshi symbolises a ”star.”

Yume

Yume is interpreted as dream or vision in Japanese.

Kimi

Kimi can be used for a female dog, and it means joy or beautiful.

Saki

Saki means sand.

Machi

”City” or ”town.”

Momo

Momo means peach, while in Turkish it means mom.

Yuki

Happiness or snow.

Nami

Nami is the word for ”wave.”

Ume

”Plum blossom.”

Hikari

”Light.”

Suzu

”Bell (鈴)”. It is pronounced as SOO-zoo.

Botan

”Peony flower.”

Tsuki

”Moon” and may be good for a black or silver-grey coat.

Kokoro

”Heart” or ”mind.”

Momiji

“Autumn leaves.”

Sumire

Sumire is symbolizing the violet flower and is pronounced as soo-MEE-reh.

Tsubaki

”Camellia (Camellia japonica)”.

Anko

”Sweet red bean paste (餡子).” It is in the same family as Mochi and Kinako.