It’s official. Japan is obsessed with cats. And it’s not just Hello Kitty, although she alone is responsible for nearly five billion dollars in global sales in 2016. Japanese shops often display a Maneki Neko, a statue of a cat with a raised paw that’s said to bring prosperity and good fortune to the business. The country also boasts nearly 150 cat cafes, where patrons can cuddle kitties while they sip lattes.
Here at Rover, we’re obsessed with cat names. To celebrate Japan’s cat obsession, we’ve compiled a list of cat names inspired by Japanese pop culture and naming trends. Whether you prefer Dear Daniel, in honor of Hello Kitty’s boyfriend, or a dreamy name like Hashiko (star child), this list has some of our all-time favorite names.
Popular Names in Japan
If you like a name with a rhythmic sound and a special meaning, you might find inspiration in these popular names for women, men, and cats in Japan.
Female Japanese Cat Names
- Akemi – bright beautiful
- Akiko – bright child
- Akira – bright / clear
- Aiko – child of love
- Airi – love jasmine
- Asami – morning beauty
- Asuka – tomorrow perfume, fragrance
- Ayame – iris
- Ayano – my color
- Ceiko – child of splendor
- Chieko – child of intelligence, wisdom
- Chika – scatter flowers
- Chiyo – one thousand generations
- Chiyoko – child of a thousand generations
- Emi – beautiful blessing
- Emiko – beautiful blessing child
- Eri – blessed prize
- Etsuko – child of joy
- Fumiko – child of abundant beautyFemale
- Hana – flower
- Hanako – flower child
- Haru – spring
- Haruko – spring child
- Haruna – spring vegetables
- Hideko – child of excellence
- Hikari – light, radiance
- Hina – sun vegetables
- Hisako – child of long life
- Hiro – generous
- Hiroko – generous child
- Hiromi – generous beauty
- Hitomi – pupil of the eye
- Honoka – harmony flower
- Hoshi – star
- Hoshiko – star child
- Hotaru – firefly
- Izumi – spring, fountain
- Kamiko – superior child
- Katsumi – victorious beauty
- Kazumi – harmonious beauty
- Kazuko – child of harmony
- Keiko – blessed child / respectful child
- Kiko – chronical child
- Kimi – noble
- Kimiko – empress child
- Kiyomi – pure beauty
- Kumiko – long–time beautiful child
- Kyo – cooperation
- Kyoko – respectful child
- Madoka – circle, round
- Mai – dance
- Maki – true hope
- Maiko – child of dance
- Makoto – sincere
- Mami – true beauty
- Mana – love
- Manami – loving beautiful
- Mao – dance cherry blossom
- Masa – just / true
- Masumi – true clarity
- Mariko – true village child
- Mayumi – true gentle beauty
- Mi – beautiful
- Michi – pathway
- Michiko – beautiful wise child
- Midori – green
- Mieko – beautiful blessing child
- Miho – protected, guaranteed beauty
- Mika – beautiful fragrance
- Miki – beautiful princess
- Miku – beautiful sky
- Minako – beautiful child
- Minori – truth
- Mio – beautiful cherry blossom
- Misaki – beautiful blossom
- Mitsuko – child of light
- Mitsuru – satisfy, full
- Miwa – beautiful hamony, peace
- Miyako – beautiful night child
- Miyu – beautiful gentle
- Miyuki – beautiful blessing
- Momoka – peach tree flower
- Moriko – child of the forest
- Nana – seven
- Nanami – seven seas
- Nao – honest
- Naoko – honest child
- Naomi – honest beautiful
- Natsuki – summer hope
- Natsumi – beautiful summer
- Nobuko – faithful, trustworthy child
- Noriko – lawful child
- Ren – lotus / love
- Rin – dignified
- Rina – jasmine
- Rio – village cherry blossom
- Rika – true fragrance
- Riko – child of truth
- Ryoko – refreshing child
- Sachiko – joyful, happy child
- Saki – blossom of hope
- Sakura – cherry blossom
- Satoko – wise child
- Satomi – beautiful and wise
- Shinju – pearl
- Shiori – poem
- Shigeko – growing child
- Shika – deer
- Shizuka – quiet summer
- Shizuko – quiet child
- Sora – sky
- Sumiko – child of clarity
- Suzu – bell
- Suzume – sparrow
- Takako – noble child
- Takara – treasure
- Tamiko – child of many beauties
- Teruko – shining child
- Tomomi – beautiful friend
- Tomiko – child of wealth, fortune
- Toshiko – clever child
- Umeko – plum child
- Yasu – peace iness / snow
- Yasuko – child of peace
- Yoko – child of sunlight
- Yoshi – lucky / righteous
- Yoshie – beautiful stream
- Yoshiko – child of goodness
- Yua – binding love
- Yuina – bind together
- Yuka – gentle flower
- Yukari – beautiful pear tree
- Yumi – reason beautiful
- Yumiko – reason beautiful child
- Yui – bind clothing
- Yuki – happy
- Yukiko – child of snow / child of happiness
- Yuko – gentle child
- Yuri – lily
- Yuriko – lily child
- Yuuna – gentle
Male Japanese Cat Names
- Aki – bright / autumn
- Akihiro – great brightness
- Akio – bright man
- Akira – bright / clear
- Arata – new, fresh
- Atsushi – industrious director
- Ayumu – walk dream, vision
- Dai – great, large
- Daiki – great glory / great nobility
- Daisuke – great help
- Eiji – eternity order
- Fumio – literature, scholarly hero
- Haru – spring
- Haruki – shining sun
- Haruto – sun flying
- Hayate – smooth
- Hibiki – sound, echo
- Hideki – excellent timber trees
- Hideo – excellent man
- Hikaru – light, radiance
- Hinata – sunflower / facing towards the sun
- Hiraku – open, expand
- Hiro – generous
- Hiroaki – wide, spacious light
- Hiroki – vast timber trees
- Hiroshi – generous
- Hiroyuki – great journey
- Hitoshi – motivated person
- Hotaka – tall grai
- Ichiro – first son
- Isamu – brave, courageous
- Itsuki – timber trees
- Jiro – second son
- Junichi – obedient first son
- Kaede – maple
- Kaito – ocean flying
- Kaoru – fragrance
- Katashi – firm
- Katsu – victory
- Kenichi – strong, healthy first son
- Kenji – strong, healthy second son
- Kenshin – modest truthful
- Kenta – large strong, healthy
- Kichiro – lucky son
- Kiyoshi – purity
- Kouta – great peace
- Kunio – country man
- Kyo – cooperation
- Madoka – circle, round
- Makoto – sincere
- Masa – just / true
- Masaaki – pleasing brightness
- Masaki – great timber tree
- Masashi – righteous aspiration
- Masaru – victory
- Masato – righteous person
- Masayoshi – righteous, honorable
- Masayuki – righteous blessing
- Masumi – true clarity
- Michi – pathway
- Michio – man on a journey
- Mitsuo – shining hero
- Mitsuru – satisfy, full
- Nao – honest
- Naoki – honest timber tree
- Noboru – ascend, rise
- Nori – to rule
- Norio – lawful man
- Osamu – disciplined, studious
- Ren – lotus / love
- Riku – land
- Rikuto – person of land
- Rokuro – sixth son
- Ryo – refreshing, cool
- Ryoichi – good first son
- Ryota – great refreshment
- Satoshi – wise, fast learner
- Shinobu – endurance
- Shiro – fourth son
- Sho – to fly
- Shouta – big flying
- Shinji – true second son
- Sora – sky
- Susumo – to advance, proceed
- Tadao – loyal, faithful man
- Tadashi – loyal, faithful
- Taichi – large first son
- Taiki – great radiance, shine
- Takahiro – of great value, nobility
- Takayuki – noble journey
- Takashi – prosperous, noble
- Takeo – warrior hero
- Takumi – artisan
- Tamotsu – protector, keeper
- Taro – large son
- Toshi – wise
- Toshiaki – advantageous light
- Toshio – genious leader, hero
- Tsuyoshi – strong
- Yamato – great harmony
- Yasu – peace
- Yasushi – peaceful
- Youta – great sunlight
- Yoshi – lucky / righteous
- Yoshio – joyful life
- Yoshiro – righteous son
- Yoshito – ceremonial, correct person
- Yuichi – heroic first son
- Yuji – heroic second son
- Yuki – happiness / snow
- Yukio – blessed hero
Hello Kitty Inspired Cat Names
Hello Kitty Inspired Cat NamesCan you believe that Hello Kitty turned 45 this year? She’s a classic, and these HK inspired names pay honor to one of the world’s favorite feline characters.
- Kitty White – Hello Kitty’s full name
- George – Kitty’s father
- Mary – Kitty’s mother
- Mimmy – Kitty’s twin sister
- Dear Daniel – Kitty’s boyfriend
- Charmmy – Kitty’s pet cat
Anime Inspired Cat Names
Is it a rule that each anime show or movie must include a cat? I hope so. These are some of the cat characters in anime. Who’s your favorite?
- Arthur – Code Geass
- Carla – Fairy Tail
- Chi – Chi’s Sweet Home
- Kamineko – Azumanga Daioh
- Korin – Dragon Ball Z
- Kuro – Blue Exorcist
- Kuroneko–sama – Trigun
- Luna & Artemis – Sailor Moon
- Mao – Darker than Black.
- Meowth – Pokémon
- Molly – The Ancient Magus Bride
- Neko-sensei – Princess Tutu
- Nyanko Big – Tada Never Falls In Love
- Nyanko-sensei – Natsume’s Book Of Friends
- Potya – Yuri!!! on ICE
- Sakamoto – Nichijoum
Cat Names from Miyazaki Films
Remember Jiji, the cat who rides alongside the little witch Kiki on her delivery route in Kiki’s Delivery Service? The iconic Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki has inspired imaginations worldwide, and come up with some of the most memorable animated characters of a generation, including cats and many other creatures.
Spirited Away Inspired Cat Names
- Chihiro Ogino/Sen
- Haku/Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi
- Yubaba
- Kaonashi
- Kamaji
- Lin
- Boh
- Zeniba
- Akio Ogino
- Yuuko Ogino
- Oshira-sama
- Aogaeru
- Makkuro-Kurosuke
- Aniyaku
- Chichiyaku
- Yuna
- Yubaba
- Shikigami
- Kashira
- Kasuga-sama
- Ootori-sama
- Ushioni-sama
- Onama-sama
Kiki’s Delivery Service Inspired Cat Names
- Kiki
- Jiji the Cat
- Osono
- Ursula
- Tombo
- Fukuo
- Kokiri
- Okino
- Madame
- Barsa
- Ket
- Maki
Princess Mononoke Inspired Cat Names
- Ashitaka
- Jigo
- Lady Eboshi
- Gonza
- San
- Kohrulu
- Toki
- Moro
- Okkoto
My Neighbor Totoro Inspired Cat Names
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- Satsuki
- Mei
- Tatsuo
- Yasuko
- Kanta
- Roba
- Kasakari-Otoko
Find a Great Name for Your Cat on Rover
- More Than 200 Truly Funny Cat Names
- The Best Cool Cat Names
- The Most Unique Cat Names
- 171 Cute Cat Names with Popularity Rankings
- 250+ Superb Siamese Cat Names
- Over 300 Egyptian Cat Names That Are Super-Cool
- 115 Best Gray Cat Names for Your Silver, Blue, or Lilac Kitty
- 119 Best Calico Cat Names
- 100 Best Orange Cat Names
- 115 Best White Cat Names
- 102 Best Black and White Cat Names
Need Cat Sitting?
Cats seem more independent than dogs, sure, but they need attention, play, and treats when you’re gone, too. Your great cat deserves great cat care. You’ve found the best cat name, so now it’s time to find them the perfect cat sitter with Rover.
Find your cat’s perfect match, right from your phone—and then hit the road happy.
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