400+ Japanese Dog Names

A unisex cultural crossover that has seen a little use from the 1990s onwards. In Japanese mythology, Inari is an androgynous deity associated with rice, tea and foxes. In Finland, it is the name of a region, lake and village which is a center of Sami culture.

Baby names that started off as diminutives -- Ena, Ita, Etta -- seem too insubstantial for a modern female.

Kyoto is a Japanese city name not yet on the map for babies, but why not?

Parents searching for a simple, peaceful name may be attracted to this one.

Kiba means "fang" in Japanese, and while not a common name for boys in Japan, it's popped up multiple times for fictional characters. Kiba Inuzuka is a Naruto character with a strong attachment to his dog.

Yuta Okkotsu is a major character in the anime series Jujutsu Kaisen. The kanji used in the Japanese manga give his name the meaning "grief," in reference to the loss of his dear childhood friend, Rika. In practice, men who bear this name use the kanji meaning "gentle."

In Greek mythology, Sao was one of the 50 Nereids, daughters of the sea god Nereus. A moon of Neptune is named in her honor. In modern times, it works equally well for a son.

To most English speakers, Nana is the dog in Peter Pan, the daughter played by Emma Stone in Crazy Stupid Love, and another name for Grandma.

Strong Japanese unisex choice. Dragons are a symbol of power in Japan.

A unisex cultural crossover that has seen a little use from the 1990s onwards. In Japanese mythology, Inari is an androgynous deity associated with rice, tea and foxes. In Finland, it is the name of a region, lake and village which is a center of Sami culture.

Japanese-born fashion designer Issey Miyake, known for his techno-clothes, could provide baby naming inspiration.

Frequently cited as an example of cruel baby naming, à la Ima Hogg.

While Meron looks like a variation of Maren or Marion, her origins are in Ethiopia: Meron is the name of the holy oil used for christenings in the Ethiopian Orthodox church.

This Japanese name is easily accessible to English speakers, and has a cool archery meaning. It first made the US charts in 1960, and was given to under 47 girls in 2022: still rare, but more popular than it's ever been before.

Japanese city name not yet on the map for babies, but why not?

One Japanese name that feels Western, though not quite American.

A modern Greek form of the mythological name Hero, or a Japanese name meaning "color." Iro is also a name in Finnish mythology, derived from Irina and Irene. Iro was the mother of the three main gods of Finnish legend.

Notably used for characters in Spirited Away and Naruto.

The Japanese word for the land of the dead. It's not quite Heaven nor Hell, although it more closely resembles the latter. It's also the name of a video game, which is likely why five baby girls were named Yomi one recent year.

Common Japanese name rising for both sexes in the US.