400+ Japanese Dog Names

Now that Kenji is rising up the ranks, it's only a matter of time before parents discover Renji. Renji Abarai is a character in the anime series Bleach, in which the kanji used for his name mean "second love" or "second romance."

Yasuke was the first African samurai in Japan, who served as a retainer under Oda Nobunaga. He arrived in Japan in 1579 with Portuguese Jesuits and Italian Jesuit missionary Alessandro Valignano. Nobunaga took a special interest in Yasuke, who joined his force.

An auspicious choice connected to dragons. English speakers will have difficulty pronouncing this name in Japanese — it's all one syllable, with barely any emphasis on the R sound.

Nature girl played by Audrey Hepburn in "Green Mansions," it now has an old-style bohemian feel.

A name of both Japanese and Hindi origin, Saya has a bright, sharp sound, reminiscent of Maia and Kaia. Borne by Olympian BMX racer, Saya Sakakibara, wrestler Saya Kamitani, and by weather presenter, Saya Hiyama who went viral after a clip of her switching from light-hearted banter to an earthquake warning became an internet phenomenon, Saya has also been used for characters in a variety of Japanese media.

Kishi is a common Japanese surname. Kishi is also a two-faced demon in Angolan folklore, as well as a separate figure in the Bible.

A Welsh diminutive of Tomos/Thomas, or just a simplified spelling of Tommy.

As a feminine name, Konan has Japanese origins. It is the name of a villainous character in the Naruto franchise.

A fresh and pretty Japanese name which would be an unusual route to the popular Emmy/Emi nickname. In Japanese, this name can be formed from a variety of different kanji combinations with different meanings, but "laughing child" and "beautiful child" are two appealing possibilities.

The Hawaiian form of Gina or Tina (as well as the word for the country China), or in Swedish, a short form of Katharina or Kristina.

Common Japanese name from the '60s-'80s. In Japan it's now associated with the Manga series Kenichi: the Mightiest Disciple.

Pronunciation would not be obvious to Americans.

This handsome Japanese name has dozens of possible meanings, depending on the kanji characters used.

Simple, Zen-like name of a mythological forest elf.

Medieval name that still hasn't crossed the ocean, known here primarily via actress/teacher Uta Hagen.

Tetsu is a female name with an unusually strong and powerful meaning. It sounds spunky and cute too.

Commonly associated with the Japanese beverage company Asahi, which produces a beer by the same name.

The childhood name of the heroine of Memoirs of a Geisha is pretty and accessible. Chiyiko is a pet form.

Subaru is a Japanese astronomical name used for the Pleiades star cluster. The constellation was named as such for Subaru's meaning, "to bunch together," since the stars are crowded together. Subaru is used as a given name for boys in Japan.

Eniko Hart makes this Japanese name familiar in the US. In Hungary, it's a literary name invented by the poet Mihály Vörösmarty in the 19th century. He based it on the name of the legendary mother of the Hungarian people, Enéh.