400+ Japanese Dog Names

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

Streamlined and sleek Japanese name with a sweet, fragrant meaning.

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.

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.

One of the better-known Japanese names.

Commonly used in Japanese families.

The a ending gives it a feminine feel.

Streamlined version of outdated Nicki.

Repetitive Japanese name with a flittering meaning.

Riko is a hugely popular name for baby girls in contemporary Japan, and one that easily translates to the West.

Common name in Japan primarily associated with Hitomi (Furuya), a mononymous Japanese singer.

Featured in several anime series, including Black Clover and To Love-Ru.

Part of a group of similar midcentury names rarely given to babies today.

Common name for Japanese video game and manga characters, but rarely heard in the US.

The short O variation of Tomi (homophonous with Tommy) was used for dozens of daughters in midcentury America, putting it firmly in grandma name territory.

Sweet Japanese name that would work well as an alternative to the now-dated Alyssa and Marissa.

Tsunami is a Japanese word, derived from the elements tsu meaning "harbor," and nami, "wave." It was first used as a name in 2004 and 2005, then left the charts and reemerged in 2020. At the very least, it makes an interesting way to get to the nickname Sue or Susie (or would that be Tsu/Tsusi?)

Commonly used in Japan, and so much more distinguished than Jen.

Temari is the name of an ancient Japanese toy — embroidered balls that were used to play games and eventually became a symbol of loyal friendship. Temari is not a given name in Japan, but it was used in the Naruto series for a female character.