100+ Cute Japanese Dog Names for Your Pet

Japanese Animal Names for Dogs

Are you looking for a cute or pretty name for your new dog or puppy? Choose from this list of adorable pet names for your new best friend. The Japanese language is absolutely beautiful, and the names on this list are oh-so-cute for girl and boy dogs. Pick from nature-inspired names (planets, stars, seasons), food-inspired names (fruits, veggies), animal names (land mammals and fish), and colors, numbers, and more.

What's the Difference Between Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji?

If you are looking to learn Japanese, you will want to start by learning to pronounce and read hiragana. Hiragana is easiest for learners and is used to write out suffixes following complex kanji (characters, more advanced). Katakana, alternatively, is used to represent borrowed words from other languages like English, Spanish, and French. You are best starting off your exploration of the Japanese language with hiragana.

Cute Animal Names in Japanese for Dogs

NameEnglishHiragana/Katakana

Hachi

bee

はち

Kaeru

frog

かえる

Hina

little bird

ひな

Hato

dove

はと

Kitsune

fox

きつね

Chou

butterfly

ちょう

Kujira

whale

くじら

Koorogi

cricket

こおろぎ

Tora

tiger

とら

Kuma

bear

くま

Saru

monkey

さる

Hotaru

firefly

ほたる

Same

shark

さめ

Iruka

dolphin

いるか

Tsubasa

wing

つばさ

Ika

squid

いか

Hitode

sea star

ひとで

Nezumi

mouse

ねずみ

Inu

dog

いぬ

Usagi

rabbit

うさぎ

Panda

panda

パンダ

Sai

rhino

さい

Hebi

snake

へび

Risu

squirrel

りす

Tsuru

crane

つる

Cute Fruit and Food-Inspired Japanese Names

NameEnglishHiragana/Katana

Ichigo

strawberry

いちご

Suika

watermelon

すいか

Ringo

apple

りんご

Mikan

citrus/clementine

みかん

Mochi

chewy rice cake

もち

Momo

peach

もも

Keki

cake

ケーキ

Satoimo

taro

さといも

Shouga

ginger

しょうが

Ninjin

carrot

にんじん

Kabocha

pumpkin

かぼちゃ

Endou

pea

えんどう

Yuzu

yuzu

ゆず

Nashi

pear

なし

Sumomo

plum

すもも

Tamago

egg

たまご

Satou

sugar

さとう

Wasabi

wasabi

わさび

Ocha

tea

おちゃ

Mizu

water

みず

Pretty Nature-Inspired Japanese Pet Names

NameEnglishHiragana/Katana

Sakura

cherry blossom

さくら

Sora

sky

そら

Umibe

sea shore

うみべ

Yama

mountain

やま

Bara

rose

ばら

Uchuu

space

うちゅう

Tanpopo

dandelion

たんぽぽ

Yuri

lily

ゆり

Kiku

chrysanthemum

きく

Mori

forest

もり

Dou

copper

どう

Suisei

Mercury

すいせい

Kasei

Mars

かせい

Dosei

Saturn

どせい

Ginga

galaxy

ぎんが

Suisei

comet

すいせい

Kawa

river

かわ

Shima

island

しま

Kumo

cloud

くも

Umi

sea

うみ

Mine

mountain peak

みね

Tetsu

iron

てつ

Gin

silver

ぎん

Kin

gold

きん

Tsuki

moon

つき

Taiyou

sun

たいよう

Kinsei

Venus

きんせい

Ame

rain

あめ

Hana

flower

はな

Ai

love

あい

Hoshi

star

ほし

Yuki

snow

ゆき

Niji

rainbow

にじ

Haru

spring

はる

Yoko

ocean-sun-child

よこ

Japanese Names: Shapes, Colors, Numbers

NameEnglishHiragana/Katana

Ao

blue

あお

Kiiro

yellow

きいろ

Midori

green

みどり

Aka

red

あか

Maru

circle

まる

Ichi

one

いち

San

three

さん

Roku

six

ろく

Hachi

eight

はち

Rei

zero

れい

Hyaku

100

ひゃく

Murasaki

purple

むらさき

Learn Hiragana

© 2020 Laynie H

Comments

Laynie H (author) from Bend, Oregon on September 16, 2020:

Hi Liz, glad you like these names. I love the language!

Liz Westwood from UK on September 16, 2020:

This is a great list of suggestions, especially for people looking for something a little more unusual as a name.

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