Are you thinking about adopting a cat? If so, you're probably wondering how to find the best name for your new pet. Your new cat deserves a meaningful, unique name: a great way to find the best option is to choose a name from another language.
In this AnimalWised article we have compiled a list of Japanese names for male cats and their meanings to match the list with options for females - although your cat won't mind which list you choose from. Moreover, we've classified the names into personality and looks, so that you will find the name that fits your cat the most easily. Read on!
Why choose a Japanese name for your cat?
Did you know that in Japan February the 22nd is Cat Day, or Neko No Hi? Cats are widely beloved in Japan: this is the country that popularized cat cafés and developed the game Neko Atsume after all!
The Japanese language can be written with three different alphabets. Two of them, hiragana and katakana, are syllabaries. The third one, kanji, is logographic: each sign has its own meaning, and thus has a visual dimension that Western alphabets do not have.
Japanese names are very varied, as the same kanji can be read in different ways, and different kanjis can be read the same way. Depending on the kanji you choose to spell it, Ki can mean "tree", "brightness" or "valuable", for instance. In Japanese, new names can easily created by combining name elements together. In general, Japanese names ending in -shi, -ro, -o or -ta, or which contain the elements dai, ichi, ji or kazu are male.
Japanese names have clear sounds and syllables that are easy to pronounce, so your cat will learn when you are calling them easily enough. Japanese names are a perfect choice for any breed, but especially for the Japanese Bobtail and the Kurilian Bobtail, which were first bred in that country.
Japanese names for male cats depending on personality
- Akio: Bright man or hero
- Akira: Bright
- Daisuke: Big help
- Haruka: Distant
- Haruto: Soar away
- Hayate: Sudden
- Hibiki: Echo
- Hideaki: Excellent and bright
- Hideyoshi: Excellent and virtuous
- Hiko: Prince
- Hiraku: Support
- Hiroshi: Generous
- Isamu: Brave
- Katashi: Firm
- Katsu: Victory
- Katsuo: Victorious hero
- Kazuki: Peace and hope
- Kazuo: Man of peace
- Ken'ichi: Studious one
- Kenshin: Humble trust
- Kiyoshi: Pure
- Makoto: Honesty
- Masaru: Victory
- Naomi: Straight self
- Noboru: Ascending
- Nobu: Prolonged trust
- Osamu: Discipline
- Rin: Dignified
- Ryou: Cool
- Ryouichi: Clear one
- Ryuunosuke: Noble herald
- Shin: Genuine
- Shinobu: Endurance
- Shou: Prize
- Susumu: Make progress
- Takashi: Filial piety, noble, honor
- Takeshi: Military
- Takumi: Skillful
- Yasu: Peaceful
- Yoshi: Good luck
- Yuu: Brave, gentle, superior
- Yuudai: Great hero
Japanese names for male cats depending on looks
- Aoi: Green or blue
- Ayumu: Walking dream
- Cj
- Dai: Big, great
- Daiki: Great tree
- Haruki: Brightness of the sun
- Haya: Falcon
- Hikaru: Brightness, light
- Hideki: Excellent tree
- Hiroto: Great glider
- Kaede: Maple
- Kaito: Soaring ocean
- Kaoru: Fragrant
- Ken: Strong
- Kenta: Big and strong
- Kohaku: Amber
- Kuro: Black
- Kurumi: Walnut
- Kyou: Apricot
- Maru: Circle
- Mikan: Mandarin orange
- Miruku: Milk
- Momo: Peach
- Ryuu: Dragon
- Shiori: Lithe, bending
- Shiro: White
- Shouhei: Peaceful glider
- Shun: Fast
- Taichi: Big one
- Tama: Ball
- Take: Bamboo
- Tora: Tiger
- Tsubasa: Wing
- Yuki: Snow
Other Japanese names for male cats
- Aiko: Beloved
- Aki: Autumn
- Ayame: Iris
- Gorou: Fifth son
- Haru: Spring, clear weather
- Hinata: Sunny place
- Ichirou: First son
- Itsuki: Tree
- Jiji: Cat from Kiki's Delivery Service
- Jirou: Second son
- Kotetsu: Small iron
- Michi: Path
- Minoru: Bearing fruit
- Minto: Mint
- Natsu: Summer
- Nori: Ceremony
- Ren: Lotus
- Riku: Land
- Saburou: Fifth son
- Shirou: Fourth son
- Sora: Sky
- Takara: Treasure
Have you found the perfect Japanese name for your male cat? If you have tell us which one it is in the comments section! If you are looking for more names, consider the following:
- Classic Russian names for cats
- Cornish names for cats
- Hindi names for male cats
- 100 unique names for tomcats
If you want to read similar articles to Japanese Names for Male Cats - With Meanings, we recommend you visit our Names category.