Yocato

Japanese cat names

Japanese is a gift for cat names: short, two-syllable words that end in a vowel and are easy to call. Colours are simple (Kuro for black, Shiro for white, Gin for silver, Kin for gold), and so are the seasons, the sky and the stars.

Japan also has a long cat culture of its own: the beckoning maneki-neko, and Tama, the calico station master. Neko itself just means cat.

37 names below, each with its meaning and origin.

Girl names 11

  • Hana

    "Flower"

    Japanese origin, female, 2 syllables

  • Hoshi

    "Star"

    Japanese origin, female, 2 syllables

  • Kiku

    "Chrysanthemum"

    Japanese origin, female, 2 syllables

  • Momo

    "Peach"

    Japanese origin, female, 2 syllables

  • Sakura

    "Cherry blossom"

    Japanese origin, female, 3 syllables

  • Suki

    "Beloved"

    Japanese origin, female, 2 syllables

  • Sumi

    The black ink of brush calligraphy

    Japanese origin, female, 2 syllables

  • Tama

    "Jewel"; Tama the calico was a famous station-master cat

    Japanese origin, female, 2 syllables

  • Tsuki

    "Moon"

    Japanese origin, female, 2 syllables

  • Ume

    "Plum"

    Japanese origin, female, 2 syllables

  • Yuki

    "Snow"

    Japanese origin, female, 2 syllables

Boy names 1

  • Shiro

    "White"

    Japanese origin, male, 2 syllables

Unisex names 25

  • Aki

    "Autumn"

    Japanese origin, unisex, 1 syllable

  • Ao

    "Blue"

    Japanese origin, unisex, 2 syllables

  • Fuyu

    "Winter"

    Japanese origin, unisex, 2 syllables

  • Gin

    "Silver"

    Japanese origin, unisex, 1 syllable

  • Haru

    "Spring"

    Japanese origin, unisex, 2 syllables

  • Jiji

    The black cat of Kiki's Delivery Service

    Japanese origin, unisex, 2 syllables

  • Kin

    "Gold"

    Japanese origin, unisex, 1 syllable

  • Kumo

    "Cloud"

    Japanese origin, unisex, 2 syllables

  • Kuro

    "Black"

    Japanese origin, unisex, 2 syllables

  • Maneki

    "Beckoning", as in the maneki-neko lucky cat

    Japanese origin, unisex, 3 syllables

  • Matcha

    Powdered green tea

    Japanese origin, unisex, 2 syllables

  • Mikan

    Mandarin orange

    Japanese origin, unisex, 2 syllables

  • Miso

    Savoury soybean paste

    Japanese origin, unisex, 2 syllables

  • Mochi

    Soft rice cake

    Japanese origin, unisex, 2 syllables

  • Natsu

    "Summer"

    Japanese origin, unisex, 2 syllables

  • Neko

    "Cat"

    Japanese origin, unisex, 2 syllables

  • Nori

    Dark seaweed sheets used in sushi

    Japanese origin, unisex, 2 syllables

  • Ramen

    Noodle soup

    Japanese origin, unisex, 2 syllables

  • Sora

    "Sky"

    Japanese origin, unisex, 2 syllables

  • Sushi

    Rice with colourful toppings

    Japanese origin, unisex, 2 syllables

  • Tofu

    Pale, soft and unbothered

    Japanese origin, unisex, 2 syllables

  • Tora

    "Tiger"

    Japanese origin, unisex, 2 syllables

  • Totoro

    The forest spirit of My Neighbor Totoro

    Japanese origin, unisex, 3 syllables

  • Wasabi

    Small but fiery

    Japanese origin, unisex, 3 syllables

  • Yuzu

    Fragrant Japanese citrus

    Japanese origin, unisex, 2 syllables

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Related collections

Food cat namesNature cat namesCalico cat namesCute cat names