The most popular cat names in Japan today are much like the dog names: Mugi leads, with Latte, Luna, Kinako, Leo and Mocha close behind. Older Japanese cat names describe the coat instead. Tama is the classic name for any cat, Mike (mee-keh) is a calico, and Tora a striped tabby.
Japan also has more famous cats than most countries, from the robot cat Doraemon to Jiji in Kiki's Delivery Service and Tama, the cat who became a railway stationmaster.
The most popular cat names in Japan
In Daiichi ipet's ranking of kittens insured from April 2025 to March 2026, Mugi came first, Latte and Luna tied for second, then Kinako, Leo and Mocha. Mugi has topped other cat name rankings in recent years too.
| Name | Japanese | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mugi | むぎ 麦 | barley, wheat | No. 1 for both dogs and cats in recent rankings |
| Latte | ラテ | caffè latte | No. 2 for dogs and joint No. 2 for cats in the Daiichi ipet ranking |
| Luna | ルナ | moon (Latin) | Joint No. 2 for cats; Luna is also the cat in Sailor Moon |
| Kinako | きなこ | roasted soybean flour | Golden-brown, like many coats |
| Leo | レオ | lion | The top boy's name for cats in the Daiichi ipet ranking |
| Mocha | モカ | mocha coffee |
Classic Japanese cat names
The traditional cat names of Japan, many describing the cat's coat.
| Name | Japanese | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tama | タマ | jewel, ball | The classic Japanese cat name; also Tama, the cat who became stationmaster of Kishi Station |
| Mike | ミケ 三毛 | three-coloured | For calico cats (pronounced mee-keh) |
| Tora | トラ 虎 | tiger | For striped tabbies |
| Kuro | クロ | black | |
| Shiro | シロ | white | |
| Chibi | チビ | little one | |
| Maru | まる | round | Also the famous Scottish Fold who loves boxes |
| Hachiware | ハチワレ | split face | For cats whose markings divide the face in two |
Cats from Japanese stories
Names of famous cats from anime, manga and folklore.
| Name | Japanese | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jiji | ジジ | – | The black cat in Kiki's Delivery Service |
| Luna | ルナ | moon | Usagi's cat in Sailor Moon |
| Artemis | アルテミス | – | The white cat in Sailor Moon |
| Doraemon | ドラえもん | – | The robot cat from the future |
| Nyanko-sensei | ニャンコ先生 | Master Kitty | From Natsume's Book of Friends |
| Chi | チー | – | The kitten in Chi's Sweet Home |
Food names for cats
As with dogs, food names match a cat's colour: Kinako for golden cats, Goma for speckled, Nori for black.
| Name | Japanese | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azuki | あずき 小豆 | sweet red beans | Popular for Shiba Inu |
| Omochi | おもち | rice cake | Soft, white and round |
| Mochi | もち 餅 | rice cake | |
| Dango | だんご | rice dumplings | |
| Daifuku | だいふく 大福 | rice cake stuffed with sweet bean paste | |
| Ohagi | おはぎ | rice ball coated in red bean paste | |
| Goma | ごま | sesame | For speckled coats |
| Nori | のり | seaweed | For black coats |
| Kuri | くり 栗 | chestnut | |
| Yuzu | ゆず | yuzu citrus | |
| Ume | うめ 梅 | plum | |
| Momo | もも 桃 | peach | |
| Tofu | とうふ 豆腐 | tofu | For white pets |
| Ikura | いくら | salmon roe | |
| Wasabi | わさび | wasabi |
Nature names for cats
Quiet nature words that suit a cat.
| Name | Japanese | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sora | そら 空 | sky | |
| Hana | はな 花 | flower | |
| Sakura | さくら 桜 | cherry blossom | |
| Yuki | ゆき 雪 | snow | For white coats |
| Haru | はる 春 | spring | |
| Kaze | かぜ 風 | wind | |
| Hoshi | ほし 星 | star | |
| Tsuki | つき 月 | moon | |
| Kai | かい 海 | sea | |
| Kaede | かえで 楓 | maple | |
| Kohaku | こはく 琥珀 | amber | For golden eyes or coats |
| Midori | みどり | green |
Rankings: SoraNews24, 27 May 2026: Daiichi ipet ranking; Web Tan (Impress), June 2025: pet name rankings.