400+ Anime Dog Names for Every Kind of Pup

Anime dog names work because they carry a story with them Akamaru isn’t just a word, it’s Kiba’s partner in every Naruto fight scene you’ve rewatched twice. Whether you want something soft and kawaii, a Jujutsu Kaisen sorcerer’s name for a dog with serious main-character energy, or a One Piece pirate name for a dog that steals socks like they’re treasure, there’s a match on this list.

This roundup runs past 400 names, sorted by gender, series, and vibe, with a short reason attached to every single one.

Not affiliated with Shueisha, Toei Animation, MAPPA, Studio Pierrot, Ghibli, or any other anime studio, publisher, or franchise named below these are naming suggestions, not licensed products.

What Actually Makes an Anime Dog Name Work

A three-syllable name gets lost the second your dog is thirty feet away and sprinting toward a squirrel. Short, punchy names like Ace, Rem, or Zoro carry across a dog park better than something like Sesshomaru ever will, even if the longer name is the better fan reference.

The other thing worth knowing before you commit: anime naming pools skew heavily male, so if you’ve got a female dog, don’t feel boxed in by the “girl names” section. Plenty of owners name female dogs after male protagonists Naruto, Luffy, and Goku all work fine on a leash regardless of the dog wearing them.

Anime Dog Names for Girl Dogs

These lean on female leads, side characters, and villains from across shonen, shojo, and seinen anime pulled for how the names sound out loud, not just how the character looks on a poster.

• Sakura – Cardcaptor Sakura and Naruto both use this name; it also means cherry blossom.
• Mikasa – Attack on Titan’s most fearsome soldier, good for a protective dog.
• Nami – One Piece’s navigator, sharp and quick like a dog that never loses a scent trail.
• Erza – Fairy Tail’s armored knight, a strong pick for a dog that doesn’t back down.
• Asuna – Sword Art Online’s lead swordfighter.
• Rukia – Bleach’s Soul Reaper, short and easy to call out.
• Hinata – Naruto’s quiet, determined ninja.
• Nezuko – Demon Slayer’s bamboo-muzzled protector, fitting for a dog who’s gentle but fierce when it counts.
• Winry – Fullmetal Alchemist’s mechanic, a warm, homey-sounding name.
• Tohru – Fruits Basket’s kind-hearted lead (also unisex).
• Yoruichi – Bleach’s shapeshifting cat-woman, ironic fun for a dog.
• Nobara – Jujutsu Kaisen’s hammer-wielding sorcerer.
• Robin – One Piece’s archaeologist, calm and collected.
• Zenitsu’s counterpart Kanao – Demon Slayer’s quiet blade user.
• Sailor Moon-shortened Usagi – means rabbit, soft and bouncy like a puppy.
• Momo – My Hero Academia’s creation-quirk hero; also just sounds sweet.
• Chi-Chi – Dragon Ball’s fiery, no-nonsense wife of Goku.
• Rem – Re:Zero’s devoted maid, a name that’s become genuinely popular for pets.
• Yuno – Future Diary’s obsessive protector, intense in the best way for a guard-dog type.
• Rin – shows up in Fate, Naruto, and more; short and versatile.
• Kagome – Inuyasha’s time-traveling lead.
• San – Princess Mononoke’s wolf-raised warrior, a natural pick for a dog with a wild streak.
• Lucy – Fairy Tail’s celestial mage.
• Historia – Attack on Titan’s reluctant queen.
• Tsunade – Naruto’s legendary healer, good for a calm, older rescue.
• Maki – Jujutsu Kaisen’s blade-user, tough and understated.
• Kaguya – Kaguya-sama’s icy, brilliant lead.
• Ochaco – My Hero Academia’s gravity hero, upbeat and bright.
• Faye – Cowboy Bebop’s sharp-tongued bounty hunter.
• Misty – Pokemon’s water-type trainer.
• Utena – Revolutionary Girl Utena’s sword-carrying lead.
• Rikka – Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions’ dramatic dreamer.
• Toga – My Hero Academia’s chaotic villain, for a dog with a wild personality.
• Kanna – Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid’s tiny dragon girl.
• Mai – appears across Avatar-adjacent and Slam Dunk fandoms; clean and short.
• Shinobu – Demon Slayer’s poison-wielding Hashira.
• Haruhi – The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya’s reality-bending lead.
• Chika – Love Live!’s energetic idol.
• Yui – K-On!’s guitarist, gentle and easy to say.
• Akane – Ranma 1/2 and Psycho-Pass both use this name; means deep red.
• Emma – The Promised Neverland’s determined lead.
• Ram – Rem’s twin sister from Re:Zero.
• Kurumi – Date A Live’s clock-eyed spirit.
• Levy – Fairy Tail’s book-loving mage.
• Kurisu – Steins;Gate’s brilliant scientist.
• Nunnally – Code Geass’s gentle princess.
• Kallen – Code Geass’s fierce pilot.
• Konan – Naruto’s origami-wielding Akatsuki member.
• Riza – Fullmetal Alchemist’s sharpshooter.
• Kyoko – Madoka Magica’s lance-wielding magical girl.
• Homura – Madoka Magica’s time-looping protector.
• Mio – K-On! and Blue Exorcist both feature this soft, one-syllable name.
• Ino – Naruto’s mind-reading kunoichi.
• Sango – Inuyasha’s demon-slaying companion.
• Yuzu – means citrus fruit, used across several slice-of-life anime.
• Suzu – means bell, a light, cheerful sound for a small dog.
• Kaori – Your Lie in April’s violinist.
• Mirai – means future, used in several time-travel anime.
• Akko – Little Witch Academia’s clumsy, determined witch.
• Sayaka – Madoka Magica’s blade-wielding magical girl.
• Tomoe – Kamisama Kiss’s fox spirit.
• Amane – used across multiple series; soft and easy to shorten to “Ama.”
• Yona – Yona of the Dawn’s exiled princess.
• Chiyo – Naruto’s puppet-master grandmother.
• Nino – The Quintuplets’ sharp-tongued sister.
• Miku – Vocaloid’s most famous voice, technically not anime but adopted by the fandom anyway.

Anime Dog Names for Boy Dogs

Same idea, flipped to male leads and side characters a mix of protagonists, rivals, and the villains everyone secretly roots for.

• Naruto – the obvious pick, loud and loyal like a lot of ninja dogs turn out to be.
• Luffy – One Piece’s stretchy captain, endless energy included.
• Goku – Dragon Ball’s strongest fighter, a classic for a food-motivated dog.
• Ichigo – Bleach’s orange-haired Soul Reaper; also literally means strawberry.
• Zoro – One Piece’s swordsman, short and sharp to call.
• Kirito – Sword Art Online’s blade-wielding lead.
• Edward – Fullmetal Alchemist’s alchemist, shortens easily to “Ed.”
• Levi – Attack on Titan’s cleanest, most lethal soldier.
• Gojo – Jujutsu Kaisen’s strongest sorcerer, a bold pick for a bold dog.
• Itadori – Jujutsu Kaisen’s lead, or shorten it to “Yuji.”
• Tanjiro – Demon Slayer’s kind-hearted protagonist.
• Zenitsu – Demon Slayer’s nervous, lightning-fast swordsman.
• Kakashi – Naruto’s laid-back copy ninja.
• Sasuke – Naruto’s brooding rival.
• Vegeta – Dragon Ball’s proud prince, good for a stubborn dog.
• Piccolo – Dragon Ball’s green mentor.
• Deku – My Hero Academia’s determined lead.
• Bakugo – My Hero Academia’s explosive rival.
• Todoroki – My Hero Academia’s fire-and-ice hero.
• Light – Death Note’s morally gray genius.
• L – Death Note’s barefoot detective, about as short as a name gets.
• Killua – Hunter x Hunter’s lightning-fast assassin.
• Gon – Hunter x Hunter’s optimistic lead.
• Natsu – Fairy Tail’s fire-breathing dragon slayer.
• Gray – Fairy Tail’s ice mage.
• Saitama – One Punch Man’s bored hero, funny on a dog that barely reacts to anything.
• Genos – One Punch Man’s cyborg disciple.
• Jotaro – JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s stoic stand user.
• Josuke – JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s hair-obsessed hero.
• Dio – JoJo’s iconic villain, bold and instantly recognizable.
• Spike – Cowboy Bebop’s lanky bounty hunter.
• Ein – already a real anime dog from Cowboy Bebop, but works as a fresh name too.
• Alucard – Hellsing’s centuries-old vampire.
• Guts – Berserk’s relentless swordsman (also a real anime dog’s name from Kill la Kill).
• Shoyo – Haikyuu’s ball-obsessed setter target.
• Kageyama – Haikyuu’s precise setter.
• Suna – Haikyuu’s laid-back middle blocker; also means sand.
• Denji – Chainsaw Man’s chainsaw-headed lead.
• Aki – Chainsaw Man’s steady, serious devil hunter.
• Loid – Spy x Family’s undercover father figure.
• Anya – technically female in canon but a fun crossover pick either way.
• Yor – Spy x Family’s deadly, devoted mother figure.
• Meliodas – The Seven Deadly Sins’ tiny, deceptively powerful captain.
• Ban – The Seven Deadly Sins’ immortal fox sin.
• Thorfinn – Vinland Saga’s revenge-driven Viking.
• Askeladd – Vinland Saga’s cunning mercenary leader.
• Alucard’s rival Integra works for a girl dog too, but on the boy side: Walter – Hellsing’s aging butler with a deadly past.
• Grimmjow – Bleach’s feral Espada.
• Byakuya – Bleach’s composed captain.
• Renji – Bleach’s tattoo-armed lieutenant.
• Hisoka – Hunter x Hunter’s unpredictable magician.
• Leorio – Hunter x Hunter’s loud, big-hearted aspiring doctor.
• Kurapika – Hunter x Hunter’s scarlet-eyed avenger.
• Alphonse – Fullmetal Alchemist’s armor-bound brother, shorten it to “Al.”
• Roy – Fullmetal Alchemist’s flame-wielding colonel.
• Toshiro – Bleach’s youngest captain.
• Yusuke – Yu Yu Hakusho’s delinquent-turned-hero.
• Hiei – Yu Yu Hakusho’s short-tempered fire demon.
• Kurama – both a Yu Yu Hakusho character and Naruto’s nine-tailed fox.
• Inuyasha – half-demon protector, and the name literally starts with “inu,” the Japanese word for dog.
• Sesshomaru – Inuyasha’s cold, powerful half-brother.
• Ash – Pokemon’s ever-optimistic trainer.
• Pikachu – technically the pet, but plenty of dogs steal the name anyway.
• Howl – Howl’s Moving Castle’s vain, powerful wizard.
• Ashitaka – Princess Mononoke’s cursed prince.
• Simon – Gurren Lagann’s drill-obsessed lead.
• Kamina – Gurren Lagann’s loud, larger-than-life mentor.
• Escanor – The Seven Deadly Sins’ sun-powered sin.
• Reigen – Mob Psycho 100’s fraudulent-but-lovable mentor.
• Mob – Mob Psycho 100’s quiet psychic lead.
• Yato – Noragami’s scruffy delivery god, fitting for a dog that’s always underfoot.

One Piece Dog Names

One Piece has one of the deepest casts in anime, which makes it a genuinely strong well for dog names beyond the same five Straw Hats every list repeats.

• Luffy – the captain, obviously, for a dog that never sits still.
• Zoro – the swordsman who gets lost walking in a straight line, funny for a dog with zero sense of direction.
• Nami – the navigator, sharp-eyed and quick to correct course.
• Usopp – the sharpshooter and storyteller, good for a dog who “swears” it didn’t eat the sandwich.
• Sanji – the cook, an easy pick for a dog who lives near the kitchen.
• Chopper – already a reindeer that everyone mistakes for a dog anyway, and genuinely one of the most popular anime pet names out there.
• Robin – the archaeologist, quiet and observant.
• Franky – the shipwright, bold and a little ridiculous.
• Brook – the skeleton musician, an unexpectedly good name for an old soul of a dog.
• Jinbe – the fish-man helmsman, steady and dependable.
• Ace – Luffy’s fire-fisted brother, short and strong.
• Sabo – the revolutionary brother, calm but capable.
• Shanks – the red-haired legend, confident and easygoing.
• Rayleigh – the retired first mate, wise and unbothered.
• Law – the surgeon captain, cool and clinical.
• Kid – the magnet-powered rival captain.
• Killer – Kid’s masked first mate, edgy but affectionate underneath.
• Buggy – the clown pirate, silly and a little chaotic.
• Smoker – the smoke-logia marine, gruff but fair.
• Tashigi – the sword-collecting marine officer.
• Garp – the marine hero who trained half the cast, a name with real gravity.
• Whitebeard – or shortened to “White,” the strongest man in the world once upon a time.
• Doflamingo – the flamboyant villain, bold for a dog with a big personality.
• Crocodile – the desert warlord, dry humor built in for a dog named after a reptile.
• Mihawk – the world’s greatest swordsman, a name that carries weight.
• Boa – short for Hancock, elegant and commanding.
• Perona – the ghost-summoning pirate, spooky-cute.
• Bepo – Law’s bear navigator, another mistaken-for-a-dog favorite.
• Vivi – the princess who sailed with the Straw Hats out of loyalty, not blood.
• Pudding – Sanji’s complicated fiancée, sweet-sounding and easy to say.
• Carrot – the rabbit-mink fighter, upbeat and quick.
• Yamato – Oden’s child and Luffy’s newest ally, strong and steady.
• Otama – short “Tama,” a gentle, kid-friendly name from the Wano arc.
• Kaido – the “strongest creature,” a big name for a big dog.
• Big Mom – or “Linlin,” intense and unforgettable.
• Marco – the phoenix commander, calm under pressure.
• Jozu – the diamond-hard commander, tough and blunt.
• Nico – Robin’s surname, softer than “Robin” if you want something less common.
• Wapol – silly enough to work as an ironic name for a food-obsessed dog.
• Chou Chou – a real anime dog from One Piece’s Orange Town arc, loyal to a fault.
• Merry – after the Going Merry, the Straw Hats’ first ship, sweet and a little nautical.
• Sunny – after the Thousand Sunny, an upbeat, easygoing name.
• Oden – Wano’s tragic hero, dignified and strong.
• Hiyori – Oden’s daughter, graceful and quiet.
• Katakuri – the mochi-obsessed commander, unexpectedly gentle underneath the intensity.

Jujutsu Kaisen Dog Names

Jujutsu Kaisen doesn’t get nearly enough love on other anime-name lists, which is strange given how deep its cast runs. Here’s a proper section for it.

• Gojo – the strongest sorcerer alive, for a dog that acts like it owns the block.
• Yuji – short for Itadori, warm and a little goofy.
• Megumi – the shadow-technique user, quiet and serious.
• Nobara – blunt, confident, and never backs down from a fight (or a squirrel).
• Nanami – the overtime-hating adult sorcerer, calm and no-nonsense.
• Todo – Gojo’s rival-turned-friend, loud and full of confidence.
• Maki – a blade specialist who proves strength doesn’t need cursed energy.
• Panda – literally a panda in canon, an easy, funny pick for a black-and-white dog.
• Inumaki – his own cursed speech technique aside, “Inu” is the Japanese word for dog, which makes this one almost too fitting.
• Toge – short for Inumaki, quick to say.
• Yuta – the sorcerer haunted by a devoted spirit, gentle underneath the power.
• Rika – Yuta’s cursed spirit companion, fierce and protective.
• Mahito – the shape-shifting curse, unsettling in a fun, edgy way.
• Sukuna – the King of Curses, about as bold a name as this list gets.
• Geto – Gojo’s fallen best friend, complicated and memorable.
• Kento – Nanami’s given name, understated and sharp.
• Utahime – the strict, capable vocal-technique user.
• Ijichi – the perpetually stressed assistant, funny for an anxious rescue dog.
• Shoko – the dry-humored healer of the group.
• Choso – the blood-manipulating curse user turned ally.
• Kechizu – Choso’s brother, short and sharp-sounding.
• Eso – the third brother, a clean two-syllable option.
• Hanami – the plant-based special grade curse; also a real word for flower-viewing.
• Jogo – the volcanic special grade curse, intense for an intense dog.
• Mei Mei – the mercenary sorcerer with her crow companion, sleek and stylish.
• Kugisaki – Nobara’s surname, if “Nobara” already belongs to another pet.
• Kirara – Mei Mei’s crow, short and easy on a leash.
• Miwa – the sword-user often overlooked by her classmates but never boring.
• Momo – the broom-riding first-year, light and a little mischievous.
• Yuki – Yuki Tsukumo, the powerful grade-one sorcerer; also means snow.
• Uraume – Sukuna’s loyal, icy attendant.
• Kenjaku – the centuries-old curse user, dark and dramatic for a dog with a mysterious past (rescue dogs, we’re looking at you).
• Ogi – short and blunt.
• Dagon – the fish-faced special grade curse.

Names Inspired by Real Anime Dogs

Sometimes the best move is skipping the humans entirely and naming your dog after an actual anime dog.

• Akamaru – Kiba’s ninja dog partner from Naruto, loyal to the end.
• Pakkun – Kakashi’s talking pug summon, small but confident.
• Kuromaru – Tsume’s wolf-like ninken from Naruto.
• Pochita – Chainsaw Man’s chainsaw-headed devil, adorable in his small form.
• Bond – Spy x Family’s future-seeing white dog.
• Makkachin – Victor’s poodle from Yuri!!! on Ice, still one of the most-searched anime dog names out there.
• Iggy – JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s cranky Boston terrier.
• Legoshi – Beastars’ anxious wolf lead, technically the whole main cast is animal characters.
• Gin – the Akita lead of Silver Fang, brave and pack-driven.
• Koromaru – Persona 3’s loyal Shiba Inu (crossing into game territory, but the fandom claims him anyway).
• Sadaharu – Gintama’s enormous, unidentifiable “dog,” equal parts terrifying and lovable.
• Heen – Howl’s Moving Castle’s shuffling errand dog.
• Chou Chou – One Piece’s loyal shopkeeper’s dog, already listed above but worth repeating for standalone fans.
• Zeke – Highschool of the Dead’s calm, dependable companion.
• Wanta – Elfen Lied’s small, floppy-eared dog.
• Tadakichi – Azumanga Daioh’s enormous Great Pyrenees, gentle despite the size.
• Cherry – Lucky Star’s large, surprisingly mellow white dog.
• Antoinette – Ouran High School Host Club’s golden retriever, a name that suits a dog with genuinely golden fur.
• Bee – Dragon Ball Z’s Labrador-styled companion to Mr. Satan.
• Totoro – not a dog, technically, but frequently adopted as one by dog owners anyway.
• Kurimaru – Anohana’s small Pomeranian-like companion.
• Madarao – Kekkaishi’s wolf-spirit partner.
• Inui – Aggretsuko’s Borzoi-styled character.
• Guts – Kill la Kill’s pug-modeled family dog.
• Dokachin – Aggretsuko’s boxer-styled character.
• Mon-Chan – My Hero Academia’s tiny dog with a surprisingly dark backstory.
• Bulma’s dog Coco and the softer alternative Buddy – common English-dub renames for background anime dogs, easy and familiar.

Kawaii and Cute Japanese Word Names

Not every good anime-adjacent name comes from a character. Plenty of the cutest options are just everyday Japanese words that sound perfect on a dog.

• Mochi – a soft, chewy rice cake, and a favorite name for round, squishy dogs.
• Maru – means “round” or “circle,” commonly used as an affectionate suffix.
• Chibi – means “small” or “tiny,” a natural fit for a small breed.
• Kuro – means “black,” simple and direct for a black-coated dog.
• Shiro – means “white,” the flip side of Kuro for a white-coated dog.
• Sora – means “sky,” airy and calm-sounding.
• Tama – means “jewel” or “ball,” short for tamago (egg) in some contexts.
• Kiku – means “chrysanthemum,” a soft floral option.
• Momo – means “peach,” sweet without trying too hard.
• Hana – means “flower,” one of the most common cute Japanese names in the West.
• Yuki – means “snow,” great for a white or winter-born dog.
• Umi – means “ocean,” calm and open-sounding.
• Koko – no direct translation but reads as playful and easy to call.
• Cinnamon – borrowed from Sanrio’s Cinnamoroll, a favorite for tan or cream dogs.
• Ichigo – means “strawberry,” doubling as a Bleach reference.
• Anzu – means “apricot.”
• Ume – means “plum blossom,” short and elegant.
• Fuku – means “good fortune.”
• Ryu – means “dragon,” bold in a single syllable.
• Taiyo – means “sun,” warm and upbeat.
• Hoshi – means “star.”
• Ame – means “rain,” moody in a good way.
• Kaze – means “wind,” fitting for a fast, wiry dog.
• Kumo – means “cloud.”
• Neko – means “cat,” which makes it a genuinely funny ironic pick for a dog.
• Inu – literally means “dog” in Japanese, blunt and a little meta.
• Fuwa – evokes “fluffy,” a natural pick for a long-coated breed.
• Choco – short for chocolate, common for brown-coated dogs.
• Kohaku – means “amber,” a warm gemstone name.
• Tsubaki – means “camellia flower.”
• Sakura’s shorter form Saku – still carries the cherry-blossom meaning.
• Botan – means “peony.”
• Aoi – means “blue” or “hollyhock,” depending on the kanji used.
• Midori – means “green.”
• Akai – means “red,” bold and simple.
• Suzume – means “sparrow.”
• Kotori – means “small bird.”
• Usagi – means “rabbit,” bouncy and light.
• Kuma – means “bear,” ironic fun for a stocky dog.
• Tora – means “tiger,” strong-sounding for a striped or brindle coat.
• Kitsune – means “fox,” a great option for a red-coated dog with pointed ears.
• Neiro – evokes “tone” or “timbre,” unusual and soft-sounding.
• Poyo – no formal meaning, but it’s become a genuinely popular cute pet name across Japanese social media.
• Wasabi – spicy in name only, fun for a dog with a spicy personality.
• Konpeito – named after the small star-shaped Japanese candy.
• Dorayaki – named after the pancake-and-red-bean-paste dessert.
• Onigiri – named after the rice ball snack, cute and food-forward.

Badass and Villain-Inspired Anime Dog Names

For the dog who trashes the couch and stares you down while doing it.

• Itachi – Naruto’s tragic, terrifyingly skilled antagonist.
• Madara – Naruto’s legendary villain, heavy and imposing.
• Aizen – Bleach’s calculating, unbeatable-seeming villain.
• Frieza – Dragon Z’s ice-cold tyrant.
• Cell – Dragon Ball Z’s bio-engineered menace.
• Majin Buu – shortened to “Buu,” odd but memorable.
• Griffith – Berserk’s fallen hero turned demon lord.
• All For One – too long for a leash, but shortened to “One” it’s a genuinely eerie pick.
• Shigaraki – My Hero Academia’s decay-quirked villain.
• Overhaul – My Hero Academia’s ruthless yakuza boss.
• Muzan – Demon Slayer’s original demon, cold and commanding.
• Akaza – Demon Slayer’s brutal upper-rank demon.
• Doma – Demon Slayer’s cheerfully cruel upper-rank demon.
• Envy – Fullmetal Alchemist’s shape-shifting homunculus.
• Lust – Fullmetal Alchemist’s composed, deadly homunculus.
• Wrath – Fullmetal Alchemist’s stolen-body king.
• Gluttony – Fullmetal Alchemist’s simple-minded devourer, funny for a food-motivated dog.
• Father – Fullmetal Alchemist’s ultimate antagonist, short and imposing as a single-word name.
• Orochimaru – Naruto’s snake-obsessed villain.
• Pain – Naruto’s rain-summoning Akatsuki leader.
• Obito – Naruto’s masked, grief-driven antagonist.
• Gyutaro – Demon Slayer’s blade-armed demon.
• Daki – Demon Slayer’s sash-wielding demon.
• Kaguya – Naruto’s ancient, world-ending villain.
• Char or Rau – Mobile Suit Gundam villains, sharp and militaristic.
• Vicious – Cowboy Bebop’s cold, blade-wielding antagonist.
• Diavolo – JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s identity-obsessed crime boss.
• Kars – JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s ancient, perfection-seeking villain.
• Pucci – JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’s calm, apocalyptic priest.
• Ulquiorra – Bleach’s emotionless Espada.
• Barragan – Bleach’s decaying, ancient Espada.
• Meruem – Hunter x Hunter’s near-perfect Chimera Ant king.
• Chrollo – Hunter x Hunter’s calculating thief leader.
• Feitan – Hunter x Hunter’s quiet, sadistic Spider member.
• Zeref – Fairy Tail’s immortal dark mage.
• Acnologia – Fairy Tail’s dragon-slaying dragon, huge and unforgettable.
• Deathstroke-adjacent pick from anime crossover fandoms, Slade – imposing on any dog.
• Lelouch – Code Geass’s mask-wearing revolutionary.
• Suzaku – Code Geass’s conflicted knight.
• Zetsu – Naruto’s plant-based Akatsuki oddity.
• Kabuto – Naruto’s snake-loyal medic-nin.
• Enel – One Piece’s lightning-wielding self-declared god.
• Rob Lucci – shortened to “Lucci,” One Piece’s leopard-fused assassin.
• Hody – One Piece’s fish-man supremacist antagonist.
• Fujitora – One Piece’s blind, gravity-wielding admiral.
• Akainu – One Piece’s ruthless magma admiral.

Names Sorted by Series (Dragon Ball, Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia, Attack on Titan)

If you already know which show your dog’s name is coming from, this section skips straight to the source.

Dragon Ball / Dragon Ball Z

• Gohan – Goku’s scholarly son.
• Trunks – the sword-wielding time traveler.
• Krillin – small, loyal, and always underestimated.
• Bulma – the brains behind half the Z Fighters’ gear.
• Yamcha – the perpetually unlucky fighter.
• Tien – the three-eyed monk.
• Chiaotzu – Tien’s tiny psychic partner.
• Beerus – the god of destruction, big energy for a small dog.
• Whis – Beerus’s unbothered attendant.
• Android 18 – shortened to “Eighteen,” sharp and modern-sounding.
• Broly – the legendary, rage-fueled Saiyan.
• Videl – Gohan’s crime-fighting love interest.
• Master Roshi – shortened to “Roshi,” a fun pick for an older dog.

Demon Slayer

• Inosuke – the boar-masked, chaotic fighter.
• Giyu – the water-breathing Hashira.
• Rengoku – the flame Hashira, warm and heroic.
• Tengen – the flamboyant sound Hashira.
• Muichiro – the youngest mist Hashira.
• Sanemi – the wind Hashira with a short temper.
• Gyomei – the stone Hashira, gentle giant energy.
• Obanai – the serpent Hashira.
• Mitsuri – the love Hashira.
• Kanae – Shinobu’s late, gentle sister.
• Genya – Sanemi’s estranged younger brother.
• Aoi – the Butterfly Estate caretaker.

My Hero Academia

• Iida – the rule-following speedster.
• Kirishima – the hardening hero, tough and dependable.
• Momo – already listed above under girl names, works equally well here.
• Tsuyu – the frog-quirked hero.
• Denki – the electric-quirked hero.
• Mineta – small and sticky, a running joke name for a grape-loving dog.
• Aizawa – the sleep-deprived, no-nonsense teacher.
• All Might – heroic and loud, works well shortened to “Might.”
• Endeavor – Todoroki’s intense, fire-quirked father.
• Hawks – the feathered, fast-talking hero.
• Dabi – the fire-wielding villain with a burnt, dramatic look.
• Mirko – the rabbit-quirked hero, quick and confident.

Attack on Titan

• Eren – the driven, ever-changing protagonist.
• Armin – the strategist of the group.
• Jean – the practical, sharp-tongued soldier.
• Connie – the quick, easily-flustered soldier.
• Sasha – the food-obsessed soldier, an easy pick for a dog that steals from the table.
• Erwin – the commander who leads with conviction.
• Hange – the eccentric, endlessly curious scientist.
• Reiner – the armored, conflicted soldier.
• Bertholdt – the towering, anxious soldier.
• Ymir – both a founding Titan and a loyal soldier’s name.
• Pieck – the calm, cart-titan soldier.
• Zeke – the “Beast Titan,” already listed above under real anime dogs but doubles as a human character name here too.

How to Actually Pick One From This List

Say the name out loud in your kitchen, not just in your head. Some anime names read great on paper and fall apart the second you’re yelling them across a backyard.

Check that it doesn’t sound like a command your dog will actually be trained on “Sit,” “Kai,” and “Nay” are all real anime-adjacent syllables that fight with “sit,” “stay,” and “no.” Beyond that, match the tone to the dog in front of you, not the dog you imagine: a name like Sukuna suits a dog with a genuine edge, while a rescue who hides under the couch during thunderstorms probably wants something softer, like Mochi or Rem.

Common Mistakes When Naming a Dog After Anime

The biggest one is picking a name before you’ve lived with the dog for a few days. Personalities shift fast once a rescue settles in, and a name that fit the shelter photo sometimes stops fitting entirely by week two.

The second mistake is going too long. A name like “Sesshomaru” or “Doflamingo” is fun to type but rough to shout during recall training shorten it to a nickname (Sess, Flamingo) from day one if you’re set on the reference. Third, skip anything that could double as a slur or insult in Japanese if you’re not fluent enough to check; a quick search before committing avoids an awkward surprise later.

A Name Is Just the Start

Whatever you land on, the name matters less by month three than you’d think most dogs respond to tone and repetition long before they respond to the actual word. Pick something you won’t be embarrassed to yell at 6 a.m. when they’re chasing a rabbit into the neighbor’s yard, and the rest tends to sort itself out.

If you’re still building out the rest of your dog’s identity from the name to the personality to what to expect week one our guide to naming a new puppy covers the basics anime fans sometimes skip in the excitement of picking a character name.

FAQ: Anime Dog Names