Explore the Best 30 Anime Dog Names

If you’re trying to come up with a name for your dog, it can be helpful to look to your favorite media for inspiration. Anime, in particular, is a great source for pet names, as there have been plenty of great dogs portrayed in anime over the years. Let’s explore 30 of the best names of beloved anime canines below.

1. Iggy (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure)

Modeled after a Boston terrier, this pup definitely has an attitude. He appears in the second half of Stardust Crusaders and assists the Joestars in defeating Dio in Egypt.

2. Pochita (Chainsaw Man)

Though his true form is a massive, terrifying chainsaw devil beast, Pochita’s weakened form as a small orange dog (albeit with a chainsaw jutting out of its skull) is downright adorable.

3. Legoshi (Beastars)

Legoshi is the main protagonist of the popular anime and manga series Beastars. Despite his fearsome, wolf-like appearance, he’s got a good heart.

4. Akamaru (Naruto)

Akamaru is a member of Team Kurenai and serves as Kiba Inuzuka’s best friend and constant companion.

5. Pompompurin (Various; Sanrio)

When it comes to this anime dog name, there have been many Sanrio anime adaptations over the years, most recently 2015’s Sanrio Boys.

6. Guts (Kill La Kill)

As the Mankanshoku’s family dog, Guts has the overall appearance of a pug. He got his name from his voracious eating habits.

7. Totakeke (Gekijoban Dobutsu no Mori)

Interestingly, Totakeke and Animal Crossing’s many colorful characters originated with a 2001 video game for the Nintendo Gamecube. However, it also got an anime adaptation in 2006.

8. Maromi (Paranoia Agent)

Maromi, a pink plush dog created by Paranoia Agent Tsukiko Sagi, was heavily inspired by Sanrio’s many cutesy mascots, such as the Pompompurin mentioned above.

9. Lucario (Pokemon Journeys)

In Pokemon Journeys, Lucario is Ash Ketchum’s fifty-seventh ‘mon ever caught. Lucario’s egg was originally found in the Sinnoh Region and eventually passed on to Ash from Nurse Joy in Kanto.

10. Ein (Cowboy Bebop)

Ein’s design was modeled after a Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Also known affectionately as a “data dog,” a research facility heavily modified and enhanced his intelligence. This anime dog name is quite popular with millennials.

11. Madarao (Kekkaishi)

This wolf-like spirit serves as Yoshimori Sumimura’s demon wolf. Despite his rather lazy and silly demeanor at times, he’s incredibly skilled at hunting Ayakashi.

12. Inui (Aggretsuko)

Inui’s appearance is reminiscent of a Borzoi. She’s generally pretty timid and mild-mannered overall, but she will occasionally stand her ground, too.

13. PaRappa (PaRappa the Rapper)

Like Animal Crossing’s Totakeke, this character made its debut with a rhythm video game released in 1996. However, he also got an anime counterpart, with the PaRappa the Rapper animated series debuting in 2001.

14. Jump (Astro Boy)

You can’t get much more iconic than this anime dog name. Astro Boy is a classic 1980 anime that inspired countless more in the coming years. Jump serves as Astro’s trusty sidekick after being adopted by him from Tobio Tenma.

15. Gin (Silver Fang)

Gin is the main character of the manga and anime Silver Fang; where he’s an Akita Inu pup who leaves his master to join a strong, determined pack of wild dogs. Their main goal is to defeat a massive, ruthless Kodiak bear named Akakabuto and his army of bears.

16. Kuromaru (Naruto)

Kuromaru fights alongside his partner, Tsume Inuzuka, and the Inuzuka Clan. He has a wolf-like appearance, dons an eyepatch, and is missing his left ear. As a ninken, or ninja dog, he’s a force to be reckoned with.

17. Bee (Dragon Ball Z)

Bee resembles a Labrador retriever in overall appearance. His owners are Mr. Satan and Good Buu.

18. Heen/Hin (Howl’s Moving Castle)

Hin (or Heen, depending on localization) serves as Suliman’s shaggy, floppy-eared errand dog. Interestingly, his character was created solely for the story’s film adaptation. He communicates primarily through odd wheezing sounds.

19. Tetsuya 2 (Kuroko no Basket)

Tetsuya 2, or just #2, is protagonist Tetsuya Kuroko’s loyal pup and has a Siberian Husky-like appearance. However, his breed is never specified in the anime or manga. He eventually becomes the Seirin team’s unofficial mascot.

20. Antoinette (Ouran High School Host Club)

This delightful golden retriever pup is presented to Tamaki Suoh by Anne-Sophie de Grantaine as a gift in the manga adaptation. In the anime, Tamaki purchases Antoinette on impulse in episode 17 while visiting a commoner’s mall.

21. Tadakichi-San (Azumanga Daioh)

Also known as Mr. Tadakichi in the English dub, this pup is Chiyo’s lovable pet, Great Pyrenees. Despite his intimidating size, he’s a gentle giant at heart and even allows Chiyo to ride on his back at times.

22. Bond (Spy X Family)

It’s unclear what Bond’s actual breed is, as it’s never stated directly. He’s a large, white, fluffy dog with a somewhat imposing appearance and short, pointed white ears. At one time, he was known simply as Subject 8 due to a series of experiments that gave him special abilities. Later, he becomes the Forger Family’s beloved pet.

23. Chou Chou (One Piece)

During the manga and anime’s Orange Town Arc, Chou Chou becomes an ally of the Straw Hat Pirates. He loyally watches over his deceased owner, Hocker’s pet food shop. He’s a small, fluffy white dog, but his breed is never actually specified.

24. Cherry (Lucky Star)

Also known affectionately as Cherry-Chan, this large, pointy-eared white dog belongs to the Iwasaki Family in the series. Despite her intimidating appearance and size, she’s quite calm and kind in disposition.

25. Kurimaru (Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day)

This dog is only featured briefly, and its gender and breed are never specified in the Anohana series. It appears to be similar to a Pomeranian dog.

26. Mon-Chan (My Hero Academia)

Mon-Chan is featured in the hit shonen anime My Hero Academia. Once upon a time, he was actually a fearsome villain, Tomura Shigaraki’s childhood pet.

27. Dokachin (Aggretsuko)

Aggretsuko has a massive cast of colorful animals, and Dokachin is no exception. Despite his brief appearances, he has a somewhat important impact on the series, as he helps Haida find jobs working with him in construction.

28. Makkachin (Yuri!!! On Ice)

Modeled after a large, silvery-tan-colored poodle, Makkachin is Victor Nikiforov’s loyal pet and companion.

29. Zeke (High School of the Dead)

Zeke’s actual breed is never clarified, but he’s a mostly white dog with long, black floppy ears. Before the outbreak, he belonged to a young lady whose name was also never specified. Later, he is taken in by Alice Maresato.

30. Wanta (Elfen Lied)

This small, white, floppy-eared dog looks a bit like a Labrador or golden retriever in general appearance, but his breed is never made clear. He belongs to Mayu in the series and serves as a fiercely loyal companion to her after she runs away from her unfortunate home life.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © NUKUL2533/iStock via Getty Images