Emily Walker
There are a lot of Japanese fish names that you might not know. Some of them are pretty cool, and some of them are just downright weird.
But if you’re into fish, it’s always interesting to learn about new species and their unique Japanese fish names.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the more interesting Japanese fish names out there.
So if you’re ready to learn something new, keep reading!
Male Japanese Fish Names
| Names | Meanings |
| Yokohama 横浜 – | Horizontal Beach |
| Horai 堀合 – | Horizon Joined |
| Minato 湊 – | Port |
| Iwami 岩見 – | Rocky Shore |
| Shiozawa |
塩沢 – Salt Swamp
|
| Fujikawa 藤川 – | Wisteria River |
| Nara 奈良 – | Nara |
| Takahama 高浜 – | Tall Beach |
| Miyamoto 宮本 – | Shrine Mountain |
| Tokyo 東京 – | Eastern Capital |
| Kitano 北野 – | Northern Field |
| Ohara 小原 – | Small Plain |
| Ueda 上田 – | Upper Field |
| Kai 開 – | Ocean |
| Sado 薩摩 – | Sado Island |
| Nakamura 中村 – | Middle Village |
| Yamada 山田 – |
Mountain Rice Paddy
|
| Kami 神 – | God |
| Kobayashi 小林 – | Small Forest |
| Harima 張溪 – | Wide Island |
| Tsuji 辻 – | Crossroads |
| Yamato 大和 – | Great Harmony |
| Sakamoto 坂本 – | Slope Mountain |
| Oya お屋 – | Cave |
| Asahi 朝日 – | Morning Sun |
| Kuma 熊 – | Bear |
| Suzaki 鈴木 – | Bell Tree |
| Maehama 前浜 – | Front Beach |
| Miho 三保 – | Three Tombs |
| Kusakabe 草壁 – | Grass Wall |
| Hakusan 白山 – | White Mountain |
| Sano 佐野 – | Helping Field |
| Wakayama 和歌山 – |
Japanese Poetry Mountain
|
| Nakajima 中島 – | Middle Island |
| Kohata 小畑 – | Small Field |
| Nagayama 長山 – | Long Mountain |
| Takamatsu 高松 – | Tall Pine |
| Toki 常木 – | Eternal Tree |
| Toyama 富山 – | Rich Mountain |
| Aoyama 青山 – | Blue Mountain |
| Tottori 鳥取 – | Bird Watching |
| Higashi 東 – | East |
| Tsumagoi 爪子井 – | Claw Well |
| Ebisu 恵比須 – | Wealthy God |
| Hiruta 比留多 – |
Wetland Faraway
|
| Hida 飛騨 – | Flying Arrow |
| Shimizu 清水 – | Clear Water |
| Yoshida 吉田 – | Lucky Field |
| Konan 湖南 – |
South of the Lake
|
| Kurata 倉田 – |
Warehouse Field
|
Female Japanese Fish Names
| Names | Meanings |
| Kumamoto 熊本 – | Bear Root |
| Samurah さむらひ – | Samurai Deer |
| Izumo 出雲 – | Rising Clouds |
| Nagasaki 長崎 – | Long Cape |
| Kanazawa 金沢 – | Golden Swamp |
| Iwakuni 岩国 – | Rocks Country |
| Takasaki 高崎 – | High Fence |
| Aoi 青い – | Blue |
| Yokohama 横浜 – |
Horizontal Beach
|
| Asagi 浅葱 – | Light Blue |
| Shizuoka 静岡 – | Quiet Hill |
| Osaka 大阪 – | Large Slope |
| Wakayama 和歌山 – |
Japanese Poetry Mountain
|
| Kameyama 亀山 – |
Tortoise Mountain
|
| Matsuyama 松山 – | Pine Mountain |
| Kagoshima 鹿児島 – | Deer Island |
| Hakusan 白山 – | White Mountain |
| Khaki 千 – | One Thousand |
| Onomichi 遠茂呂 – |
Far-reaching Forest
|
| Kushiro 釧路 – | Bronze Road |
| Sakura さくら – | Cherry Blossom |
| Nakano 中野 – | Middle Field |
| Ueda 上田 – | Upper Field |
| Yuigahama 由比ガ浜 – | Sandbar |
| Hisako 久子 – | Long-lived Child |
| Okinawa 沖縄 – |
Large Island Chain
|
| Kotobuki 寿 – | Longevity |
| Yoshiwara 吉原 – | Lucky Plain |
| Yamaguchi 山口 – |
Mountain Entrance
|
| Sakai 堺 – | Knives |
| Kirishima 霧島 – | Misty Island |
| Tokushima 徳島 – | Virtue Island |
| Yumoto 湯元 – |
Hot Spring Origin
|
| Tsuyama 津山 – | Port City |
| Fujinomiya 藤宮 – | Wisteria Shrine |
| Kochi 高知 – | High Awareness |
| Toyama 富山 – | Rich Mountain |
| Matsue 松江 – | Pine Tree River |
| Hirose 広瀬 – | Wide Rapids |
| Yoshida 吉田 – | Lucky Field |
| Nagoya 名古屋 – | Famous Place |
| Kurume 車メ – | Vehicle Plum |
Japanese Betta Fish Names
| Names | Meanings |
| Beni 紅 – | Crimson |
| Jindai 神代 – | Age of the Gods |
| Sumi 隅 – | Corner; ink |
| Yamabuki 山吹 – | Mountain Rose |
| Kujaku 孔雀 – | Peacock |
| Kurage 海月 – | Jellyfish |
| Akame 赤目 – | Red Eyes |
| Hinata 日向 – | Sunny Place |
| Yamauruchi 山売土 – | Mountain Soil |
| Tokage 蜥蜴 – | Lizard |
| Nashiji 那支慈 – |
Mother-of-pearl Inlay
|
| Omanjo 大関女 – | Shogun’s Wife |
| Shiro 白 – | White |
| Sakura さくら – | Cherry Blossom |
| Fuka ふか – | Deep Sea |
| Usubeni 薄紅 – | Pale Red |
| Asagi 浅葱 – | Light Blue |
| Nadeshiko 撫子 – | Pink Carnation |
| Ogon 黄金 – | Gold |
| Yoshiwara 吉原 – | Lucky Plain |
| Momo 桃 – | Peach |
| Midori 翠 – | Green |
| Matsuba 松葉 – | Pine Needles |
| Yamato 大和 – | Great Harmony |
| Aoki 青木 – | Blue Tree |
| Yanagi 柳 – | Willow Tree |
| Nezumi 鼠 – | Mouse |
| Kohaku 琥珀 – | Amber |
| Kuro 玄 – | Black |
| Yukiko 雪子 – | Snow Child |
| Hisoka ひそか – | Secretive |
| Kaede 楓 – | Maple Leaf |
| Tancho 丹頂 – |
Red-crowned Crane
|
You can also view the list of pet betta fish names
Japanese Koi Fish Names
| Names | Meanings |
| Mugi 麦 – | Wheat |
| Hatsukoi 初恋 – | First Love |
| Beni 紅 – | Crimson |
| Negi 玄米 – | Brown Rice |
| Dai 大 – | Large |
| Bi 尾 – | Tail |
| Nezumi 鼠 – |
Mouse (also “Rat”)
|
| Aki 秋 – | Autumn |
| Midori 緑 – | Green |
| Chakugeki チャクゲキ – | Waterfall |
| Asagi 浅葱 – | Light Blue |
| Momotaro 桃太郎 – |
Peach Boy (folktale character)
|
| Mikawa 三河 – |
Three Rivers (of Japan)
|
| Koromo 衣 – | Clothing |
| Hinata 日向 – | Sunny Place |
| Kohaku 琥珀 – | Amber |
| Ichiban 一番 – | Number One |
| Karasu 烏 – | Crow |
| Ayu 鮎 – | Sweetfish |
| Ai 愛 – | Love |
| Ebisu 恵比寿 – |
Wealthy God of Fortune
|
| Kozakura 小桜 – |
Cherry Blossom (variety)
|
| Izumi 泉 – |
Spring (of water)
|
| Matsukawa 松川 – | Pine River |
| Nanaban 七番 – | Seventh |
| Nikko 日光 – | Sunshine |
| Mu 無 – | Nothingness |
| Iwafune 岩船 – | Rock Ship |
| Hikari 光 – | Light |
| Gin 銀 – | Silver |
| Akai 赤い – | Red |
| Miyuki 雪 – | Deep Snow |
| Nakago 中心 – |
Center (of something)
|
| Nadeshiko 撫子 – | Pink Carnation |
| Hisako 久子 – | Long-lived Child |
| Hachiman 八幡 – |
Eight Banners (of the Chinese Emperor)
|
| Kai 魁 – | Leader |
| Naraku 奈落 – | Hell |
| Homare 誉 – | Honor |
| Ippon 一本 – |
One (as in “a straight line”)
|
| Akebono 曙 – | Dawn |
| Fuyu 冬 – | Winter |
| Kurage 海月 – | Jellyfish |
| Anko 餡子 – |
Sweet Bean Paste
|
| Kokoro 心 – | Heart |
| Haku 白 – | White |
| Aoi 青い – | Blue |
| Nishiki 錦 – | Brocade (fabric) |
| Nanohana 七花 – | Seven Flowers |
| Kuro 黒 – | Black |
You can also view the list of koi fish names
Japanese fish names are interesting and unique, but they can be difficult to remember. And if you want more ideas for your pet fishes, make sure to check our complete fish names a to z for inspiration!
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