[Most Popular Cat Names 2020 Edition] Check out the lists of Japanese-style names, food-inspired names, and names that sound good!

What kind of names do cat owners give their beloved pets? I have an impression that food-based or Japanese-style names are quite common, but I’m curious to know which names are actually popular.

With that in mind, Poponeko conducted a survey among cat owners across the country about their cats' names. We are announcing the "Top 30 Cat Name Ranking" and "Top 10 Popular Cat Breed Ranking" for 2020!

Announcing the Top 30 Cat Name Ranking!

The number one name for a cat was "Mugi." Whether they were mixed-breed or pedigree cats like Munchkins, Scottish Folds, American Shorthairs, or Abyssinians, it seemed that the name "Mugi" was popular across a wide range of breeds.

The runner-up was "Kinako." It has a soft sound, and it seems to be common for female cats. Following that, two-character names like "Momo," "Noah," "Maru," "Sora," and "Kuro" made the list. They are easy to call out and seem easy for cats to remember, too.

Top 20 Female Cat Names

The #1 name for female cats is "Momo." It moved to the top spot, surpassing the overall #1, Mugi, and the overall #2, Kinako. There seems to be a tendency for female cat names to favor cute-sounding names like "Maru," "Hana," "Coco," "Rin," and "Hina."

Male Cat Name Ranking Top 20

The #1 name for male cats is "Leo." A strong, masculine name that brings to mind the protagonist of a national anime topped the list. "Sora" and "Kotetsu" are also popular names for male cats. Japanese-style names like "Ten," "Yamato," and "Haku" also seem to suit cats quite well.

List of Kanji Names

Out of 1,286 cats, 195 had names written in kanji. As for the highly anticipated ranking, **"Fuku" (Luck)** and **"Kohaku" (Amber)** tied for 1st place!

Both Fuku and Kohaku are split about half-and-half between male and female cats. The kanji name "Fuku" seems to convey the love their owners have for them. Some owners even mentioned that they named their cat "Kohaku" because of their eye color.

The 3rd place names "Kotetsu," "Kotetsu," and "Kotetsu" (written with different kanji) are all pronounced "Kotetsu." Rather than Japanese-style, they sound more like Sengoku period warlords, making one imagine a mischievous cat. Incidentally, the "Kotetsu" cats were all either mixed breeds or American Shorthairs.

"Mugi" and "Sora" are also popular when written in kanji. Names of historical figures or celebrities like "Ranmaru," "Ranpo," and "Yumeji" are also quite lovely.

List of Food Names

• Azuki
• Amanatsu
• Ame
• Arare
• Anko
• Ichigo
• Inari
• Unagi
• Uni
• Ume
• Okoge
• Omochi
• Oyaki
• Okaki
• Cashew
• Karin
• Ganmo
• Kinako
• Candy
• Cookie
• Gummy
• Kuri
• Kurumi
• Kuromame
• Kuromitsu
• Kokemomo
• Cocoa
• Kogomi
• Koshian
• Konegi
• Gohan
• Kobucha
• Goma
• Gomashio
• Konbu
• Sazae
• Sasami
• Sashimi
• Sabamiso
• Cinnamon
• Shoga
• Chocolat
• Shirasu
• Suika
• Sushitaro
• Sudachi
• Souffle
• Sumomo
• Daifuku
• Tart
• Chikuwa
• Choco
• Tsukune
• Tuna
• Tunamayo
• Tsumire
• Tofu
• Tororo
• Negi
• Basil
• Hassaku
• Vanilla
• Pan
• Pretz
• Pudding
• Hotate
• Hokke
• Borscht
• Ponzu
• Maguro
• Mame
• Mame-daifuku
• Marron
• Mikan
• Misoshiru
• Misoni
• Milk
• Mint
• Mousse
• Mugicha
• Mekabu
• Mebaru
• Mocha
• Mozuku
• Monaka
• Momo
• Monja
• Yuzu
• Yomogi
• Lime
• Lemon
• Wasabi
• Warabi

In the food name category, **"Kinako," "Momo," and "Azuki"** claimed the top 3 spots. Names like **"Mame," "Marron," "Mocha," and "Choco"** are also popular.

It seems that not only sweets like **"Chocolat" and "Cookie,"** but also traditional Japanese confectionery-inspired names like **"Anko" and "Daifuku"** are popular as well.

Many owners use Japanese food ingredients as names; there are even names like **"Chikuwa," "Tsukune," "Tsumire," and "Ganmo"** that might make you crave Oden. One can imagine that for names like **"Oyaki," "Sabamiso," and "Monja,"** the owners simply chose their own favorite foods to name their cats!

List of Names with Pleasant Sounds

• Ame
• Umi
• Nana
• Noah
• Hana
• Mee
• Yume

Names using the Japanese "a," "na," "ha," "ma," and "ya" rows provide a sense of security and have a soft sound. They appear to be used frequently for female cat names.

• Lime
• Lala
• Rio
• Riku
• Louis
• Ray

Names with the "ra" row have a sharp, clear sound and a Western feel. They give a very glamorous impression.

• Azuki
• Abi
• Kojiro
• Tsumugi
• Nozomi

Names with voiced consonants have a powerful impression, so they were used frequently for male cat names. They have a sound with a solid, firm core.

• Coco
• Nene
• Mimi
• Vivi
• Jiji
• Lulu

Names that repeat the same syllable have a cute sound.

• Gin
• Ten
• Marin
• Mikan
• Cashew
• Kuu
• Sho
• Futa

Names ending in "n" or containing the long "oo" vowel sound are easy to call out, and cats find them easy to remember.

Top 10 Popular Cat Breeds

Ranking	Breed	Count	Percentage
1st	Mixed Breed	1,002	78.16%
2nd	Scottish Fold	43		3rd	American Shorthair	38		4th	Munchkin	29		5th	Russian Blue	18		6th	British Shorthair	16		6th	Bengal	16		8th	Norwegian Forest Cat	13		8th	Japanese Cat	13		10th	Maine Coon	11	Following them are idols of the cat world, such as **"Scottish Fold," "American Shorthair," and "Munchkin."** With the easy-going Scottish Fold, the energetic and mischievous American Shorthair, and the cute waddling Munchkin, each of these cats is full of charm. [Related Articles] Scottish Fold Personality and Characteristics American Shorthair Personality and Characteristics Munchkin Personality and Characteristics What was the cat-rearing environment in 2020? When we surveyed cat-rearing environments, over 90% of respondents answered "strictly indoor." In recent years, letting cats roam freely has been decreasing for safety reasons, and keeping cats strictly indoors has become standard. Furthermore, more owners are regularly putting **"cat collars"** on their cats as a measure against running away or for disaster preparedness. With 65.8% saying they "always have it on" and 8.4% saying "sometimes," 74.2% are utilizing cat collars, a high percentage. This shows an increase in owner awareness. A cat collar is not just a fashion item, but something that clarifies the cat's identity in case of escape or if they get lost. Attaching a lost-and-found tag or a name sticker can significantly increase the chances of your cat returning home. The 2020 popularity ranking for cat names resulted in "Mugi" at 1st, "Kinako" at 2nd, and "Momo" and "Noah" tied for 3rd. The girls' ranking features names with soft, gentle sounds, while the boys' ranking is lined with sharp and powerful names. They are all wonderful names filled with the love of the owners, from food-based names to Japanese-style kanji names. It is said that cats can remember and distinguish their own names. You can enjoy those moments when you call your cat's name and they meow back to you. In addition, it has become clear that keeping cats strictly indoors is becoming the norm, and that many owners are putting effort into preventing escape by having their cats wear collars on a daily basis. Many cats dislike wearing collars, but it is reassuring to get your cat used to wearing one in case of an emergency. Don't forget to attach a lost-and-found tag or name sticker as well. [Related Products] Cat Collars Lost and Found Tags/Name Stickers Related Articles Have a happy life! Rescue Cat Welcoming Support Program For those who have welcomed a rescue cat into their family, we are giving away a gift certificate worth 2,222 yen that can be used at the Popo Neko official online shop! This gift certificate can be exchanged for Popo Neko cat collars or ID tags...