In the process of finding a name for a new kitty that has entered our lives, nurturing from sources of inspiration that help us choose the perfect name for them is a journey many of us embark on, and what better than Studio Ghibli inspired cat names for those fans of anime and specifically this Studio?
Studio Ghibli’s movies feature a unique style and noteworthy characters, especially cats! From Jiji in Kiki’s Delivery Service to Muta in The Cat Returns, there’s no shortage of inspiration in the journey to find a unique cat name.
At the end of the list, we explain the significance of Studio Ghibli’s cat name ideas and offer some general guidelines to help you make your name-choosing journey easier.
Without further ado, here’s the list of Studio Ghibli cat name ideas:
Studio Ghibli-Inspired Male Cat Names
Jiji – Kiki’s loyal black cat. Perfect for chatty, loyal cats!
Totoro – from My Neighbor Totoro. A forest spirit.
Haku – A dragon from Spirited Away.
Ashitaka – This is the Heroic prince from Princess Mononoke.
Porco – The pig pilot from Porco Rosso.
Lupin – A Master Thief from The Castle of Cagliostro. (Also the name of a Netflix series with a slight topic resemblance)
Kaonashi – The iconic Mysterious spirit from Spirited Away.
No-Face – Another name idea derived from Kaonashi
Teto – A Fox Squirrel in Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind manga series.
Muta – The large, baron’s companion cat from The Cat Returns.
Boh – the giant baby, son of Yubaba, and nephew of Zeniba from Spirited Away.
Gonta – Known as Gonta of The Falcon Forest, from Pom Poko. Great for cats that love to pick up fights.
Hisaishi – Joe Hisaishi is a music composer, known for his work on Ghibli movies such as Spirited Away
Kamaji— An elderly man from Spirited Away. This is a great name for recently adopted, older cats that seem cold from the outside but become warm with their loving cat parents.
Taki – Jiro’s love from The Wind Rises
Kazuo – A Peaceful man who lives and works in Yamagata, from Only Yesterday
Nishi – From Shiro Nishi. Means west.
Hayao – After Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli.
Toru – Former head manager of Studio Ghibli. Toru means “persistent” and “clear”.
Riku – He is the little brother of Umi and Sora Matsuzaki in From Up on Poppy Hill. Riku means land, steady, and grounded.
Yutaka – A friend of Taku Morisaki in Ocean Waves. Means Brave, courageous, and strong. It can be shortened to “Yuta” as well!
Kohaku – The “Master of the Swift Amber River”.
Are you passionate about the Land of the Rising Sun and its culture? Take a look at our Japanese cat names list!
Studio Ghibli-Inspired Female Cat Names
Kiki – The 13-year-old witch-in-training protagonist of the Ghibli movie Kiki’s Delivery Service. She is Kind, friendly, sweet, and has a strong will. But she can also be stubborn, just like your cat!
Chihiro – The protagonist girl from Spirited Away. She is brave, responsible, and a caring young girl. Chihiro means “gentle” and “generous”.
San – Main character of Princess Mononoke. Known as the “Wolf Girl / Princess”.
Nausicaä – The protagonist, a compassionate princess from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.
Sheeta – The Lost Princess from Laputa in Castle in the Sky. With a shy but curious and intelligent personality.
Dola – Sky pirate captain from Castle in the Sky.
Ponyo – The extrovert magical fish-girl from Ponyo.
Sophie – The main character from Howl’s Moving Castle. Great for well-behaved cats.
Arrietty – The protagonist of The Secret World of Arrietty. She is a Tiny borrower with auburn hair and black eyes.
Mononoke – Theme song of Princess Mononoke.
Yubaba – The main villain, a witch from Spirited Away.
Toki – From Princess Mononoke, an elderly wise woman.
Mei – Curious and adventurous girl from My Neighbor Totoro. Perfect for outdoorsy cats.
Satsuki – Caring older sister of Mei.
Haru – The Protagonist from The Cat Returns. (And one of my cat’s name!)
Ren – Short for Spirited Away‘s Chihiro’s real name.
Yuki – Meaning Snow. She is a white cat friend of Haru.
Sumi – The name of a Japanese voice actress who has had roles in many Studio Ghibli films. For example, Yasuko in My Neighbor Totoro.
Shizuku – Protagonist from Whisper of the Heart.
Hikari – Meaning Light, bright and hopeful.
Aoi – Blue, tranquil and deep. Great for blue-eyed cats.
Sora – She is the little sister of Umi Matsuzaki. Sora means Sky, vast, and free.
Kaguya – The cheerful princess protagonist From The Tale of the Princess Kaguya.
Sumiya – Dreamlike and serene. Part of the recording staff for some movies.
Chiko – A mysterious seed of Chiko which is a plant that grows wild in Valley of the Wind.
Hana – Flower, delicate and pretty.
Fubuki – Snowstorm, fierce and beautiful.
Kumo – Cloud, soft and gentle.
Rei – Spirit, ethereal and mysterious.
Mizuki – The grandmother of Umi Matsuzaki, Sora Matsuzaki, and Riku Matsuzaki in Studio Ghibli’s movie From Up on Poppy Hill.
Yuko – A friend of Shizuku Tsukishima in Whisper of the Heart. Gentle, friendly, and kind.
Hinata – Sunny place, warm. Perfect for orange cats.
Keiko – One of the authors behind Ocean Waves
Rin – a Yuna worker in Spirited Away
Sayaka – Brilliant, bright and intelligent. A character from When Marnie Was There.
Kiyoshi – A Lieutenant of the Imperial Japanese Navy from Grave of the Fireflies
Setsuko – The younger sister of Seita Yokokawa in Grave of the Fireflies. Sincere child, honest and pure.
Mitsuki – Means beautiful moon, enchanting and serene.
Akiko – She is Taku Morisaki’s classmate in Ocean Waves. Autumn child, warm and vibrant.
Hanako– She is a character from Pom Poko. Flower child.
Sachiko – A character from From Up on Poppy Hill. Child of happiness, joyful and sweet.
The Significance of Studio Ghibli Cat Names
Studio Ghibli dates back to the 80s, and it has always shined because of its unique and innovative artistic style, with vivid and rich colors.
The movies produced by the Nippon studio are of unmatched quality and have been a standard for animated movie-making over the years.
- These movies often place a strong emphasis on the emotions and the ups and downs of life, some values like friendship, family, culture, environmentalism, and history are recurrent throughout the movies produced.
- Studio Ghibli cat names have a unique, deep, and emotional background. Their significance is strong, even more, if you feel connected to a specific character or the plot of one of the movies.
- Emotions will definitely dictate the relation between the chosen name for your cat and you derived from a Studio Ghibli-inspired cat name.
- Studio Ghibli’s names are timeless. People are still being introduced to its truly unique charm after almost 40 years, and many will know what your cat’s name refers to the moment you share their name.
How To Choose The Perfect Cat Name
As promised, here are 4 quick tips to help you choose the ideal cat name:
- Ends in a vowel: Want your cat to answer your call? Names that end in a vowel are easier to recognize for cats. This is due to the pitch change we usually make when we pronounce these words, thus, making it stand out from other words that are gibberish for them.
- 1-2 syllables long: Keeping it short and sweet complements with the first point. This makes it easier for your cat to understand you are talking to them.
- Considers Looks: A name that considers your cat’s looks can be very self-explanatory, representative, and full of character.
- Considers Personality: Personality is the second attribute of your cat you can consider when choosing a name. Some name ideas provoke feelings or have a meaning that closely relates to your cat’s unique personality and behavior.
There’s no such thing as the perfect way to name your cat, as this is a very subjective topic. However, with these tips, you will ensure that you end up with a great name that’s perfect for you, and that’s what matters the most!
Locked in the name? Then you’d do well by getting an air tag collar!
It’s an essential item even if your kitty only leaves the house to go to the yard, but especially if you have an outdoor cat.
COLLAR
AIR TAG
Summing Up
Studio Ghibli truly has some beautiful names you can get inspiration from in the journey of naming your feline friend.
Have you chosen one from the list? Let other cat parents know what you considered to pick that name so we can all help each other!
Still looking for inspiration? try our related Japanese cat names list and Anime Cat Names
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