Japanese fox names hold a special place in Japanese culture. They are not just animals — they are symbols of mystery, wisdom, and magic. In Japanese folklore, foxes are called kitsune , and they are believed to be intelligent beings with supernatural powers. Naming a fox with a Japanese name is a beautiful way to honor this rich tradition.
Whether you are naming a pet fox, a game character, or looking for inspiration, Japanese fox names offer something truly unique. These names carry deep meanings rooted in nature, mythology, and ancient stories. From graceful female names to strong male names and mythical kitsune titles, this list has 235 carefully chosen options. Each name comes with its meaning to help you find the perfect fit.
Japanese Names That Mean Fox
Name Meaning Kanji Pronunciation Kitsune Fox 狐 Kit-su-ne Kitsu Fox sound 狐 Kit-su Kiko Fox child 狐子 Kee-ko Yako Field fox 野狐 Yah-ko Nogitsune Wild fox 野狐 No-git-su-ne Kuuko Air fox 空狐 Koo-ko Tenko Heavenly fox 天狐 Ten-ko Byakko White fox 白狐 Byak-ko Reiko Spirit fox 霊狐 Ray-ko Inari Fox god 稲荷 Ee-nah-ree Kitaro Fox boy 狐太郎 Kee-tah-ro Kuroko Black fox 黒狐 Koo-ro-ko Shirokitsune White fox spirit 白狐 Shee-ro-kit-su-ne Akagitsune Red fox 赤狐 Ah-kah-git-su-ne Mizugitsune Water fox 水狐 Mee-zu-git-su-ne Kaiko Fire fox 火狐 Kah-ee-ko Yukigitsune Snow fox 雪狐 Yoo-kee-git-su-ne Kagen Fox origin 狐源 Kah-gen Kitome Fox woman 狐女 Kee-to-me Suiko Water fox 水狐 Soo-ee-ko
Japanese Fox Names for Boys
Name Meaning Kanji Pronunciation Kenji Strong and wise fox 賢二 Ken-jee Ryota Strong and clear 涼太 Ryo-tah Haruto Sun and flight 陽翔 Hah-roo-to Souta Fast wind 颯太 So-tah Takumi Skilled craftsman 匠 Tah-koo-mee Yukio Happy and blessed 幸雄 Yoo-kee-o Shinji True second son 真二 Sheen-jee Kaito Ocean and flight 海翔 Kah-ee-to Raiden Thunder and lightning 雷電 Rah-ee-den Isamu Brave and bold 勇 Ee-sah-moo Hayate Swift wind 疾風 Hah-yah-teh Kenjiro Wise and strong son 賢二郎 Ken-jee-ro Akio Bright man 明雄 Ah-kee-o Daichi Great earth 大地 Dah-ee-chee Fumiko Child of literature 文子 Foo-mee-ko Hiroshi Generous and tolerant 寛 Hee-ro-shee Kazuo Harmonious man 和夫 Kah-zoo-o Masaru Victory 勝 Mah-sah-roo Noboru Rising and climbing 昇 No-bo-roo Osamu Discipline and study 修 O-sah-moo
Japanese Fox Names for Girls
Japanese Fox Names for Girls
Name Meaning Kanji Pronunciation Ayame Iris flower 菖蒲 Ah-yah-meh Sakura Cherry blossom 桜 Sah-koo-rah Hana Flower 花 Hah-nah Yuki Snow and happiness 幸 Yoo-kee Natsuki Summer hope 夏希 Nah-tsoo-kee Sora Sky 空 So-rah Mizuki Beautiful moon 美月 Mee-zoo-kee Akane Deep red 茜 Ah-kah-neh Fumiko Child of writing 文子 Foo-mee-ko Koharu Small spring 小春 Ko-hah-roo Himari Sunflower 向日葵 Hee-mah-ree Rina Jasmine and greens 莉菜 Ree-nah Tsuki Moon 月 Tsoo-kee Aoi Blue and green 葵 Ah-o-ee Nanami Seven seas 七海 Nah-nah-mee Ichika One flower 一花 Ee-chee-kah Kotone Harp sound 琴音 Ko-to-neh Yuzuki Gentle moon 柚月 Yoo-zoo-kee Haruka Distant spring 春花 Hah-roo-kah Shiori Poem and weave 栞 Shee-o-ree
Japanese Names That Mean Fox Spirit
Name Meaning Kanji Pronunciation Tamamo Jewel spirit fox 玉藻 Tah-mah-mo Reigitsune Spirit fox 霊狐 Ray-git-su-ne Yokai Supernatural spirit 妖怪 Yo-kah-ee Tamashii Soul and spirit 魂 Tah-mah-shee Yurei Ghost spirit 幽霊 Yoo-ray Mononoke Spirit beast もののけ Mo-no-no-keh Shinrei Divine spirit 神霊 Sheen-ray Kireiko Beautiful spirit fox 綺麗狐 Kee-ray-ko Seiryu Spirit dragon fox 青龍 Say-ryoo Hakutaku White spirit beast 白澤 Hah-koo-tah-koo Raiko Thunder spirit 雷狐 Rah-ee-ko Kiyomi Pure spirit 清美 Kee-yo-mee Fushigi Mystery spirit 不思議 Foo-shee-gee Shinkitsune Divine fox spirit 神狐 Sheen-kit-su-ne Reion Spirit sound 霊音 Ray-on Ayakashi Water spirit あやかし Ah-yah-kah-shee Kishin Demon spirit 鬼神 Kee-sheen Tamaoki Jeweled fox spirit 玉置 Tah-mah-o-kee Mugen Dream spirit 夢幻 Moo-gen Yukon Spirit of the fox 幽狐 Yoo-kon
For even more inspiration, check out our collection of Japanese names that start with A with meanings and kanji.
Japanese Name That Means Fox Male
Name Meaning Kanji Pronunciation Kitaro Fox boy 狐太郎 Kee-tah-ro Kotsune Little fox male 小狐 Ko-tsoo-neh Yotsune Evening fox 夜狐 Yo-tsoo-neh Kitsuhiro Wide fox 狐広 Kit-su-hee-ro Kitsurou Son of fox 狐郎 Kit-su-ro Ginko Silver fox male 銀狐 Geen-ko Kitsuma Fox husband 狐夫 Kit-su-mah Byakuren White fox lotus 白蓮 Byah-koo-ren Akitsune Autumn fox 秋狐 Ah-kee-tsoo-neh Tetsukou Iron fox 鉄狐 Tet-su-ko Kaen Fire fox male 火狐 Kah-en Kurogane Black iron fox 黒鉄 Koo-ro-gah-neh Kazenari Wind fox 風成 Kah-zeh-nah-ree Kitsuken Fox sword 狐剣 Kit-su-ken Raikitsune Thunder fox 雷狐 Rah-ee-kit-su-neh Fujitsune Wisteria fox 藤狐 Foo-jee-tsoo-neh Genkitsune Original fox 元狐 Gen-kit-su-neh Onikitsune Demon fox male 鬼狐 O-nee-kit-su-neh Tsurukitsune Crane fox 鶴狐 Tsoo-roo-kit-su-neh Shinkou Divine fox male 神狐 Sheen-ko
Japanese Name That Means Fox Female
Name Meaning Kanji Pronunciation Kitome Fox woman 狐女 Kee-to-meh Kitsuna Fox girl 狐菜 Kit-su-nah Shiroko White fox girl 白子 Shee-ro-ko Akako Red fox girl 赤子 Ah-kah-ko Yukiko Snow fox girl 雪子 Yoo-kee-ko Hanako Fox flower girl 花子 Hah-nah-ko Mizuko Water fox girl 水子 Mee-zoo-ko Ginko Silver fox female 銀子 Geen-ko Kireiko Beautiful fox girl 綺麗子 Kee-ray-ko Himeko Princess fox girl 姫子 Hee-meh-ko Tsukiko Moon fox girl 月子 Tsoo-kee-ko Haruko Spring fox girl 春子 Hah-roo-ko Teruko Shining fox girl 照子 Teh-roo-ko Noriko Law fox girl 典子 No-ree-ko Fumiko Writing fox girl 文子 Foo-mee-ko Kinuko Golden fox girl 絹子 Kee-noo-ko Sumiko Clear fox girl 澄子 Soo-mee-ko Tomoko Friendly fox girl 友子 To-mo-ko Yuriko Lily fox girl 百合子 Yoo-ree-ko Sachiko Happy fox girl 幸子 Sah-chee-ko
Kitsune Names From Japanese Mythology
Kitsune Names From Japanese Mythology
Name Meaning Kanji Pronunciation Tamamo-no-Mae Jeweled seaweed lady 玉藻前 Tah-mah-mo-no-mah-eh Kuugen Air illusion fox 空幻 Koo-gen Gyokumen Jade gate fox 玉門 Gyo-koo-men Dakini Sky walking fox 荼吉尼 Dah-kee-nee Inari Okami Fox deity 稲荷大神 Ee-nah-ree O-kah-mee Ukanomitama Food spirit fox 宇迦之御魂 Oo-kah-no-mee-tah-mah Shiranui Unknown fire fox 不知火 Shee-rah-noo-ee Kuzunoha Arrowroot leaf fox 葛の葉 Koo-zoo-no-hah Izuna Weasel fox 飯縄 Ee-zoo-nah Oshira White spirit fox 御白 O-shee-rah Hakuzoshi White fox monk 白蔵主 Hah-koo-zo-shee Yaegaki Eight fence fox 八重垣 Yah-eh-gah-kee Chitanda Thousand fox 千反田 Chee-tahn-dah Michizane Road fox spirit 道真 Mee-chee-zah-neh Aragitsune Wild spirit fox 荒狐 Ah-rah-git-su-ne Furutsune Old fox spirit 古狐 Foo-roo-tsoo-neh Kasenko River fox spirit 河仙狐 Kah-sen-ko Meiko Bright ancient fox 明古 May-ko Tendo Heavenly road fox 天道 Ten-do Zeniko Virtue fox 善狐 Zen-ee-ko
Mythical Fox Names and Their Meanings
Name Meaning Kanji Pronunciation Kyubi Nine tails 九尾 Kyoo-bee Gobi Five tails 五尾 Go-bee Sanbi Three tails 三尾 Sahn-bee Ichibi One tail 一尾 Ee-chee-bee Nanabi Seven tails 七尾 Nah-nah-bee Hachibi Eight tails 八尾 Hah-chee-bee Rokubi Six tails 六尾 Ro-koo-bee Yonbi Four tails 四尾 Yon-bee Nibi Two tails 二尾 Nee-bee Tenko Celestial fox 天狐 Ten-ko Chiko Earthly fox 地狐 Chee-ko Kuko Air fox 空狐 Koo-ko Suiko Water fox 水狐 Soo-ee-ko Kaiko Fire fox 火狐 Kah-ee-ko Zenko Good fox 善狐 Zen-ko Yako Mischief fox 野狐 Yah-ko Kiko Wood fox 木狐 Kee-ko Dokkaebi Earth spirit fox 土化妖 Dok-kah-eh-bee Tengu Mountain fox spirit 天狗 Ten-goo Hakken Eight dog fox 八犬 Hak-ken
To learn more about kitsune mythology and their role in Japanese culture, visit Britannica’s guide on Kitsune .
Japanese First Names That Mean Fox
Name Meaning Kanji Pronunciation Ren Lotus and fox grace 蓮 Ren Hiro Wide fox 広 Hee-ro Yui Bind fox grace 結 Yoo-ee Kai Ocean fox 海 Kah-ee Mei Bright fox 芽衣 May Riku Land fox 陸 Ree-koo Noa My fox love 乃愛 No-ah Sou Sudden fox wind 颯 So Aya Design fox 彩 Ah-yah Yua Bind love fox 結愛 Yoo-ah Ao Blue fox 蒼 Ah-o Rio Village fox 莉緒 Ree-o Ito Thread fox 糸 Ee-to Kio Hope fox 希緒 Kee-o Mao True fox center 真央 Mah-o Neo Sound fox 音 Neh-o Reo Sound of fox 怜央 Reh-o Toa Flight fox 翔愛 To-ah Yoro Night fox 夜路 Yo-ro Zui Auspicious fox 瑞 Zoo-ee
Japanese Last Names That Mean Fox
Name Meaning Kanji Pronunciation Kitsuneya Fox house 狐屋 Kit-su-neh-yah Kitsunemori Fox forest 狐森 Kit-su-neh-mo-ree Kitsunezaki Fox cape 狐崎 Kit-su-neh-zah-kee Kitsunega Fox river bank 狐ヶ Kit-su-neh-gah Kitsunehara Fox field 狐原 Kit-su-neh-hah-rah Kitsuneishi Fox stone 狐石 Kit-su-neh-ee-shee Kitsuneyama Fox mountain 狐山 Kit-su-neh-yah-mah Kitsunebayashi Fox grove 狐林 Kit-su-neh-bah-yah-shee Inarioka Fox hill 稲荷丘 Ee-nah-ree-o-kah Inarimura Fox village 稲荷村 Ee-nah-ree-moo-rah Inarizaki Fox point 稲荷崎 Ee-nah-ree-zah-kee Nogitsu Wild fox clan 野狐 No-gee-tsoo Kogitsune Little fox family 小狐 Ko-gee-tsoo-neh Kitsunoda Fox rice field 狐田 Kit-su-no-dah Shirokitsu White fox clan 白狐 Shee-ro-kee-tsoo Akagitsu Red fox clan 赤狐 Ah-kah-gee-tsoo Kurokitsu Black fox clan 黒狐 Koo-ro-kee-tsoo Tenkoji Heavenly fox temple 天狐寺 Ten-ko-jee Inariike Fox pond 稲荷池 Ee-nah-ree-ee-keh Kitsunegawa Fox river 狐川 Kit-su-neh-gah-wah
Rare and Unique Japanese Fox Names
Rare and Unique Japanese Fox Names
Name Meaning Kanji Pronunciation Karenai Never fading fox 枯れない Kah-reh-nah-ee Tasogare Twilight fox 黄昏 Tah-so-gah-reh Shinonome Dawn fox 東雲 Shee-no-no-meh Tokoyo Eternal fox 常世 To-ko-yo Kagemi Shadow fox 影見 Kah-geh-mee Utsuro Empty fox 虚 Oo-tsoo-ro Akebono Daybreak fox 曙 Ah-keh-bo-no Oboro Hazy fox 朧 O-bo-ro Kazahana Wind blossom fox 風花 Kah-zah-hah-nah Shiratsuyu White dew fox 白露 Shee-rah-tsoo-yoo Fubuki Snowstorm fox 吹雪 Foo-boo-kee Yamiyo Dark night fox 闇夜 Yah-mee-yo Higurashi Dusk fox 日暮らし Hee-goo-rah-shee Usugumo Thin cloud fox 薄雲 Oo-soo-goo-mo Hanagasumi Flower haze fox 花霞 Hah-nah-gah-soo-mee Akatsuki Red dawn fox 暁 Ah-kah-tsoo-kee Yodogawa Night river fox 淀川 Yo-do-gah-wah Shingetsu New moon fox 新月 Sheen-geh-tsoo Karasu Raven fox 烏 Kah-rah-soo Mizore Sleet fox みぞれ Mee-zo-reh
Popular Japanese Fox Names and Meanings
Name Meaning Kanji Pronunciation Naruto Whirlpool fox 鳴門 Nah-roo-to Kurama Dark fox spirit 鞍馬 Koo-rah-mah Shippo Fox tail 七宝 Ship-po Kon Gold fox 金 Kon Gintoki Silver fox time 銀時 Geen-to-kee Kirara Shining fox きらら Kee-rah-rah Shiro White fox 白 Shee-ro Kuro Black fox 黒 Koo-ro Hoshi Star fox 星 Ho-shee Kasumi Mist fox 霞 Kah-soo-mee Hotaru Firefly fox 蛍 Ho-tah-roo Kaoru Fragrant fox 薫 Kah-o-roo Nagi Calm fox 凪 Nah-gee Suki Beloved fox 好き Soo-kee Roku Six fox 六 Ro-koo Tama Jewel fox 玉 Tah-mah Mochi Rice cake fox 餅 Mo-chee Yume Dream fox 夢 Yoo-meh Kumo Cloud fox 雲 Koo-mo Tsuru Crane fox 鶴 Tsoo-roo
If you love fox-inspired picks, explore our full list of Japanese names that start with Y for more unique options.
Conclusion
Japanese fox names are full of meaning and history. Whether you picked a name from mythology, nature, or old folklore, each one carries something special. These names are not just words — they connect to centuries of Japanese stories about the kitsune and its place in the world. A good name tells a story, and every name on this list has one worth telling.
Finding the right name takes time, and hopefully this list made that easier for you. From strong male names to gentle female ones, and from rare picks to popular favorites, there is something here for everyone. Keep the meaning in mind when you choose, because the best names are the ones that feel right and hold a little magic.