Domo is the rectangular, fanged brown creature that serves as the mascot of Japanese public broadcaster NHK, and whose image became an internet meme staple in the early 2000s. At 29 registry records with a male preference, this is almost certainly a reference to the meme-mascot rather than the Japanese word domo (meaning "very much" or used as a greeting).
The Early Internet Mascot
Domo-kun emerged in 1998 as NHK's mascot and became one of the first Japanese characters to achieve viral meme status in American internet culture — particularly the "Domo-kun is angry" series of image macros from the early 2000s. Millennials who grew up in that internet era have a specific nostalgic affection for the character. Chow chows and Shiba Inus with their boxy, dense proportions suit the rectangular mascot aesthetic.
The Sound Simplicity
DOH-moh is two open syllables that function beautifully as a call name — easy to say, clear to hear, distinctive without being difficult. It's a name that works whether or not the internet reference is recognized. The human name territory here is essentially nonexistent.
The Counter-Reading: Meme Timestamp
Domo-kun is specifically an early 2000s internet reference — recent adopters of digital culture may not recognize it, which limits the name's cultural resonance to a specific generation. Browse Japanese-inspired options at pet names.