Overview
Did you know that Japanese anime is so popular that at least 60 anime production companies provide products in 112 countries? They were able to reach around 87.2 percent of the world’s population. (1)
Some of the most popular animes are “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (TV),” “Spirited Away (movie),” “Totoro (movie),” Bleach (TV),” “Naruto (TV),” and “Howl’s Moving Castle (movie).”
With anime being popular globally, it’s not surprising that anime character names have also become commonly used as baby names in recent years.
Because they hail from Japan, most anime names reflect Japanese culture. Usually, they have meanings relating to nature, family, or society.
The following are our top 100 choices of popular anime names and their meanings that you can choose for your baby:
Popular Anime Baby Names for Boys
In Japanese culture, baby names can have many meanings because they can be written using different characters called kanji. One name can be written in many different kanji, thus creating different meanings.
The following are some of the most popular anime baby names for boys:
Akatsuki
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Red moon
- Variations/Synonyms: Dawn, daybreak, time, and scarlet
- Description: It’s the name of a criminal organization in “Naruto,” but some parents choose it as a badass anime name for their baby boy.
Akira
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Bright
- Variations/Synonyms: Clear and ideal
- Description: “Akira” is a Japanese anime sci-fi action film.
Arata
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Fresh or new
- Variations/Synonyms: Plow
- Description: This is the titular character’s name (there are actually two with the same name) in the anime series “Arata: The Legend.”
Asahi
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Dawn of the new day
- Variations/Synonyms: Morning sunlight, train, and battleship
- Description: Asahi Azumane is one of the best players in the anime series “Haikyu!!”
Ash
- Origin: English and Hebrew
- Meaning: One of the ash tree
- Variations/Synonyms: Happy (Hebrew)
- Description: Ash Ketchum is the main character from the Japanese manga series “Pokemon.” His first Pokémon is the famous “Pikachu.”
Astro
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Someone from the stars
- Variations/Synonyms: Star
- Description: This is the well-loved titular character in the anime series from the 1960s, “Astro Boy.” It’s an old anime, but the name remains popular.
Brock
- Origin: Old English
- Meaning: Someone who looks like a badger
- Variations/Synonyms: Badger
- Description: It comes from the Old English word “brocc,” which means “badger.”
- Brock, also known as Takeshi (Japanese), was Ash’s former traveling partner in “Pokemon.”
Cedric
- Origin: Old English and Celtic
- Meaning: Kind and loved
- Variations/Synonyms: Bounty (Celtic)
- Description: Cedric is a renowned scientist in the anime series “Pokemon.” He researches legendary Pokémon.
Cloud
- Origin: American and Old English
- Meaning: Visible vapor
- Variations/Synonyms: Rock (Old English)
- Description: Cloud Strife is the main protagonist and playable character of the anime game series “Final Fantasy VII.”
Dai
- Origin: Japanese and Welsh
- Meaning: To shine
- Variations/Synonyms: Large
- Description: Dai is the main character’s name in the Japanese anime video game series “Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai.”
Daiki
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Shining
- Variations/Synonyms: Big or a child who shines brightly
- Description: Daiki Aomine was an ace player from the anime “Kuroko no Basuke.”
Daisuki
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Great
- Variations/Synonyms: “I love you so much” or “I like you so much as a friend.”
- Description: Daisuke Kambe is one of the main characters in the anime “Fugou Keiji Balance: Unlimited.”
Denki
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Electricity
- Variations/Synonyms: Light or charge bolt
- Description: Denki Kaminari is a mischievous teenage superhero in “My Hero Academia.” He has the quirk (power) of electrification or electrokinesis.
Etsuko
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: A child of joy or happiness
- Variations/Synonyms: Rejoice and pleased
- Description: Etsuko Yakushimaru is a Japanese singer well-known for composing, producing, and singing countless popular anime openings.
Gohan
- Origin: Japanese and English
- Meaning: Cooked meal
- Variations/Synonyms: God is gracious (English)
- Description: Gohan is among the most prominent characters in the anime “Dragon Ball Z.”
Goku
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Aware of emptiness
- Variations/Synonyms: Grandchild
- Description: He’s one of the most powerful pure-blooded Saiyans (alien species) in the anime series “Dragon Ball Z.”
Haruka
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Fragrant blossom or flower
- Variations/Synonyms: Distant, remote, spring, and clear weather
- Description: Haruka Nanase is the main character in the anime series “Free!” and “High☆Speed!”
Hayate
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Smooth
- Variations/Synonyms: Sudden or sound of the wind
- Description: Hayate Ayasaki is the heiress protagonist in the titular anime “Hayate, The Combat Butler.”
Hiashi
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Long-lived
- Variations/Synonyms: Daytime or position of the sun
- Description: Hiashi Hyuga is a character from the popular anime series “Naruto.”
Hideaki
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Excellent
- Variations/Synonyms: Bright and beautiful
- Description: Hideaki Anno is one of the well-known Japanese anime creators who made popular series like “Neon Genesis Evangelion” and the film “Shin Godzilla.”
Hikaru
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Pioneer
- Variations/Synonyms: To shine
- Description: Hikaru Shindo is the main character of the Japanese manga series (comics or graphic novels) entitled “Hikaru no Go.”
Hinata
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Sunny place
- Variations/Synonyms: In the sun
- Description: Hinata Hyuga is a character in “Naruto.”
- This name is considered both as a surname and unisex given name in Japan.
Hiro
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Abundant or prosperous
- Variations/Synonyms: Generous and tolerant
- Description: Hiro is the main character of the anime “DARLING in the FRANXX.”
Hiroshi
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Generous
- Variations/Synonyms: Tolerant
- Description: Hiroshi Kamiya is a Japanese voice actor known for his many roles in different anime TV shows and movies.
Hiroyuki
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Peace and harmony
- Variations/Synonyms: Good fortune, extensive, and spacious
- Description: Hiroyuki Sawano is a Japanese musician best known for his work in various anime series.
Hotaru
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Firefly
- Variations/Synonyms: A character used in a lapis lazuli jewelry (a kind of bluish gemstone)
- Description: Hotaru Shidare is the main character and heroine in the anime “Dagashi Kashi.”
Ichigo
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Strawberry
- Variations/Synonyms: One of the best guardians
- Description: Ichigo Kurosaki is among the most popular male anime characters from the anime “Bleach.”
Inuyasha
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Dog demon
- Variations/Synonyms: Half human and half dog
- Description: Inuyasha is the main character in the titular anime series “Inuyasha.”
Isamu
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Courage
- Variations/Synonyms: Achievement
- Description: Isamu is the main character in the vintage anime series “Kōya no Shōnen Isamu.”
Jiro
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Second son
- Variations/Synonyms: Tarō (a common suffix for Japanese boy names)
- Description: Kyoka Jiro is a character from “My Hero Academia.”
- Another anime boy named Jiro is the main protagonist of the series “Kikaider: The Animation.”
Kaito
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Ocean
- Variations/Synonyms: Flying over the sea
- Description: Kaito Kuroba is the main protagonist in the manga series “Magic Kaito.”
Katsuki
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Victorious
- Variations/Synonyms: Season, fragrance, and moon
- Description: Katsuki Bakugo is the second most important character in the anime series “My Hero Academia.”
Katsuyu
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Divide
- Variations/Synonyms: To win
- Description: Katsuyu is a character in the anime “Naruto.”
Kenta
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Healthy
- Variations/Synonyms: Strong and big
- Description: Kenta Usui is among the main characters in “Chibi Vampire.”
Kohaku
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Amber
- Variations/Synonyms: Spiral
- Description: Kohaku is one of the characters in “Inuyasha.”
Kuro
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Black
- Variations/Synonyms: Ninth son
- Description: Kuro Sakuragawa is the main hero in “Kyokou Suiri.”
- Another anime boy named Kuro is the titular character’s name in “’Kuroshitsuji” or “’Black Butler.”
Makoto
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Sincerity
- Variations/Synonyms: Truth
- Description: It’s a unisex Japanese name more commonly used for boys.
- Makoto Tachibana is among the main characters in “Free!”
Masashi
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Commander
- Variations/Synonyms: Ambition
- Description: Masashi Kishimoto is the Japanese manga artist who created the popular anime series “Naruto.”
Naruto
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Fish cake
- Variations/Synonyms: Maelstrom (a powerful whirlpool in the sea)
- Description: Naruto Uzumaki is the main character’s name in the eponymous anime series “Naruto.”
Osamu
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Discipline
- Variations/Synonyms: Study
- Description: Osamu Dazai is a character in the manga series “Bungo Stray Dogs.”
Otaku
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Another person’s house or family
- Variations/Synonyms: You (pronoun), nerd, or geek
- Description: Otaku is also a term used for a person (or even an anime character) who’s obsessed with manga, anime, and other aspects of the Japanese otaku culture.
Piccolo
- Origin: Japanese, English, and Italian
- Meaning: Small
- Variations/Synonyms: A small musical instrument
- Description: Piccolo (also known as Kamiccolo) is a character in “Dragon Ball Z.”
Roronoa
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: French pirate
- Variations/Synonyms: Pirate hunter
- Description: Roronoa Zoro is a character in the anime “One Piece.”
Ryuu
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Dragon
- Variations/Synonyms: Dragon spirit
- Description: Ryuu is the genius pharmacist in “Akagami No Shirayukihime.”
Tanjiro
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: High-valued second son
- Variations/Synonyms: Charcoal
- Description: Tanjiro Kamado is the protagonist in “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.”
Tatsuya
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: To achieve
- Variations/Synonyms: Dragon and good health
- Description: Tatsuya Shiba is a character from the anime “The Irregular in Magic High School.”
Teru
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Brilliant
- Variations/Synonyms: Good
- Description: Teru Mikami is a character in “Death Note.”
- The name is also used by another character, Teru Minamoto, in the anime “Jibaku Shounen Hanako-kun.”
Tohru
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Clear or to be transparent
- Variations/Synonyms: Persistent
- Description: Tohru Kobayashi is among the main anime characters in “Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon.”
Toshiro
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Talented
- Variations/Synonyms: Intelligent
- Description: Tōshirō Hitsugaya is among the main anime characters in “Bleach.”
Yuri
- Origin: Russian, Ukrainian, and Hebrew
- Meaning: Farmer
- Variations/Synonyms: Lily, village, logic, reason, and the light of God (Hebrew)
- Description: Yuri anime is an anime genre celebrating girls’ love.
What Is The Best Anime Name For A Girl?
The following are some of the popular anime names you can pick for your baby girl:
Akane
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Brilliant red
- Variations/Synonyms: Deep red
- Description: Akane Sakurada is the main heroine in the anime series “Joukamachi no Dandelion.”
Amaterasu
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Shining over heaven
- Variations/Synonyms: Sun goddess
- Description: Amaterasu is the Japanese sun goddess and identified as the ruler of the heavens.
- In Japanese mythology, the goddess is also known as Ōhirume-no-Muchi-no-Kami or Amaterasu-Ōmikami.
Aoi
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Hollyhock flower
- Variations/Synonyms: Blue (color)
- Description: Aoi Tsubaki is the main character in “Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi.”
Aoki
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: An evergreen blue tree
- Variations/Synonyms: Bright
- Description: Aoki Kurea is the female main character in the anime series “Gleipnir.”
Who Is The Coolest Anime Girl? Arata
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: New and fresh
- Variations/Synonyms: Plow
- Description: Arata Hinohara is the main protagonist in “Arata Kangatari” or “Arata: The Legend.”
Asami
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Morning beauty
- Variations/Synonyms: Beautiful
- Description: Asami Sato is the main character in the anime TV series “The Legend of Korra.”
Asuka
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Perfume
- Variations/Synonyms: Tomorrow
- Description: Asuka Shikinami Langley is an anime character in the “Rebuild of Evangelion” movie series.
Ayane
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Wonderful
- Variations/Synonyms: Colorful sound
- Description: Ayane Shirakawa is a character in the anime “Overflow.”
What Is The Rarest Japanese Name For A Girl? Bashira
- Origin: Arabic and Japanese
- Meaning: Joyful
- Variations/Synonyms: Predictor or bringer of good news
- Description: “Date Bashira” is a Japanese manga series about the Sengoku era in Japan.
Chieko
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Child of wisdom
- Variations/Synonyms: Reason
- Description: Chieko is a character in the anime series “Princess Jellyfish.”
Chiharu
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Clear skies and springs
- Variations/Synonyms: Wisdom
- Description: Chiharu Harukaze is a character in “Hayate, The Combat Butler.”
Chika
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Scatter flowers
- Variations/Synonyms: Good, fine, wisdom, and intellect
- Description: Chika Fujiwara is a character in “Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai.”
Chikai
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Sparkling light
- Variations/Synonyms: Thousand, big, and shellfish
- Description: It’s a unisex name.
- Chikai Kuji is an anime character in “Sarazanmai.”
Chinatsu
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: One thousand summers
- Variations/Synonyms: Intellect, vegetable, and harbor
- Description: Chinatsu Hiyama is a character in “Ballroom e Youkoso.”
- Another character, Chinatsu Yoshikawa, also uses the name in the anime series “YuruYuri.”
Cho
- Origin: Japanese and Korean
- Meaning: Butterfly
- Variations/Synonyms: Beautiful (Korean)
- Description: Moonflower O-Cho is a female yakuza boss in the anime “One Piece.”
Diva
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Goddess
- Variations/Synonyms: Gift of God
- Description: Queen Diva is a powerful ruler in the anime “El-Hazard: The Magnificent World.”
Eiko
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Child of splendor
- Variations/Synonyms: Flourishing and prosperous
- Description: Eiko Aizawa is the most famous human character in the anime “Shinryaku! Ika Musume.”
What’s A Cute Anime Name? Emika
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: A blessed beautiful child
- Variations/Synonyms: Spring, flower, blossom, and cute
- Description: Emika Takatsuki is an anime character in “Ano Natsu De Matteru.”
Eri
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Blessed prize
- Variations/Synonyms: Picture, pear, blessing, and reason
- Description: Eri is a major character with the rewind quirk (power) in the anime and manga series “My Hero Academia.”
Hanako
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Flower child
- Variations/Synonyms: Ritual
- Description: “Jibaku Shōnen Hanako-kun” is a Japanese anime about supernatural occurrences.
Haruka
- Origin: Japanese and Korean
- Meaning: Spring (season)
- Variations/Synonyms: Day (Korean)
- Description: You can also use “Haru” for your baby’s name; it has the same meaning as “Haruka.” Both are unisex names.
- Haruka Nogizaka is the female protagonist in the anime “Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu.”
Hideko
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Child of excellence
- Variations/Synonyms: Beauty
- Description: Hideko Yamashita, also known as Shu-chan, is among the characters of the anime “Hai-Furi.”
Hikari
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Light
- Variations/Synonyms: Imposing appearance
- Description: Hikari Sakishima is the main protagonist of the anime “Nagi-Asu: A Lull in the Sea.”
Himiko
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Sun princess
- Variations/Synonyms: Daughter of the sun
- Description: Himiko Toga is an anime character in “My Hero Academia.”
Hiroko
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Generous child
- Variations/Synonyms: Courageous spirit
- Description: Hiroko Shimizu is a character in the anime “Shiki.”
Hisako
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Child of long life
- Variations/Synonyms: Longevity, comparison, and child
- Description: Hisako Arato is an anime character in “Shokugeki no Soma.”
Honoka
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Harmony flower
- Variations/Synonyms: Spike, incense, ear, or head
- Description: Honoka Kosaka is the primary protagonist of the anime “Love Live!”
Ichika
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: A thousand flowers
- Variations/Synonyms: Calm, harmony, peace, serenity, concord, and maple tree
- Description: Ichika Nakano is one the quintuplet sisters in the anime “5-Toubun no Hanayome” or “The Quintessential Quintuplets.”
Izumi
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Spring or fountain
- Variations/Synonyms: Harmonious spring
- Description: Izumi Miyamura is the protagonist of the anime series “Horimiya.”
Karatachi
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Trifoliate orange (a Japanese species of bitter orange)
- Variations/Synonyms: Ninja swordsman
- Description: It’s a unisex name.
- Yagura Karatachi is among the characters in the anime “Five World War.”
Kei
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Blessing
- Variations/Synonyms: Jewel or square jewel
- Description: Kei Shirogane is a character in “Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai.”
What Is The Prettiest Japanese Name? Kiyomi
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Beautiful
- Variations/Synonyms: Clear and clean
- Description: Kiyomi Takada is a character in the anime series “Death Note.”
Kyouka
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Fragrant capital
- Variations/Synonyms: Flower and mirror
- Description: This unisex name can also be spelled as “Kyoka.”
- Kyoka Jiro is a character in “My Hero Academia.”
Lillie
- Origin: Japanese and Hebrew
- Meaning: Purity and beauty
- Variations/Synonyms: God is my oath (Hebrew)
- Description: Lillie is a character in “Pokemon.”
Maiko
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: A child of dance
- Variations/Synonyms: Powerful
- Description: “Kiyo in Kyoto: From the Maiko House” or “Maiko-san Chi no Makanai-san” is a Japanese manga series.
Manami
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Loving and beautiful
- Variations/Synonyms: Affection, sea, ocean, fruit, and truth
- Description: Manami Tamura is a character in the anime “Oreimo.”
Michiko
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: A beautiful child
- Variations/Synonyms:Wise
- Description: Michiko Malandro is one of the two heroes in the Japanese anime TV series “Michiko & Hatchin.”
Misa
- Origin: Japanese, Native American, Indian, Egyptian, and African
- Meaning: Beautiful bloom
- Variations/Synonyms: Beautiful sand, decree, and help
- Description: Misa Amane is a character in “Death Note.”
Momoe
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: One hundred blessings
- Variations/Synonyms: Peachtree branch, forest, sprout, and one hundred
- Description: Momoe Sawaki is among the main characters in the anime “Wonder Egg Priority.”
Nami
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Beautiful
- Variations/Synonyms: Red apple and wave
- Description: Nami is the navigator of the Straw Hat Pirates in “One Piece.”
Natsu
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Born in summer
- Variations/Synonyms: Summer, wing, and capital
- Description: Natsu Dragneel is a mage (magician) in the anime “Fairy Tail.”
Ochako
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Tea child
- Variations/Synonyms: Beautiful, bright, good, and network
- Description: Ochaco Uraraka is a character with the quirk (power) of zero-gravity manipulation in the anime “My Hero Academia.”
Rei
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Law and rule
- Variations/Synonyms: Strive, beautiful, lovely, and the tinkling of jade
- Description: Rei Ayanami is a character in the anime “Neon Genesis Evangelion.”
Rin
- Origin: Japanese and Italian
- Meaning: Dignified
- Variations/Synonyms: Apricot (fruit), severe, and cold
- Description: Rin Asogi is the primary character in “RIN: Daughters of Mnemosyne.”
Rukia
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Light
- Variations/Synonyms: Heaven’s flower
- Description: Rukia Kuchiki is a character in “Bleach.”
Saika
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Colorful flower
- Variations/Synonyms: Beauty
- Description: Saika Totsuka is a character in the anime “My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU.”
Sakura
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Cherry blossoms
- Variations/Synonyms: Spring
- Description: Sakura Kinomoto is a character in the anime TV series “Cardcaptor Sakura.”
Serena
- Origin: Japanese and Latin
- Meaning: Serene or calm
- Variations/Synonyms: Mermaid
- Description: Serena is a character in “Pokemon.”
Sora
- Origin: Japanese, Native American, and Arabic
- Meaning: Sky
- Variations/Synonyms: Heaven, conch shell, and chirping songbird
- Description: Sora Kasugano is the female protagonist in the anime “Yosuga no Sora.”
Yuki
- Origin: Japanese
- Meaning: Snow princess
- Variations/Synonyms: Happiness, snow flower, reason, and lucky
- Description: Yukiteru “Yuki” Amano is a character in the anime “Future Diary.”
REFERENCES
(1) https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2010/09/07/reference/anime-makes-japan-superpower/
