In this article, we will share a list of beautiful anime character names with their meanings. Perfect for choosing a name for a pet or even your child, or for knowing the meaning of the names of your favorite and popular characters. We will also teach you how to use apps and websites to help you find the meaning of anime names.
At the beginning of the article, we had in mind to choose the names of the most popular anime characters, with their surnames. We want to take the original kanji of the name so you know the true meaning of the character’s name, since in Japanese a single name can have several ways of writing with different meanings.
Perhaps this article is not enough or does not have the name of the anime you are looking for. For this reason, we recommend that you also open our article: how to discover the meaning of Japanese names.
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Table of Contents
Anime character names and their meanings
To elaborate this list about the meaning of anime character names, I did research to determine the most popular Japanese names among characters, and I also tried to understand which are the most popular characters from anime.
Meaning of names of characters from Boku no Hero Academia
The meaning of the name Uraraka Ochako [麗日お茶子] is something bright and beautiful. The kanji [麗日] means glorious spring day, where only [麗] means adorable, beautiful, graceful, and radiant. While the name Ochako [茶子] refers to tea [茶] and a child [子].
The meaning of the name Midoriya Izuku [緑谷出久] is a green valley [緑谷] where [緑] means green and [谷] means valley. The kanji for Izuku mean [出] to go out, to leave and [久] long time. See other curiosities of Boku no Hero.

The meaning of names of characters from Bleach
The meaning of the name Ichigo Kurosaki [一護黒崎] is not strawberry as some think. Although it is a slight reference to the fruit, Ichigo is written [一護] which means to protect [護] one [一] thing. Kurosaki [黒崎] means black [黒] cape [崎]. Ichigo also reminds us of the number 15, so we can see the 15 as an easter egg in various moments of the work.
The meaning of names of characters from Dragon Ball
The meaning of the name Gohan [悟飯] refers to “one fed by understanding” or “enlightenment that feeds.” The kanji [悟] means to discern, perceive, understand, illuminate. While [飯] means cooked rice or meal.
The meaning of the name Goku [悟空] refers to “heavenly enlightenment” or “heavenly perception.” The name has the kanji [空] which means sky or empty. The surname Son [孫] of the characters Son Goku and Son Gohan means grandson or descendant.

The meaning of names of characters from Naruto
The meaning of the name Hinata Hyuuga [日向ヒナタ] from the anime Naruto can mean “place in the sun,” “sunny location,” or “sunflower.” The names Hinata and Hyuuga are both written [日向] and have the same meaning, so Hinata is written in katakana.
The meaning of the name Sakura Haruno [サクラ春野] is also written in Katakana where Sakura means Cherry Blossom and Haruno [春野] means spring [春] and plains or fields [野].
Read also:
How to Discover the Name of an Anime Character?
Perhaps you will not find the meaning of your favorite character’s name in this article. Don’t know how to write it? Or don’t even know the character’s name? Now we want to help you with these three issues.
How to discover a character’s name?
In this first situation, you have an image of the character but do not have their name. You can use something like Google’s reverse image search to find the source of that image.
If you find the origin of the image, it is very likely that in the article or website in question, there is some indication of that character’s name. So search well, both in the image title and in the description or on the source page.
If you even know the character’s name but don’t know how to write it, one option might be to write it any way with the anime’s name, hoping Google will correct the name.
Another way to find the names of characters from an anime is by searching for the anime on Google with the word characters. Usually, sites like Wiki or Fandom have a list of all characters.
How to know the Japanese writing of a character’s name?
If you know how to write the character’s name, just search on Google and some site like Wiki or Fandom will present its original writing in Japanese.
Do not try to use the Japanese keyboard or some online translator to discover the writing of an anime character’s name, since you will probably get the wrong writing.
Japanese names have hundreds of different ways to be written, for this reason we recommend having exact sources referring to the character from the anime and not to the generic name that can be written differently.
How to know the meaning of an anime character’s name?
If you have the character’s name written in Kanji, you can discover the meaning of the name using dictionaries like jisho.org.
Just put kanji by kanji in the dictionary to get an idea of the meaning of the name. Also consider other meanings of other kanji, it may be that the author highlights hidden meanings.
We recommend the video on how to know the meaning of anime character names below:
Apps for Anime Name Meanings
There are apps that show Japanese names and their meanings. Just access your iOS or Android store and search for keywords like Japanese names or “japanese names”.
Another way to identify an anime character’s name is by using dictionaries, some can be found online like the mentioned Jisho, but there are cell phone apps that make this process easier.
Search in your store for apps with the name JIsho, which means dictionary in Japanese. You can also find Reverse Image Search apps to discover character names from an image.

Male Anime Character Names
The list below is extensive and covers thousands of common names that appear frequently in anime. It’s not just anime names, but it fits into Japanese names.
The names on the list below may be written differently in the anime, but we tried to get close to real Japanese and the real meaning of the word.
We will start by looking at the names of male anime characters:
- Naruto [ナルト] (Naruto) – Means “whirlpool”.
- Ichigo [一護] (Bleach) – Means “protection”.
- Lelouch [ルルーシュ] (Code Geass) – Means “shining light”.
- Kirito [桐人] (Sword Art Online) – Means “person of paulownia”.
- Light [ライト] (Death Note) – Means “light” or “illumination”.
- Goku [悟空] (Dragon Ball) – Means “empty enlightenment”.
- Sasuke [サスケ] (Naruto) – Means “quick help”.
- Edward [エドワード] (Fullmetal Alchemist) – Means “rich guardian”.
- Yato [夜ト] (Noragami) – Means “night”.
- Kamina [カミナ] (Gurren Lagann) – Means “turtle”.
- Gon [ゴン] (Hunter x Hunter) – Means “eye” or “vision”.
- Levi [リヴァイ] (Attack on Titan) – Means “connected to the union”.
- Kirishima [霧島] (Boku no Hero Academia) – Means “mountain of mist”.
- Shinya [慎夜] (Seraph of the End) – Means “true night”.
- Zenitsu [善逸] (Demon Slayer) – Means “goodness” and “excellence”.
- Zoro [ゾロ] (One Piece) – Means “solo” or “earth”.
- Katsuki [勝木] (Boku no Hero Academia) – Means “winner” and “tree”.
- Yusuke [幽助] (Yu Yu Hakusho) – Means “peaceful assistance”.
- Spike [スパイク] (Cowboy Bebop) – Means “peak” or “tip”.
- Roy [ロイ] (Fullmetal Alchemist) – Means “king”.
- Killua [キルア] (Hunter x Hunter) – Means “white assassin”.
- Gonzo [権三] (Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo) – Means “third power”.
- Luffy [ルフィ] (One Piece) – Means “fluffy” or “relaxed”.
- Inuyasha [犬夜叉] (Inuyasha) – Means “dog demon”.
- Tamaki [環] (Ouran High School Host Club) – Means “ring”.
- Jojo [ジョジョ] (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure) – Means “great-grandfather”.
- Haruka [遥] (Free!) – Means “distant” or “remote”.
- Kyon [キョン] (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) – Means “bridge”.
- Takumi [匠] (Initial D) – Means “artisan” or “master”.
- Saitama [サイタマ] (One Punch Man) – Means “one rice field”.
- Kenshin [緋村] (Rurouni Kenshin) – Means “red village”.
- Yuuri [勇利] (Yuri!!! on Ice) – Means “courage”.
- Houtarou [抱徳] (Hyouka) – Means “abundance of virtue”.
- Kageyama [影山] (Haikyuu!!) – Means “mountain of shadows”.
- Akira [明] (Devilman Crybaby) – Means “bright”.
- Shinichi [新一] (Detective Conan) – Means “new first position”.
- Gintoki [銀時] (Gintama) – Means “silver time”.
- Rei [玲] (Free!) – Means “sound” or “bell”.
- Jotaro [承太郎] (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure) – Means “holding the great generation”.
- Koro-sensei [殺せんせー] (Assassination Classroom) – Means “killer teacher”.
- Todoroki [轟] (Boku no Hero Academia) – Means “thunder”.
- Kensuke [謙介] (Neon Genesis Evangelion) – Means “humble help”.
- Tanjirou [炭治郎] (Demon Slayer) – Means “young ruler of coal”.
- Takashi [隆] (Highschool of the Dead) – Means “high” or “noble”.
- Armin [アルミン] (Attack on Titan) – Means “army”.
- Ren [蓮] (Kyoukai no Rinne) – Means “lotus”.
- Yuu [悠] (Love Live!) – Means “rest” or “leisure”.
- Subaru [昴] (Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu) – Means “star cluster”.
- Tetsuya [哲也] (Kuroko no Basket) – Means “wisdom” and “young”.
- Gonzaemon [権左衛門] (Gintama) – Means “gatekeeper of honor”.
- Kaneda [金田] (Akira) – Means “golden field”.
- Jiraiya [自来也] (Naruto) – Means “man who came by himself”.
- Izuku [出久] (Boku no Hero Academia) – Means “coming out quickly”.
- Hisoka [ヒソカ] (Hunter x Hunter) – Means “unexpected”.
- Haru [春] (Free!) – Means “spring”.
- Yagami [夜神] (Death Note) – Means “god of the night”.
- Soma [創真] (Shokugeki no Souma) – Means “true creation”.
- Guts [ガッツ] (Berserk) – Means “courage”.
- Akio [秋生] (Revolutionary Girl Utena) – Means “autumn life”.
- Kamijou [上条] (Toaru Majutsu no Index) – Means “upper bar”.
- Tatsuya [達也] (Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei) – Means “to reach”.
- Kira [吉良] (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure) – Means “good draw”.
- Eren [エレン] (Attack on Titan) – Means “form of shaking”.
- Shouyou [松陽] (Haikyuu!!) – Means “pine sun”.
- Kiryu [桐生] (Yakuza) – Means “life of paulownia”.
- Ginko [銀子] (Mushishi) – Means “daughter of silver”.
- Kenshin [剣心] (Kenshin: Samurai X) – Means “sword heart”.
- Izumi [泉] (Fullmetal Alchemist) – Means “source”.
- Shougo [翔吾] (Love Stage!!) – Means “flying high” and “son”.
- Sousuke [壮介] (Free!) – Means “robust help”.
- Takao [高尾] (Kuroko no Basket) – Means “high tail”.
- Seiya [星矢] (Saint Seiya) – Means “star arrow”.
- Kyousuke [京介] (Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai) – Means “Kyoto introduction”.
- Koyomi [暦] (Monogatari Series) – Means “calendar”.
- Kusuo [斉木] (Saiki Kusuo no Psi-nan) – Means “straight tree”.
- Akabane [赤羽根] (Assassination Classroom) – Means “red feather root”.
- Shun [瞬] (Saint Seiya) – Means “moment”.
- Shuichi [修一] (Gravitation) – Means “discipline” and “one”.
- Shinji [真司] (Neon Genesis Evangelion) – Means “true government”.
- Kageyama [景山] (K-On!) – Means “scenic mountain”.
- Kiyomaro [清麿] (Zatch Bell!) – Means “clean man”.
- Itachi [イタチ] (Naruto) – Means “weasel”.
- Genos [ジェノス] (One Punch Man) – Means “origin”.
- Souma [颯真] (En En no Shouboutai) – Means “true wind”.
- Masaomi [正臣] (Durarara!!) – Means “correct servant”.
- Sabo [サボ] (One Piece) – Means “missing”.
- Riku [陸] (Kingdom Hearts) – Means “land”.
- Haruto [春人] (Kimi no Na Wa) – Means “spring person”.
- Tsubasa [翼] (Captain Tsubasa) – Means “wing”.
- Hyakkimaru [百鬼丸] (Dororo) – Means “hundred demons”.
- Daisuke [大輔] (Digimon Adventure) – Means “great help”.
- Sasuke [サスケ] (Naruto) – Means “help by tea”.
- Kirito [桐人] (Sword Art Online) – Means “person of paulownia”.
- Kei [圭] (The Tatami Galaxy) – Means “jade”.
- Touya [桃也] (Cardcaptor Sakura) – Means “also peach”.
- Shou [翔] (Yumeiro Patissiere) – Means “to fly”.
- Lelouch [ルルーシュ] (Code Geass) – Means “red light”.
- Gai [凱] (Naruto) – Means “triumph”.
- Shouma [翔真] (Penguindrum) – Means “true flight”.
- Kazuma [一馬] (Scryed) – Means “one horse”.
Female Anime Character Names
Below we will see a complete list of some female anime character names:
- Sakura [桜] (Naruto) – Means “cherry blossom”.
- Haruka [遥] (Sakura Card Captors) – Means “distant” or “faraway”.
- Yui [結衣] (Sword Art Online) – Means “connection” or “friendship”.
- Ayumi [歩み] (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) – Means “progress” or “advance”.
- Akira [明] (Lucky Star) – Means “bright” or “intelligent”.
- Sayuri [小百合] (Memoirs of a Geisha) – Means “small lily”.
- Aoi [葵] (Ai Yori Aoshi) – Means “mallow” or “flower of malva”.
- Hikari [光] (Digimon Adventure) – Means “light”.
- Mio [美緒] (K-On!) – Means “beautiful river”.
- Nana [七] (Nana) – Means “seven”.
- Yoko [陽子] (Gurren Lagann) – Means “daughter of light”.
- Chie [智恵] (Persona 4 the Animation) – Means “wisdom” or “intelligence”.
- Rei [令] (Sailor Moon) – Means “law” or “mandate”.
- Asuka [飛鳥] (Neon Genesis Evangelion) – Means “flying bird”.
- Eri [恵理] (School Rumble) – Means “blessing” and “reason”.
- Sango [珊瑚] (Inuyasha) – Means “coral”.
- Rukia [瑠璃子] (Bleach) – Means “daughter of lapis lazuli crystal”.
- Kagura [神楽] (Gintama) – Means “divinity of music and dance”.
- Riza [リザ] (Fullmetal Alchemist) – Means “lightness”.
- Mikasa [ミカサ] (Attack on Titan) – Means “beautiful guard”.
- Yumeko [弓子] (Kakegurui) – Means “daughter of the bow”.
- Rin [凛] (Fate/stay night) – Means “dignified” or “imposing”.
- Maka [魔武] (Soul Eater) – Means “magic weapon”.
- Erina [衛蘭] (Food Wars!) – Means “orchid of protection”.
- Shinobu [しのぶ] (Demon Slayer) – Means “perseverance” or “persistence”.
- Hiyori [ひより] (Noragami) – Means “sunny weather”.
- Misa [美咲] (Death Note) – Means “beautiful blooming”.
- Homura [ほむら] (Puella Magi Madoka Magica) – Means “flame”.
- Haruhi [涼宮ハルヒ] (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) – Means “spring day”.
- Yumemi [夢見] (Planetarian: The Reverie of a Little Planet) – Means “dreamer”.
- Asuna [アスナ] (Sword Art Online) – Means “bright morning”.
- Shizuku [雫] (Hunter x Hunter) – Means “drop of water”.
- Kallen [枢木カレン] (Code Geass) – Means “courage”.
- Reiko [玲子] (Ghost Stories) – Means “daughter of the bell”.
- Holo [ホロ] (Spice and Wolf) – Means “light”.
- Ryuko [緑子] (Kill la Kill) – Means “daughter of green”.
- Yoruichi [夜一] (Bleach) – Means “first night”.
- Ritsu [律] (K-On!) – Means “law” or “regulation”.
- Kirari [煌] (Kakegurui) – Means “intense shine”.
- Ayase [絢瀬] (Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai) – Means “colorful flow”.
- Misato [美里] (Neon Genesis Evangelion) – Means “beauty of the village”.
- Tomoyo [智代] (Cardcaptor Sakura) – Means “wise friend”.
- Mayumi [真弓] (Chihayafuru) – Means “true arrow”.
- Misaki [美咲] (Kaichou wa Maid-sama!) – Means “beautiful blooming”.
- Yui [由比] (K-On!) – Means “reason”.
- Kotori [小鳥] (Love Live!) – Means “small bird”.
- Fuu [風] (Samurai Champloo) – Means “wind”.
- Kyoko [杏子] (Puella Magi Madoka Magica) – Means “apricot”.
- Tsubaki [椿] (Soul Eater) – Means “camellia”.
- Nami [ナミ] (One Piece) – Means “waves”.
- Yona [ヨナ] (Akatsuki no Yona) – Means “night”.
- Akame [赤目] (Akame ga Kill!) – Means “red eyes”.
- Rin [鈴] (Kimi ni Todoke) – Means “bell” or “chime”.
- Kyouko [恭子] (Skip Beat!) – Means “respectful daughter”.
- Riko [梨子] (Love Live!) – Means “daughter of the pear”.
- Hinata [日向] (Naruto) – Means “place in the sun”.
- Kanna [神無] (Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon) – Means “without god”.
- Risa [理紗] (Lovely Complex) – Means “weaver of truth”.
- Aya [彩] (Ayashi no Ceres) – Means “color” or “colorful”.
- Nene [寧々] (New Game!) – Means “peace” or “tranquility”.
- Hikari [ひかり] (Pokémon) – Means “light”.
- Nagisa [渚] (Clannad) – Means “beach”.
- Yoko [洋子] (Gurren Lagann) – Means “daughter of the ocean”.
- Kyouka [響] (Bungou Stray Dogs) – Means “echo”.
- Minori [実乃梨] (Toradora!) – Means “fruit of the pear”.
- Amu [あむ] (Shugo Chara!) – Means “sweet” or “lovable”.
- Kyouko [響子] (Puella Magi Madoka Magica) – Means “resonant daughter”.
- Tae [多恵] (Zombie Land Saga) – Means “many blessings”.
- Tsubaki [椿] (Soul Eater) – Means “camellia”.
- Tsukino [月野] (Sailor Moon) – Means “moon field”.
- Yui [結衣] (K-On!) – Means “tied in clothes”.
- Hinami [雛実] (Tokyo Ghoul) – Means “bird fruit”.
- Hitomi [瞳] (Code Geass) – Means “pupil”.
- Yoko [洋子] (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann) – Means “daughter of the ocean”.
- Hikaru [光] (Magic Knight Rayearth) – Means “light”.
- Kyouka [鏡花] (Bungou Stray Dogs) – Means “mirror of flowers”.
- Maki [真姫] (Love Live!) – Means “true princess”.
- Riko [理子] (Made in Abyss) – Means “daughter of logic”.
- Yumeko [夢子] (Kakegurui) – Means “daughter of dreams”.
- Asuna [アスナ] (Sword Art Online) – Means “dawn”.
- Kyou [杏] (Clannad) – Means “apricot”.
- Ino [いの] (Naruto) – Means “boar” or “deer”.
- Homura [ほむら] (Puella Magi Madoka Magica) – Means “flame”.
- Mikasa [ミカサ] (Attack on Titan) – Means “wheat”.
- Yui [唯] (Angel Beats!) – Means “unique”.
- Megumi [めぐみ] (Shokugeki no Souma) – Means “blessed with wisdom”.
- Kaori [香織] (Your Lie in April) – Means “perfumed with web”.
- Momo [桃] (Boku no Hero Academia) – Means “peach”.
- Kotori [小鳥] (Love Live!) – Means “small bird”.
- Yuno [ゆの] (Mirai Nikki) – Means “dream”.
- Utena [有希] (Revolutionary Girl Utena) – Means “eternal peace”.
- Kurumi [胡桃] (Date A Live) – Means “walnut”.
- Ayase [絢瀬] (Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai) – Means “colorful current”.
- Haruhi [涼宮] (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) – Means “refreshing weather” and “palace”.
- Mashiro [ましろ] (Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo) – Means “pure white”.
- Ayase [綾瀬] (Sword Art Online II) – Means “colorful silk current”.
- Nagisa [渚] (Assassination Classroom) – Means “beach”.
- Tsugumi [つぐみ] (Nisekoi) – Means “clover”.
- Tsumugi [紬] (K-On!) – Means “woven fabric”.
- Yuzuki [柚希] (Kimi no Na Wa) – Means “hope of grapefruit”.
- Tohru [トール] (Fruits Basket) – Means “flight” or “through”.
- Kirie [桐絵] (Uzumaki) – Means “image of paulownia”.
- Erza [エルザ] (Fairy Tail) – Means “oath” or “vow”.
- Nana [七] (Nana) – Means “seven”.
- Chitoge [千棘] (Nisekoi) – Means “thousand thorns”.
Anime character names – Unisex
| Kanji | Name | Meaning |
| 明/秋 | AKI | bright / autumn |
| 明/亮 | AKIRA | bright / clear |
| 碧 | AOI | blue |
| 春 | HARU | spring (as in the season) |
| 光 | HIKARU | light, radiance |
| 向日葵/陽向 | HINATA | sunflower / facing the sun |
| 寛 | HIRO | generous |
| 密 | HISOKA | cautious, reserved |
| 順 | JUN | obedient |
| 楓 | KAEDE | maple |
| 薫 | KAORU | fragrance |
| 琥珀 | KOHAKU | amber |
| 協 | KYO | cooperation |
| 円 | MADOKA | round circle |
| 誠 | MAKOTO | sincere |
| 正/真 | MASA | only / true |
| 真澄 | MASUMI | true clarity |
| 道 | MICHI | path |
| 実 | MINORI | truth |
| 満 | MITSURU | satisfy, complete |
| 直 | NAO | honest |
| 夏 | NATSU | summer |
| 金 | PARENTE | gold |
| 蓮/恋 | REN | lotus / love |
| 忍 | SHINOBU | endurance |
| 昊/空 | SORA | sky |
| 康 | YASU | Peace |
| 吉/義 | YOSHI | lucky / virtuous |
| 幸/雪 | YUKI | happiness / snow |
| 優 | YUU | □ Gentle |
| 優希 | YUUKI | Gentle and superior hope |
| 明/秋 | AKI | bright / autumn |
| 明/亮 | AKIRA | bright / clear |
| 碧 | AOI | blue |
| 春 | HARU | spring (as in the season) |


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