50+ *Beautiful* Anime Baby Names from Your Favorite Series

Looking for the perfect anime baby name inspired by your favorite series? This list is full of beautiful Japanese names from beloved anime, Studio Ghibli films, and manga – each with authentic meanings and origins.

Here’s what’s in store –

Anime has gone from niche to mainstream – and so have the gorgeous Japanese names we’ve fallen in love with through our favorite series. Whether you grew up watching Studio Ghibli films, binge-watched Demon Slayer and My Hero Academia, or discovered anime through Netflix’s incredible lineup, there’s something magical about these names.

Japanese names carry deep meaning in every syllable. They’re often inspired by nature, virtues, or beautiful imagery – making them perfect for parents who want a name with real substance behind it.

Anime Girl Names

These beautiful feminine names come from beloved anime heroines, each carrying grace, strength, and gorgeous meanings.

Sakura

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: sah-KUR-ah · sɑːˈkʊrə
• Meaning: cherry blossom
• Popularity: #3,001 and rising (#3,418 → #3,001, 2024)

Hinata

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: hee-NAH-tah · hiˈnɑːtə
• Meaning: sunny place; toward the sun
• Popularity: #4,495 and falling (#3,294 → #4,495, 2024)

Yuki

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: YOO-kee · ˈjuːki
• Meaning: snow (from the common kanji 雪); some spellings instead give ‘happiness’ (幸)
• Popularity: #4,539 and rising (#5,374 → #4,539, 2024)

Rei

• Origin: Japanese (kanji-dependent, also a separate Hebrew given name)
• Pronunciation: RAY · ˈreɪ
• Meaning: lovely; beautiful
• Popularity: #3,860 and rising (#5,199 → #3,860, 2024)

Mikasa

• Origin: unclear (no attested given-name entry, a Japanese word/place name, 三笠)
• Pronunciation: mee-KAH-sah · miːˈkɑːsə
• Meaning: three bamboo hats
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Asuna

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: ah-SOO-nah · ɑːˈsuːnə
• Meaning: tomorrow; rope
• Popularity: #7,617 and falling (#4,469 → #7,617, 2024)

Nami

• Origin: Japanese (meaning depends on the kanji chosen)
• Pronunciation: NAH-mee · ˈnɑːmi
• Meaning: wave
• Popularity: #1,496 and rising (#1,553 → #1,496, 2024)

Rukia

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: ROO-kee-uh · ˈruːkiə
• Meaning: light
• Popularity: #13,161 and falling (#8,398 → #13,161, 2024)

Kagome

• Origin: Japanese (uncertain)
• Pronunciation: kah-GOH-meh · kɑːˈɡoʊmeɪ
• Meaning: basket-weave pattern
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Nezuko

• Origin: Japanese (modern)
• Pronunciation: neh-ZOO-koh · nɛˈzuːkoʊ
• Meaning: snowball flower child
• Popularity: #5,896 and falling (#4,338 → #5,896, 2024)

Maki

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: MAH-kee · ˈmɑːki
• Meaning: true hope
• Popularity: #10,495 and rising (#11,716 → #10,495, 2024)

Shinobu

• Origin: Japanese (kanji-dependent)
• Pronunciation: shee-NOH-boo · ʃɪˈnoʊbuː
• Meaning: endurance; stealth
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ochaco

• Origin: Japanese (modern/fictional given name)
• Pronunciation: oh-CHAH-koh · oʊˈtʃɑːkoʊ
• Meaning: tea child
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Hana

• Origin: Various (Japanese, Hebrew, Arabic, Kurdish, Persian, Hawaiian, Māori, Albanian)
• Pronunciation: HAH-nuh · ˈhɑːnə
• Meaning: varies by origin: ‘flower’ (Japanese), ‘grace/favor’ (Hebrew, via Hannah), ‘bliss’ (Arabic), ‘hope’ (Kurdish), among others
• Popularity: #708 and rising (#727 → #708, 2024)

Misa

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: MEE-sah · ˈmiːsə
• Meaning: beautiful help
• Popularity: #9,333 and falling (#7,918 → #9,333, 2024)

Erza

• Origin: modern coinage (possibly a variant of Ezra or Erzsébet)
• Pronunciation: UR-zuh · ˈɜːrzə
• Meaning: derived from Elza/Elsa
• Popularity: #4,394 and falling (#4,217 → #4,394, 2024)

Momo

• Origin: Japanese (female); Arabic nickname (male, of Mohammed)
• Pronunciation: MOH-moh · ˈmoʊmoʊ
• Meaning: peach
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Kikyo

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: KEE-kyoh · ˈkiːkjoʊ
• Meaning: bellflower (a type of flower)
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Shiki

• Origin: Japanese (kanji-dependent)
• Pronunciation: SHEE-kee · ˈʃiːki
• Meaning: four seasons
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Kaguya

• Origin: Japanese (folklore name)
• Pronunciation: KAH-goo-yah · ˈkɑːɡuːjɑː
• Meaning: name of the legendary moon princess
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ami

• Origin: multiple (Hebrew, Japanese, French, Persian, Indian — meaning depends on origin/spelling)
• Pronunciation: AH-mee · ˈɑːmi
• Meaning: beautiful friend
• Popularity: #2,919 and falling (#2,417 → #2,919, 2024)

Rumi

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: ROO-mee · ˈruːmi
• Meaning: beauty; flow
• Popularity: #1,718 and rising (#1,932 → #1,718, 2024)

Rin

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: RIN · ˈrɪn
• Meaning: meaning depends on which kanji is used to write it (e.g. ‘bell’, ‘dignified/cold’, ‘reason’); no single fixed meaning
• Popularity: #4,621 and falling (#4,258 → #4,621, 2024)

Mai

• Origin: kanji-dependent (Japanese) or English variant of Mae/May
• Pronunciation: MY · ˈmaɪ
• Meaning: dance
• Popularity: #3,245 and falling (#3,207 → #3,245, 2024)

Suki

• Origin: uncertain (associated with Japanese, also used as an English pet name)
• Pronunciation: SOO-kee · ˈsuːki
• Meaning: Linked to the Japanese word suki, meaning ‘liked’ or ‘favorite.’
• Popularity: #3,869 and rising (#4,550 → #3,869, 2024)

Anime Boy Names

From determined heroes to mysterious anti-heroes, these names carry strength and depth.

Ren

• Origin: Japanese (kanji-dependent)
• Pronunciation: ruh-NAY · rəˈneɪ
• Meaning: lotus; love
• Popularity: #1,145 and falling (#1,081 → #1,145, 2024)

Haru

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: HAH-roo · ˈhɑːruː
• Meaning: most commonly associated with ‘spring’ (春) or ‘clear weather’ (晴); the meaning varies by the kanji chosen
• Popularity: #4,926 and falling (#3,926 → #4,926, 2024)

Kai

• Origin: Germanic/Scandinavian (also popularly linked to Hawaiian)
• Pronunciation: KY · ˈkaɪ
• Meaning: possibly from Latin Caius, or a Frisian pet form of Gerard/Cornelius/Nicholas (‘warrior’); popularly reinterpreted in the US as Hawaiian for ‘sea’
• Popularity: #76 and falling (#61 → #76, 2024)

Ryu

• Origin: Japanese; also Korean (romanization of 류, from 柳 ‘willow’ or 劉, a surname character)
• Pronunciation: RYOO · ˈrjuː
• Meaning: dragon
• Popularity: #1,449 and rising (#2,025 → #1,449, 2024)

Tanjiro

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: TAHN-jee-roh · ˈtɑːndʒiːroʊ
• Meaning: high-valued second son
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Levi

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: LEE-vy · ˈliːvaɪ
• Meaning: traditionally ‘joined, attached’ per the Genesis naming story; true root uncertain
• Popularity: #12, holding steady (2024)

Shoto

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: SHOH-toh · ˈʃoʊtoʊ
• Meaning: burning; freezing
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Kenzo

• Origin: Japanese (kanji-dependent)
• Pronunciation: KEN-zoh · ˈkɛnzoʊ
• Meaning: healthy/strong, second element kanji-dependent
• Popularity: #586 and rising (#619 → #586, 2024)

Akira

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: ah-KEER-uh · ɑːˈkɪərə
• Meaning: bright, clear-minded (meaning depends on the kanji used)
• Popularity: #955 and rising (#1,022 → #955, 2024)

Kaito

• Origin: Japanese (kanji-dependent)
• Pronunciation: KY-toh · ˈkaɪtoʊ
• Meaning: ocean flying
• Popularity: #2,030 and rising (#2,205 → #2,030, 2024)

Sasuke

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: SAHS-kay · ˈsɑːskeɪ
• Meaning: help; assistance
• Popularity: #8,190 and falling (#5,415 → #8,190, 2024)

Naruto

• Origin: Japanese (place name — Naruto City/Strait, known for its whirlpools, also the name of a spiral fish cake, narutomaki)
• Pronunciation: nah-ROO-toh · nɑːˈruːtoʊ
• Meaning: maelstrom; fish cake spiral
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ichigo

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: EE-chee-goh · ˈiːtʃɪɡoʊ
• Meaning: strawberry; one guardian
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Yuto

• Origin: Japanese (kanji-dependent given name)
• Pronunciation: YOO-toh · ˈjuːtoʊ
• Meaning: gentleness; superiority
• Popularity: #6,158 and rising (#12,200 → #6,158, 2024)

Sora

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: SOH-rah · ˈsoʊrə
• Meaning: sky
• Popularity: #1,972 and falling (#1,863 → #1,972, 2024)

Takumi

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: tah-KOO-mee · tɑːˈkuːmi
• Meaning: craftsman, artisan
• Popularity: #10,748 and rising (#12,064 → #10,748, 2024)

Hiroshi

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: hee-ROH-shee · hiːˈroʊʃi
• Meaning: generous; prosperous
• Popularity: #7,931 and falling (#5,755 → #7,931, 2024)

Kenji

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: KEN-jee · ˈkɛndʒi
• Meaning: commonly ‘healthy/wise second son’ (varies by kanji chosen)
• Popularity: #855 and falling (#827 → #855, 2024)

Sho

• Origin: Japanese (reading shared by several different kanji)
• Pronunciation: SHOH · ʃoʊ
• Meaning: to fly; soar
• Popularity: #8,837 and falling (#8,166 → #8,837, 2024)

Zen

• Origin: Japanese (from Chinese Chan, ultimately Sanskrit dhyāna)
• Pronunciation: ZEN · ˈzɛn
• Meaning: meditation
• Popularity: #959 and falling (#935 → #959, 2024)

Kira

• Origin: Irish (via Ciara) and/or Persian (via Cyrus); also used in Japan
• Pronunciation: KEER-uh · ˈkɪrə
• Meaning: Irish ‘ciar’ = dark/black (via Ciara); also linked to Persian Cyrus (disputed sense) — not ‘shining’ as commonly claimed
• Popularity: #455 and falling (#429 → #455, 2024)

Daiki

• Origin: Japanese (kanji-dependent)
• Pronunciation: DY-kee · ˈdaɪkiː
• Meaning: great glory; great tree
• Popularity: #11,017 as of 2016 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Haruki

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: hah-ROO-kee · hɑːˈruːki
• Meaning: spring tree (meaning depends heavily on which kanji are chosen)
• Popularity: #9,280 and falling (#8,481 → #9,280, 2024)

Satoshi

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: sah-TOH-shee · sɑːˈtoʊʃiː
• Meaning: wise; clear-thinking
• Popularity: #13,821 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Studio Ghibli Names

Hayao Miyazaki’s magical films have given us some of the most enchanting names in animation.

Chihiro

• Origin: Japanese (given name typically written in hiragana ちひろ)
• Pronunciation: chee-HEE-roh · ʧɪˈhiːroʊ
• Meaning: often interpreted as ‘thousand fathoms’ (from kanji 千尋, ‘thousand’ + a depth/span unit), but no single meaning is fixed since the kanji vary by bearer
• Popularity: #13,961 as of 2022 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Haku

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: HAH-koo · ˈhɑːkuː
• Meaning: white; master
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Totoro

• Origin: Japanese (pop-culture coinage)
• Pronunciation: TOH-toh-roh · ˈtoʊtəroʊ
• Meaning: derived from troll
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Satsuki

• Origin: Japanese (from the old lunar-calendar name for the fifth month)
• Pronunciation: SAHT-soo-kee · ˈsɑːtsʊki
• Meaning: the fifth month (May) in the old Japanese lunar calendar, tied to the early rice-planting season
• Popularity: #11,085 as of 2022 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Mei

• Origin: Chinese (Mandarin)
• Pronunciation: MAY · ˈmeɪ
• Meaning: beautiful
• Popularity: #1,960 and rising (#2,325 → #1,960, 2024)

Kiki

• Origin: Greek (as diminutive of Kyriaki); also a generic nickname in other languages
• Pronunciation: KEE-kee · ˈkiːki
• Meaning: of the Lord (as a Greek pet form of Kyriaki); as a generic nickname elsewhere it has no fixed meaning of its own
• Popularity: #8,170 and rising (#8,278 → #8,170, 2024)

Ponyo

• Origin: modern coinage (pop culture)
• Pronunciation: POH-nyoh · ˈpoʊnjoʊ
• Meaning: soft; bouncy
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Nausicaä

• Origin: Ancient Greek
• Pronunciation: naw-SIK-ee-uh · nɔːˈsɪkiə
• Meaning: burner of ships or excelling in ships
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Ashitaka

• Origin: Japanese (fictional character name)
• Pronunciation: ah-shee-TAH-kah · ɑːʃiːˈtɑːkə
• Meaning: rising; advancing
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

San

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: SAHN · ˈsɑːn
• Meaning: three
• Popularity: #12,059 and rising (#13,736 → #12,059, 2024)

Howl

• Origin: English (modern word name)
• Pronunciation: HOWL · haʊl
• Meaning: a long, loud cry — the ordinary English word ‘howl’
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Sophie

• Origin: French (from Ancient Greek Σοφία / sophia, ‘wisdom’)
• Pronunciation: SO-fee · ˈsoʊfi
• Meaning: wisdom
• Popularity: #60, holding steady (2024)

Calcifer

• Origin: modern coinage (fictional)
• Pronunciation: KAL-sih-fer · ˈkælsɪfər
• Meaning: fire bearer
• Popularity: #4,714 and falling (#4,620 → #4,714, 2024)

Sheeta

• Origin: unclear; no attested traditional etymology
• Pronunciation: SHEE-tuh · ˈʃiːtə
• Meaning: pure; white
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Pazu

• Pronunciation: PAH-zoo · ˈpɑːzuː
• Meaning: unknown; possibly from bazoo
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Gender-Neutral Anime Names

These names work beautifully for any child and are common unisex choices in Japan.

Hikari

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: hee-KAH-ree · hiˈkɑːri
• Meaning: light
• Popularity: #7,024 and rising (#8,649 → #7,024, 2024)

Nao

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: NAH-oh · na.o
• Meaning: honest, straightforward
• Popularity: #10,457 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Asa

• Origin: Hebrew
• Pronunciation: AY-suh · ˈeɪsə
• Meaning: healer
• Popularity: #474 and rising (#509 → #474, 2024)

Izumi

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: ee-ZOO-mee · iˈzuːmi
• Meaning: spring, fountain
• Popularity: #6,737 and rising (#9,872 → #6,737, 2024)

Kaede

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: KAH-eh-deh (Japanese final ‘e’ is ‘eh’) · kɑːɛdeɪ
• Meaning: maple (tree)
• Popularity: #7,501 as of 2023 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Makoto

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: mah-KOH-toh · mɑːˈkoʊtoʊ
• Meaning: truth or sincerity
• Popularity: #9,511 and falling (#7,135 → #9,511, 2024)

Natsuki

• Origin: Japanese
• Pronunciation: naht-SOO-kee · nɑːtˈsuːki
• Meaning: summer hope
• Popularity: Not in the U.S. Social Security rankings

Shin

• Origin: Japanese (kanji-dependent); also a Scottish Gaelic place name (River Shin)
• Meaning: true; genuine
• Popularity: #13,824 as of 2019 — not currently in the U.S. Social Security rankings

How These Names Are Trending

20 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 22 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

How These Names Are Trending

20 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 22 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

How These Names Are Trending

20 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 22 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

How These Names Are Trending

20 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 22 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

How These Names Are Trending

23 of these names rose in the U.S. Social Security rankings last year, and 24 are falling, per Social Security data through 2024.

Anime Names by Beautiful Meaning

Sometimes the meaning matters most. Here are names grouped by the imagery they evoke.

Haruka – distant, far away

• Origin: Japanese
• Meaning: spring flower; faraway

Kohana – little flower

• Origin: Japanese
• Meaning: small flower

Minato – harbor

• Origin: Japanese
• Meaning: harbor; port

Tsuki – moon

• Origin: Japanese
• Meaning: moon

Kaze – wind

• Origin: Japanese
• Meaning: wind

Hotaru – firefly

• Origin: Japanese
• Meaning: firefly

Yume – dream

• Origin: Japanese
• Meaning: dream

Aoi – blue

• Origin: Japanese
• Meaning: blue; hollyhock

Tsubasa – wing

• Origin: Japanese
• Meaning: wing

Mitsuki – beautiful moon

• Origin: Japanese
• Meaning: beautiful moon; light moon

Choosing the Perfect Anime Name

Japanese names often work beautifully in English-speaking countries because of their simple pronunciation and lovely sounds. But there are a few things to consider:

Practice the pronunciation. Names like Chihiro (chee-HEE-roh) and Nausicaä (now-SIK-ah) are beautiful but might need gentle correction throughout your child’s life. Make sure you’re comfortable with that.

Consider the cultural connection. If you don’t have Japanese heritage, that’s okay – many Japanese names have become internationally beloved. Just be prepared to share the story behind your choice.

Check the kanji meanings. Many Japanese names have multiple possible kanji (character) spellings, each with different meanings. Sakura written with different kanji could mean “cherry blossom” or something entirely different.

Final Thoughts

Anime baby names offer something truly special – they’re melodic, meaningful, and connected to stories we love. Whether you choose the fierce determination of Mikasa, the gentle magic of Chihiro, or the timeless simplicity of Haru, you’re giving your child a name that carries beauty in every syllable.

The best name is one that feels right when you say it – one that captures something about the person you hope your child will become.

💡 Bringing a name to life? Try our free Baby Name Art generator and create a personalized nursery print in under a minute.

📊 Curious how popular a name actually is? Look it up in our Baby Name Popularity Checker — pulls live SSA data to show ranking trends.

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✨ Love these names? Create free printable nursery art for any name →