Updated September 23, 2021 6.4K votes 2.9K voters 89.6K views
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Vote up the most surprising meanings behind anime characters' names.
When it comes to anime, the attention to detail extends far beyond the vibrant illustrations and in-depth plotlines. Anime character name meanings often relate to either to a character's role in the story, their interests, or their personality. Because names can be written using a variety of kanji, one can theoretically turn a seemingly ordinary Japanese name like Yusuke into one that's thematically appropriate for the protagonist of Yu Yu Hakusho - a name that means "ghost." Some names are even more clever than that - Ryuuko Matoi from Kill la Kill has a name with eight different meanings. A character's name is as important as any other detail in revealing who they are, so let's look at some interesting examples.
Few characters in Naruto possess normal names, which is why naming your baby Naruto is more than a little ridiculous. Nearly every character has a name with some symbolic or referential meaning. Kakashi Hatake's name, for instance, means "scarecrow in the field." This sounds random until you consider what a scarecrow's job is: to scare off dangerous crows that could destroy defenseless crops. As a Jônin instructor, Kakashi's must protect the younger, inexperienced ninja who can't protect themselves.
"Dark destination" fits as the surname of a character who becomes a Shinigami, but Ichigo's given name is also rife with symbolism. For one thing, it follows the fruit theme running through his family tree. Ichigo can mean strawberry, while his sister Yuzu's name can mean yuzu, a kind of Japanese citrus fruit. His other sister, Karin, has a name resembling the Japanese word for quince.
Another possible meaning is "one-five," which explains why Ichigo frequently appears with the number 15. A more significant interpretation is that "ichi" means "one" and "go" means "to protect," meaning he wants to protect one thing - his mother. As the series progresses, the circle of people he wishes to help expands.
Just about everyone in My Hero Academia has a name relevant to their personality. One of the cutest examples is Ochaco Uraraka's name. Her surname means "bright and beautiful" (which she is!), while her given name can be read as "tea child." This explains why one of the fandom's most popular ships, Ochaco x Midoriya, is often called "green tea."
Besides that, her hero name, Uravity, is a portmanteau of her surname and the word "gravity" - a reference to her ability to make things float when she touches them.
Lelouch Lamperouge's name clearly isn't Japanese, but it isn't British either. Though the fictional Britannia where Lelouch hails from isn't exactly analogous to the European nation, there are some major similarities between the two. Lelouch's name is actually French. Lelouch isn't a real name that French people give their children - which is no wonder, given the meaning. According to Behind The Name, Lelouch means "shady, dubious, or disreputable." His last name, Lamperouge, means "red lamp" - likely a reference to the glow in his eyes when his Geass activates. Well, the creators basically spelled that one out for everybody.
Kenshin Himura actually starts life with a more ordinary name, Shinta. After impressing a swordsman with his compassion, he receives a new name, Kenshin. The "ken" means sword, while the "shin" means heart. His surname, Himura, means "dark red village" - likely an allusion to his blood-stained past.
