Fans of Japanese animation, also called anime, often idolize the characters of their favorite shows; whether they’re super-strong heroes, dignified warriors, or brilliant scientists or professors, anime protagonists are associated with working for the forces of good and embodying the virtues of strength and morality.
Considering an anime-inspired name for your baby boy? This list of popular heroes (with a few villains sprinkled in for good measure) and commonly-used names from Japanese animation will help you get started.
Let’s dive in.
Baby boy anime names
- Masashi -Masashi means “commander” and “ambition” in Japanese. Masashi Kishimoto is a well-known manga artist.
- Itachi– Itachi Uchiha from the anime series “Masashi Kishimoto.” He is supposedly the strongest character in the manga universe.
- Naruto – Itachi Uchiha sometimes goes by the name Naruto.
- LawLiet – L Lawliet is the spiky-haired protagonist from “Death Note.”
- Goku – Goku is the name of the main character in the “Dragon Ball” series.
- Dante – Dante is a character in “Devil May Cry.” This anime name is unique in that it is not Japanese. Dante comes from the Italian Durante, which means “lasting, enduring.”
- Lelouch – Lelouch Lamerouge is an antihero from “Code Geass.” His name means “red lamp” in French.
- Yagami – Yagami is a Japanese surname. Light Yagami is the protagonist from “Death Note.”
- Gon – Gon Freecss is the protagonist of the manga series “Hunter x Hunter.”
- Hunter – “Hunter x Hunter” is an anime television series that came out in 2011.
- Brock – Brock is an aspiring “Pokémon” Doctor. He travels with Onix.
- Astro – “Astro Boy” is a hit Japanese television series that came out in 1963.
- Kazuto – Kazuto is a gender-neutral Japanese name that means “peace and harmony.” It is also the name of one of the most popular characters within the isekai anime universe.
- Kirito – This Japanese name means “blade” and “strong and powerful.”
- Arata – This masculine Japanese name means “plow.”
- Killua – Killua is a Japanese name that means “lightning.” Killua Zoldyck is a character from “Hunter x Hunter.”
- Sabo – Sabo means “tailor” in Japanese. Sabo is the chief of staff to the fictional Revolution Army in “One Piece.”
- Hiroshi – Numerous anime characters go by the name Hiroshi. This Japanese title means “prosperous.”
- Sanji – Vinsmoke Sanji is a rugged character from “One Piece.” Sanji means “victorious one.” He is, in fact, the most successful child in his family.
- Vegeta – This well-known anime character is in great shape. This name comes from the English word “vegetable.”
- Sebastian – Sebastian Michaelis is one of the main characters from “Black Butler.” It is a Greek name that means “venerable.”
- Shanks – Shanks is a red-haired pirate from “ One Piece.” This name might be a bit too intense for a baby. However, it would make a fun nickname for an anime fan.
- Onix – Onix is a massive snake-like rock cluster from “Pokémon.”
- Alphonse – Alphonse Elric is a character from “Fullmetal Alchemist.”
- Sasuke – Susku means “assistant” in Japanese. It is the name of the protagonist from “Naruto.”
- Akira – Akira Toriyama is the creator of “Dragon Ball.” The name means “the sun” or “sunlight.”
- Heihi – This is a Japanese “year name.” It is suitable for anyone born between 1159 and 1160.
- Conan – Conan Edogawa is a high school-aged detective from the hit anime series “Case Closed.” Conan is a Gaelic name that means “wolf.”
- Mamoru – Mamoru Chiba is one of the main characters from “Sailor Moon.” Mamoru means “defend, protect” in Japanese.
- Edward – Edward Elric is a character from “Fullmetal Alchemist.” This name may not be Japanese in origin, but it is still likely to resonate with anime fans.
- Kaido – Kaido is a fictional beast from “The Strongest Creature.” Kaido means “free” in Japanese.
- Harley – Harley Hartwell, or Heiji Hattori, is a high school-aged detective from the hit series “Case Closed.”
- Brook – Brook is known as the “Soul King.” He is a member of the Straw Hat Pirates.
- Kenta – This masculine Japanese name means “thick, big.”
- Kazuha – Kazuha is a masculine Japanese name that means “one leaf.” Kazuha Toyama is a fictional character from the hit series “Case Closed.”
- Saizou – Saizou is yet another spiky-haired protagonist from a hit anime series. Saizou Kirigakure is from “Brave 10.”
- Goro – Goro is one of the main characters in the anime series “DARLING.” Goro translates to “fifth son.”
- Broly – Broly is one of the antagonists from “Dragon Ball.” He was abused by King Vegeta when he was just a baby.
- Kakashi – Kakashi means “scarecrow” in Japanese. Kakashi Hatake is a character from Naruto.”
- Usopp – Usopp is an excellent anime name. It comes from the Japanese word for “lier.”
- Akamaru – Akamaru is a ninja dog from “Naruto.” He also goes by the name Aka. Akamaru means “red perfection” in Japanese. This mystical dog turned red after eating a military rations pill.
- Roronoa – Roronoa Zoro is a pirate hunter from “One Piece.” His name is derived from that of a real pirate, François l’Ollonais.
- Gohan – Gohan is a character from “Dragon Ball.”
- Tatsuya – Shiba Ttusuya is the main character in “The Irregular Magic High School.” The name comes from the kanji characters for “master” and “dragon.”
- Cygnus – Cygnus Hyoga is the main character in the manga series “Saint Seiya.” He is a kind and righteous protagonist. Cygnus means “swan.”
- Goro – Goro Shigeno is the main character in the series “MAJOR.”
- Rin – Rin Okumura comes from “Ao no Exorcist.”
- Levi – Levi Ackermann, or Captain Levi, is a character from “Attack on Titan.” Levi is a Hebrew name. This character is beloved by many.
- Hachiman – Hachiman Hlklgaya is the high school-aged protagonist from the hit anime series “My Teen Romantic Comedy Snafu.”
- Kakarot – Kakarot is the birthname of Goku, the protagonist of “Dragon Ball.”
- Noburu – Norubu is the name of a human puppet who has seven weapons inside his body.
- Natsu -Natsu is the main protagonist of “Fairy Tail.”
- Michio – Michio means “man with the strength of 3,000.” He is a character from “Slave Harem.”
- Issei – This name comes from the Japanese elements for “star” and “clear.” Issei Hyoudou is a character from High School DxD.”
- Rin – This gender-neutral Japanese name means “cold” or “dignified.” Rin Okumura is a character from Ao no Exorcist.”
- Eiichiro – Eiichiro Odo is the creator of “One Piece.” His name means “honored first-born son.” It’s a moniker that sticks with Japanese birth order naming traditions.
- Osamu – Osamu is the imperfect hero from “Bungou Stray Dogs.”
- Klein – Klein, or Tsuboi Ryoutaroum, is a character from “Sword Art Online.”
- Ash – Ash Ketchum (Satoshi) is the main character in “Pokemon.” He is often trailed by Pikachu.
- Naoki – Naoki Urasawa is a Japanese manga artist. This common given name means “honest.”
- Takashi – Takashi is a common Japanese name. It means “honorable” or “ambitious.” Takashi Komuro is a character from “Highschool of the Dead.”
- Solf – Solf J. Kimblee is the Crimson Lotus Alchemist.
- Roy – Roy Mustang, or the Flame Alchemist. is a character from “Fullmetal Alchemist.”
- Raiden – This is the name of the protagonist of Konami’s “Metal Gear.” This Japanese name means “thunder and lightning.”
- Dai – Dai is a character from “Dragon Quest.” The name means “to shine.”
- Noburu – Noburu Takagmai is a well-loved anime character. Noburu means “to shine, ascend.”
- Subaru – Did you know that Subaru is the name of a cluster of stars? This is also the given name of a character in “Case Closed.” Not to mention, it is the name of a well-known Japanese automobile brand.
- Spike – This rough name comes from “Cowboy Bebop. Spike Spiegel is a member of the Red Dragon Crime Syndicate.
- Kai – In “Beastars,” Kai is just a minor character. This name is Hawaiian for “sea.”
- Eugeo – Eugeo means “good boy” in Japanese.Ru He is a blonde, blue-eyed character from “Alicization Arc.”
- Yuuto – Yuuto means “leisurely, fly” in Japanese. Yuuto Kiba is a character from “High School DxD.”
- Walkappa – This “Yo-Kai” name means “wild kappa.”
- Ryuu – Ryuu is a masculine Japanese name. It means “dragon.”
- Zapano – This name comes from the Slavis word for “chief.” Zapano is a fictional character from “Fullmetal Alchemist.”
