Boy Names Lists · Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 7 pages
of 7
Akkadian from Sumerian
"the [kinsman] is a hero"
The Epic of Gilgamesh is an Akkadian poem from Mesopotamia and one of the oldest works of literature that survives today. It follows the story of Gilgamesh, a Sumerian king who journeys to find the…
Japanese
"spring-born boy"
A vintage choice in Japan that is not currently fashionable for babies.
"smooth; sound of the wind; hurricane; sudden sound"
Hayate is most common among Zillennial men in Japan, where it's also the name of a train service. The meaning varies depending on which kanji combination is used, but its association with wind and…
Japanese, meaning unknown
An antagonist in the Naruto series with a nevertheless attractive-sounding name.
"excellent brightness"
Common Japanese male name notably borne by Hideaki Anno, an animator, actor, and director.
"great flying"
A very popular Japanese boys' name whose characters refer to the constellation Ursa Major. Short form Hiro might work better in the West, as may another popular Japanese boys' name, Ren.
"strawberry; one guardian"
Ichigo is a unisex — but primarily male — Japanese name. As a male name, it is typically written in kanji giving it the meaning "one guardian" (which can be interpreted to mean "best guardian"). As a…
"boar person"
This name was created for the character Inojin Yamanaka from Naruto . It is close in sound to the English girl names Imogen and Innogen.
"brave or gallant"
This charming Japanese name, with two meanings every little boy would love to have, was briefly in the Canadian Top 100 in the early 20th Century. There are many famous bearers of the name, such as…
Iwabee Yuino is a character in the Naruto series. His name meaning may relate to rocks.
"long exit"
Famously the name of Izuku Midoriya, the protagonist of the popular anime series My Hero Academia . It is not a common name among Japanese boys.
"dimension"
The Naruto character writes his name with kanji that give it the meaning "dimension." Others are possible, including "interval," "manifestation of a celestial being," and "merciful eye."
"whale-shark"
Jinbe, also called Jinbei or Jimbei is a whale-like character in the anime series One Piece . His name comes from the word jinbei-zame , "whale-shark."
Calm and quiet character in Naruto . Jirobo may have a meaning related to monks.
"helmet, armor"
Kabuto is a type of ancient Japanese warrior helmet. It is not a traditional Japanese baby name, rather, Kabuto has been used as a name in anime series including Naruto and Pokemon .
"bishop"
Villain name from Naruto , inspired by the bishop piece in shōgi, a chess-like game.
An archaic Japanese name rarely heard today, except in the Naruto universe.
"victory"
As well as meaning victory, the name Katsu is strongly associated with heroism and masculinity.
Japanese, various meanings
Masculine Japanese name and surname. The anime series My Hero Academia features a character named Katsuki Bakugo, whose given name is written in kanji that mean "to win" and "self."
"fang"
Kiba means "fang" in Japanese, and while not a common name for boys in Japan, it's popped up multiple times for fictional characters. Kiba Inuzuka is a Naruto character with a strong attachment to…
