Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 14 pages
of 14
Japanese
"discipline; logic; reign"
Historically common Japanese name associated with animator Osamu Tezuka, considered "The Godfather of Manga."
Animal name
"bamboo eater"
With Bear and Fox becoming hot baby names, why not Panda? Why not indeed. Both the name and its animal namesake are adorable. And Pan is a nickname right in line with the mythological name trend. The…
"pretty child"
Dainty and doll-like.
Japanese, or diminutive of names that end in -rika
"beautiful village; peaceful ruler; estate ruler"
Rika is most common as a Japanese name, when it means "beautiful village" in one kanji combination. It is also seen as a nickname and given name in Scandinavia, Lithuania, and the Netherlands, where…
"little bunny"
Cute Japanese name with a nickname to match. Rini was used in the Sailor Moon series.
Japanese, meaning unknown
Common Japanese male name in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
"dragon child"
Strong Japanese unisex choice. Dragons are a symbol of power in Japan.
"dragon"
An auspicious choice connected to dragons. English speakers will have difficulty pronouncing this name in Japanese — it's all one syllable, with barely any emphasis on the R sound.
"child of joy"
Sachiko was one of the first Japanese names familiar to Americans when it was used in the 1950s by actress Shirley Maclaine for her daughter, called the adorable short form Sachi. While Sachiko does…
"hope blossom"
Common botanical choice in Japan.
"salad"
Sarada is the Japanese word for "salad," and thus, is not a given name in Japan. It was used for the Naruto character Sarada Uchiha. According to Tumblr user @ruineko, "When you say her full name,…
"scorpion"
The only bearers of this name are fictional, such as the Naruto character Sasori of the Red Sand.
"murder"
Borne by various anime villains thanks to its dark meaning.
"a moment, an instant"
Setsuna was derived from a Buddhist term meaning "split second," originally the Sanskrit word ksana . It is more popular among fictional characters than real babies.
Chinese
"season; honest; history; stone"
Take your pick of pleasant meanings, depending on the character used.
"deer holder"
Rare name from the Naruto series. Shikadai shares a name prefix with his father, Shikamaru.
"as a deer"
Shikamaru Nara is one of the most popular characters from Naruto , although this has not translated to any American or many Japanese babies being given the name.
"true, extend, heart, humility"
Common name among Japanese men that can be written with a variety of kanji, giving it different meanings.
