Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
Anime Names
Across 14 pages
of 14
Ami
Japanese, Sanskrit, or variation of Amy
"second beauty; second ocean; second truth; nectar; beloved"
A multicultural unisex choice that peaked for girls at the same time as Amy. Ami is also the French word for "friend."
Ayumu
Japanese
Best known as the name of a chimpanzee living in the Primate Research Institute at Kyoto University.
Delta
Greek
"fourth letter; island formed at the mouth of a river"
Delta is an unusual vintage option, blending the sounds of Della and Etta. The fourth letter of the Greek alphabet and a geographical term, used to describe an island formed at the mouth of a river,…
Ayako
Japanese
"color + child; peaceful night child; writings + child"
Ayako is a very common feminine name in Japan, where it is the name of Princess Ayako of Takamado (now Ayako Moriya), formerly of the Imperial House of Japan.
Akari
Japanese
"light; vermilion"
Akari is a gender-neutral Japanese name used fairly evenly between the sexes in the US. There are several well-known female singers and actors named Akira in Japan, and Akira Watanabe is a popular…
Aina
Scandinavian and Finnish variation of Aino, Catalan variation of Anna, Japanese, Latvian, Kazakh, Yoruba
"always; grace; lover of green; sight; mirror; delivery had complications [umbilical cord twisted around neck]"
A bright-sounding name with multicultural appeal, used regularly as a first name in Japan, Scandinavia, Latvia, and Spain. The Yoruba name Aina, pronounced ah-ee-NAH, is traditionally used for baby…
Deidara
Japanese
"mud"
Naruto character with an appropriate name meaning — Deidara was known for his clay sculptures, and his name means "mud."
Denki
Japanese
"electricity"
Electrifying Japanese name.
Dawn
English word name
"dawn, sunrise"
Associated with the first light of the day, and more figuratively with new beginnings and fresh starts, Dawn's heyday came in the 1960s and 70s in the US, Canada and the UK. It had been in the charts…
Drasna
Invented name
"dragon"
The name Drasna was created for a Pokémon character. Her name was derived from the Latin botanical name dracaena , which in turn is from drakōn , the Greek word for "dragon." Fittingly, Drasna used…
Darien
Spelling variation of Darian
"rich, kingly"
The Darien spelling, which relates to the posh Connecticut town, peaked at Number 393 in 1994 but more recently has been just hanging on at the bottom of the Top 1000. Still, a name with an appealing…
Endymion
Greek
"dive into, enter"
The name of a mythically handsome youth – loved by Selene, the moon, who bore him fifty daughters. If you're looking for a mythological name for your son, this might make an excellent choice both…
Daisuke
Japanese
"great help"
A relatively popular Japanese name with cool nickname potential and a vibrant sound.
Eri
Japanese
"loving reason; blessing + reason; hometown blessing; picture + pear"
Short and sweet Eri is a common female name in Japan that could cross cultures quite easily.
Erwin
German
"respected friend"
One of the many names with a strong "er" sound, like Bertram and Ernest, that was huge in the 1920s and is languishing in style limbo now. One famous bearer is the physicist Erwin Schrödinger, as in…
Asuma
Japanese
"tomorrow truth"
This name can have many different meanings depending the kanji used to write it. The Naruto character Asuma Sarutobi writes his name with kanji meaning "tomorrow truth."
Dai
Japanese
"to shine"
Pronunciation would not be obvious to Americans.
Flannery
Irish
"descendant of Flannghal"
Long before the vogue of using Irish surnames for girls, writer Flannery O'Connor gave this one some visibility. It has a warm (flannelly) feel and the currently popular three-syllable ee-ending…
Clemont
Variation of Clement, Latin
"mild, merciful"
This practically unique variation of Clement has appeared on the charts four times: 1917, 1918, 1920, and 1971. Each year, it was only given to five baby boys.
Astro
Greek
"star"
More common as a dog name than a baby name for now, but that hasn't stopped Milo and Rex rising back up the charts! Lovers of edgy o-ending names like Otto, Arlo and Cosmo might like this starry-eyed…