Names from the Arts and Pop Culture
Anime Names
Across 14 pages
of 14
Panda
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…
Raye
Variation of Rae, English
"ewe"
Like many single-syllable R names right now, Raye is on the rise.
Rei
Japanese
"bell or beautiful"
A sweet and simple Japanese name with several possible meanings, depending on the kanji characters used.
Reika
Japanese
"beautiful flower"
Lovely Japanese choice that would translate well cross-culturally.
Reiko
Japanese
"pretty child"
Dainty and doll-like.
Renji
Japanese
"second love"
Now that Kenji is rising up the ranks, it's only a matter of time before parents discover Renji. Renji Abarai is a character in the anime series Bleach , in which the kanji used for his name mean…
Rika
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…
Rin
Japanese, Korean
"dignified, severe; jade, clear"
A very popular name for girls in Japan, though it is a unisex choice. It can mean "severe, cold", but also "dignified", "ethics" and "phosphorus", depending on the kanji used. It is notably used for…
Rini
Japanese
"little bunny"
Cute Japanese name with a nickname to match. Rini was used in the Sailor Moon series.
Rock
Word name or diminutive of Rocco
"rock or rest"
Rock definitely has a macho image, if a somewhat caricatured one, ala The Rock. But with the rise of word names and also of tough guy names, Rock feels more plausible than it did a generation ago.
Roronoa
Japanese variation of l'Ollonais, French surname
"from Les Sables-d'Olonne"
Roronoa was created for the pirate-themed anime series One Piece . Roronoa is the Japanese pronunciation of l'Ollonais, the name of notable pirate Francois l'Ollonais. The historical pirate was born…
Rumi
Japanese
"beauty, flow, lapis lazuli"
Rumi is a Japanese girl name, with a sweet yet substantial sound. Reminiscent of other popular choices in the West — think Ruby, Remy, and Romy — it is currently achieving more notice thanks to…
Ryoichi
Japanese, meaning unknown
Common Japanese male name in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Ryuko
Japanese
"dragon child"
Strong Japanese unisex choice. Dragons are a symbol of power in Japan.
Ryuu
Japanese
"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.
Sachiko
Japanese
"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…
Sai
Hindi or Japanese
"holy or difference"
Sai is a name used in India to honor Shirdi Sai Baba, a spiritual master revered by both Hindus and Muslims. As a Japanese name, it's featured in the Naruto universe, now given to dozens of baby boys…
Sailor
Occupational name
Supermodel Christie Brinkley launched an entire name genre when she picked this breezy occupational name for her daughter in 1998, and it has become more prevalent in recent decades. The Saylor…
Saki
Japanese
"hope blossom"
Common botanical choice in Japan.
Sakura
Japanese
"cherry blossom"
Lovely Japanese name that would certainly be appreciated in Europe and the U.S. It was rarely used in Japan until the 1990s, and draws its current popularity from the fact that it is deeply connected…