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Anime and Manga Names

Aurra
By Aurra
Updated Sat May 20 2023
Many jewels that could be worthy of a name of a Western baby can be found within the pages or episodes of Japanese manga and anime series. Here are a few worth considering. Many Western names often are used in manga/anime, and often provide great/evil namesakes for children.
  1. Amane

    • Description:

      Amane is a feminine name with Japanese origins, though it can occasionally be used for boys as well. In Japanese, it carries several beautiful meanings depending on the kanji characters used, including 'sound of heaven,' 'heavenly sound,' or 'sound of rain.' The name evokes a sense of natural harmony and celestial connection. Amane remains relatively uncommon outside of Japan but has gained modest international recognition for its melodic quality and exotic appeal. The name's gentle phonetics create a delicate impression while its meaning carries spiritual depth. With its blend of simplicity and profound symbolism, Amane appeals to parents seeking a name with cultural significance and poetic resonance.
  2. Ash

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Asher, English

    • Meaning:

      "ash tree"

    • Description:

      Ash has Southern charm plus the arboreal-nature appeal. Plus your little boy will prize Ash as the name of the hero of the Pokemon cartoons. Ash can also be a dashing short form of Asher, Ashton, or any other "Ash" name.
  3. Elie

    • Description:

      Elie is a versatile name used for both boys and girls, though this entry focuses on its feminine usage. As a female name, it's often a short form of Elizabeth, Eleanor, or Ellen, originating from Hebrew elements meaning "God is my oath." In French contexts, the pronunciation (eh-LEE) gives it a particularly elegant quality. While simple, Elie has a sophisticated charm that works well internationally. The name has gained modest popularity as parents seek shorter, less fussy alternatives to traditional longer names. When used for girls, Elie offers a subtle feminine quality while maintaining a certain strength and simplicity. Its brevity makes it distinctive among more elaborate feminine names while still connecting to traditional naming heritage.

  4. Erza
    • Gray

      • Origin:

        Color name, also diminutive of Grayson

      • Description:

        The girls have Violet and Scarlet and Ruby and Rose, but for the boys there's a much more limited palette of color names. Gray (or Grey), is one exception, which could make for a soft and evocative--if slightly somber-- choice, especially in the middle. Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenney recently named their son Leo Grey.
    • Haru
      • Kira

        • Origin:

          Russian feminine variation of Cyrus

        • Meaning:

          "throne"

        • Description:

          Though such cognates of Kira as Keira, Kyra, and Ciara are increasingly popular throughout Europe and in the U.S., this Cyrus relative has a different root. As with all the many variations of this appealing name, there is often confusion around spelling and pronunciation -- does the first syllable rhyme with ear or eye?
      • Kana
        • Kanade
          • Luna

            • Origin:

              Latin

            • Meaning:

              "moon"

            • Description:

              The name of the Roman goddess of the moon, Luna is derived straight from the Latin word for moon, luna. Luna may be the name most likely to surprise someone from an older generation by its Top 10 status in the US and its widespread international popularity.
          • Mavis

            • Origin:

              French

            • Meaning:

              "songbird"

            • Description:

              Mavis, another word for the song thrush, is also a relative of the Welsh word for strawberries, mefus. Mavis has something of a British World War II feel, a friend of Beryl and Doris, but it was quite popular in the U.S. a couple of decades earlier, peaking in the Roaring Twenties.
          • Misa
            • Natsu
              • Rukia
                • Sakura

                  • Origin:

                    Japanese

                  • Meaning:

                    "cherry blossom"

                  • Description:

                    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 to Japanese traditional culture without sounding frumpy and old-fashioned.
                • Yui

                  • Origin:

                    Japanese

                  • Meaning:

                    "superior garment"

                  • Description:

                    Very popular girls' name in Japan not quite as easy to transport westward as the also-popular Rin.
                • Yuri