Anime Dog Names

Hanabi is the Japanese word for fireworks and is rarely given as a name to babies. The most famous Hanabi is Koko the Gorilla — "birth" name Hanabi-ko, or "fireworks child." Koko, known for her use of "Gorilla Sign Language," was born at the San Francisco Zoo on the 4th of July, hence the meaning of her name.

This female form of Tristan was featured on the reality-television show The Bachelorette, and has been rocketing up the charts as a new millennium Trisha.

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.

Appropriately used for anime antagonists, not human babies.

A multicultural unisex choice that peaked for girls at the same time as Amy. Ami is also the French word for "friend."

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.

Despite being etymologically unrelated, Aimi has a similar meaning to the name Amy, "beloved."

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 female name, it references strawberries.

Popular name in Japan in its own right, but also as a nickname for Miyako or Makiko.

Several artistic Hiroshis make this one of the more plausible Japanese imports.

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.

The Japanese equivalent of Violet, common among Millennial and Gen Z Japanese women.

A variation of Lileas and Lilian.

Unfamiliar Asian choice that can work for a parent in search of something really different.

A Leave It to Beaver/old comic-strip name, vacationing for years with the Griswolds in WallyWorld, but now back as WALL-E?

Protagonist of the manga and anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. The kanji used to spell his name give it the meaning of "coal + calm son," which describe his former profession as a coal worker.

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."

A popular choice right now in Japan, where it recently ranked in the Top 10.

Popular Japanese name exemplified by the distinguished conductor Seiji Ozawa.

A shimmering day name, with a bit of hippie residue.