Meaningful Name/Anime and Manga: Difference between revisions

** Sarutobi Hideyoshi is nicknamed Saru which is Japanese for monkey. The dub keeps this intact by calling him Chimp. In addition, his name also refrences Sarutobi Sasuke a ninja and Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

** [[Hot Chick With a Sword|Akeno]] [[Action Girl|Shiranui]] has ties to the Shiranui Sea.

** Sun's bodyguard Maki and her sister Fuki who appears later in the manga both have refrences in their names as well. Maki is known as Spiral Shell Maki and the word Uzumaki is Japanese for whirlpool. Fuki uses a fuki leaf as her weapon of choice.

* [[Love Martyr]] Electra from ''[[Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water]]'', whose namesake from both Greek myth and Freudian theory sums up her backstory.

** And, as indicated by [[Awesome Music (Anime)|his fight song]], Ichi also means "[[To Be a Master|Number One]]". Further, "Ichi'''gou'''", which sounds similar to yet is inherently different from "Ichi'''go'''", means "number one".

** Ichi Go is also 1-5 in Japanese. He starts the series as 15 years old and his birthday is on the 15th of July. 15 is his favorite number, gracing his room, his clothes and such. Similar to Hikaru of ''[[Hikaru no Go]]'', who wears 5.

** This is all played with in chapter 5's [http://www.mangareader.net/94-12-2/bleach/chapter-5.html cover] where the characters are given alternate names based on the meaning: Ichigo is '''Jetscape 15''' (Jet=Black=Kuro, Cape=Saki, 15=Ichi-go), Orihime is '''Vega Highwell''' (Vega=Star referenced in the Tanabata myth=Orihime "weaving princess", High+well=Inoue) and Rukia is '''Rukia Rotwood''' (Rot=Kuchi, wood=ki, with Rukia spelled in Katakana, any meanings attributed to it are coincidence).

** Both of the characters with white hair, Toshiro Hitsugaya and Jushiro Ukitake, have the word "shiro" (white) in their names.

** Manabu Yukimitsu's first name means "study" (since that's what his [[Education Mama|mother]] made him do since grade school).

** Tetsuo Ishimaru's last name means "stone circle" or "great stone", possibly a reference to his stoic yet easygoing personality... and possibly the bland forgettableness that's become a running gag about him.

** Joe Tetsuma, the powerhouse wide receiver for the Seibu Wild Gunmen who plows through the defense like a train and runs on his pass routes as if he were on tracks, has a last name that means "iron horse".

** Ohira and Onishi Hiroshi, the linemen for the Kyoshin Poseidons, have names that mean "Pacific Ocean" and "Atlantic Ocean", respectively. The Poseidons also have Kengo Mizumachi, whose name means "strong waiting time in the water" (since he used to be on Kyoshin's swim team). Also Osamu Kobanzame; Osamu means "ruler" (he's the quarterback and technically the team captain, indecisive but respected by everyone) but Kobanzame means "remora", as in the fish that attaches itself to larger fish and eats what the bigger fish doesn't. Subverted a little since [http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/Descript/LiveSharksucker/LiveSharksucker.html actual remora can be useful for fishing, as this page shows.]

** Kotaro Sasaki is the rival of Gen "Musashi" Takekura, just as Kojiro Sasaki was the rival of [[Miyamoto Musashi]]

** Kiminari Harao's name is the Japanese pronunciation of "pharaoh", referring to both the fact that he rules his school like a king (even having his own harem) and that he's the leader of his team.

** "Buffalo" Ujishima's real given name is "Baharou", which is the Japanese pronunciation of "Buffalo".

* ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh]]'' is notorious for giving its one-off and non-friendly recurring characters names that [[Anvilicious|Anviliciously]] reflect the type of deck they play. Its sequel, ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh GX]]'', has all but weaned itself off of this trope, but it still pops up sometimes (most notably with the Pro Duelists that show up in the second half of Season 2).

** The protagonist Yugi's name means game, and "Yu-Gi-Oh" means King of Games. Appropriate thing to shout (and to name the series with) when summoning the spirit of the greatest Card Gamer in history.

** GX's Jaden '''Yu'''ki and 5D's' '''Yu'''sei Fudo have the same character in their names as '''Yu'''gi - the one meaning "play." This is probably on purpose to keep with the series name relevant.

** In ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh 5 Ds|5D's]]'' itself, Yusei's name comes from the "planetary particle" (Yusei Ryushi) that his father discovered. Like the particle, which bound every other particle together, Professor Fudo wished his son to be someone who could connect people through bonds - which is exactly what he grew up to be. Additionally, the 'Sei' part of Yusei's name means 'star', which perfectly fits one of his titles as 'The Shooting Star of Satellite' and his ace monster 'Stardust Dragon'. His last name 'Fudo' can be translated as 'Not moving', or context-wise, 'Indomitable'. The literal sense is ironic given he duels on top of moving motorcycles.

** Seto Kaiba's name is full of them. The characters of his last name translate to 'Sea Horse', and then take into account an old Japanese myth that says a sea horse will turn into a dragon if it lives for 100 years. His first name is the name of the Egyptian God 'Set' said in Japanese phonetics (i.e. with a vowel at the end, usually 'o').

** Like his brother, the 'ba' part of Mokuba means 'horse' as well, and 'Moku' means wood, like the trademark rocking horse that young kids have played with at some point. It could also be for the Trojan Horse, since Mokuba is the storage keeper for all of their company's secrets...hmm, maybe THAT'S why he's constantly kidnapped???

** All the Ayakashi Sisters and Witches 5 are named after minerals (including Koan; ''kōan'' is the Japanese name of kermesite, and in this case has nothing to do with Zen).

** CereCere, VesVes, PallaPalla and JunJun are named after Ceres, Vesta, Pallas and Juno, names of Roman goddesses and asteroids. {{spoiler|which is fitting as they become Sailors Ceres, Vesta, Pallas and Juno later on}}

** Endymion was a character from Greek mythology who was in love with Seléne, the Greek goddess of the moon and Serenity's pre-incarnation.

** Artemis was a Greek goddess who was identified with Seléne - the Roman equivalent of Seléne was Luna. Diana, their daughter, was another Roman goddess of the moon, who was the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Artemis.

*** Sailor Uranus, Soldier of the sky. Ouranos/Uranos/Uranus was the sky itself (including space) in Greek myth and the first husband of the earth.

*** Sailor Neptune, Soldier of the sea. Neptune/Poseidon, Roman/Greek god whose domain is the ocean.

* A lot of names in ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho (Manga)|Yu Yu Hakusho]]'' are of this type. "Yuusuke" means "ghost helper;" "Urameshi" is what Japanese ghosts who are haunting a house wail; "Kuwabara kuwabara" is a charm against <s>ghosts</s> lightning (Kuwabara himself actually chants this at one point); "Kurama" and "Hiei" are Japanese mountains said to be sites of high demon activity, though the kanji used are different (Hiei's mean "flying shadow" for a double whammy); Ice Maiden Yukina's name means "snow flower," while the "Hi" in "Hiei" sounds like a word for fire (bringing him to triple); "Yukimura Keiko" means "snow village firefly child," and refers to a Chinese folk tale about a poor child who studied diligently by the light of fireflies reflected in the snow; all of the [[Grim Reaper|ferry girls]] [[Theme Naming|have names associated with flowers and plants]] ("Botan"=peony; "Ayame"=iris; "Hinageshi"="poppy"). This plant naming even goes for Sensui (whose name is a [[Japanese Language|kanji anagram]] of "suisen", "daffodil") and Itsuki ("flowering tree"), perhaps to note the severity of their [[Face Heel Turn]].

** Head's up on that: ''None of them are spelled that way.'' Except Keiko and (sort of) Yukina's given names. And Kuwabara, straightforward mulberry-field it is. 'Urameshi Yusuke' is a made-up name, although the auditory pun is perfectly real.

** Kurama's is for some reason written 'have-horse.' He does not appear to ever have had a horse or any interest in doing so, rendering it an anti-meaningful name. 'Minamino Shuichi' is written with characters that can be read half a dozen other ways for equally common names. (These include 'Akeno Suiro' and 'Nouchi Hidekatsu.')

** Sensui Shinobu's given name is written with the same kanji for 'hide, conceal' used in the synonymous words 'shinobi no mono' and 'ninja.'

* The names Kyou and Asu of the sisters in ''[[Binbou Shimai Monogatari]]'' mean "today" and "tomorrow", respectively. It signifies the moments one should concentrate on in life and also gets mention in the [http://youtube.com/watch?v=AtLyg7I0Ops opening theme].

* The Keronians in ''[[Keroro Gunsou]]'' all have meaningful names:

** "How to Read 13" notes that Near's real name, "Nate River", is supposed to symbolize that his talents flow from L, therefore he is L's ''natural'' successor.

** Mikami Teru's given name means "shining". He's got the -kami going on in his surname, too -- though it doesn't mean "god". Just another example of [[Psycho Supporter|Teru being Light in microcosm, over a shorter arc]].

** L's full name, L Lawliet, can be pronounced either law-lee-it or law-light, as in how he attempted to bring the law unto Light Yagami.

*** I believe it was originally written in Japanese as "Roraito", indicating the latter.

*** It also subtly lampshades that he and Light are [[Not So Different]].

* ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]] A's'':

** The [[Big Bad]] and [[Mad Scientist]] Jail Scaglietti. Naturally, he was eventually defeated and imprisoned.

** Fate Testarossa wins by having been named after the project that created her in the first place. That, and being an expendable clone designed for the singular purpose of reviving your original without even being aware of it.

* ''[[Tsukihime (Visual Novel)|Tsukihime]]'''s badass Tohno Shiki becomes the [[Future Badass]] Satsujinki, whose [[Evil Eye|mystic eyes]] have gone out of control, forcing him to cover them with bandages, and past physical limitations surpassed. Satsujinki means something around "bloodthirsty murderer" (quite ironic considering his personality, but somehow fitting) except it has part of his name replacing the kanji, making it roughly equivalent to "Shikiller." Fans prefer "Satsujinki."

* ''[[Ichigo Mashimaro]]'': Chika's name is said in the manga to mean "a thousand good things" or "honorable mention" or even "the sound a light switch makes", but another couple of more fitting meanings is "wisdom" or "intelligence". She's certainly one of the more studious and sensible of the group, and less likely to fall for Miu's claims than, say, Matsuri. Speaking of Miu, the manga says her name means "beautiful wings", but another meaning is "beautiful feather"... which is interesting considering that the example she gives of something that makes her happy is "making Chika collapse from laughter."

** Further, the kanji used for ''sakaki'' combines "tree" and "god", and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakaki#Uses is often used for religious purposes in Shinto]. Her "rival", Kagura? "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kagura Sacred dance]" - a type of dance used in Shinto ceremonies. Especially appropriate given that Sakaki is passive, while Kagura is active.

* ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'':

* In the series ''[[To Aru Majutsu no Index (Anime)|To Aru Majutsu no Index]]'' the main character, Kamijou Touma, is a major user of this trope. His last name Kamijou has three significant meanings. It is mainly translated to "La Persona Superiore a Dio" in Italian, meaning "The One Who is Superior to God", another translation is "The One who Cleanses God and Purifies the Devil", many characters take these meanings literally because his [[Power Nullifier|Imagine Breaker]] negates everything his right hand touches. The significance of the right arm is the fact that "God's Right Seat" is considered a position higher than God himself. The third translation is taken quite literally, it can also be translated to {{spoiler|"The Invisible Demon"}}, alluding to {{spoiler|the demonic-looking entity being restrained by Imagine Breaker inside Touma's body, with said entity manifesting every time Touma's right arm is cut off}}.

** The [[Cutesy Dwarf]] teacher Komoe-sensei is another example, in that 'ko' means 'small' and [[Moe]]...

* ''[[Husky and Medley (Manga)|Husky and Medley]]'': Both of the main characters' "names" are chosen by the 2ch anons following the story, mostly for ease of reference. "Medley" likely refers to the fact that the text messages she sends to Husky are often randomly selected from among the anons' suggestions, making her part of the conversation a medley of various forum users.

* Chifusa from ''[[Manyu Hikencho]]'' is notable for having a name one accent away from "Chibusa" ([[Gag Boobs|udders]]).

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[[Category:Meaningful Name]]