Some are real, many are exaggerated or fantastical. It varies a lot. If you think of western shows, some use realistic names, esspecially in a more grounded setting, but most cartoons or more fantastical works will either use names that are over-the-top (I.E. Marty McFly), while others are loosely based on other languages or completely made up.
Are the character names in most Anime real Japanese names or just made up?
Submitted 10 months ago by FenrirIII@lemmy.world to [deleted]
Comments
PlzGivHugs@sh.itjust.works 10 months ago
A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 10 months ago
I know one where all names - even the title - are German dictionary words.
Trail@lemmy.world 10 months ago
I know of another where the names are hard rock and metal bands like ACDC.
JGrffn@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Or tarot cards like ZA WARUDO
mapleseedfall@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Okay spill the bean. What is it?
DebatableRaccoon@lemmy.ca 10 months ago
Slice of life mostly has real names or spins on real names. Fantasy has fantasical names or ones the author thought sounded fantastical. Then lots of in-between.
ArchmageAzor@lemmy.world 10 months ago
The fantasy ones get weird sometimes. In Overlord there’s a guy named Brain.
remon@ani.social 10 months ago
Half of them a German names …
Siegfried@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Idk if half but I’m currently watching frieren in german and it’s kind of funny that practically all names are German words. They probably sound ultra cool to the Japanese
remon@ani.social 10 months ago
It’s not literally half, but it’s quite common. Frieren is an extreme example :)
Fyrnyx@kbin.melroy.org 10 months ago
Copied from Google; Many anime character names are real Japanese names with traditional meanings, such as
Sakura (cherry blossom), Naruto (maelstrom), Sora (sky), Akari (light), and Haruki (spring tree). Other anime names, like Goku, Yagami, Sasuke, and Kakashi, also have real Japanese origins and meanings, though some may be less common or more metaphorical.neidu3@sh.itjust.works 10 months ago
At least some are real and common. I doubt this is true across the board, though.
HubertManne@piefed.social 10 months ago
I always wonder about this and whole this is how its spelled thing.
FenrirIII@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Right? Watching My Hero Academia and the names are all bonkers
neatchee@lemmy.world 10 months ago
If you’re talking about something like MHA those are largely made up with some influence from real naming patterns.
For what it’s worth a quick Google search will usually tell you the answer for any particular name. Just like with English, there’s a combination of:
- Names that are also real words still in use (“Sakura” or “Rose”)
- Names that are based on former vocations (“Goldstein” or “Smith”)
- Completely made up crazy shit (“L-a” pronounced “ladasha” and I wish I were making that up)
- Stuff that’s meant to remind you of something related to the character (“Otto Octavius”)
- Whatever the author felt sounded cool (“Ronan Dex”)
Lumidaub@feddit.org 10 months ago
Depends on the setting, as it does in media from every country.
mugita_sokiovt@discuss.online 10 months ago
Usually made up, German, or real names that have meaning depending on the context from my experience as an otaku.
Steve@communick.news 10 months ago
I’m compelled to point out, all names are made up.
FenrirIII@lemmy.world 10 months ago
In your own words
ThunderQueen@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Just make sure you dont quote that or youre using his words lol
madcaesar@lemmy.world 10 months ago
YOU’RE MADE UP
Steve@communick.news 10 months ago
BY YOU!