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 1 month ago by FenrirIII@lemmy.world to [deleted]
Comments
PlzGivHugs@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 1 month ago
I know one where all names - even the title - are German dictionary words.
Trail@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I know of another where the names are hard rock and metal bands like ACDC.
JGrffn@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Or tarot cards like ZA WARUDO
mapleseedfall@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Okay spill the bean. What is it?
DebatableRaccoon@lemmy.ca 1 month 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 1 month ago
The fantasy ones get weird sometimes. In Overlord there’s a guy named Brain.
remon@ani.social 1 month ago
Half of them a German names …
Siegfried@lemmy.world 1 month 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 1 month ago
It’s not literally half, but it’s quite common. Frieren is an extreme example :)
Fyrnyx@kbin.melroy.org 1 month 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 1 month ago
At least some are real and common. I doubt this is true across the board, though.
HubertManne@piefed.social 1 month ago
I always wonder about this and whole this is how its spelled thing.
FenrirIII@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Right? Watching My Hero Academia and the names are all bonkers
neatchee@lemmy.world 1 month 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 1 month ago
Depends on the setting, as it does in media from every country.
mugita_sokiovt@discuss.online 1 month ago
Usually made up, German, or real names that have meaning depending on the context from my experience as an otaku.
Steve@communick.news 1 month ago
I’m compelled to point out, all names are made up.
FenrirIII@lemmy.world 1 month ago
In your own words
ThunderQueen@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Just make sure you dont quote that or youre using his words lol
madcaesar@lemmy.world 1 month ago
YOU’RE MADE UP
Steve@communick.news 1 month ago
BY YOU!