Are the character names in most Anime real Japanese names or just made up?
from FenrirIII@lemmy.world to nostupidquestions@lemmy.world on 02 Oct 15:27
https://lemmy.world/post/36785247

#nostupidquestions

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neidu3@sh.itjust.works on 02 Oct 15:57 next collapse

At least some are real and common. I doubt this is true across the board, though.

Steve@communick.news on 02 Oct 16:10 next collapse

I’m compelled to point out, all names are just made up.

FenrirIII@lemmy.world on 02 Oct 18:13 next collapse

In your own words

ThunderQueen@lemmy.world on 03 Oct 02:02 collapse

Just make sure you dont quote that or youre using his words lol

madcaesar@lemmy.world on 04 Oct 19:46 collapse

YOU’RE MADE UP

Steve@communick.news on 04 Oct 20:24 collapse

BY YOU!

madcaesar@lemmy.world on 04 Oct 21:32 collapse

DON’T CALL ME YOU, BUD!

Steve@communick.news on 05 Oct 00:07 collapse

YOU DIDN’T NAME ME BUD!

A_norny_mousse@feddit.org on 02 Oct 16:41 next collapse

I know a Japanese one where all names - even the title - are German dictionary words.

Trail@lemmy.world on 02 Oct 18:24 next collapse

I know of another where the names are hard rock and metal bands like ACDC.

JGrffn@lemmy.world on 04 Oct 01:50 collapse

Or tarot cards like ZA WARUDO

GandalftheBlack@feddit.org on 03 Oct 10:11 next collapse

おはよう、クランケンバーゲンさん！

GandalftheBlack@feddit.org on 03 Oct 10:23 collapse

アウフェントハルツエルラウブニスさんはどこですか？

A_norny_mousse@feddit.org on 03 Oct 11:27 collapse

Good morning, Klanken Bargen
Where is Aufentharzer Laubnis?

Even allowing for translating from Japanese script, these are not German dictionary words.

GandalftheBlack@feddit.org on 03 Oct 12:21 collapse

Krankenwagen and Aufenthaltserlaubnis

A_norny_mousse@feddit.org on 03 Oct 13:11 collapse

Oh, I get it now.

mapleseedfall@lemmy.world on 03 Oct 12:48 collapse

Okay spill the bean. What is it?

edit: I got it. Its frieren

remon@ani.social on 02 Oct 16:42 next collapse

Half of them a German words …

Siegfried@lemmy.world on 02 Oct 22:34 collapse

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 on 02 Oct 22:46 collapse

It’s not literally half, but it’s quite common. Frieren is an extreme example :)

Uruanna@lemmy.world on 03 Oct 13:29 collapse

99.9% of anime is slice of life in real Japan with mostly real or real-ish names, what are you talking about

PlzGivHugs@sh.itjust.works on 02 Oct 17:07 next collapse

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 use names that are over-the-top (I.E. Marty McFly), while others are loosely based on other languages or completely made up.

Lumidaub@feddit.org on 02 Oct 17:13 next collapse

Depends on the setting, as it does in media from every country.

HubertManne@piefed.social on 02 Oct 17:53 next collapse

I always wonder about this and whole this is how its spelled thing.

FenrirIII@lemmy.world on 02 Oct 18:12 collapse

Right? Watching My Hero Academia and the names are all bonkers

neatchee@lemmy.world on 02 Oct 21:07 collapse

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”)
  • Stuff that’s meant to remind you of something related to the character (“Otto Octavius”)
  • Whatever the author felt sounded cool (“Ronan Dex”)
andros_rex@lemmy.world on 03 Oct 09:44 collapse

“Ledasha” is an urban legend. (with a nasty snack of racism)

neatchee@lemmy.world on 03 Oct 19:16 collapse

Oof. Well called out. I feel terrible. Removing

mugita_sokiovt@discuss.online on 03 Oct 00:19 next collapse

Usually made up, German, or real names that have meaning depending on the context from my experience as an otaku.

DebatableRaccoon@lemmy.ca on 03 Oct 05:18 next collapse

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 on 03 Oct 12:41 collapse

The fantasy ones get weird sometimes. In Overlord there’s a guy named Brain.

remon@ani.social on 03 Oct 12:41 collapse

gate.fandom.com/wiki/Piña_Co_Lada

DebatableRaccoon@lemmy.ca on 03 Oct 13:49 collapse

Then there are the ones where the writer thinks they’re funny…

Fyrnyx@kbin.melroy.org on 03 Oct 13:30 collapse

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.