In all the world of manga, there exist character names that are universal to a specific manga - meaning that most people who have read a reasonable amount of manga could identify a manga by a single first or last name.

I know everyone could list off specific characters from their favorite (possibly obscure) manga, but what do you believe are some names (first OR last, but not both) that are universally known or iconic. Try to limit any secondary characters because that could go on forever.

btw, I thought about this after seeing posts where people throw around names as if it is universally accepted that everyone knows the manga you're talking about by a single name.

Anyway, the obvious ones are:

Ichigo - Bleach
Naruto - Naruto (duh)
Sasuke - Naruto
Luffy - One Piece
Goku - Dragonball Z
Gohan - Dragonball Z

Rai (Cadis Etrama Di Raizel) from Noblesse

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I disagree with this, manhwa is pretty niche IMO.

The thread starter said the names which are unique when you have read a considerable amount of mangas. I believe maximum of us have read some manhwas if we had already read mangas...and well, Rai is a unique and famous character in the manga universe. You can't just judge anything from the place where it belong.

His name is unique as well and not like other manhwa character names.

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My bad, I meant the manhwa is niche IMO or at the very least not universally renowned compared to OP's example. Even to my group of friend into manga. Maybe it's to do with the fact that's it was a webcomic.

Just because the name's unique doesn't mean it's easy to identify if people don't know where it came from.

Maybe Lelouch? His name is pretty damn unique haha. Even though I've never watched Code Geasse nor read it, I know his name. First thing that popped up in my mind.

Elric

From personal experiences, Rena Ryuuguu, Shizuo Heiwajima and Kyuubey. People sometimes mistakes the last one for the 9 tail fox version though. Most people who do recognize it just ask for contracts though.

Gats from Berserk

I would suggest L or Light even if you haven't read or watched the series. It would be an interesting test if we only wrote the names and not the series so you could see how many people had actually heard of them. I haven't heard of Rena Ryuugu, Kyuubey or Rai, personally.

Syaoran
You can guess it

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This World May Not What Everyone Thought

Well, I think almost everyone from the anime/manga comunity have heard of Tsundere Lousie from Zero no Tsukaima. Natsu and lucy from Fairy tail, Dalian from Dantalian no shoka. And you have alice from Pandora Hearts.

Yotsuba from Yotsubato
Conan from Case Closed.... I think

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Kaiser de Emperana Beelzebub IV this name sure is unique from beelzebub

Good ones so far. Again, the need of full names makes them much less iconic. But I totally agree with:

Natsu - Fairy Tail
Elric - Full Metal Alchemist
Lelouch - Code Geass
L - Death Note
Louise - Zero no Tsukaima
Conan - Case Closed
Gats - Berserk (although it's hard to tell it's popularity and the age affects it as well)

I thought of a couple that I could use some feedback on. What do you all think?

Taiga - Toradora
Shana - Shankugan no Shana

It hard because there are certain characters I know and am a familiar with, but that's not to say most people know them. Personal bias and all.


Last edited by 7godeohs at 6:50 am, Feb 14 2013