Female Anime Characters: 20 Most Popular

Most anime series feature male protagonists, but there is absolutely no shortage of phenomenal female anime characters, whether they be leads or supporting characters. You will find strong and independent ladies, stunning and affectionate partners, shy and clumsy high school students, quiet and hardworking young women, intelligent and sarcastic girls, and many more!

These characters have won the hearts of viewers around the globe. But which female anime characters stand out among the rest as truly timeless? We’ve compiled a list of the top 20 female anime characters of all time. You’re sure to recognize some of them. If you find one you don’t recognize, make sure to add their anime to your watchlist ASAP!

#20 Yor Forger

Yor Forger Anime Character — Your Forger

One of the main characters in Spy x Family, Yor Forger is an assassin known as the “Thorn Princess.” She has been doing dark deeds since she was a child in order to raise her brother. Following a few events, Yor ends up in a fake marriage with Loid Forger, an undercover spy. It’s an agreement that benefits both individuals as she becomes the stepmother of his adoptive daughter, Anya.

Yor Forger is loved for her striking beauty and polite demeanor. She appears to be a simple-minded and aloof person, even seeming to be dumb—but her actions reveal otherwise. Her determination to be a good wife and mother is endearing, but don’t forget that she is also an assassin—and a strong and talented one at that. It is no surprise that Yor is one of the most renowned female anime characters.

#19 Anya Forger

Anya Forger, another character from Spy x Family, is a telepath. Seemingly an ordinary orphaned child, she is taken in by Loid Forger as a part of his mission. She is subsequently enrolled in the prestigious Eden Academy—also a part of Loid’s plan.

Anya seems to be a cute, plain, and hyperactive kid. But it is revealed that she is the result of a failed experiment. She is constantly afraid of being found out and losing her newfound family as a result. Her relationships with Loid, Yor, and her schoolmates are all one of a kind. While her delightful playfulness and bizarre antics are appealing, her special abilities are also a huge part of her charm. And it does not hurt that these powers often come in handy when Anya’s family (or others) are in trouble.

#18 Mikasa Ackerman

Mikasa Ackerman, from Attack on Titan, was taken in by the Jaegers when her parents were killed. Caring deeply for her foster family, especially Eren, Mikasa is one of the most loyal characters in the series. Mikasa is one of the greatest assets of the Survey Corps. She’s Extremely strong, determined, and skilled in combat.

Headstrong, courageous, and resilient—as well as blessed with the power of the Ackermans—Mikasa is one of the best fighters in the series. Despite her rather bland and monotone character, fans love how attached she is to her friends, particularly Eren, and her exceptional talent in battle. Her evolution from the little girl who was unable to protect herself from her parents’ murderers to the one-woman army is superb. Her personal journey with Eren, from being extremely loyal to choosing to fight against him, also makes her a fan favorite.

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#17 Sasha Braus

Sasha Braus, a member of the 104^th Training Corps in Attack on Titan, is an amazing soldier who uses the skills she honed hunting for years while living in a forest. Sasha’s passion for food makes her one of the comical characters in Attack on Titan. She helps make this serious anime series a bit lighter.

Forced out of her home, she found a new family with her comrades in the Survey Corps. However, her journey from being a comic relief character to an exceptional soldier makes her one of the most interesting female anime characters.

Initially paralyzed with fear when confronted by a titan, Sasha soon becomes a force to be reckoned with. Furthermore, her character is one of the more human ones—a person who cherishes the simple joys of living and desires to keep her home safe.

#16 Maki Zenin

Maki Zenin, a second-year student at Jujutsu High in Jujutsu Kaisen, is one of the strongest female anime characters in any shonen series. Although she doesn’t possess cursed energy, Maki is determined to show the Zenin Clan that she is an exceptional sorcerer and that their rejection will not put her down, She proves this by holding her own against the strongest curses and successfully fighting against sorcerers with cursed techniques.

Shunned by her own clan who only value people blessed with cursed energy, Maki leaves to show them that she is capable of anything. Enrolling in Jujutsu High under Satoru Gojo, Maki soon masters the art of wielding weapons imbued with cursed energy. With her superhuman strength and outstanding skills, Maki is often compared to Toji Fushiguro. Not recognized in the Jujutsu world, she is without a doubt beloved in the anime fandom.

#15 Nobara Kugisaki

One of the main trio in Jujutsu Kaisen¸ Nobara Kugisaki is without a doubt one of the most popular female anime characters today. Just like other girls, Nobara is fond of dressing up and shopping. She’s determined to enjoy her time in Tokyo city, but she’s also a skilled Jujutsu sorcerer. She is in her first year at Jujutsu High. Although she tries to appear aloof, she actually cares deeply for her comrades and friends.

For the feminists out there, Nobara is a female sorcerer and proud of it. She does not care for others’ opinions on limitations for women. In addition to that, she is as skilled as any first-grade sorcerer. Thanks to her unique cursed technique and skill in battle, she’s able to stand up against even special-grade curses and defeat them. It is not easy to faze this woman!

#14 Uraraka Ochako

Uraraka Ochako, from My Hero Academia, is a student who enrolls in U.A. High Schoo. She befriends Midoriya Izuku on her first day. Uraraka hopes to become a hero in order to support her financially struggling family. Warm, lively, and compassionate, Uraraka is loved by fans for her amiable character as well as her strength and skill as a hero.

Uraraka is highly empathetic and tries to help anyone in need—a trait that makes her especially likable. Fans admire how affectionate and caring she is when fighting against villains and protecting those she loves. She’s even willing to help a villain in pain. Uraraka has great battle skills, strategizing and coming up with effective counterattacks whilst fighting. With her evolution as a hero, Uraraka is surely an inspiration to her peers and to viewers.

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#13 Yumeko Jabami

Yumeko Jabami, from Kakegurui, is quite an unusual character. The protagonist of a series about gambling, Yumeko is depicted as a lively and cheerful person who easily makes friends. She absolutely loves to gamble—and her demeanor changes completely when betting against someone.

Yumeko never cheats, and she ensures that others do not cheat either. Whenever she feels that someone may be cheating, she becomes utterly ruthless and destroys them completely. Yumeko also has a lot of guts. She will bet anything against anyone and is never afraid.

She is often seen goading her opponents, all the while calmly and calculatingly defeating them. Fans seem to love how intense Yumeko becomes while betting and the entertaining aspect of a wager. Yumeko loves gambling for the thrill of it. She is undoubtedly the epitome of fun and fair gambling!

#12 Sailor Moon

The protagonist of Sailor Moon, Usagi Tsukino (better known as Sailor Moon) is a superhero. As a superhero anime series featuring a female lead character, Sailor Moon has a lot of fans worldwide. Usagi is shown as a normal teenager—one who is clumsy, highly concerned about her romantic relationships, and unsure of herself. She’s also often afraid to go into battle.

Sailor’s character is real and relatable for young girls, whether that is through her insecurities, struggles in school, or jealousy from her peers. It is frequently implied that she is still immature and not ready for the things life has in store for her. One thing that is evident from the start, though, is her kindness.

Eventually, Usagi does grow to accept who she is and learns to properly use her abilities. Her development throughout the show makes her a popular female anime character.

#11 Hinata Hyuga

Naruto is a classic and epic anime series that’s loved worldwide. While male characters steal the show in Naruto, no one can forget about Hinata Hyuga.

Fans love how Hinata is extremely feminine yet still a strong and independent woman. She is a person who is gentle, loving, and kind, and she does not feel the need to change herself in order to be with the person she loves.

Even before marrying Naruto (and especially after), she is a constant in his life, supporting him and also knocking sense into him whenever necessary. She is also an excellent ninja, aiding in battles and saving Naruto on several occasions.

Her journey from being an abused child to the wife of the Hokage, and the multiple obstacles she overcomes, is truly phenomenal. Hinata deserves all the love—and she definitely gets it!

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#10 Nezuku Kamado

Nezuku Kamado, one of the main characters from Demon Slayer, partially turns into a demon very early on in the series. Even in her demonic form, she loves her brother unconditionally, adores her friends and family, and wants to help anyone she can. She truly appreciates the effort Tanjiro is making in order to heal her. She is able to control the demon inside her, refusing to consume human flesh.

As a young child, she is innocent and absolutely adorable. Her bond with Tanjiro makes her especially likable. She is extremely affectionate and caring towards everyone. At the same time, she is not afraid to put up a fight when it is required, often protecting Tanjiro. As a powerful young girl, in addition to her demonic abilities, Nezuku Kamado is a force to be reckoned with if you are up against her in battle.

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#9 Shinobu Kocho

Shinobu Kocho, another character from Demon Slayer, initially comes off as a kind and loving person. It is soon revealed, however, that she absolutely despises demons. This hatred stems from the murder of her family (particularly her younger sister) at the hands of demons.

Shinobu is skilled in medicine and her knowledge often allows her to treat and save people harmed by demons. Shinobu is an exceptional warrior. With her amazing swordsmanship and unique abilities, she is able to defeat and slay many demons in battle.

She even invented her own technique to fight against demons called insect breathing. Not possessing the raw strength for fighting demons, she used poisons as a means of overcoming her weakness.

This is especially evident in her weapon of choice-a poisoned katana. With her exceptional speed and reflexes and armed with her poisons and katana, there is no demon that can stop Shinobu.

#8 Violet Evergarden

Violet Evergarden, the protagonist of Violet Evergarden, is a young girl who has been raised as a weapon of war. Major Gilbert, Violet’s caretaker and commander, is killed in battle, and Violet loses both arms.

Taken in by Gilbert’s friend, Violet Evergarden is the tale of how she rehabilitates and becomes accustomed to living a civilian life. She must explore her humanity and learn the meaning of the words “I love you.”

Violet is a strong young woman. However, she cannot function independently, as she is used to taking orders. The first initiative she takes is becoming an Auto Memory Doll, intent on learning the meaning of love. Violet Evergarden shows us the evolution of Violet’s character.

Fans love her journey to becoming an independent person as she comes in contact with her emotions and learns what it is to be a caring, feeling human being. She meets many interesting characters on her path who all shape the person she becomes.

#7 Lucy Heartfilia

A popular character from Fairy Tail, Lucy Heartfilia is a member of Natsu Dragneel’s guild.

A member of an extremely wealthy family, Lucy left the lap of luxury in order to take her life into her own hands. Becoming a mage in a popular guild, Lucy gains first-hand experience of the hardships of life, but she refuses to back down.

As a mage, Lucy is an exceptionally strong fighter and magic user who makes use of her own one-of-a-kind techniques. Despite being a “summoner,” she fights on the front lines undeterred. Lucy is extremely creative, and she comes up with unique strategies for battles.

At the same time, she also puts this creative mind to use by writing books as a hobby, and she has a career outside of being a mage. Fans love that a female character is as strong and important to the story as the protagonist and her male counterparts.

#6 Erza Scarlet

Erza Scarlet, another character from Fairy Tail, became a hero at a very young age. She was kidnapped when she was a mere child and was able to team up with another kid to save all the other kidnapped children.

As an adult, Erza is now part of the Fairy Tail Guild, something she seems to have been destined for. Having picked up a sword when she was only ten, Erza has exceptional swordsmanship and is often victorious in duels even against master swordsmen.

Combined with her magical abilities and sword fighting, Erza is the perfect warrior, strong in both offense and defense. She may seem like a cold soldier who only knows how to fight, but Erza also cares deeply about her comrades, often acting as a peacemaker and inspiration to her peers. She also has a great love for theatre and performing arts, adding more layers to her character.

#5 Kaori Miyazono

Kaori Miyazono is a main character from Your Lie in April. She is a superb violinist, and her love for music is what makes her so special. Her passion for performing even brings Kousei (the protagonist) back into music.

Kaori is a cheerful and amiable person, and she is highly independent. She may not be your typical musician, as Kaori loves freestyle music. Her tendency to play without restrictions is something that attracts many fans, and it also brings Kousei out of his shell. Kaori is also an exceptionally strong person.

When she learns that she has a terminal illness and does not have long to live, she decides to live life to the fullest and enjoy the time she has left with the people she loves and with her passion—music. Kaori’s passing at the end of the series is definitely heart-wrenching.

#4 Mitsuha Miyamizu

A protagonist of Your Name, Mitsuha Miyamizu is a well-known anime character. Mitsuha is a student and also a shrine maiden at her family’s shrine located in a rural town. But she’s bored with her life and wishes to live in Tokyo.

Mitsuha loses her mother at a young age and her strict father grows distant from the family. This further strained their relationship, making Mitsuha wish she could escape her life.

A kind and cheerful person, she is supportive of her friends. When Mitsuha switches bodies with the male protagonist, her feminine side is quite visible. She enjoys living Taki’s life, helping him out when she is in his shoes, and giving him love advice. Overall, Mitsuha is a lovely person. She is also relatable, as people often want something more from their lives.

#3 Power

Power is one of the supporting characters from Chainsaw Man. Power is, in fact, a human corpse taken over by a blood devil, better categorized as a fiend. She seems like a horrible person in many ways: she is a liar, has horrible hygiene, hates humans, and does not trust in friendship.

However, her development through the series is magnificent. As the series progresses, she grows to genuinely care for her comrades. Her development with both Aki and Denji is something truly special. She also loves animals, especially cats.

Power has superhuman speed, strength, reflexes, heightened senses, and the ability to manipulate blood, making her a formidable opponent. She is a completely independent person who doesn’t care about anyone (at first).

Power’s growth as a person and her development as a compassionate character doesn’t come at the cost of her independence. This is what makes her such a strong and popular female anime character.

#2 Kurisu Makise

Kurisu Makise is a character from Steins;Gate. Kurisu joins Okabe (the protagonist) and her friend in their development of a “time leap” machine, despite not believing in time travel.

Her father is not supportive, and he tells Kurisu she will not be successful. Kurisu believes that for a very long time, but she overcomes that major obstacle by joining Okabe, showing her strength as a character.

Kurisu’s development from someone desperately looking for approval from her father to being happy and contended with her achievements is something that is relatable and inspiring for many fans. This depicts just how strong and independent Kurisu is as a person.

She is shown as someone who is bright and ambitious—yet she tends to get overshadowed by her male peers. This is a struggle that many women face in their lives. Kurisu’s journey is truly epic and moving for viewers.

#1 Hitagi Senjougahara

A character from Bakemonogatari, Hitagi Senjougahara is a straightforward and quiet person. It is eventually revealed that she had a troubled past because her family had gone bankrupt. But she has a secret: she has become weightless (or nearly so—she only weighs 5 kg!). And this is a secret that she wants to keep hidden at all costs.

She often appears cold and pushes her friends away. She even uses stationary as a form of defense, making use of school supplies as weapons. But underneath her cold demeanor, she is extremely loyal and affectionate, and she’s willing to go to any lengths for the people she loves.

Fans love her rather tsundere attitude, which makes her journey both relatable and entertaining. While Hitagi may not be your typical female character, that’s exactly what makes her so special.

Conclusion

Female characters are a crucial part of anime. Their personalities and abilities are just as varied as their male counterparts. You are sure to find a character you love and can relate to among the fantastic women on this list.

If a certain female anime character piques your interest, then it is time to watch a new show—and discover a new character you are bound to love!

Jack

Jack is an avid anime enthusiast with a passion for all things Japanese culture. He spends his days watching the latest series, reading manga, and discussing the merits of his favorite characters with his friends. When he's not writing (or debating) about manga and anime, Jack can be found playing video games or practicing Ju-Jitsu. Despite his nerdy interests, Jack is confident and outgoing. He's always eager to share his enthusiasm with others.