20 Most Popular Orange-Haired Anime Characters (Ranked)

Talking about orange hair in real life means you’re talking about red or ginger-haired people. This color isn’t technically orange in the traditional sense of the word since natural colors don’t come in such distinct shades. On the other hand, orange hair is not uncommon in a world of fictional characters, and orange-haired anime characters are usual. While we do have shades, some characters are distinctively orange.

In this article, we will bring a list of the 20 best orange-haired anime characters we know of. We’ll use different sources and rank them based on their popularity and the general level of awesomeness they represent. The list will be pretty diverse, including characters from various franchises and genres.

20. Itori (Tokyo Ghoul)

Itori is an old friend of Yomo and Uta and a member of the Pierrots. Running a bar named Helter Skelter, she appears friendly and talkative, with a penchant for fun and jokes. However, behind this facade lies a cruel and manipulative side. Itori, like her companions, revels in chaos and destruction, unhesitant to deceive and use others. She manipulates Kaneki, encouraging him to investigate the Restaurant in exchange for information on Rize, fully aware that it could lead to his demise.

19. Petra Ral (Attack on Titan)

Petra is a compassionate Research Corps soldier, a member of Rivaille’s squad in Attack on Titan. Despite her short stature and golden-brown hair, she displays kindness and thoughtfulness towards her comrades, especially Eren. Known for encouraging and complimenting Eren, she has a notable record of killing ten Titans and assisting in the defeat of forty-eight others. Petra admires Captain Rivaille, often imitating him, leading to occasional quarrels with Oruo. Unfortunately, Petra meets a tragic end during Annie’s attack in her female Titan form, as she is crushed to death against a tree.

18. Ronald Knox (Black Butler)

Ronald is a younger shinigami subordinate of Grell, whom he refers to as “senpai,” in Black Butler. While sharing Grell’s relaxed attitude towards their job, he is more serious when necessary and prioritizes completing tasks promptly, though he dislikes working overtime, much to William’s chagrin. Despite being a proficient worker, Ronald is a party enthusiast who enjoys flirting with both girls and potentially boys, showcasing an awkward and humorous side to his romantic endeavors. He often boasts about his romantic conquests, even though he isn’t particularly skilled in that area.

17. Chiho Sasaki (The Devil Is a Part-Timer!)

Chiho is a high school student and colleague at MgRonald, she is friends with Sadao and harbors romantic feelings for him. Described as a petite teenager with a plump figure, her physical attributes attract attention and envy, particularly from other girls like Emi. Chiho gains the ability to comprehend Ente Isla’s language through an unintended communication spell initially aimed at Emi, as it targeted those who frequently thought of Sadao. She later masters the Idea Link spell, enabling her to alert others in case of danger.

16. King (Seven Deadly Sins)

King, also known as Harlequin, holds the position of the Grizzly Bear of Sloth within the Seven Deadly Sins. As the Third Fairy King, his primary responsibility is safeguarding the Fairy Forest. Equipped with the Chastiefol Spiritual Lance as his Sacred Treasure and wielding the Disaster Magic Ability, King fulfills his protective duties. Additionally, he is the elder sibling of Ellaine, the Holy Guardian of the Fountain of Youth, and shares a romantic relationship with Diane, his comrade and fellow member of the Clan of the Giants.

15. Pain (Nagato) (Naruto)

Pain, the official leader of the Akatsuki organization, collaborates with Konan and governs the hidden village of Amegakure after a civil war. While Tobi unofficially manipulates from behind the scenes, Pain, controlled by Nagato Uzumaki, operates through six distinct avatars named Tendô, Chikushodô, Jigokudô, Shuradô, Gakidô, and Ningendô. Konan designates Nagato as Pain’s 7th Corps, and Gedô represents the body controlled by Nagato. Notably, Tendô is the preferred avatar for Nagato’s interactions with others.

14. Chuuya Nakahara (Bungo Stray Dogs)

As a captain in the Port Mafia and Dazai’s past collaborator, Chuuya possesses the ability “For Sorrowful Sorrow,” enabling him to control gravity vectors and manipulate the force of objects in physical contact. Despite his shorter stature, he dislikes criticism, especially from Dazai. Upon learning of Dazai’s departure from the Port Mafia, he expressed joy and celebrated by opening a bottle of Chateau Pétrus ’89.

13. Chiyo Sakura (Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun)

Chiyo Sakura, a high school student, initially confesses her love awkwardly to Nozaki, resulting in her becoming a fan and, subsequently, his assistant. In class 2-A and a member of the school’s art club, Chiyo aids Nozaki in inking his drawings. Despite her small stature, she is recognizable by the two large red ribbons with white polka dots in her hair, which Nozaki collects as inspiration for the heroine in his manga.

12. Yotsuba Nakano (The Quintessential Quintuplets)

The fourth sister, distinguished by a green ribbon resembling rabbit ears, is always cheerful, friendly, and a skilled sportswoman. Despite frequently earning zero on school tests, her actions portray either impulsive behavior or intricate, subconscious plans beyond others’ comprehension. She readily accepts Fūtarō as her tutor, displaying unwavering support for her sisters and Fūtarō. Notably, she tends to prioritize others’ needs over her own and affectionately addresses Fūtarō as “Uesugi-san.”

11. Nishiki Nishio (Tokyo Ghoul)

Nishiki Nishio, a ghoul, loses his hunting ground to Rize Kamishiro and later becomes a waiter at the Antique after a serious altercation with Ken Kaneki. A second-year student at Kamii University’s Department of Pharmacy, he is in a relationship with a human named Kimi Nishino. In Tokyo Ghoul: re, he earns the nickname “the Serpent” from the CCG for killing ghouls and extracting information from them. Targeted by the Hirako Squad for his pursuit of Torso, Nishiki later joins Ken Kaneki’s Black Goat organization on Rushima Island, residing in the 24th ward.

10. Rangiku Matsumoto (Bleach)

Rangiku, lieutenant of the 10th division is a striking red-haired woman known for her ample bust, which she strategically emphasizes. Utilizing her physical attributes, she often employs clever tactics to achieve her goals, as seen in the Hitsugaya team’s landing at Ichigo’s location. Despite her professional role, she has a fondness for alcohol and tends to procrastinate work-related duties. Childhood friends with Gin, they share a reciprocal romantic connection, having lived together since Gin discovered her unconscious in Rukongai.

9. Escanor (Seven Deadly Sins)

Escanor, the Lion of Pride within the Seven Deadly Sins, was once the Second Prince of the Kingdom of Castellio. Among the Sacred Knights of the Kingdom of Liones, he earned the title of the “strongest” Human in Britannia. Armed with the Divine Ax Rhitta as his Sacred Treasure and possessing the Magical Ability called Sunshine, Escanor gained immense power during the day, gradually weakening as the sunset. His unique trait made him invincible for a brief moment at noon, surpassing even Meliodas at his peak strength.

8. Asuka Langley Soryu (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

Chosen as the Second Children 9, Asuka Langley piloted the EVA-02 unit. Born to Kyôko Langley Zeppelin and an unidentified father, her heritage includes American, German, and Japanese roots. Raised in Germany, she completed her university education at the age of 14. Asuka is characterized as a proud, independent, and seemingly confident young girl who often seeks the spotlight and holds a disdainful attitude towards those around her.

7. Itsuka Kendō (My Hero Academia)

As the class 1-B delegate, Itsuka is a kind, sensible, and caring orange-haired girl. Unlike her classmates, she lacks rivalry towards students in class 1-A and even defends them from Monoma’s botherings. Recognized for her mature and responsible demeanor, she is considered an older sister by her peers. Her Quirk, “Big Hands,” enables her to significantly enlarge and strengthen her hands for grasping large objects or delivering powerful punches. Forming a strong friendship with Yaoyorozu through shared practices, she aspires to surpass her.

6. Sora Takenouchi (Digimon)

Sora, aged 10 in the original version, is a DigiDestined with Biyomon as her Digimon partner, symbolizing Love. Despite her tomboyish nature and love for soccer, she values her safety due to Tai’s naivety. Sora serves as the voice of reason within the group. Her tomboyish interests cause conflicts with her strict mother, who wishes for her to quit soccer and pursue floral art studies. Thankfully, Biyomon helps reconcile Sora with her mother. Sora’s father is frequently absent.

5. Nami (One Piece)

At the start of the story, Nami, an 18-year-old pickpocket, is a sailor with a natural ability to sense changes in the weather. While sailing, she takes charge of maneuvers and provides guidance, aside from Luffy’s directional choices. Following the Water Seven/Enies Lobby arc, Nami’s bounty reaches 16 million Berrys. Armed with the climate baton and the more potent climate tactic sorcery, she can charm Sanji to follow her lead. As the crew’s treasurer, Nami handles finances selfishly, distributing meager sums to crew members while charging exorbitant interest. Her obsession with Berrys drives her to extreme measures.

4. Misty (Pokémon)

Misty is initially a part of the main group with Brock and Ash for the first five seasons. However, from season 6 onward, she returns to the Cerulean Gym to lead it in place of her sisters who are traveling. Originally, Misty’s goal is to follow Ash until he reimburses her for his bicycle destroyed by Pikachu. However, she eventually forgets this reason and decides to accompany Ash through Kanto, Johto, and the Orange Archipelago to enhance her skills and become a Master of Water-type Pokémon.

3. Orihime Inoue (Bleach)

Orihime Inoue is a high school student and orphan, raised by her older brother after they ran away from home due to their troubled family background. With a mother who was a prostitute and an often absent father, her brother took on the responsibility of raising her. Unfortunately, he passed away three years prior to the start of the series. Orihime is inherently kind but tends to have a passive character, often letting herself go.

2. Emma (The Promised Neverland)

Emma is the central character in The Promised Neverland, possessing exceptional physical and learning abilities. Alongside two other children, she consistently achieves a perfect score of 300 points in daily exams. Emma’s crucial moment occurs when she discovers that Conny, a fellow orphan, has left behind her stuffed bunny after being “adopted.” Against the rules, Emma persuades Norman to accompany her to the departure site, uncovering a shocking truth beyond the orphanage’s portal.

1. Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach)

Ichigo is a human who can see spirits and becomes a substitute Soul Reaper, a warrior who fights evil spirits called Hollows. He has orange hair, a sword named Zangetsu, and various powers derived from his mixed heritage.

Have something to add? Let us know