Created by Kazuki Takahashi in 1996, Yu-Gi-Oh! remains one of the most popular manga and anime series ever created. No matter the medium, the story traces the heroic exploits of Yugi Mutou (Dan Green), a young boy on a dangerous quest to solve the age-old Millennium Puzzle with his closest friends and allies.
=Along the way, Yugi channels a dormant gambling spirit in his body that allows him to conquer a series of challenging games, puzzles, and riddles while defeating his biggest enemies. Yu-Gi-Oh! has a large cast of main characters, many of which bear traditional Japanese surnames of specific origin and meaning.
Yami Yugi/Yugi Mutou
For a story that is inextricably linked to gaming, it comes as no surprise that Yugi literally translates as “Game” in Japanese. His surname, Mutou (Moto) translates as “basis” or “foundation,” intimating Yugi’s role as an essential gaming pillar in the story who also serves as a host to his alter ego, Yami.
In Japanese, Yami translates to “Dark,” suggesting that Yami is the evil side of Yugi. The title Yu-Gi-Oh! translates to “King of Games,” which describes the main character in a nutshell.
Katsuya Jonouchi
As Yugi’s closest friend and most trustworthy ally, Katsuya Jonouchi’s namesake reflects his role as a companion. The first two figures of the names Yugi and Jonouchi form Yujo, which means friendship or fellowship in Japanese. The “Yujo Friendship” card is named after the character’s kinship.
In Japanese, the word Katsuya has 16 variations depending on its Kanji. In Yu-Gi-Oh!, Katsuya translates as “triumph over” which indicates how his bond with Yugi gives him the strength to conquer anything.
Anzu Mazaki/Tea Gardner
One of Yugi’s closest friends and companions in the series is Anzu Mazaki, aka Tea Gardner in the U.S. version. Anzu translates as “Apricot” in Japanese, while Mazaki means “Cape of Truth.”
As for her American counterpart, the name Tea is Italian for “Gift of God” or “Wild Rose.” Meanwhile, the surname Gardner derives from the U.K. and translates as “weapon” or “sound the alarm.” The latter translation aligns with Tea’s role as Yugi’s guardian and protector.
Hiroto Honda/Tristan Taylor
Hiroto Honda, aka Tristan Taylor, is a friendly character who has also shown his allegiance to Bakura in the past. The name Hiroto has a range of definitions, including “Large, Great, Command, Esteem, Soar, and Fly.” The original meaning of Honda translates as “Root Ricefield.”
For the character’s alias, the name Tristan derives from Wales and means “Bold.” The meaning comes from the root words “trwst” for “noise” and “trystio” for “to clatter.” As for Taylor, the name of British/French origin often denotes the word “cutter” or “cutting board.”
Ryo Bakura
While many have posited that the surname Bakura alludes to a dreamcatcher, the term actually derives from the word Baku, which is a supernatural chimera that eats dreams in Japanese lore. Considering Dark Bakura’s evil nature, this name makes more sense.
As for Ryo, or Ryou, it too varies in definition depending on its use of Kanji. As such, Ryo Bakura is spelled in a way that suggests Ryo means goodness, virtuous, and completion. Altogether, Ryo Bakura suggests a character who is a powerful creature determined to finish what Yami started eons prior.
Maximillion Pegasus
As the greedy American entrepreneur behind Duel Monsters and Millennium Eye, Maximillion J. Pegasus is one of Yugi’s chief antagonists. Derived from Latin, the name Maximillion literally translates as the “Greatest.”
As for Pegasus, the name derived from Greek mythology means “From the Water Spring.” In the Japanese version, the character is referred to as Pegasus J. Crawford. The name Crawford comes from an Old English word that translates as “ford of the crows.”
Seto Kaiba
Seto Kaiba is a ruthless gamer who climbs the ranks to become the eventual CEO of the evil Kaiba Corporation. His ace monster is a Blue-Eyes White Dragon, which is hinted at in the meaning of his surname.
The name Seto derives from the Egyptian deity Set, the God of war, chaos, and storms. The surname Kaiba translates as “Sea Horse” in Japanese, which are considered to be dragons in ancient lore. Combined, Seta Kaiba suggests a high-ranking, almighty dragon.
Mokuba Kaiba
Seto Kaiba’s younger brother, Mokuba Kaiba, also shares the translated “Sea Horse” surname. However, the first name Mokuba also refers to a different type of horse.
Depending on the kanji emphasized in the spelling of the word, Mokuba can mean “Wooden Horse,” “Rocking Horse,” “Vaulting Horse” (as in gymnastics), or an ancient torture contraption also known as a “Horse.” However, without the kanji for wood or tree in his name, Mokuba most likely refers to the Mokuba’s torturous trends, including poisoning Jonouchi and vowing to cut Yugi’s fingers off.
Miho Nosaka
Miho Nosaka is Anzu’s best friend and one of Yugi’s closest allies in the anime series. Considering the kanji characters in her name, Miho translates as “beautiful” and “ear of grain.”
Similarly, the Japanese surname Nosaka translates as “Fields,” “Plains,” and “Rustic Civilian Life.” This reinforces the character’s down-to-earth attitude and easygoing nature. However, Miho is often referred to be her nickname, Ribbon-Chan for her strands of hair.
Mai Kujaku/Valentine
The character of Mai Kujaku is given the surname Valentine in the English-language version of the anime. The Japanese word Mai means “Dance” in English, while Kujaku refers to a “Peacock.” Hence, her name translates as “Peacock Dance.” The term “peacocking’ is often referred to one a person showing off their good looks, which is something Mai does throughout the series.
While the name Mai Valentine is a pun for My Valentine in the dubbed version, the surname derives from the Roman word “valens,” which translates as “strong and healthy.”
