Most Iconic Anime Girls With Black Hair

Summary

• Anime black-haired female characters like Asada Shino and Nico Robin are iconic for their unique personalities and stories.
• Their appearances define their characters, inspiring fanart and cosplay. Key characters like Hinata Hyuga and Sawako Kuronuma are beloved.
• Whether seeking vengeance like Ryuko Matoi or displaying powerful leadership like Momo Yaoyorozu, these characters leave lasting impressions.

If anything is certain about the world of anime, it’s that there’s no shortage of fan-favorite female characters, and the women of anime are easy to like. In a medium populated by characters famous for their cartoonish varieties of hair color, it’s not surprising that black-haired women might seem few and far between.

For anime fans, hair color is a defining aspect of how people personally relate to their favorite characters. Prospective cosplayers look to characters who share physical traits with them to plan their next outfits.

Updated February 12, 2025, by Kristy Ambrose: Anime has given rise to many beloved series and characters, including many popular girls and women. These characters are popular for a variety of reasons, and many are even defined by their appearance. In a world of bluenettes, the raven-haired heroines don’t get enough love. Thus, these anime girls with black hair are as iconic as ever, whether they’re from a high school, a dystopia, or a pirate crew.

16

Asada Shino (Sword Art Online)

Has A Strong Presence In The Second Season

Masquerading in-game as the blue-haired sniper Sinon, Asada makes her first appearance in the second season of Sword Art Online. Asada crosses paths with Kirito in the post-apocalyptic video game world of Gun Gale Online, where the two compete against each other in the Bullet of Bullets tournament. Later, the two work together to defeat the mysterious player Death Gun.

In the real world, Asada sports black hair and escapes into her blue-haired persona as a coping mechanism for PTSD following a gun-related incident. After Kirito rescues her from her friend who tries to assault her, she joins him and the other characters in ALfiem Online, taking up the mantle of an archer.

15

Rukia (Bleach)

Hope And Life Despite Death

Bleach started as a shonen anime that evolved into a whole franchise, and Rukia has been there since the very first episode. She helped the main character, Ichigo Kurosaki aka Bleach, fulfill his destiny by becoming a Soul Reaper.

Her early story is a tragic one of death and loss, which makes sense for a being with her past. But is one of many stories that make up the world of the Shinigami and specifically, the 13th Division. Rukia’s distinctive black hair is often worn up in a lopsided ponytail, with a few strands hanging over her face.

14

Ruby Rose (RWBY)

An Inspirational And Selfless Protagonist

• Release Date: 2013-18-07
• Genre: Sci-Fi, Action-Adventure
• Studio: Rooster Teeth; VIZ Media
• Number of Episodes: 117
• Streaming Services: Crunchyroll

Ruby is the titular character of the American web series RWBY, known for its Japanese anime-influenced art style. Wielding the Crescent Rose, a hybrid between a scythe and sniper rifle, she is a selfless albeit naive girl who has always dreamed of being a Huntress. As such, she has always remained the moral compass of the show.

Ruby is often seen sporting short black hair, usually paired with a Little Red Riding Rood-inspired outfit. While she has proved herself as a skilled fighter time and time again, her best quality is her consistent ability to inspire hope in others. A character like Ruby was made to be cosplayed given her various looks and outfits throughout the years.

13

Sawako Kuronuma (Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You)

Defined By Her Appearance

The protagonist of Kimi Ni Todoke: From Me To You, Sawako Kuronuma is a kind and gentle girl, who initially suffers from being bullied and ostracized by her peers. Baseless theories sprang up around her tied into the fact she and her name bear resemblance to the evil “Sadako” from the horror movie The Ring.

This unfortunate mocking by her classmates eventually led to her being very isolated and “a total loner”, as she herself admits. That was, until her ultimate love interest, Shouta Kazehaya, befriended her and encouraged her to break down the ‘misunderstandings’ that had occurred between her and her classmates.

Sawako’s story grows from being withdrawn and nervous to enjoying friendship, especially with Chizuru and Ayane, and ultimately a romance between her and Kazehaya. Uniquely, Sawako’s long black hair served to completely define her and how others saw her. Her heartwarming, and at times emotional, story makes her a relatable and well-loved character from one of the most iconic shoujo romance anime series.

12

Yor Forger (Spy x Family)

Her Dual Personality Makes Her Beloved

Secretly a deadly assassin, Yor Briar caught the attention of Loid Forger, aka “Twilight”, who needed to secure a wife to also pose as Anya’s mother, thus helping him continue his top secret mission. Unknown to Loid, though, is that Yor had secrets of her own, and agreed to marry him to also continue in her mission as the assassin “Thorn Princess”.

Yor may seem gentle, though much like Sawako, unusual and “weird” to those around her, due to her seemingly withdrawn and socially awkward nature. However, Yor possesses great skill and strength as an assassin, something her co-workers haven’t the faintest idea about. Her dual nature, as well as her hilarious posing as a member of the Forger family, makes her one of the most beloved anime girls with black hair.

11

Nico Robin (One Piece)

An Ambitious Archaeologist

When Nico first encounters Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates, it’s as the vice president of Baroque Works, where she serves under former One Piece antagonist Crocodile. She eventually abandons the Baroque Works and joins the Straw Hat Pirates as their archaeologist.

Often seen sporting a pair of sunglasses or cowboy hat with her iconic black hair, Nico mostly keeps to herself and is the most adult of her crewmates. Her goal is to find the Rio Poneglyph, an artifact that allegedly tells the true history of the world. This ability to read Poneglyphs, however, puts a pretty large bounty on her head.

10

Sailor Mars, aka Hino Rei (Sailor Moon)

The Senshi That Always Fights Evil

Few other anime shows have reached the same heights of popularity as Sailor Moon, and Sailor Mars was introduced to the show early in the first season after Mercury was discovered. She’s intended to be the total opposite of the bumbling Serena. Where personality and social skills are concerned, Hino Rei seems to have everything in her life worked out. Her fans often point to her red pumps and lustrous, raven-black hair as a big part of her appeal.

However, Rei is lacking in attributes like empathy, and her belief that her natural role is as the group’s leader is rooted more in greed than compassion. Her friendship with Serena is an interesting character arc, and shows how she learns to have a more sympathetic point of view.

9

Nezuko Kamado (Demon Slayer)

A Valuable Ally On A Dangerous Quest

Nezuko is the younger sister of Tanjiro, the main protagonist of both the manga and anime adaptation of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Originally a human, Nezuko was transformed into a demon following an attack that saw her and her brother as the sole survivors of their family. As a demon, she wears a bamboo muzzle around her neck to keep her controlled.

While she retains most of her appearance, including her black hair, from her human form, the transition to a demon has cost her most of her memories, as well as her ability to speak. All that’s left is her instinct to protect Tanjiro, making her a valuable ally for their demon-hunting journey.

8

Kaguya (Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War)

Her full name is Kaguya Shinomiya, and she’s one of the two main characters in the anime series Kaguya-Sama Love Is War. She was inspired by a legendary character of the same name, a princess of the moon who was famous for giving her suitors impossible tasks. This time, Kaguya is the Vice President of the student council and a member of the Archery Club, and she’s caught in a similar type of game with another student, Miyuki Shirogane.

The show is both a romance and a comedy, with Kaguya and Miyuki sharing mutual feelings but trying to trick the other into confessing first. Kaguya initially has trouble dealing with her feelings, seeming to go through whole personality shifts when faced with a difficult situation, but she learns to be a happier and more friendly person.

7

Hinata Hyuga (Naruto)

Naruto’s Eventual Wife

Along with her iconic white eyes, the black-haired Hinata grew up as the heiress of the Hyuga clan. However, her failure to succeed in combat against her younger sister Hanabi caused her father to reconsider her promised role. Nevertheless, she encounters Naruto during their training at Konoha’s Academy and is inspired by him to become a stronger person.

Hinata and Naruto’s relationship becomes a prominent dynamic in The Last: Naruto the Movie. In the film, Naruto rescues Hinata from the capture of Toneri Otsutsuki, who plans to force Hinata to be his wife. Eventually, Naruto and Hinata marry and start a family together.

6

Akame (Akame ga Kill!)

Skilled In Combat And A Valuable Ally

As the titular character of Akame ga Kill!, Akame initially appears as an antagonist to Tatsumi before he joins her clan of assassins, the Night Raid. Akame herself joined the Night Raid to overthrow the Empire, who captured her and her sister Kurome and trained them to become assassins. This betrayal of the Empire by Akame also leads her to become estranged from Kurome.

While her ruthlessness in combat makes her come off as cold, she displays the characteristics of a great teammate. She often cares for the well-being of her fellow Night Raid members, particularly Tatsumi. Her red eyes and black hair often match her choice of outfit colors.

5

Momo Yaoyorozu (My Hero Academia)

Powerful And Inspirational

Momo first appears in the fifth episode of the My Hero Academia anime, coming in first place during an examination in a Quirk Apprehension Test. With the Creation Quirk, Momo is able to create any non-living material out of thin air from her skin. Because this requires her to burn her own fat cells, she consumes large amounts of food.

Sporting her signature spiky black hair, Momo’s hero look consists of a red leotard that exposes a lot of skin. This allows her to be able to summon as many objects as possible from different places on her body. Momo also displays a lot of qualities of a good hero and leader, often acting selflessly and inspiring her classmates.

4

Ryuko Matoi (Kill la Kill)

A Protagonist Driven By Vengeance

Ryuko is the main protagonist of Kill la Kill, often seen black-haired with a red stripe. In the series, Ryuko embarks on a quest to find her father’s killer, as well as find the other half of her iconic red Scissor Blade, which was her father’s murder weapon. Fittingly, Ryuko is often stubborn and determined in her vengeance.

Her search leads Ryuko to Honnoji Academy, a school consisting of students wearing outfits that bestow superpowers onto them, which she enrolls in. The series and particularly Ryuko’s character have received widespread critical acclaim, and its fashion-focused narrative are prime inspiration for countless fanart and cosplay.

3

Chi-Chi (Dragon Ball)

A Mainstay Of One Of Anime’s Biggest Franchises

Chi-Chi is one of the main female characters of the iconic Dragon Ball franchise. When she first encounters Goku as children, she forces Goku to promise that he will marry her. They later reunite during a martial arts tournament, where Chi-Chi makes him hold up his end of the bargain.

While her initial appearances portrayed her as a tough fighter, their marriage causes her to fulfill the role of a stereotypical housewife. As such, Chi-Chi has become a divisive character to the Dragon Ball fanbase. However, it cannot be denied that her love for Goku has held strong throughout many iterations of the series.

2

Mokoto Kusanagi (Ghost In The Shell)

The Character That Started Cyberpunk

Also known as the Major, a nickname that’s actually her rank in the clandestine law enforcement organization, Mokoto Kusanagi first appeared in the 1995 movie Ghost In the Shell. Since then, the franchise has grown to include several serialized shows and miniseries that explore her past, including one direct sequel to the original film.

Her hairstyle wasn’t a frivolous character choice, but an indication of Mokoto’s body as a utilitarian thing that was a more fine-tuned machine than an actual person. It was fitting that she had a simple haircut with a monochrome color. Her stoicism is another indication of her no-nonsense image. Although her hair often changes to purple on TV, where her character design is slightly different, her hair was originally black.

1

Mikasa Ackerman (Attack on Titan)

A Fan Favorite From A Popular Franchise

Initially, the quiet childhood friend of Eren Yeager, Mikasa proves herself to anime audiences in the first season of Attack on Titan. Following the supposed death of Eren, Mikasa quickly becomes the true heart and soul of the show, donning her iconic red scarf and short, black hair to become a brutal Titan slayer.

Following her family’s murder, Mikasa has remained a closed-off and emotionally stunted person. Mikasa is often overly protective of Eren, but she’s always able to back that up with her impressive ability on the battlefield, making her not only one of the most iconic black-haired females in all anime but one of the most iconic anime characters, period.