Purple-haired anime girls are rarely the center of attention. They tend to be more on the sidelines, leaving room for the main characters to shine, like Asuna from Sword Art Online, Mikasa from Attack on Titan, Usagi and Chibiusa from Sailor Moon, or Nezuko from Demon Slayer. These main characters are so iconic and over-popularized by pop culture and the media that they easily steal anyone's spotlight. They are fan favorites and serve as inspirations to many people.
Most Iconic Anime Girls With Red Hair
There are a ton of iconic anime characters with colorful hair, and these are the best redheads among them.
However, many characters deserve the same recognition and love. Whether they are a friend of the protagonist, a side character, or an enemy, purple-haired anime girls can be as iconic as anyone else.
In this case, "girls" is just a general term, and all female characters will be considered. That said, there are not many anime women with purple hair.
Updated on September 14, 2025, by Mark Sammut: The Summer 2025 season does not have all that many anime girls with purple hair, with Uglymug, Epicfighter's Seika and The Water Magician's Leonore probably being the best ones. While decent enough, they are not going to rank among the greatest of all time; consequently, you will generally have to look to the past to find the best ones.
We have added Ai Hoshino and Rider.
Faye Valentine (Cowboy Bebop)
One Of The Most Realistic And Grounded Characters In Anime
Cowboy Bebop
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 1998 - 1999
- Studio
- Sunrise
- Creator
- Hajime Yatate
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu
Cowboy Bebop is set in 2071 after the Earth becomes uninhabitable. The story is about a duo of cowboys named Spike and Jet Black, who help the Inter-Solar System Police keep peace in the galaxy. They travel in their spaceship called Bebop and meet many people on their adventures, like an intelligent Welsh Corgi named Ein, Edward Wong, and Faye Valentine.
Before Faye met the gang, she was a cryogenic character in a block who woke up with amnesia in 2068. She then went off on a mission to pay off her debts, but kept losing money on races. She's a bit of a rebel as she constantly drinks, smokes, gambles, and gets into fights. She's also lazy and can be arrogant, but all of this is part of her charm and makes her a realistic, grounded character.
Rikka Takanashi (Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!)
A Wild Imagination
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2012 - 2014-00-00
- Japanese Title
- Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Torako
- Studio
- Kyoto Animation
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, HIDIVE
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! Is simply a pleasant romcom about two awkward teenagers who learn to be awkward teenagers. Also, there is a weird love triangle that dominates the second season and is mostly pointless, but that does not matter too much. The anime's star is Rikka, the eponymous chunibyo, which means she frequently escapes reality by indulging in over-the-top make-believe. Although mostly played for laughs, this behavior is influenced by her past trauma and grief, which she has yet to face.
Rikka is delightful. She is energetic, silly, and unapologetically outlandish; however, she still comes across as a real three-dimensional person rather than a caricature. She also grows quite a bit throughout the first season and the final movie.
Shion (That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime)
An Acquired Taste Who Can Be Really Entertaining
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 5, 2018
- Japanese Title
- Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken
- Based On
- Light Novel & Manga
- Creator
- Fuse
- Studio
- 8bit
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Along with being one of the most popular isekai anime ever, That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime is also firmly established as one of the most consistent. The series blends action, world-building, and political intrigue quite well, all the while finding the time to throw in some comedy and even slice of life moments. As Rimuru's loyal secretary, Shion's presence is constant and undeniable, with the ogre/kijin/oni serving as an extremely capable fighter who also regularly tests her leader's taste buds.
Now, Shion can be divisive, especially after the first season. In the anime, she kind of settles into a routine that reduces her to a violent airhead. Just to be clear, she has way more to offer than just that, but she is rarely allowed to demonstrate her range.
Yoruichi Shihouin (Bleach)
A Whimsical And Fun Character
Bleach
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2004 - 2012-00-00
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Tite Kubo
- Studio
- Pierrot
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
This popular shonen anime is commonly referred to as "one of the big three," the trio of anime shows that dominate the fandom with their enduring popularity and reach, and it is clear to see why. Bleach earned its acclaim with a phenomenal fantasy adventure following Ichigo and co. As they defend humans from evil spirits.
Best Anime Female Characters With Brown Hair
While filled with heroes who have flashy hairstyles, anime also has plenty of iconic brunette female characters.
With any job as big as this, Ichigo encounters friends, foes, and other acquaintances, one such being Yoruichi Shihioin, a Shinigami with the ability to shapeshift into a cat. She uses this ability to shock everyone she meets, playing into the whimsical nature of her personality that makes it hard to dislike her. However, Yoruichi isn't all jokes, as she can be calm and mature when situations call for it. This makes her a well-rounded character and iconic in her own right.
Ai Hoshino (Oshi no Ko)
The Definitive Anime Idol
Oshi No Ko
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- April 12, 2023
- Studio
- Doga Kobo
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Aka Akasaka
- Streaming Service(s)
- HIDIVE
Oshi no Ko has quite a few beloved female characters, but the most iconic is somebody who sticks around for just about a single episode. As Ruby and Aqua's mother, Ai is the center of their universe, and she also happens to be a famous idol who automatically draws everyone's eye wherever she appears (in a good way). She is so charismatic that she kind of had to be written out of the story as she would totally overshadow every other character, including the story's protagonist (Aqua).
While her shadow looms over the entire story, Ai feels more like a symbol than a character at times, at least at this point in the anime. She is an icon who gave Aqua purpose, both in life and in death. She might not have all that much screentime, but Ai is probably the most iconic purple-haired anime girl of the last 5 years.
Yuri Nakamura (Angel Beats!)
A Natural Born Leader
Angel Beats!
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2010 - 2010
- Studio
- P.A. Works
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
Angel Beats! Is about Otonashi, a boy who wakes up in another realm with no memory of who he is aside from his name. He meets Yuri, who informs him that he is dead and is now in the afterlife. Yuri also invites him to join her Afterlife Battlefront, the Shinda Sekai Sensen, where she is trying to take down the enemy, Tenshi. However, Otonashi doesn't see her as a threat and is more intrigued by Tenshi than ever.
Yuri is a natural-born leader and doesn't hesitate to take control of situations to protect her friends and ensure the best resolution is reached. She is determined, quick on her feet, intelligent, and reliable. She also has the utmost respect of her peers, making her a likable and multifaceted character.
Revy (Black Lagoon)
Just All-Around Awesome
Black Lagoon
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2006 - 2006
- Directors
- Sunao Katabuchi
- Writers
- Sunao Katabuchi
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Rei Hiroe
- Studio
- Madhouse
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu
One of the coolest characters to ever grace anime, Revy is bad in the best possible way. A mercenary armed with two trusted pistols and a willingness to take on an army of enemies (and the skill to come out alive), she is instantly entertaining, all the while having quite a bit of depth due to her complex backstory and volatile demeanor.
Revy is far from a good person and does not pretend to be anything other than what she is, which is a sadistic killing machine with nihilistic tendencies. While there are bigger shows than Black Lagoon, arguably, none have a purple-haired female anime character as memorable as this legend.
Motoko Kusanagi (Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex)
One Of The Most Iconic Anime Characters Ever
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2002 - 2005
- Japanese Title
- Koukaku Kidoutai: Stand Alone Complex
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator(s)
- Shirow Masamune
- Studio
- Production I.G
- Streaming Service(s)
- Adult Swim
Along with being the most iconic female anime character with purple hair, Major Motoko is a front-runner for the industry's most recognizable face ever. That said, her most famous appearance is in 1995's Ghost in the Shell movie, where she has black hair. However, she switches to purple in the Stand-Alone Complex series, which arguably represents the peak of the franchise in terms of storytelling.
The Major is also a far more fleshed-out character in the TV show, which greatly expands her personality, backstory, and relationships with the other Section 9 members. A complete badass who is talented in a fight but also understands the usefulness of discourse and diplomacy, Motoko is complex, charismatic, and powerful.
Akatsuki (Log Horizon)
An Awesome Ninja Who Makes The Most Of An Isekai Situation
Log Horizon
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2013 - 2021
- Based On
- Light Novel
- Creator
- Mamare Touno
- Studio
- Satelight, Studio Deen
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu
One of the better isekai anime, Log Horizon goes against the grain by using an ensemble cast that emphasizes group coordination above solo expertise. While Shiroe is arguably the closest thing to a bona fide MC, Akatsuki has nearly as big a presence as the support mage, and she is a vital part of the main party.
With a cool ninja aesthetic, Akatsuki's design is top-notch, and it is backed by a likable personality and a sympathetic backstory that links everything together. Even though Shiroe is the protagonist, Akatsuki is arguably the most popular Log Horizon character, at least in Japan.
Minene Uryuu (Future Diary)
A Tough Girl With Surprising Knowledge Of Explosives
Future Diary
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- October 10, 2011
- Japanese Title
- Mirai Nikki
- Based On
- Manga
- Creator
- Sakae Esuno
- Studio
- Asread
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll, Hulu
Future Diary is home to one of the most iconic pink-haired yandere characters of all time: Yuno Gasai. But aside from her, there is another iconic anime girl in the series: Minene Uryuu. She is an expert when it comes to demolition and explosives, which makes her a person no one should take lightly or underestimate. Aside from that, she is also independent and strong, a result of her tough and loveless upbringing.
Best Anime From The 2000s, Ranked
From Fullmetal Alchemist to Skip Beat and Samurai Champloo, the best 2000s anime are just all-time great shows.
Her character was so iconic that she was chosen as the protagonist for the spin-off series Future Diary: Mosaic, which shows more of Minene's hard life before and after acquiring her diary. It is certainly one to watch, just to see more of this iconic purple-haired girl.