This is a list of characters from animated cartoon, comic books, webcomics and comic strips who are named after people.

Characters named after famous people

A

  • Mayor Adam West in Family Guy, who is also dubbed by Adam West
  • Alexander Lemming from The Beano – Scottish chemist Alexander Fleming
  • Alexander Owlcott, a character in The Woods Are Full of Cuckoos – Alexander Woollcott
  • Alister from the anime Yu-Gi-Oh! was named after Aleister Crowley in the dub version (the character's original name is Amelda).
  • Alvida of the anime and manga series One Piece gets her name from the female pirate Awilda
  • Ann-Margrock, a Flintstones character – Ann-Margret
  • Apu Nahasapeemapetilon (The Simpsons) is named after Apu, the title character in The Apu Trilogy.
  • Archimedes the owl (The Sword and the Stone) is named after ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes.
  • Arnie Pie from The Simpsons – Ernie Pyle
  • Arpine Lusène – Arsène Lupin, a fictional character from Maurice Leblanc
  • Ax-hand Morgan of the anime and manga series One Piece is named for Henry Morgan, a Welsh privateer who made a name in the Caribbean as a leader of buccaneers.
  • Attila the dog – (Belgian comic strip Attila) is named after Attila the Hun.
  • Attila the dog – (Los Trotamúsicos) is named after Attila the Hun.

B

  • Babbitt and Catstello, characters in A Tale of Two Kitties – Comedians Abbott and Costello
  • Baby Crockett, from The Beezer comic – Frontiersman Davy Crockett
  • Baby Face Finlayson, from The Beano comic – Criminal Baby Face Nelson
  • Bakelandt (from the Belgian comic series Bakelandt) is named after 18th-century criminal Ludovicus Baekelandt.
  • Professor Barabas – (Suske en Wiske) – Barabbas, the biblical thief
  • Barbe Rouge (English name: Redbeard) is named after real-life pirate Hayreddin Barbarossa, who also had the nickname Redbeard.
  • Barney Gumble – (The Simpsons) is named after The Flintstones character Barney Rubble.
  • Bartholomew Kuma from the anime and manga series One Piece is named after Welsh pirate Bartholomew Roberts.
  • Basil Hawkins from the anime and manga series One Piece is named after both English admiral Sir John Hawkins and English doctor Basil Ringrose.
  • Bellamy the Hyena from the anime and manga series One Piece is named after Samuel Bellamy, a formidable pirate in the early 18th century.
  • Betty Savis, a character in She Was an Acrobat's Daughter – Bette Davis
  • Bing Crowsby, in The Woods Are Full of Cuckoos – Singer Bing Crosby
  • Bogey Go Cart, a character in Bacall to Arms – Hollywood actor Humphrey Bogart
  • Brutus (The Rescuers) is named after Roman senator Brutus.
  • Bunny and Claude, villains from the Warner Bros.-Seven Arts era of Looney Tunes, are named after the notorious criminal couple, Bonnie & Clyde.
  • Butch and Cassidy, villains from Pokémon – Criminal Butch Cassidy
  • Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story – Astronaut Buzz Aldrin

C

  • Calamity James from The Beano comic – Calamity Jane
  • Calamity Jane from Lucky Luke – Frontierswoman Calamity Jane
  • Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes – John Calvin, 16th-century theologian
  • Markies de Canteclaer – (Tom Poes) is named after Canteclaer the rooster from Reynard the Fox.
  • Capone Bege from the anime and manga series One Piece is named after Al Capone and William le Sauvage.
  • Cary Granite, a Flintstones character – Hollywood actor Cary Grant
  • Casey Strangle, a Flintstones character – Casey Stengel
  • Cecil Crumey from Code Geass – Novelist Andrew Crumey
  • Char Aznable (Mobile Suit Gundam through Char's Counterattack). Rumored to be named after French lounge singer Charles Aznavour.
  • Chilly Willy – Actor Chill Wills
  • Chuck, from Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters – Hollywood actor Chuck Norris
  • Clark Gravel, a Flintstones – Hollywood actor Clark Gable
  • Clint, from Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters – Hollywood actor Clint Eastwood
  • Clo-Clo Pheip (The Adventures of Nero), named after the French singer Claude François, who was nicknamed Clo-Clo
  • Cupidon, named after the Greek-Roman mythological character Cupid

D

  • The Daltons (Lucky Luke) are named after the real-life 19th-century Dalton Gang.
  • Darwin Watterson, from The Amazing World of Gumball – Biologist Charles Darwin
  • Dewey, one of "Huey, Dewey and Louie" – U.S. politician Thomas Dewey
  • Dick Fowl, a character in The Woods Are Full of Cuckoos – Dick Powell
  • Dina Saur from Beany and Cecil. A singing dinosaur named after singer Dinah Shore
  • Dio Brando is named after both Ronnie James Dio and Marlon Brando.
  • Dole Promise, a character from She Was an Acrobat's Daughter – Lowell Thomas
  • Donatello, the second youngest of the ninja turtle brothers from TMNT – the Italian Renaissance artist and sculptor, Donatello
  • Donquixote Doflamingo from the anime and manga series One Piece is named after the a character from Spanish film of the same name Don Quixote.
  • X. Drake from the anime and manga series One Piece is named after the famous English naval Vice Adm. Francis Drake, who was known as a pirate by the Spanish.
  • Duck Dodgers, played by Daffy Duck, was named after famous character Buck Rogers.
  • Duckula, named after Dracula
  • Dumbo is named after 19th-century circus elephant Jumbo.

E

  • Ed G. Robemsome, a character in Thugs with Dirty Mugs – Edward G. Robinson.
  • Egroeg Sacul, Star Tours at the Disney's Hollywood Studios, named after Star Wars creator George Lucas. Egroeg Sacul is George Lucas spelled backwards.
  • Empoleon from Pokémon – French emperor Napoleon
  • Eustass Kid from the anime and manga series One Piece is named after the mercenary Eustace the Monk and the Scottish privateer William Kid.

F

  • Fats Swallow, a character in The Woods Are Full of Cuckoos – Jazz musician Fats Waller.
  • Foghorn Leghorn, Warner Brothers cartoons – Senator Claghorn, regular character on The Fred Allen Show.
  • Francesca Lucchini from the anime Strike Witches, named after Italian World War 2 fighter pilot Franco Lucchini.
  • Frankie Stein, from the Wham!, Shiver and Shake, Whoopee! and Monster Fun comics. – Frankenstein.
  • Fred Bonaparte, from the game Psychonauts – his apparent ancestor, Napoleon Bonaparte.
  • Fred McFurry, a character in The Woods Are Full of Cuckoos – Fred MacMurray.

G

  • Gloria Von Gouten, from the game Psychonauts, named after the famous actor, Gloria Swanson.
  • Goddard, the robot dog of Jimmy Neutron, is named for rocket scientist Robert Goddard.

H

  • Hamlet – (Hagar the Horrible) is named after Shakespearean character Hamlet.
  • Helga G. Pataki of Hey Arnold!, named after former NY governor George Pataki.
  • Huey Freeman from The Boondocks is named after Huey P. Newton
  • Huey, one of "Huey, Dewey and Louie" – Huey Pierce Long, American politician.
  • Hitmonlee from Pokémon – Bruce Lee, martial artist
  • Hitmonchan from Pokémon – Jackie Chan, martial artist
  • Hobbes from Calvin and Hobbes – Thomas Hobbes, 17th century philosopher.
  • Hohenheim of Light, from Fullmetal Alchemist – Paracelsus, sixteenth-century alchemist, whose real name was Theophrastus Van Hohenheim
  • Hubert Farnsworth from Futurama – Inventor Philo Farnsworth
  • Huckleberry Hound – Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

I

  • Iago from Aladdin – Iago, William Shakespeare's play Othello.
  • Ivy the Terrible – Russian czar Ivan the Terrible.

J

  • Jack Bunny, a character in I Love to Singa – Jack Benny.
  • Jackie, from Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters comic book – Martial artist Jackie Chan.
  • James Isaac Neutron from The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius – Isaac Newton, English scientist, and James Chadwick, who was nicknamed "Jimmy Neutron".
  • Jeffy Dahmer, of The Ringer – Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.
  • Jerom, of Suske en Wiske – Jeroom Verten – Belgian playwright.
  • Jessie and James, villains from Pokémon named after outlaw Jesse James.
  • Jewelry Bonney from the anime and manga series One Piece is named after female pirate Anne Bonny.
  • Jimmy Darrock, a Flintstones character – singer James Darren.
  • John D. Rockerduck – Billionnaire John D. Rockefeller.
  • Jules and Verne, the sons of Doctor Emmett Brown in Back to the Future: The Animated Series, are named after Jules Verne.

K

  • Kangaskhan from some Western localizations of Pokémon – Genghis Khan, the Mongol Emperor
  • The Koopalings are named after musicians.

L

  • Lafayette (The Aristocats) is named after the French military officer Marquis de Lafayette.
  • Laffite from the anime and manga series One Piece is named after French pirate Jean Lafitte.
  • Lapras from Pokémon – Mathematician Pierre-Simon Laplace.
  • Laurie Be Cool, a character in Bacall to Arms – Hollywood actress Lauren Bacall.
  • Léonard the inventor is named after Italian scientist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci.
  • Leonardo, the oldest of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – the great Italian Renaissance artist and scientist, Leonardo da Vinci
  • Leo Ferocious, a Flintstones character – Baseball player Leo Durocher.
  • Lester Coward, a character in She Was an Acrobat's Daughter – Actor Leslie Howard.
  • Little Annie Fanny is named after comic character Little Annie Rooney.
  • Louis the Alligator (The Princess and the Frog) is named after Louis Armstrong.
  • Ludvig from Hey Arnold! – Composer Ludwig van Beethoven
  • Ludwig Von Drake – Composer Ludwig van Beethoven.

M

  • Marge Simpson (born Marge Bouvier) – Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, former First Lady of the United States, widow to John F. Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis.
  • Marshall D. Teach, Thatch, and Edward Newgate from the anime and manga series One Piece are named after Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard, who was a notorious English pirate in the Caribbean Sea and western Atlantic during the early 18th century.
  • Dr. Marvin Monroe (The Simpsons) is named after Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe.
  • Madame Medusa (The Rescuers) is named after Greek mythological character Medusa.
  • Michelangelo, the youngest of the ninja turtle brothers from TMNT – the great Italian Renaissance artist and sculptor, Michelangelo Buonarroti.
  • Milhouse Van Houten, a character on The Simpsons – Richard Milhous Nixon. Milhouse's middle name Mussolini is based on Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.
  • Milton Squirrel, in The Woods Are Full of Cuckoos – Comedian Milton Berle.
  • Morlocks – in Marvel Comics, a group of mutants naming themselves after the futuristic race in H. G. Wells' The Time Machine

N

  • Nabuko Donosor (Urbanus) is named after Nebuchadnezzar II.
  • Napoleon (The Aristocrats) is named after Napoleon Bonaparte.
  • Nebby K. Nezzer from Veggie Tales is named after Nebuchadnezzar.
  • Nemo from the movie Finding Nemo – Captain Nemo, fictional character in Jules Verne's novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas and The Mysterious Island.
  • Nero – Nero, Belgian comic character by Marc Sleen is named after the Roman emperor Nero.
  • Nero (The Rescuers) is named after Roman emperor Nero.
  • Nina Einstein from Code Geass – Albert Einstein

O

  • Olga Lawina (Agent 327) is named after Dutch singer Olga Lowina.
  • Oscar from Cerebus – named after poet and playwright Oscar Wilde
  • Owl Jolson, a character in I Love to Singa – Al Jolson

P

  • Pepé Le Pew, French skunk in Warner Brothers cartoons – Pepe le Moko, fictional character from the franchise of the same name
  • Philip J. Fry, from Futurama – Phil Hartman, voice actor
  • Pluto, named after the dwarf planet Pluto, in itself named after Greek-Roman mythological character Pluto

R

  • Raphael, the second oldest of the ninja turtle brothers from TMNT, was named after the Italian Renaissance artist and sculptor, Raphael Sanzio.
  • Rasputin (Inspector Canardo) is named after Rasputin.
  • Richard the Lion, from The Beano comic – English king Richard the Lionheart
  • Rip Van Wink, from The Beano comic – Literary character Rip van Winkle
  • Rock Lee from Naruto is named after martial artist Bruce Lee.
  • Rock Quarry – Flintstones character named after actor Rock Hudson
  • Roronoa Zoro from the anime and manga series One Piece is named after French pirate François l'Olonnais and fictional hero/vigilante Zorro.
  • Rubberduck, comic book character from Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew!, is the secret identity of actor Byrd Rentals, named after Burt Reynolds.

S

  • Scrooge McDuck – Ebenezer Scrooge, fictional character in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol
  • Seymour Skinner (The Simpsons) is named after psychologist B.F. Skinner.
  • Sigmund (Dutch comics character) – Sigmund Freud, Austrian psychiatrist
  • Sophie Turkey, a character in The Woods Are Full of Cuckoos – Sophie Tucker
  • Stony Curtis, a Flintstones character – Hollywood actor Tony Curtis
  • Sweeny Toddler, from the Shiver and Shake, Whoopee! and Buster comics – Literary character Sweeney Todd

T

  • Thor (Marvel character) is named after the Norse god Thor.
  • Tony Zucco – Rumored to be named after the actor George Zucco
  • Trafalgar Law from the anime and manga series One Pieces last name Law is based on notorious English pirate Edward Low. His first name is from the Battle of Trafalgar.
  • Troy McClure from The Simpsons – Actors Troy Donahue and Doug McClure
  • Tycho Brahe, from Penny Arcade – Tycho Brahe, 16th-century astronomer

V

  • Victor and Hugo (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Disney film) – Victor Hugo, author of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
  • Victor and Hugo, the Cosgrove Hall Films characters, are also named after the author.
  • Virginia Wolfe, the mother of Heffer in Rocko's Modern Life, is named after the British author Virginia Woolf.

W

  • W.C. Fieldmouse – Hollywood comedian W.C. Fields
  • Wolfgang from Hey Arnold! – Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
  • Woodhouse, the butler from Archer, is named after British author P.G. Wodehouse, who created the famous fictional butler, Jeeves
  • Woody from Toy Story – American football player and actor Woody Strode

Y

  • Yankee Poodle, comic book character from Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew, is the secret identity of Rova Barkitt, named after gossip columnist Rona Barrett.
  • Yensid, from Fantasia, after Walt Disney. Yensid is Disney spelled backwards.
  • Yogi Bear – Baseball player Yogi Berra

Z

  • Zippy the Pinhead is named after real-life sideshow artist Zip the Pinhead.
  • Zorry Kid is named after masked avenger Zorro.

Characters named after non-famous people

  • Bugs Bunny from Looney Tunes – Ben "Bugs" Hardaway, storyboard artist
  • Chang Chong-Chen – (The Adventures of Tintin) is named after a friend of Hergé, Zhang Chongren.
  • Homer Simpson, Marge Simpson, Lisa Simpson and Maggie Simpson of The Simpsons are named after the family members of creator Matt Groening: his father Homer, his mother Marge and his sisters Lisa and Maggie.
  • Garfield is named after Jim Davis's grandfather, James Garfield Davis (who is named after James Abram Garfield).
  • Jeff Fischer, from American Dad!, is named after Seth MacFarlane's friend with the same name.
  • Karen, from SpongeBob SquarePants, is named after and inspired by series creator Stephen Hillenburg's wife, Karen Hillenburg.
  • Louie, one of "Huey, Dewey and Louie" – Louie Schmitt, animator
  • Alvin, Simon, and Theodore (The Chipmunks), are named after the executives of their original record label, Liberty Records: Alvin Bennett (the president), Theodore Keep (the chief engineer), and Simon Waronker (the founder and owner).
  • Timmy Turner from The Fairly OddParents – Timmy Hartman (younger brother of Butch Hartman)
  • Charlie Brown and Linus, from Peanuts, were named after friends of Charles Schulz from Art Instruction Inc., where Schulz taught before and at the beginning of his career.
  • Cree Lincoln, from Codename: Kids Next Door, is named after her voice actress, Cree Summer.
  • Lois Lane, from the Superman comics, is named after Lois Amster, a girl who Jerry Siegel had a crush on.
  • Bullwinkle J. Moose is named after Clarence Bullwinkel, a friend of Jay Ward and Alex Anderson, who created Bullwinkle. The J in his name is for his creator Jay Ward, as the J in Homer Simpson's middle name was Matt Groening's way of honoring Ward.
  • Pocoyo, the main protagonist of the TV show Pocoyo, named after series creator David Cantolla's three-year-old daughter used it in her nightly prayers saying "Eres niño poco yo" ("You're a child little me") instead of "Eres niño como yo ("You're a child like me").
  • Super Zia (from Toothpique Productions' series of the same title) is named after the actor playing him, a friend of the director's, Ziauddin Md. Nasrullah.
  • Erfaan a.k.a. Mr. 85 (from Toothpique Productions' Super Zia) is named after a friend of the director's girlfriend.
  • Shinji Ikari from Neon Genesis Evangelion is named after Shinji Higuchi, head of Gainax, the animation studio of Evangelion.
  • Kirby is named after lawyer John Kirby, who defended Nintendo in the Universal City Studios, Inc. v. Nintendo Co., Ltd. case in 1984.
  • Porky Pig from Looney Tunes is named for two childhood classmates of creator Friz Freleng, nicknamed "Porky" and "Piggy".
  • Mario is named after Nintendo of America's former warehouse landlord Mario Segale.
  • The American Dennis the Menace is named after the comic strip creator Hank Ketcham's son Dennis Ketcham, whom the artist's wife once called "a menace".
  • Eek! the Cat was named after one of co-creator Savage Steve Holland's deceased pet cats.
  • Monica was named after Mauricio de Sousa's daughter, Mônica Sousa, when she was just 3 years old.

References