Last reviewed on 2026-06-12
Hello Kitty
IconThe most famous Sanrio character! A cheerful white cat with a red bow. Lives in London with her twin sister Mimmy. Loves making cookies and her boyfriend Dear Daniel.
My Melody
Sweet RabbitA little rabbit girl from the forest of Mariland. Wears a pink hood and loves baking. Best friends with Flat the mouse and rivals with Kuromi.
Cinnamoroll
Flying PuppyA white puppy with long ears that enable him to fly. Has a plump curly tail like a cinnamon roll. Lives in Cafe Cinnamon and loves to sleep on clouds.
Kuromi
MischievousMy Melody's rival with a punk rock attitude. A white rabbit with a pink skull on her black hood. Leads Kuromi's 5, writes in her diary, and has a tough exterior but soft heart.
Pompompurin
Golden RetrieverA golden retriever who wears a brown beret. Lives in his own basket and loves milk, soft things, and pudding. His best friends include a mouse, bird, and hamster.
Little Twin Stars
Kiki & LalaTwin star siblings from the heavenly world. Kiki (blue) is curious and Lala (pink) is dreamy. They traveled to Earth on a cloud to learn and bring happiness to people.
Keroppi
Frog FriendA cheerful frog who lives with his family in Donut Pond. Has big eyes and loves swimming, singing, and playing games with his friends. Very adventurous and fun-loving.
Badtz-Maru
Rebel PenguinA mischievous male penguin with spiky hair who lives in Gorgeoustown. Dreams of becoming a company president. Has an alligator friend named Pochi and loves sushi.
Chococat
Cool CatA black cat with huge eyes and large ears that act like antennas. Always gets the latest news first. Curious and clever, he lives in a small cardboard box in an attic.
Aggretsuko
Metal SingerRetsuko the red panda works in accounting and releases her frustrations by singing death metal karaoke. A modern working character dealing with office life stress.
Gudetama
Lazy EggThe lazy egg who doesn't want to do anything. Always tired and unmotivated. Represents modern burnout culture with its relatable apathy and philosophical musings.
Tuxedosam
Dapper PenguinA classy penguin from Tuxedo Island who speaks English and collects bow ties. Has 365 bow ties, one for each day of the year. Very proper and well-mannered.
Pochacco
Sporty PupA white dog with black floppy ears who loves sports and banana ice cream. Very curious and always wants to try new things. Lives in a tree house with his friends.
Dear Daniel
Kitty's BoyfriendHello Kitty's childhood sweetheart from South Africa. Loves photography, dancing, and traveling. A kind gentleman who shares many adventures with Hello Kitty.
Hangyodon
Half-FishA half-fish, half-man creature from China. Funny but a bit lonely, he dreams of becoming a hero. Lives in an oceanic castle and loves comedy and telling jokes.
Pekkle
Dancing DuckA gentle white duck who debuted in 1990. Pekkle is kind-hearted and a little clumsy, but he loves singing and dancing and is famous among friends for his great impressions.
Monkichi
Haiku MonkeyOsaru no Monkichi is an optimistic mountain monkey who debuted in 1992. Always grinning, he loves bananas and writing haiku poetry, and dreams of making everyone around him laugh.
Patty & Jimmy
Sporty DuoA boy-and-girl duo from Kansas City who debuted in 1974, the same year as Hello Kitty. Patty is energetic and loves sports, while Jimmy is gentle and good at studying.
Marron Cream
Paris RabbitAn elegant white rabbit from Paris who debuted in 1985. Marron Cream loves baking chestnut cream pastries, sewing, and making herbal tea, and is adored for her gentle, motherly charm.
Charmmy Kitty
Kitty's Pet CatHello Kitty's pet white Persian cat, a gift from Papa George in 2004. Quiet and well-behaved, she wears a necklace shaped like the key to Kitty's jewelry box and follows Kitty everywhere.
My Sweet Piano
Melody's BestieA fluffy pink sheep and My Melody's best friend in Mariland. Piano is dreamy, affectionate, and a little spoiled, and she loves lavender, fortune-telling, and cuddling up to My Melody.
Tiny Chum
Teddy BearHello Kitty's beloved little teddy bear friend from the classic era of Sanrio. Tiny Chum is small, cuddly, and cheerful, and often appears alongside Kitty on vintage merchandise.
U*SA*HA*NA
Flower BunnyA colorful, energetic bunny who debuted in 2001. U*SA*HA*NA loves flowers, dancing, and sunny days, and her bright rainbow-pastel design makes her a favorite Sanrio side character.
Wish me mell
Letter RabbitA sweet rabbit girl who debuted in 2010 and lives in Merci Hills. Mell helps people share their true feelings through heartfelt letters and always wants everyone to get along.
Bonbonribbon
Ribbon BunnyA pink bunny with ribbon-shaped ears who debuted in 2012. Bonbonribbon dreams of becoming a star, loves anything cute and sparkly, and collects ribbons of every color.
Mewkledreamy
Dream CatMew is a soft lilac cat who fell from the sky on a shooting star. A newer Sanrio character with her own anime, she loves naps, stars, and exploring the world of dreams.
Corocorokuririn
HamsterAn adorable golden hamster who debuted in 1998. Kuririn loves sunflower seeds and running on his wheel, and he hangs out with a big circle of hamster family and friends.
Cogimyun
Flour GirlA shy, squishy little girl made of soft wheat flour, one of Sanrio's newer food-themed characters. Clumsy but hardworking, Cogimyun dreams big while living in her cozy apartment.
Kirimi-chan
Salmon FilletA cheerful slice of salmon who debuted in 2013. Kirimi-chan wants everyone to love fish as much as she does, and her quirky food-character design made her an instant fan favorite.
About Sanrio Characters
Sanrio has created over 450 adorable characters since 1960, bringing kawaii culture to the world. Founded in Japan, Sanrio's philosophy is "Small Gift, Big Smile" - spreading happiness through cute characters and friendship-themed merchandise.
From the iconic Hello Kitty who debuted in 1974 to modern favorites like Aggretsuko and Gudetama, each Sanrio character has a unique personality and backstory. These characters appear on thousands of products worldwide and have become global symbols of cuteness and positivity.
Most Popular Sanrio Characters Ranked
Every year since 1986, Sanrio has held the official Sanrio Character Ranking, a worldwide fan vote that decides which of its 450+ characters are the most loved. Based on the most recent rankings, these are the most popular Sanrio characters right now:
- Cinnamoroll — the flying puppy has topped the fan vote for several years in a row
- Kuromi — My Melody's punk-rock rival, a breakout star with Gen Z fans
- Hello Kitty — the global icon and face of Sanrio since 1974
- My Melody — the sweet pink-hooded rabbit from Mariland
- Pompompurin — the laid-back golden retriever in a brown beret
The exact order shifts slightly each year when the new Sanrio Character Ranking results are announced, but these five characters have dominated the top spots recently.
All Sanrio Character Names (A–Z)
Quick alphabetical reference of every Sanrio character featured in this guide:
Aggretsuko, Badtz-Maru, Bonbonribbon, Charmmy Kitty, Chococat, Cinnamoroll, Cogimyun, Corocorokuririn, Dear Daniel, Gudetama, Hangyodon, Hello Kitty, Keroppi, Kirimi-chan, Kuromi, Little Twin Stars (Kiki & Lala), Marron Cream, Mewkledreamy, Monkichi, My Melody, My Sweet Piano, Patty & Jimmy, Pekkle, Pochacco, Pompompurin, Tiny Chum, Tuxedosam, U*SA*HA*NA, Wish me mell
Sanrio's full catalog includes more than 450 characters created since 1960 — this list covers the icons and the most-searched side characters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Sanrio characters are there?
Sanrio has created more than 450 characters since the company was founded in 1960. Only a few dozen are actively promoted at any one time, with Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, Kuromi, My Melody, and Pompompurin among the most famous worldwide.
Is Hello Kitty a cat?
According to Sanrio, Hello Kitty is not a cat but a cheerful little girl — a personification (gijinka) of a cat. Her full name is Kitty White, she lives in London with her parents and twin sister Mimmy, and she even has a pet cat of her own named Charmmy Kitty.
What are the most popular Sanrio characters?
Based on the most recent annual Sanrio Character Ranking, the most popular Sanrio characters are Cinnamoroll, Kuromi, Hello Kitty, My Melody, and Pompompurin. Cinnamoroll has dominated the fan vote for several years running.
What is the Sanrio Character Ranking?
The Sanrio Character Ranking is an official annual popularity poll that Sanrio has run since 1986. Fans around the world vote for their favorite characters, and the results decide which characters get the most merchandise and promotion each year.
What was the first Sanrio character?
Sanrio was founded in 1960 and began putting original characters on merchandise in the early 1970s. Hello Kitty debuted in 1974, the same era as early characters like Patty & Jimmy, and quickly became the company's flagship character.
Are Gudetama and Aggretsuko Sanrio characters?
Yes. Gudetama, the lazy egg, debuted in 2013, and Aggretsuko, the death-metal-singing red panda, debuted in 2015. Both are modern Sanrio characters aimed at adult fans, and Aggretsuko even has her own Netflix animated series.