Nagisa

Nagisa is a Japanese given name that also appears in fiction as a character name. The standard kanji is 渚, meaning "shore" or "beach," which lends the name a coastal, nature-inspired association. In modern Japan the name is predominantly used for girls, though it has appeared for male characters in anime and manga as well.

In popular culture the name Nagisa has been used for several notable characters. Nagisa Furukawa is a central figure in Clannad, a visual novel by Key that was adapted into an anime series; she is portrayed as gentle, sociable, and empathetic. Nagisa Hazuki is a character in the anime Free! Iwatobi Swim Club, where he is a swimmer and a friend to the main cast. The use of Nagisa in these works reflects its poetic connotations rather than any specific occupation or status.

Outside fiction, Nagisa can occur as a real-name usage among Japanese speakers and may also appear in place names or as part of longer toponyms in local contexts. Because naming practices in Japan are influenced by literature, media, and seasonal imagery, the popularity and gender association of Nagisa can vary over time and region.

Overall, Nagisa is recognized as a feminine-leaning, nature-inspired Japanese given name with a notable presence in contemporary media through several well-known fictional characters.