There’s a lot of odd stuff in One Piece, but names like High-Fat, Usopp, and Koala are the weirdest of the weird.
One Piece is filled with a lot of weird things — weird clothes, weird laughs, weird people — but especially weird names. The topic of “weirdest names” comes up on Reddit every few years, but with the number of characters that move in and out of the One Piece universe, the answer changes every time.
It’s no secret that creator Eiichiro Oda takes inspiration for One Piece from all over the world. From wrestlers to botany to mythology, the global influences that go into One Piece make it an amalgam of cultural references. While some names are pulled from books, others are pulled from history. Some names are cool, mysterious, or enticing. Some are just plain odd.
This article contains spoilers for those who have not read up to One Piece Chapter 1044, released March 28, 2022 or those who only watch the One Piece anime.
10Koala
Koala is named possibly because she looks like a Koala, with big eyes and fluffy hair. Otherwise, little about how Oda decided on her name is known. However, her favorite food is gomoku chimaki — also known as zongzi. It’s a traditional dish made of glutinous rice stuffed with filling, then wrapped in bamboo leaves, relating to how koalas only eat leaves.
Koala is a decently popular character among fans regardless of her name. She was formerly enslaved, freed by Fisher Tiger — another odd name — and then sailed with his Sun Pirates before finally joining the Revolutionary Army. She is adept at Fish-Man Karate despite being a human.
9Usopp
Usopp’s name has many possible derivatives. It may come from the Japanese pronunciation of Aesop, “Isoppu,” and is a portmanteau of the Japanese word for lie — “uso” — and “Isoppu.” It’s also a Japanese pun, as it can mean “I am a lie!” in Katakana. Usopp’s name in Kanji (嘘風) can translate to “liar style.”
Usopp’s name being based on Aesop would make thematic sense as his introduction is much like the fable “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.” However, despite being known for his fibs, many of his early lies have come true throughout One Piece. Usopp has also undergone many epithets, including Sogeking, King of Snipers, and God.
8Cutty Flam
While Franky doesn’t go by Cutty Flam anymore, it is indeed his given name. Starting with “Cutty,” there are a few possible sources of the name. Cutty Sark is the name of a Scotch whiskey brand. The whiskey is named after a famous clipper ship, the Cutty Sark, one of the last and fastest clippers ever built, which is now preserved as a museum. Oddly enough, after Franky debuted as a character, the Cutty Sark museum burned and was rebuilt multiple times, just like Franky. The ship is named after a mythical witch, Cutty-sark, who is noted to wear skimpy and revealing clothes, also much like Franky.
As for the “Flam” part of Cutty Flam, the Fram (which would be pronounced as “Flam” in Japanese) is a now-preserved Norwegian expedition ship that traveled to both the Arctic and the Antarctic between 1893 and 1912. This ship’s expeditions proved the theory of Arctic drift.
7Very Good
Very Good is named as such likely because of the Japanese pronunciation of “very,” which becomes “berry.” Very Good has the power of the Berry-Berry Fruit, which allows him to disassemble himself into a series of levitating spheres. This makes him resistant to melee attacks like punches and allows him to send the spheres at opponents like a cannonball.
Very Good has had limited screen time in One Piece. He was involved with the Buster Call that destroyed Enies Lobby. He was also sent to retrieve the members of CP9 after they deserted the World Government. Rob Lucci defeated him, and his status is currently unknown.
6Tony Tony Chopper
Tony Tony Chopper was named by his first friend and family member, Doctor Hiriluk. The word for reindeer in Japanese is “tonakai” (トナカイ) which is the origin of his surname “Tony Tony.” He was given the first name “Chopper” because his horns look like they can chop down trees.
Tony Tony Chopper is the doctor of the Straw Hats. The goal of becoming a doctor who can cure anything comes from accidentally poisoning Dr. Hiriluk, and newcomers generally don’t take him seriously due to his age and stature. However, he is not to be trifled with as both a healer and a fighter, being able to take on gargantuan challenges in both fields.
5Woop Slap
Woop Slap’s name has mysterious origins. While nothing has been said specifically by Oda, that doesn’t stop fans from making their own theories. While “woop” and “slap” might just be references to the mayor’s grumpy disposition, they could also refer to something bigger. To whoop is to show signs of jubilation and exuberance while slapping one’s knee is also a common expression of joy.
Furthermore, Woop Slap is the mayor of Foosha Village. This seemingly unassuming town has had some of the most powerful figures of all time float through, including Monkey D. Garp and Red-Haired Shanks. When Luffy escapes from Lougetown, viewers get a glimpse of Foosha Village celebrating his successes, where Woop Slap mentions that Luffy is fulfilling his destiny, not just his dream. Some assume Woop Slap knows something about the mysterious Joy Boy.
4Daddy Masterson
Daddy Masterson is technically not a canon character, but that doesn’t spare him from having a weird name. Daddy Masterson’s name could be based on actor Danny Masterson of That ’70s Show fame or possibly American Old West gunfighter Bartholemew William Barclay “Bat” Masterson. Humorously, his epithet is “Daddy the Father.”
Daddy Masterson is an ex-Marine turned bounty hunter with a young daughter Carol. At one point, Daddy lost in a duel with Yasopp, and because Yasopp spared his life, Daddy held immense respect for the pirate. The respect was carried through to Yasopp’s son, Usopp, who proved himself to Daddy by taking on and winning his sharpshooting challenge.
3Joy Boy
Joy Boy’s name likely comes from the minor Haitian Vodou god Joyboy, whose folklore likely originated from West Africa. Joyboy is a god that represents hope and casts off the despair of humanity with his drum beats that inspire song, dance, and partying. There are few pieces of literature about Joyboy, but he is a prevalent figure in Caribbean music and verbal records.
While the mystery of Joy Boy is still unfolding in One Piece, what viewers know about him is that he was a figure from 800 years ago that was destined to return and fulfill the promises he made on Fish-Man Island. After Monkey D. Luffy awakened his Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit, the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika (better known as the Gum-Gum Fruit), his heartbeat took on the sound of the “Drums of Liberation.” Zunesha, a companion of the original Joy Boy, then stated that Joy Boy had returned.
2Killer
Killer has a rather straightforward name and is a bit ridiculous as a real-life name. Oda chose this name for him due to his laziness, so the name has no significant meaning. Unlike the other Supernovas introduced during the Sabaody Arc, Killer’s name is not connected to any real-life pirate or historical figure and has no additional significance.
Despite Killer’s given name being simple, it does hold symbolic significance that comes into play for other aspects of the character. His trademark laugh, “Faffaffaffa,” is likely a reference to the 1977 Talking Heads song “Psycho Killer,” where part of the chorus is simply “Fa, fa, fa, fa, fa, fa, fa, far better.”
1Charlotte High-Fat
High-Fat is the 20th son and 33rd overall child of the Charlotte Family. While Charlotte is the family name, High-Fat falls into the naming convention of confection and food-themed names of Big Mom’s children. It’s possible he was given the name High-Fat due to his disproportionate size, as well as towering above his brother Katakuri, whose ridiculous confirmed height is 16 feet and 8.5 inches tall (509 cm).
While not much characterization has been given to High-Fat, it can be assumed he is loyal to his family and crew. He helped fight against the Straw Hat Pirates and the Vinsmoke family but was eventually defeated by Nami and Zeus.
