Shonen waifus are typically strong, independent women and girls with unwavering determination. They are often more resilient than their male counterparts. While they are not always the stars of their series, many of these female characters have stolen the hearts of fans since their shows first aired.

10. Karen Tendou (Gamers!)

Karen Tendou is a hard-working shonen waifu. She gets the highest grades and is also the president of the gaming club. Most of her classmates see her as the most popular girl in the entire school. However, Karen is very relatable.

Like many teenagers, Karen develops an overwhelming crush and loses it when she is rejected by Keita Amano. Luckily, she works up enough courage to keep asking him until he finally understands her intentions. Karen is tenacious, studious, and enthusiastic, which makes her the perfect and fun shonen waifu.

9. Iris (Fire Force)

Company 8 Fire Force has many strong soldiers to its name, but the most compassionate (and one of the bravest) is Sister Iris. Despite having no powers or weapons, Sister Iris willingly enters blazing combat zones simply to give the raging Infernals their final peace. She braves the smoke and heat to pray for the soul that was lost in the fire.

Outside of her duties as a nun, Sister Iris is a loving person. She shows kindness to everyone, no matter who they are, and believes strongly in the power of second chances. She may be overlooked at times in favor of her superpowered comrades, but Iris is the only one who attacks without any defense of her own.

8. Ryuko Matoi (Kill la Kill)

Ryuko Matoi is a ruthless shonen waifu seeking revenge against her father’s killer. With her trusty half-scissor blade at her side and adorned with her new partner and Kamuy, Senketsu, Ryuoko is an unstoppable force. Even when it seems like she’s been defeated forever, she always manages to rise up and fight again.

Ryuko is extremely loyal to her family and friends and strives to do what is right for them. While she may not always succeed, she never stops trying to defend their honor. Ryuko has a short temper, but that is part of what makes her such a dynamic shonen waifu. Her aggressive attitude and nearly unmatched combat skills further her shonen waifu status.

7. Ochaco Uraraka (Boku no Hero Academia)

Ochaco Uraraka has had her ups and downs throughout my hero academy, but her abilities have come a long way. Her Zero Gravity Quirk has transformed from an assistive power to one that packs a punch. Uraraka has also grown personally as her attitude towards hero work has changed.

Now that she's been in some major battles, Uraraka has become an indispensable heroine. Not only does she have more courage, but her inherent kindness allows her to empathize even with the villains she fights. Uraraka is a shonen waifu who still doesn't get as much screen time as she should, but she's grown and her character is no longer reduced to being just a love interest.

6. Kyoko Hori (Horimiya)

Kyoko Hori is not someone to be trifled with. She has a popular girl personality at school, but she is also the primary caregiver in her household – including taking care of her younger brother, Souta. Anyone who tries to cross her will face her wrath.

Despite this, Hori is also a very loving person. She is not shy about her feelings and communicates her desires openly with her boyfriend, Izumi Miyamura. Hori stands up for Miyamura when others are putting him down, and she loves him with all her heart. Hori is such a beloved shonen waifu because she doesn't let others dictate how she will live her life.

5. Shoko Komi (Komi-san wa, Komyushou desu)

Shoko Komi is an extremely shy young girl who is still trying to overcome her struggles. Although she seems like a cold person at first, Komi is just like any other teenager who wants to make friends in high school.

The hard work Komi puts into talking to others is admirable. Her eagerness to make friends is also adorable. While she hasn’t crossed the final hurdle on her road to recovery yet, Komi is getting better and better with each new adventure she and her friends take.

4. Shinobu Kocho (Demon Slayer)

Shinobu Kocho may not be the greatest Hashira, but what he lacks in strength, he makes up for in effectiveness. Unlike all other Demon Slayers, Kocho developed a special poison that killed demons without cutting off their heads. His Nichirin sword was even specialized to deliver the poisons to demons through the numerous cuts it inflicted on its targets.

Kocho is extremely agile, flying around his opponents like the butterflies that represent his family. In addition to his impressive scientific skills, Kocho has proven to be incredibly resilient. After the passing of his sister Kanae, Kocho took her place and cared for his adopted sister, Kanao Tsuyuri. Kocho is a surprisingly deadly Hashira who exudes confidence in everything he does.

3. Yor Briar (Spy x Family)

Yor Briar is the Femme Fatale of Spy x Family. She is a ruthless assassin who never hesitates to end the lives of her targets. Yor is also fiercely protective of her family and sometimes loses herself in her deadly Thorn Princess persona when she feels threatened.

However, during the day, Yor is a shy civil servant and Anya Forger's adoptive mother. Yor is also a bit clumsy in her civilian life and one of the worst anime chefs of all time. Yor never lets her flaws get her down, however. She practices tirelessly until she can make or do something great. Yor is a rare waifu who perfectly represents both the light and dark sides of herself.

2. Riza Hawkeye (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Riza Hawkeye is a no-nonsense lieutenant who keeps everyone (including Colonel Roy Mustang) in line. Her marksmanship skills are unmatched, and she has a ruthless conviction that has helped her and her team escape more scrapes than they can count.

Although she is an unwavering warrior, Hawkeye also has a soft personality. She seems to have a very close relationship with Mustang outside of the military, and she genuinely cares about her friends and Edward and Alphonse Elric. Hawkeye is a shonen waifu who knows the price of war, but fights and remains kind regardless.

1. Nobara Kugisaki (Jujutsu Kaisen)

She may be from the countryside, but Nobara Kugisaki is one of Tokyo Jujutsu High School's most promising sorceresses-in-training. Kugisaki is very girly at heart. She loves shopping and sweets, and has a unique sense of style when she's not in uniform. Kugisaki also enjoys pulling pranks on her classmates (usually with the help of Yuji Itadori). However, for all her sweet and fun-loving side, Kugisaki also has a dark side.

Kugisaki's Straw Doll Technique is not only impressive because of its unique use of voodoo dolls, but because she can use her own body as a voodoo doll. While she doesn't do it all the time, Kugisaki has performed her Straw Doll Technique on herself to gain an advantage over a particularly tough Cursed Spirit. Kugisaki is a ruthless young woman who proves that girls don't have to be masculine to be tough.