25 Most Popular One Piece Characters Ranked

The most popular One Piece character is Monkey D. Luffy, based on the official WT100 2026 midterm ranking.

This ranking follows the WT100 2026 midterm order first, then adds story impact and Final Saga relevance as context. It is a popularity list, not a strength list.

Update note: WT100 2026 final results are scheduled for ONE PIECE DAY ’26 on August 22 and 23, 2026. This article should be updated after the final results are announced.

I have followed One Piece popularity debates for years, and the WT100 2026 midterm data is useful because it gives us official fan voting instead of only personal opinion.

Most Popular One Piece Characters Ranked

The table below shows the top 25 from the official WT100 2026 midterm ranking. The individual notes explain why each character remains so popular with fans.

1. Monkey D. Luffy

Luffy ranks first because he is the emotional center of One Piece and the official WT100 2026 midterm leader. His popularity comes from more than strength. Fans connect with his freedom, loyalty, simple dream, and ability to change every island he visits.

His Gear 5 reveal also pushed him back into the global spotlight. Luffy remains the character most fans think of first when they talk about One Piece, so the top spot fits both the poll and the story.

For his biggest modern power moment, see our guide on Luffy’s Gear 5 explained. For gift ideas, see our best Monkey D. Luffy gifts guide.

2. Roronoa Zoro

Zoro ranks second because his loyal swordsman image has stayed powerful from East Blue to the Final Saga. His promise to become the world’s greatest swordsman gives him one of the cleanest long-term goals in the series.

Fans also love his calm attitude, brutal fights, and loyalty to Luffy. Zoro works as both a power icon and a character built on discipline, which makes his popularity very stable.

If you are building a One Piece gift cluster, Zoro also has strong merch demand. See our best Roronoa Zoro gifts guide.

3. Sanji

Sanji ranks third because he combines style, comedy, kindness, and emotional writing better than most One Piece characters. His popularity is not only based on his kicks or cooking skills.

Whole Cake Island gave Sanji deeper family trauma, loyalty conflict, and character growth. That made him more than the Straw Hats’ cook. It made him one of the best written crew members.

4. Nami

Nami ranks fourth because she is one of the strongest emotional anchors in the story. Arlong Park made her one of the first One Piece characters fans deeply cared about.

Her appeal also comes from intelligence, navigation skill, humor, and her long bond with the crew. Nami is the most popular female character in the WT100 2026 midterm ranking, which makes her placement especially important.

5. Trafalgar D. Water Law

Law ranks fifth because he became a fan favorite through his design, Devil Fruit, sad backstory, and major role from Punk Hazard to Wano. His Ope Ope no Mi remains one of the most memorable powers in One Piece.

His bond with Corazon, alliance with Luffy, and fight against Big Mom gave him huge story value. Law also has strong merchandise appeal, which helps explain why he stays near the top.

Law also has a dedicated gift cluster. See our best Trafalgar Law gifts guide.

6. Nico Robin

Robin ranks sixth because her story connects personal trauma with the biggest mystery in One Piece. She is not popular only because she is a Straw Hat. She carries the key to the Void Century.

Enies Lobby made her one of the most beloved characters in the series. Her calm personality, intelligence, and connection to the true history keep her relevant in the Final Saga.

7. Portgas D. Ace

Ace ranks seventh because his impact is far larger than his time on the page. Marineford turned him into one of the most emotionally important characters in One Piece.

His brotherhood with Luffy and Sabo, his Whitebeard loyalty, and his final message still carry fan weight. Ace remains one of the clearest examples of emotional popularity beating screen time.

Ace remains one of the strongest emotional merch characters too. See our best Portgas D. Ace gifts guide.

8. Shanks

Shanks ranks eighth because he has been important since Chapter 1. He gave Luffy the straw hat, inspired his pirate dream, and stayed mysterious for most of the story.

His popularity grew even more as the Final Saga moved closer to his secrets. Fans want answers about his power, his family, and his connection to the World Government.

9. Uta

Uta ranks ninth because she brought strong film popularity into the global poll. Her music, connection to Shanks, and emotional role in One Piece Film: Red helped her reach fans beyond normal manga arcs.

Her placement shows that the One Piece audience values cultural impact as well as manga canon. Uta’s songs and design gave her a rare kind of cross-media popularity.

10. Tony Tony Chopper

Chopper ranks tenth because he is one of the most recognizable Straw Hat Pirates. His dream of becoming a doctor who can cure any disease gives him a clear emotional hook.

He also has huge mascot value. Chopper is cute, funny, useful, and easy for new fans to remember, which keeps him high in popularity polls.

11. Boa Hancock

Boa Hancock ranks eleventh because she is one of the most iconic female characters in One Piece. Her confidence, strength, beauty, and bond with Luffy make her stand out immediately.

Her backstory also gives her more depth than a simple comedy crush character. She is a former slave, an empress, a Warlord, and a major symbol of survival.

12. Rocks D. Xebec

Rocks ranks twelfth because mystery can create huge popularity when the story builds enough weight around a name. He is tied to God Valley, Roger, Garp, Whitebeard, Kaido, Big Mom, and the old era.

Fans rank him highly because he feels like a missing piece of the world’s history. His Final Saga relevance is strong even before the story fully shows him in action.

13. Donquixote Rosinante

Rosinante ranks thirteenth because his relationship with Law is one of the most emotional flashbacks in One Piece. He is gentle, tragic, brave, and unforgettable.

His death gave Law’s journey a deeper meaning. Fans continue to support him because he represents kindness inside one of the series’ cruelest families.

14. Sabo

Sabo ranks fourteenth because he completes the brotherhood between Luffy and Ace while also carrying the Revolutionary Army side of the story. His return changed how fans viewed Luffy’s past.

He is popular because he combines Ace nostalgia with his own political role. In the Final Saga, Sabo matters even more because of what he knows about the World Government.

15. Crocodile

Crocodile ranks fifteenth because he is one of the first truly great One Piece villains. Alabasta gave him style, danger, planning, and a clean villain identity.

His popularity increased again through Impel Down, Marineford, and Cross Guild. Crocodile has become a long-term wild card instead of a defeated early villain.

16. Usopp

Usopp ranks sixteenth because fans connect with his fear, lies, courage, and slow growth. He is not built like a normal power fantasy character, and that is the point.

His best moments work because he is scared but still acts. From Water 7 to Dressrosa, Usopp shows that popularity can come from vulnerability, not only strength.

17. Yamato

Yamato ranks seventeenth because Wano gave fans a powerful new character with a bold design, strong combat ability, and a deep connection to Oden’s legacy.

Yamato also became a major discussion point because of the close bond with Luffy and the question of joining the Straw Hats. That debate helped keep the character highly visible.

18. Perona

Perona ranks eighteenth because her design, humor, and gothic style have kept her popular for years. She became more than a Thriller Bark enemy because her personality was so distinct.

Her connection to Zoro and Mihawk during the timeskip also helped fans remember her. Perona is a strong example of visual identity driving long-term popularity.

19. Rob Lucci

Rob Lucci ranks nineteenth because he is one of the most memorable physical threats Luffy ever faced. Enies Lobby made him the face of cold government violence.

His return through CP0 kept him relevant in the modern story. Fans respect Lucci because his fights feel intense, direct, and personal.

20. Brook

Brook ranks twentieth because he brings comedy, music, tragedy, and loyalty into one character. His Laboon promise gives him one of the most emotional long-term goals in the crew.

Whole Cake Island also raised his respect level. Brook showed courage against Big Mom and proved that the skeleton jokes hide a serious pirate.

21. Loki

Loki ranks twenty-first because Elbaf made him one of the most talked-about new Final Saga characters. His title, family conflict, and giant lore give him immediate search demand.

His popularity is also boosted by mystery. Fans want to know whether he is a villain, a victim, an ally, or something more complicated in the Elbaf story.

For his Elbaf role, read our guide on who Loki is in One Piece.

22. Bartholomew Kuma

Kuma ranks twenty-second because Egghead turned him into one of the most tragic and respected characters in One Piece. His past changed how fans viewed every earlier appearance.

His love for Bonney, sacrifice, and connection to the World Government made him emotionally powerful. Kuma is a clear example of a character rising because of story payoff.

23. Buggy

Buggy ranks twenty-third because he is one of the funniest long-running characters in One Piece and somehow keeps failing upward. His rise from East Blue clown to Emperor is absurd in the best way.

Fans love Buggy because he represents chaos, luck, and comedy. Cross Guild also made him relevant again, so his popularity is not only nostalgia.

24. Donquixote Doflamingo

Doflamingo ranks twenty-fourth because he is one of the most complete villains in One Piece. His design, speech style, cruelty, and family backstory made Dressrosa feel personal.

He also connects to Celestial Dragons, underworld trade, and the hidden power structure of the world. That keeps him important even after his defeat.

25. Eustass Kid

Kid ranks twenty-fifth because he gives the Worst Generation a rougher, more aggressive edge. He is not as loved as Luffy or Law, but he has a strong fan base.

His role in defeating Big Mom and his clash with Shanks made him memorable. Even when fans argue about his choices, they keep talking about him, which supports his popularity.

Popular One Piece Characters Who Almost Made the Top 25

These characters ranked just outside the top 25 in the WT100 2026 midterm results. They still have strong fan support and can move higher when the final results arrive.

Franky

Franky missed the top 25 by one place in the midterm ranking. His design, shipwright role, and emotional Water 7 story keep him close to the main group.

Marco

Marco remains popular because of his Phoenix fruit, calm leadership, Whitebeard connection, and strong Wano support role.

Charlotte Katakuri

Katakuri is still loved because his fight with Luffy felt respectful, intense, and character-driven rather than simple villain work.

Carrot

Carrot’s popularity comes from her energy, Sulong form, and strong bond with the Straw Hats during Whole Cake Island and Wano.

Jinbe

Jinbe is respected for loyalty, wisdom, strength, and his long path toward officially joining the Straw Hat Pirates.

Dracule Mihawk

Mihawk stays popular because he is Zoro’s final swordsman goal and one of the most mysterious top-tier fighters in the story.

Nefertari Vivi

Vivi remains beloved because Alabasta gave her one of the strongest early emotional arcs, and her Final Saga relevance has returned.

How We Ranked the Most Popular One Piece Characters

Official WT100 2026 midterm ranking: The main order follows the official midterm popularity ranking from the 2nd Global ONE PIECE Character Popularity Poll.

Global fan popularity: WT100 is useful because it collects votes from fans around the world, not only one local audience.

Story impact: We added context for why each character matters to the story. A popular character usually has a strong moment, clear identity, or emotional connection.

Current Final Saga relevance: Characters with active Final Saga roles, such as Luffy, Robin, Shanks, Loki, Kuma, Buggy, and Vivi, deserve extra attention when explaining their ranking.

The official WT100 page says the poll includes 1,567 characters, voting ran from March 4 to June 11, 2026, and final results will be announced during ONE PIECE DAY ’26. The midterm ranking counts web voting and WT100 spot voting after fraudulent votes were checked, while postcard voting was not included in the midterm count.

FAQs About the Most Popular One Piece Characters

What to Read and Watch Next

If you want the bigger story direction behind Luffy, Shanks, Loki, Kuma, and the Final Saga, read our One Piece Final Saga roadmap.

If you want to understand why Luffy’s popularity exploded again during Wano, read our guide on Luffy’s Gear 5 explained.

If you are shopping for a One Piece fan, start with our best One Piece gifts guide. It covers figures, apparel, decor, and collectibles across major characters.

For a broader anime comparison beyond One Piece, see our list of the best anime characters of all time.

Sources and References

• ONE PIECE WORLD TOP 100 2nd, official site, poll scope, voting dates, final result timing, and rules.
• ONE PIECE WORLD TOP 100 2nd, midterm rankings, official top 100 ranking order.
• Toei Animation, WT100 midterm ranking announcement, official context for the top five and final timing.
• Crunchyroll News, 2nd ONE PIECE Global Character Poll midterm report, SERP comparison source.
• Anime Corner, WT100 2026 midterm ranking report, top 100 reference and competitor context.

Final Verdict: Who Is the Most Popular One Piece Character?

Monkey D. Luffy is the most popular One Piece character based on the official WT100 2026 midterm ranking.

Luffy ranks first because he is the face of One Piece, the heart of the Straw Hat Pirates, and the character who best represents the series’ main idea of freedom.

The final WT100 2026 results can still change the full order after all votes are counted. Until then, Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Nami, and Trafalgar Law are the official midterm top five.