Luffy is best understood as a made‑up name for the character Monkey D. Luffy from the manga/anime One Piece , and it does not have a clear, traditional meaning in Japanese.

Origin and pronunciation

In Japanese, Luffy’s name is written as ルフィ and romanized as “Rufi,” but in English it is rendered and pronounced “Luffy” (usually like “LOO-fee”). The name is not a common Japanese given name and major name databases list its meaning as unknown or unconfirmed.

Possible inspirations

The creator Eiichiro Oda has indicated that the name is linked to the nautical term “luff,” which in sailing means turning a ship’s bow toward the wind. This fits the pirate theme of One Piece and is often interpreted symbolically as Luffy being someone who “sets” or guides the course for others, though this is more thematic than a dictionary-style name meaning.