The Sanrio Company has designed hundreds of characters since 1960, when the company was initially founded, but none have earned quite the level of fame that create the cutest Sanrio character possible, she has been revered worldwide, both within Japan and everywhere else.

Although Hello Kitty has been in the public eye for decades now, there are still numerous facts about the character that even the most dedicated fans may not have heard of before. Hello Kitty, whose real name is actually Kitty White, is more than just a cute character made to appear on Sanrio merchandise; she has a detailed backstory, intriguing interests, and a complete history that is definitely worth learning more about.

8 Hello Kitty Is a Little Girl, Not a Cat

The Sanrio Company Confirmed That Their Most Famous Character is a Human Girl, Not a Cat

One of the most surprising true facts about Hello Kitty that some fans have a tough time believing, is that the icon is actually not a cat at all. Despite her long whiskers, yellow button nose, and cat ears, the Sanrio Company set the record straight and declared that their most famous character is a human little girl, not a cat after all. For years, most of the world was under the impression that she definitely was an animal due to her appearance, but Sanrio's official website even mentions with certainty that the character is a human girl.

Although there is much discourse on the internet about whether this rumor is true, according to the company who owns the rights to Hello Kitty, she is indeed human despite her undeniably catlike looks. Although some of her features are almost identical to a cat's, Hello Kitty does wear clothes, walk on two legs, and engage in human activities, like attending school and participating in her hobbies, which makes it more clear that she is a human.

7 Hello Kitty's Real Name is Kitty White

She Is Often Called Hello Kitty Anyway, but This Title Is Not Her True Name

Since it was revealed that Hello Kitty is a human, not a cat, she was also given a human name. Although she is mostly referred to as Hello Kitty, that is actually not the character's real name. Her name is Kitty White. When cultural anthropologist Christine R. Yano was working on a Japanese American National Museum exhibit focused on the character's history, she was told by the Sanrio Company themselves that the pop culture star is a human named Kitty White, rather than a cat named Hello Kitty as many people assume.

Some of the shows and merchandise related to Kitty White have called her Hello Kitty, but this phrase is just a reference to her real name. Hello Kitty is not her name itself, although it is the way that many fans choose to refer to her, since she has been called this title for so many years now as if it was her name.

6 Hello Kitty Has a Boyfriend Named Dear Daniel

Daniel Was Popular at First, but Interest in Him Fizzled Out and He Is No Longer a Big Part of the Franchise

Hello Kitty not only has a family and a long list of talents and hobbies, she also had a romantic relationship. Hello Kitty's boyfriend is named Dear Daniel, and his full name is Daniel Starr. Daniel was added to the franchise in 1999, over two decades after Hello Kitty's initial creation. Daniel was given his own rich backstory too, and was described by Sanrio as a kindhearted, gentle character who loves to travel, ballet dances well, and has a ion for all things photography.

Daniel's appearance is also quite similar to Kitty White's, with a few small differences, like his blue overall outfit and spiky hair that sticks up in the front. Despite the sweet origin story of Dear Daniel and Kitty being childhood friends turned lovers, Daniel was a controversial character for the brand. Although he sparked intrigue after his introduction, his popularity quickly fizzled out, and he did not rank well in a favorite characters contest in 2013, leading Sanrio to retire the character and his relationship with Kitty due to lack of interest.

5 Hello Kitty Has a Twin Sister Named Mimmy

Mimmy White is Kitty's Twin and, Although They Are Similar, Mimmy Has Unique Interests Her Sister Does Not

It has been established that Hello Kitty is close to her family, but some fans don't know that she actually has a twin sister named Mimmy White. Mimmy's appearance matches Kitty's almost exactly, except the colors of her bow and outfit are yellow and orange instead of blue and red, which differentiates her from her twin.

In a lot of ways, Mimmy is like her sister, but Sanrio did give her her own unique personality, noting that she is very excited to get married one day, and enjoys baking, reading, and sewing in her spare time. She is not a new character either. Mimmy has been around almost as long as her sister Kitty White, and her introduction to the Sanrio franchise was also in 1974. The pair are not just sisters; they are best friends. In most Sanrio shows and pieces of merchandise, her and Kitty are practically attached at the hip, symbolizing their solid bond.

4 Hello Kitty Was Japan's Ambassador of Tourism

The Character Successfully Promoted Travel to Japan During Multiple Campaigns Starting in 2008

Over the years, Hello Kitty has been the star of television shows and collaborations with almost every brand under the sun, but one of her most prestigious accomplishments was in 2008, when she was announced as Japan's official Ambassador of Tourism. Kitty's role was to spread the word about exciting attractions, events, and other aspects of Japan's culture that would encourage visitors to come and provide more information about the country and its culture to those who were not familiar.

Before Hello Kitty, no other fictional character had ever received the job of Japan's tourism ambassador, making it even more of an honor that she was chosen to be the first to take on this role. Hello Kitty's time as Ambassador of Tourism was a success, and her adorable campaigns and partnerships with Japan's tourism department no doubt inspired more travelers to consider visiting the country in the future, making it one of the feline's most unexpected and well-received collaborations yet.

3 Hello Kitty is From London, England

Kitty White Lives in England Because it Was Greatly ired in Japan in the 1970s

Kitty White lives with her parents, George and Mary, and her twin sister, Mimmy, and the family's home is located in London, England's suburbs. Even though Hello Kitty was originally created in Japan, she is confirmed to be British. The reason Sanrio made her British, according to anthropologist Christine Yano, is that British fashion and culture were very popular in Japan during the 1970s.

Hello Kitty's happy, suburban upbringing with her adoring family was meant to evoke feelings of childhood nostalgia and joy in fans. Fulfilling childhoods filled with fond memories can occur in places all across the world, but her creator, Yuko Shimizu, and Sanrio elected to root Kitty White in England specifically because of Japan's affinity for Britain at the time.

2 Hello Kitty Holds the Guinness World Record For Most Licensed Products

Out of All the Many Fictional Characters in the World, Hello Kitty Has the Most Merchandise

Hello Kitty holds one of the most coveted and difficult to earn awards imaginable: a Guinness World Record. Merchandise collections and brand collaborations including her likeness are not just worldwide hits, they led to the famous feline receiving the Guinness World Record for most licensed products.

There is Hello Kitty ramen, Hello Kitty algae, Hello Kitty fast food, and Hello Kitty clothing, and these are only a few of Hello Kitty's collaborations. Fans can find a version of almost any other kind of consumer product with the iconic character's face on it, so it is no massive surprise to learn that Hello Kitty has more merchandise than any other fictional character.

1 Hello Kitty Has a Pet Persian Cat Named Charmmy Kitty Who Looks Similar to Her

Hello Kitty herself is not a cat, but another character in the Sanrio universe is, and she is Hello Kitty's pet. Hello Kitty has her very own pet cat named Charmmy Kitty. Charmmy Kitty shares distinct similarities with her owner, but she does have a different colored bow and wears a key charm necklace, a detail that her name seems to hint at.

One darling detail about Charmmy Kitty's necklace is that the charm is actually functional and unlocks Hello Kitty's jewelry box, further revealing the bond of trust between the pet and her owner. According to Sanrio, Charmmy Kitty was a gift from George White to his daughter Kitty, and this detail of her story was likely inspired by Hello Kitty's creator, Yuko Shimizu's, real-life story of receiving a kitten as a gift from her own father during her youth.

Sources: CBR, Toynk, Today