Did You Know Hello Kitty Isn’t Even Her Real Name? 

Hello, Kitty—if that’s even your real name. 

Turns out, it isn’t. As Hello Kitty approaches her 50th anniversary—which will officially occur November 1—fans are in a frenzy over lesser-known facts about the Japanese cartoon character created by Yuko Shimizu, including her real name. 

In fact, Hello Kitty’s flagship brand Sanrio recently reminded fans that her real name is Kitty White, through a Today show segment July 18. What’s more, Hello Kitty has an entire family—complete with twin sister Mimmy White and parents Mary White and George White. 

There’s actually a lot to know about Hello Kitty’s family. For one, although they are twins, Mimmy and Kitty can be distinguished by their bows—as Hello Kitty wears a red bow and Mimmy wears a yellow bow. The girls also have very different personalities. Hello Kitty is described by Sanrio as “friendly, kind-hearted and bright,” while Mimmy is characterized by being “shy” and “quiet.” 

Meanwhile, Hello Kitty’s mom is known for being kind and caring—and her famous apple pie, which is coincidentally the iconic cartoon character’s favorite food. An as for Hello Kitty’s father, he has a “hilarious sense of humor and is the backbone of the family,” according to Sanrio’s website.