The Pokemon universe is filled with iconic female characters. From the original games Red, Blue & Green the heroines of Pokemon have also been an integral part of the story. Pokemon Crystal was the first game in which the player could choose their gender and become female and the franchise has moved leaps and bounds since then.
RELATED: The Strongest Female Nintendo Characters
Among the games, anime, and manga there are hundreds of heroines to choose from, but the best female characters in the Pokemon franchise manage to find ways to set themselves apart. This includes the latest heroine in the franchise Nemona, who serves as .
10 Nurse Joy
One who has been there since the very beginning and a heroine who has always had the player's back, Nurse Joy is the healer of Pokemon and the healer of players' hearts. Nurse Joy has been an icon in the games and the anime, remembered fondly as the object of Brock's desires.
Nurse Joy is so much more than that and the iconic quote "We hope to see you again!" is etched into the memories of all Pokemon fans. That said, it does have some troubling connotations. Does she want to see players' Pokemon get hurt and require more medical attention?
9 Green
Readers of the Pokemon Adventures manga will certainly remember Green. One of the main antagonists of the Red & Blue chapter, Green floats around on her Jigglypuff spying and pulling the strings in her goal to take down Team Rocket.
Although Green isn't in much other Pokemon media, there is no question that she is an iconic heroine. The Pokemon world would not be the same without the manga and she is very much an important character in those books.
8 Serena
Serena was introduced in Pokemon Black & White as the player character or as the rival depending on which one was chosen. A friendly rival, Serena becomes a great friend in the game and has some great battles along with way with her strong team which includes Meowstic, Absol, and Altaria.
RELATED: Pokemon: The Strongest Female Trainers, Ranked
Also, a very important character in the Anime, Serena was a very iconic traveling companion of Ash throughout Kalos in Pokemon Black & White. She may be a newer addition to the franchise but that hasn't stopped her from leaving a mark on fans of the long-running series.
7 May
May is such an icon in both the games and the anime as she introduced fans to the world of Pokemon contests; something that has become a staple of the franchise ever since. May has a solid team and becomes a fierce rival in Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire & Emerald as well as in the games' remakes.
May has also been a mainstay of the anime, with fans constantly asking for her to reappear and once again follow Ash on his journeys. Whether or not she ever does, May will always have a place in the hearts of many fans and deserves her icon status.
6 Dawn
Dawn is arguably just a bit more popular than May, as although both characters are just as likable as one another, Dawn's final team is ever so slightly stronger in the games, which in turn makes for a more iconic battle. In truth though, there's very little between the pair.
RELATED: Pokemon: The Best Contest Battles In The Anime Series, Ranked
Pokemon Diamond & Pearl rebooted the franchise, bringing the games to a new era on Nintendo DS and creating a new generation of Pokemon fans in the process. Dawn is certainly the face of this era thanks to her also appearing in the anime. Fans enjoyed the chemistry between her and Ash and many wanted the beanie hat wearer to remain.
5 Lorelei
Back in the Original Red, Blue & Green, Lorelei was a formidable member of the Elite Four thanks to her tough squad of Ice-type Pokemon. Lapras and Jynx are some of the strongest original 151 Pokemon and it takes a lot to bring them down.
With Cloyster and Dewgong also being Water-type, it takes a lot more than just firepower to get one over on this iconic Elite Four member. Nostalgia plays a big factor when it comes to iconic characters, and Lorelei certainly earns her spot because of this.
4 Whitney
Whitney. The name still haunts Pokemon fans' nightmares to this day thanks to her dreaded Miltank. Gamers who played Gold & Silver will certainly remember this pink-haired gym leader.
Miltank may be one of the strongest Pokemon in the game thanks to this battle. Without any real access to Fighting-types before this gym, Miltank is a real problem to take down. The rollout attack just keeps getting strong as players chip away at Miltank's insane health. It was a real struggle back in 1999.
3 Iris
Iris starts as Opelucid City's gym leader in Pokemon White. In the sequels, however, it is revealed that she has become the champion of Unuova with a powerful team of Dragon-type Pokemon.
RELATED:
Along with her dragons, she has an Aggron and Archeops as a foil for the Ice-types, so players will need a good strategy if they want to take down this champion. Also a companion of Ash in the Pokemon anime, Iris is certainly an iconic heroine of the franchise and has been cemented in the universe as one of the more powerful female trainers.
2 Cynthia
The showdown with Cynthia in the Gen 4 games is without a doubt one of the hardest battles in Pokemon history. With her elite squad of mixed types, it certainly is a challenge, and one that is headlined by her main Pokemon, Garchomp.
Popping up throughout the game helping the player along the way, Cynthia is more than just the Pokemon champion. She is a fantastic representation of a heroine in the Pokemon world, a true icon of the games, and one that has certainly imprinted itself on fans of the franchise.
1 Misty
Without a shadow of a doubt, Misty is the most iconic heroine in Pokemon. The Cerulean City gym leader has been in the games from the very beginning, with her iconic Starmie and Staryu causing trouble for those who chose Charmander.
Misty made a name for herself in the anime too. Serving as Ash's first-ever companion, she supported him along the way for many years throughout the original series. This orange-haired gym leader is one of the most iconic characters in all of gaming history, let alone in the Pokemon world.
MORE:
