The Legend of Zelda has plenty of iconic characters, from its trio of Triforce wielders in Princess Zelda, Link, and Ganondorf, to those who support the battle against the constant threat of darkness consuming the land. But unlike other Nintendo franchises, The Legend of Zelda features a hefty amount of strong, inspirational female characters.
From the latest additions in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom to the beloved characters of classic titles like Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess, The Legend of Zelda has its fair share of memorable female characters that have changed the course of Hyrule’s history.
10 Princess Zelda (Various)
The Legend of Zelda wouldn’t be the same without its namesake. While there have been many iterations of the Princess across the games, courage and wisdom are two consistent characteristics shared among them. Zelda isn’t one to back down from her duties or give up, and will step into the forefront of battles whether in disguised like Sheik in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time or by keeping the darkness sealed away for 100 years as she does in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
And when she’s not saving Hyrule, Princess Zelda is a caring ruler to her people. Being a Sage and the wielder of the Triforce of Wisdom is obviously important to her, but it’s the safety of Hylians that will always come first.
9 Medli
The Legend of Zelda franchise features dozens of supporting characters, but none stand out more so than Medli. The small Rito plays a large part in the story of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, taking her duties to heart and using her strength in the face of adversity. The apprentice of Valoo, Medli tries her hardest for her people – especially her close friend, Prince Komali.
Through the process of the story, Link helps Medli discover her true purpose as the Sage of the Earth. “There’s actually something that I can do to help this world,” she tells Link upon the realization, thanking him.
8 Urbosa
As one of the four Champions of Hyrule, Urbosa was tasked with piloting the Divine Beast Vah Naboris to stop Calamity Ganon from engulfing Hyrule with Malice. Despite being a strong and adept Gerudo fighter, nothing could have prepared Urbosa for the onslaught that Ganon brought upon the Champions during the Great Calamity.
After 100 years of being trapped within the confines of Vah Naboris, Urbosa comes to terms with the outcome. When Link finally sets her free, she clarifies this realization. She hopes he passes this on to Zelda, explaining that no one was to blame and that the extent of Ganon’s return was not foreseen.
7 Makeela Riju
Makeela Riju is the Chief of the Gerudo in Breath of the Wild following her mother's death. Despite only being 12 years old during the events of the game, Riju proves herself to be steadfast and dedicated to her role. It seems as though she’ll have her time to shine in Tears of the Kingdom, helping Link face the newly reborn Ganondorf as he attempts to take over Hyrule once more.
Riju more than proved herself in Breath of the Wild, helping Link gain access to the Divine Beast Vah Naboris by traversing the lightning-infused sands of the Gerudo Desert.
6 Impa (Various)
If there’s one character in The Legend of Zelda that’s worthy of a potential spin-off, it’s Impa. As an adviser to Hyrule’s royal family, Impa is often tasked with looking out for and guiding the young Princess Zelda.
Like Zelda, many characters throughout the franchise hold the mantle of caretaker, but her interactions presented in Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess are particularly noteworthy. As is the Impa of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, which sees the younger version of Impa in Breath of the Wild fight in the Great Calamity alongside Link, Zelda, and the Hyrule Champions.
5 Saria
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time introduced a bunch of beloved characters in the franchise, but none more than Link’s childhood friend Saria. In the game, Link starts his adventure from Kokiri Forest, where he receives his fairy Navi and is summoned by the Great Deku Tree to undertake a vital quest. Saria is the first Kokiri that Link speaks to, and the pair form a deep connection that follows the Hero throughout his journey.
Even in his seven-year absence from the forest, Saria upholds Link's name and takes on the mantle of Sage of the Forest Temple. Her kind and humble nature is so revered that in Breath of the Wild, players can find a lake named after her in Korok Forest.
4 Midna
Link and Zelda are often aided in their quest to defeat Ganon, and in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, the Twili princess Midna helps in their plight. Before the game’s events, the usurper Zant curses Midna to be stuck in the form of an imp. She initially joins Link on his quest to save Hyrule to save herself but has a change of heart when Zelda revives her after being gravely injured.
In a true show of self-sacrifice, Midna faces Ganon herself after she realizes the curse won’t lift. Although this doesn’t go to plan, Link and Zelda finally manage to put Ganon to rest. In return, the Light Spirits revive Midna while breaking the curse in the process. Ending the game in her true form, Midna leaves a lasting impact on Link, Zelda, and players.
3 Tetra
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker sees Link meet Tetra – a pirate captain who happens to be a variation of Princess Zelda. But Tetra feels far removed from her connection to Zelda, courtesy of her bold personality and her comfort in sailing the seas with her cherished crew.
Like the player, Tetra is unaware of this connection until partway through the game when the King informs the pirate that her necklace is actually part of the Triforce of Wisdom, held by Zelda. Even though Tetra returns to her seafaring ways at the end of The Wind Waker, she embraces her true destiny in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, where she founded the new kingdom of Hyrule.
2 Navi
Love her or hate her, Navi is one of the most iconic female characters in The Legend of Zelda. Despite only appearing in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Link’s fairy companion helped players come to grips with the controls of the game’s new 3D environment.
While Navi’s fate is unknown, her character has had a lasting effect on players (whether good or bad). She’s become a symbol of the franchise as much as the Triforce, and rightfully so – Link wouldn’t have been able to traverse Ocarina of Time’s Hyrule without her reminding him to stop and listen every once in a while.
1 Purah
In Breath of the Wild, players were introduced to Purah – Impa’s older sister. Residing in Hateno Village, the cute and quirky researcher runs her own laboratory, where she focuses on building ancient Sheikah technology. So much so that she created an anti-aging rune that worked a little too well, resulting in her childlike appearance.
Like Impa, Purah helps Link in his quest to put a stop to Calamity Ganon once and for all. A century prior, she was an integral part of Link and Zelda’s team of heroes during the Great Calamity when she would have been around 24 years old.