This list meticulously analyzes pairings based on their emotional impact, character development, history within the story, and undeniable chemistry. We consider both confirmed couples and the most popular fan ships that have genuine, in-story evidence supporting their bond, solidifying their status as the Top 10 Best One Piece Couples.
Kozuki Oden & Kozuki Toki: A Love That Defied Time
The quintessential tragic romance of One Piece. Oden, the free-spirited Daimyo of Kuri, and Toki, a woman who had journeyed through time, shared a bond as boundless as the sea. Their relationship was a whirlwind of adventure, travel with the Whitebeard and Roger Pirates, and ultimately, a sacrificial love that ensured the future of Wano.
| Feature | Advantage | Disadvantage |
| Canon Status | Officially married with children. The gold standard for romance in the series. | Their tale is a tragedy, culminating in both their deaths. |
| Chemistry | Toki instantly fell for Oden’s pure spirit and strength. They shared a passion for adventure. | Their story is complete; there is no future development possible. |
| Emotional Impact | Toki’s final act to send her retainers forward in time is a profound testament to her love for Oden and his dream. | The memory of their love fuels the Wano war, a bittersweet legacy. |
Benefit: Their love story is a pillar of the Wano Arc, demonstrating that true love can inspire generations and defy the ravages of time itself. Their commitment to one another and their children, Momonosuke and Hiyori, is one of the most powerful familial themes in the entire saga, making them an essential inclusion in any list of the Top 10 Best One Piece Couples.
Vinsmoke Sanji & Charlotte Pudding: The Forgotten, Bittersweet Love
Sanji’s arranged marriage to Big Mom’s daughter, Pudding, was meant to be a political farce, but it blossomed into something deeply genuine. The dynamic shifted from Pudding attempting to murder Sanji to a true affection after he was the first person to ever genuinely compliment her often-mocked third eye.
- Key Moment: Sanji’s simple, heartfelt compliment, “Your eye is so beautiful,” shattered Pudding’s cynical exterior, revealing her true, kind self.
- The Sacrifice: In their tearful goodbye, Pudding used her Devil Fruit power to erase the memory of their tender moments from Sanji’s mind, believing it would be safer for him to not remember a member of the Big Mom Pirates.
- Significance: This is arguably the most developed, two-sided romance for any of the main Straw Hats. It’s a testament to Sanji’s capacity for seeing the good in everyone and Pudding’s own buried kindness.
Kyros & Scarlett: The Princess and the Gladiator
This couple from Dressrosa epitomizes selfless, sacrificing love. Kyros, a reformed murderer turned legendary gladiator, won the heart of Princess Scarlett. Their bond transcended status and reputation. Scarlett, choosing love over royalty, faked her death to live a quiet life with Kyros, raising their daughter, Rebecca.
| Feature | Analysis |
| Theme | Love triumphs over social status and past sins. |
| Tragedy | The Donquixote Family’s influence saw Kyros turned into a toy soldier, erasing him from everyone’s memory, including Scarlett’s, before her tragic death. |
| Legacy | Their daughter, Rebecca, is a living symbol of their forbidden love and the strength it imbued in her. |
Usopp & Kaya: The Canonical Childhood Sweethearts
While many Straw Hat relationships are purely platonic, Usopp and Kaya stand out as a canonical, long-distance romance. Kaya, the frail but kind-hearted heiress of Syrup Village, was constantly cheered up by Usopp’s outlandish stories.
- The Foundation: Their relationship is built on trust, storytelling, and mutual support. Kaya gave Usopp the Going Merry—a gift that symbolized his departure and her faith in his dreams.
- Advantage: They are the closest thing to a “confirmed” future couple among the East Blue main cast. Usopp’s goal is to become a brave warrior of the sea, a title he will undoubtedly bring back to the girl who inspired him.
Gol D. Roger & Portgas D. Rouge: A Love Against the World
The ultimate star-crossed lovers. Roger, the King of the Pirates, and Rouge shared a deep, private bond that resulted in the birth of their son, Ace.
Feature: Their relationship’s most profound demonstration was Rouge’s incredible sacrifice. She held Ace in her womb for an astonishing 20 months using her sheer willpower to deceive the World Government and protect her child from execution—a supreme act of maternal and romantic love.
Monkey D. Luffy & Boa Hancock (LuHan): The Pirate King and the Pirate Empress
While officially one-sided, the dynamic between Luffy and Boa Hancock is one of the series’ most prominent romantic plots. Hancock, the “Pirate Empress” and most beautiful woman in the world, fell instantly and irrevocably in love with the only man who was completely immune to her beauty and charm.
| Element | Luffy’s View | Hancock’s View |
| Relationship | A close, trusted friend and ally. | The future husband and King of the Pirates. |
| Motivation | Protects his friends and his freedom. | Dedicated her life and status to helping Luffy at every turn (Impel Down, Marineford). |
| Benefit | Provided key, life-saving aid to the main protagonist. | Found someone who looked past her beauty and past trauma, granting her genuine love and acceptance. |
Sai & Baby 5: The Unexpected Warlord’s Love
This pairing from the Dressrosa arc is a surprising but delightful example of healing through unconditional love. Baby 5, a former member of the Donquixote Family, suffered from a desperate need to feel needed, which Sai, the leader of the Happo Navy, initially exploited.
- Development: Sai’s declaration that he “needed” her was misinterpreted by Baby 5 as a marriage proposal, which Sai eventually accepts, genuinely falling for her.
- Outcome: Their marriage and Baby 5’s newfound family with the Happo Navy is one of the purest examples of a character finding self-worth and genuine happiness in the New World.
Fan Favorites: Power and Partnership
While the Straw Hat Crew remains famously romance-free (as per Oda’s wishes), the powerful friendships and co-dependencies between the crewmates inspire a host of popular “ships.” These pairings are cemented by their incredible on-screen chemistry, complementary skills, and shared emotional moments, earning them a rightful place among the Top 10 Best One Piece Couples in the eyes of the fandom.
Franky & Nico Robin (Frobin): The Cool and the Composed
Franky and Robin are frequently shipped due to their mature, calm demeanor and complementary roles within the crew. Robin, the intellectual powerhouse, often pairs up with Franky, the passionate shipwright, in missions and battle.
Features:
- The ‘Parents’ of the Crew: Many fans see them as the most mature pair, often acting as the calm, parental figures to the more chaotic Straw Hats.
- Complementary Strengths: Robin’s historical knowledge and Franky’s engineering genius make them a formidable intellectual team.
- The Emotional Link: Franky was instrumental in rescuing Robin during the Enies Lobby arc, screaming the iconic line, “SAY YOU WANT TO LIVE!”—a moment of profound emotional intimacy and life-saving care.
Roronoa Zoro & Kozuki Hiyori (ZoHiyori): The Unexpected Wano Bond
In the Wano Arc, Zoro’s protector role over Hiyori created one of his most charged interactions with a woman. Hiyori, the daughter of Oden, grew close to Zoro, seeing his loyalty and strength.
- Chemistry: The dynamic of the stoic swordsman protecting the elegant, yet strong-willed princess captured the fandom. Hiyori’s clear admiration for Zoro, and his unwavering protection of her, created a compelling case.
- Benefit: Their bond is deeply tied to the fate of Wano. Some theories suggest a union would symbolically merge the country’s protectors (Shimotsuki lineage) with its rightful rulers (Kozuki lineage).
Shanks & Makino: The Quiet Village Love
One of the most long-standing, quiet ships in the series. Makino, the barmaid of Foosha Village, has been a comforting and constant presence in Shanks’ life since his early visits.
- Evidence: The time-skip reveals Makino holding a baby—a child who’s never officially confirmed, but widely speculated, to be Shanks’ own.
- Significance: This subtle hint suggests that even the greatest pirate captains can find a simple, grounding love in the world, away from the chaos of the Grand Line.
The Romance of Adventure vs. The Top 10 Best One Piece Couples
A core theme of One Piece is that the crew’s love is focused on nakama (friendship/found family) and the adventure itself. This is why the few romantic pairings that exist are so impactful: they are not distractions but rather deep, character-defining moments, making the existing couples all the more special.
Conclusion: Love Endures the Seas
While the One Piece manga might not be a romance story, the bonds of love—whether romantic, familial, or a deep platonic partnership—are the bedrock of the narrative. From the tragic, canonical commitment of Oden and Toki to the beloved, fan-driven chemistry of Franky and Robin, each of the Top 10 Best One Piece Couples and ships adds vibrant emotional color to the World Government’s fiercest threat.
The series proves that adventure and love are not mutually exclusive; rather, the greatest journeys often create the most powerful and enduring connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will there ever be romance among the Straw Hat Pirates?
Creator Eiichiro Oda has repeatedly stated that there will be no canonical romance between the main Straw Hat crew members, as he views their bond as a pure form of friendship and family (nakama) dedicated to adventure. He fears romance would complicate and detract from this core theme.
What is the most popular fan ship involving a Straw Hat crew member?
This is highly debated, but one of the most consistently popular pairings is Zoro and Sanji (ZoSan) due to their intense rivalry, mutual respect, and complex dynamic. Among male/female pairings, Luffy and Nami (LuNa) and Franky and Nico Robin (Frobin) are also extremely popular.
Are Sanji and Pudding a canonical couple?
Their relationship in the Whole Cake Island arc was arguably the closest a Straw Hat has come to a canonical romance. They had an arranged marriage that developed into genuine, mutual affection. However, due to Pudding erasing Sanji’s memory of their final kiss and confession, they are not currently a couple in the present storyline.
Which couple on the list is officially married with children?
Kozuki Oden and Kozuki Toki are the most prominently featured canonically married couple in a central storyline, having two children, Momonosuke and Hiyori. Kyros and Scarlett are also confirmed to have married and had a child, Rebecca.
Why is Boa Hancock so obsessed with Luffy?
Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress, fell in love with Luffy because he was the first man to ever look past her beauty and status, show her genuine kindness, and stand up to the Celestial Dragons—the very people who inflicted her deepest childhood trauma. His complete lack of romantic interest is what paradoxically made him the ideal candidate for her pure and desperate love.
